This collection tracks John Howson's survey of traditional music making in Mid-Suffolk and includes not only his contemporary recordings, but also fascinating archival recordings made by the few other collectors who ventured into the area. There are old ballads, Music Hall and comic songs, melodeon, mouthorgan and accordion players, plus the rattle of bones and a stepdance. Interjected by reminiscences of musical days gone by.

Mid-Suffolk was almost virgin territory when this survey was done in the mid 1980s, and a rich and diverse musical tradition, not unlike that of East Suffolk, was found. Memories and photographs of the musicians, singers, stepdancers and broom dancers are published in the book of the same name which can be found in the English section of the other labels page. Go to ENB3.

1. The Dark-eyed Sailor - Gordon Syrett (Mendlesham Green 1982)

2. The Scarlet and the Blue - Roy Last (Stonham 1983)
3. Peggy O'Neill (mel) - Reg Pyett (Mendlesham 1980)
4. Sweet William - Emily Sparkes (Rattlesden 1958/59)

5. Cock-a-Doodle (m/o & bones) - Jack Pearson (Wickham Skeith 1983)

6. The Faithful Sailor - Charlie Carver (Tostock Gardeners Arms 1960)

7. Tune Medley (mel) - Charlie Griggs (Stowmarket 1950's/60's)

8. Buttercup Joe - unknown singer (Tostock Gardeners Arms 1960)

9. Phil the Fluter's Ball (m/o) - Tom Williams (Stowupland 1978)
10. Barbara Allen - Emma Briggs (Thwaite 1983)

11. Heel and Toe Polka (mel) - Reg Pyett (Mendlesham 1980)
12. In a Beautiful Mansion - Gordon Syrett (Mendlesham Green 1982)
13. Polka/ Old Joe the Boat's Going Over (mel)

        - John Mitchell (Forward Green 1984)

14. The Sailor Cut Down in his Prime

        - Stan Steggles (Rattlesden 1958/59)
15. Shake Hands with your Partner (m/o)

        - Tom Williams (Stowupland 1978)

16. Cupid the Ploughboy

        - Charlie Carver (Tostock Gardeners Arms 1960)
17. Farewell my Bluebell (mel) - Reg Pyett (Mendlesham 1980)

18. Green Mossy Banks of Lea - Emily Sparkes (Rattlesden 1958/59)
19. Trousers on the Door - Gordon Syrett (Mendlesham Green 1982)
20. Popular Song Tunes Medley (m/o) - George Wade (Stowmarket 1993)
 

SIDE B
1. Talk /Farmer's Boy (acc) - Ernie Lyas (Stowmarket 1983)
2. In & Out the Windows (mel) - Reg Pyett (Mendlesham 1980)

3. 21 Year on Dartmoor -'Gipsy' Charlie (Tostock Gardeners Arms 1960)
4. Stepdance -'Gipsy' Charlie (Tostock Gardeners Arms 1960)

5. The Mistletoe Bough - Gordon Syrett  (Mendlesham Green 1985).
6. Paddy McGinty's Goat (m/o) - Tom Williams (Stowupland 1978)
7. Eggs and Bacon - Stan Steggles (Rattlesden 1958/59)
8. I Don't Know What you Used to be (mel) - Reg Pyett (Mendlesham 1980)
9. Sarah - Charlie Carver (Tostock 1960)
10. Yarmouth Hornpipe (m/o) - Tom Williams (Stowupland 1978)

11. All Jolly Fellows That Follow the Plough

        - Gordon Syrett (Mendlesham Green 1982)
12. No, Sir, No - Emily Sparkes (Rattlesden 1958/59)
13. Redwing (m/o) - Clement Pearson (Wickham Skeith 1983)

14. Blackberry Fold - Charlie Carver (Tostock Gardeners Arms 1960)
15. Smile Awhile (mel) - Reg Pyett (Mendlesham 1980)
16. Only a Bird in a Gilded Cage - Stan Steggles (Rattlesden 1958/59)

17. Which Gate? - Charlie Stringer (Wickham Skeith 1983)
18. The Isle of Inisfree/Hornpipe/She Wore a Tulip

        /Heel & Toe Polka (mel.) - Ernie Nunn (Wetheringsett 1984)

SIDE C
1. Talk /My Brother Sylvest - Doddy Thorndyke (Stowmarket 1983)

2. Yellow Rose of Texas (mel) - Reg Pyett (Mendlesham 1980)
3. Twenty One Years on Dartmoor -'Lubidy' Rice (Finningham 1983)

4. Yarmouth Hornpipe (m/o) -'Lubidy' Rice (Finningham 1983)

5. Jim the Carter's Lad - Gordon Syrett (Mendlesham Green 1982)
6. Sweet William - Charlie Carver (Tostock Gardeners Arms 1960)

7. Merry Widow/ I'll Never Find Another You (m/o)

        - Tom Williams (Stowupland 1978)

8. Died For Love - Emily Sparkes (Rattlesden 1958/59)

9. Sailor's Hornpipe (mel) - Reg Pyett (Mendlesham 1980)

10. Our Goodman - Stan Steggles (Rattlesden 1958/59)

11. The Suffolk's March/ Jig (m/o) - Bill Smith (Walsham-le-Willows 1983)

12. Poor Old Jeff - Gordon Syrett (Mendlesham Green 1982)

13. Scotland the Brave (mel) - Reg Pyett (Mendlesham 1980)

14. The Iron Door - Emily Sparkes (Rattlesden 1958/59)

15. Talk - Andy Austin (Woolpit 1983)

16. Quickstep - Jimmy Gladwell's Band (Stowmarket 1950' s)

17. Banks of the Sweet Dundee

        - Charlie Carver (Tostock Gardeners Arms 1960)

18. Lassie from Lancashire (mel) - Reg Pyett (Mendlesham 1980)

19. M-o-n-e-y - Gordon Syrett (Mendlesham Green 1982)

20. Cuckoo Waltz (m/o etc)

        - Tom Williams & others (Chelsworth Peacock 1976)
 

SIDE D
1. Talk -'Tinker' Parker & Gordon Syrett (Mendlesham Green 1982)

2. Love and Duty - Gordon Syrett (Mendlesham Green 1982)

3. Cliff Hornpipe (mel) - Reg Pyett (Mendlesham 1980)

4. Bonny Bunch of Roses - Stan Steggles (Rattlesden 1958/59)

5. The Ship that Never Returned - Bert Allen (Tostock 1983)

6. Medley (m/o etc) - Tom Williams & others (Chelsworth Peacock 1976)

7. The Jealous Lover - Emily Sparkes (Rattlesden 1958/59)

8. The Grenadier and the Lady

        - Charlie Carver (Tostock Gardeners Arms 1960)

9. Zena Zena (m/o) - Glynn Griffiths (Cockfield 1983)

10. The Faithful Sailor - Stan Steggles (Rattlesden 1958/59)

11. Soldier's Joy (m/o) - Reg Pyett (Mendlesham 1980)

12. Ball of Yarn - Hubert Smith (Thorpe Morieux 1983)

13. Sailor's Hornpipe (m/o etc)

        - Tom Williams & others (Chelsworth Peacock 1976)

14. Banks of the Sweet Dundee

        - Stan Steggles (Rattlesden 1958/59)

15. Bluebell Polka (acc) - Tom Smith (Thorpe Morieux 1983)

16. They Won't Know I Come From the Country

        - Tom Smith (Thorpe Morieux 1983)

17. The Fox and the Hare - Emily Sparkes (Rattlesden 1958/59)

18. Alf Peachey's Polkas (mel) - Reg Pyett (Mendlesham 1980)

19. Jolly Ploughboy - Gordon Syrett (Mendlesham Green 1982)

20. Irish Medley (m/o etc)

        - Tom Williams & others (Chelsworth Peacock 1976)

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