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The album begins with an English ballad of dragons and knights, "Sir Eglamore," set to music composed by Kate Rusby.
The tune is light and airy and sets a good pace for the music to follow.The traditional "As I Roved Out" is an Irish song
about sundered lovers, and it slows things down a bit. Another beautifully sung tale of star-crossed love is "Drowned Lovers," which (as you can surmise from the title) has an unhappy
conclusion. "I am Stretched on Your Grave," is an ancient Irish poem, has received excellent treatments. Rusby's versionis
initially sung a cappella except for Donald Hay's stark percussion. Otherl tracks, all of which match the high standards set
by Rusby elsewhere on the album, include "Jolly Ploughboys," "Stananivy/Jack & Jill" (combining traditional elements with
original melodies by Rusby and McCusker, and lyrics by Rusby), and the sway-inducing McCusker/John Miller song, "Radio Sweethearts."
The album ends with the sea shanty "Bold Riley," a lovely song of parting which benefits from harmony vocals in the chorus
by Battlefield Band then singer, Davy Steele. Alan Reid, also from the Battlefield Band, adds harmony vocals to another
melancholy song about lovers parted, "Annan Waters."
Most of the tunes on on this incredible album are traditionals drawn from the rich musical history of the British
Isles, Rusby, though, has added her own touches as well. Besides her own musical compositions for "Sir Eglamore" and
"I am Stretched on Your Grave," she has contributed two originals, "A Rose in April" (a sad, sweet song on the theme, again,
of parted lovers) and "Old Man Time" (an introspective song about the time which seems to slip away more swiftly as Rusby's
music career demands more of her attention), and has collaborated on a few others.
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1 Sir Eglamore
2 As I Roved Out
3 Jolly Ploughboys
4 Annan Waters
5 Stananivy
6 A Rose in April
7 Radio Sweetheart
8 I am Stretched on your Grave
9 Old Man Time
10 Drowned Lovers
11 Bold Riley
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Kate Rusby on guitar and piano
Ian Carr on guitar
Conrad Ivitsky on double bass.
John McCusker (who also produced the album) on fiddles
Michael McGoldrick on flute and whistles
Tony McManus on guitar
Eric Rigler on uillean pipes
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related internet links
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British folk singer and
guitarist. Amongst the
most acclaimed artists
to emerge from the
British Folk Revival,
his sensibility and approach
to the arrangement of
traditional folk songs has
been a major influence on
the folk scene since the
early 70's, and is composer
of Annan Waters
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