STRAWBSWEBNEWS - JULY 2021
Sent by Dick Greener, 20 Jul 2021
STRAWBWEBNEWS – JULY 2021
It's been a while, for which my apologies, but whilst Covid 19 held us all in lockdown, there wasn't much to shout about, or much inclination to do so!
So, a catch-up
Contents
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* Dave Cousins update
* John Ford – new album and gig
* Dave Bainbridge – new album
* The Complete Fire – 3CD anthology
* Rick Wakeman CBE
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DAVE COUSINS UPDATE
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Dave recently posted the following on Facebook:
"GETTING BACK TO NORMAL
Thank you for all your good wishes concerning my health.
It’s been three months since I had a long overdue full knee replacement. There is still some time to go, but I’m now more mobile than I have been for several years. There has been an impact on my stamina, but generally I am feeling a lot fitter.
As far as live performances are concerned I’m monitoring the COVID-19 impact around the world. The World Health Organisation continues to recommend: “at least a 1-metre distance between yourself and others to reduce your risk of infection”. Various newspapers report that the UK government will be relaxing the rules for social distancing from 19 July.
While I have had two vaccinations, which give me protection, it doesn’t mean that I can’t transmit the virus to others.
I’ll be back in touch once we know what the new rules open up. I will continue to be very cautious."
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JOHN FORD – NEW ALBUM AND GIG
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News of a new album coming from John Ford (always very welcome indeed!) – Life In A Foreign Town". More news and hopefully a preview when I have it.
Ray Coles posted:
Tickets for John's Aug 21 show at the Strand are now on sale @ www.strand.org. Attendees will receivea copy of the new album.
This is part of a 3 show set I am presenting called "Shaking Off The Cobwebs", as the theater reopens after almost a year and prepares for its 100th anniversary in 2022
Also part of the series are my good friend, Americana Artist & Author Rod Picott on Aug 6 and the amazing Iain Matthews on Sept 24. Tickets for those will be on sale soon.
So, if you are anywhere within striking distance of Lakewood, NJ, try to make one of these shows as we welcome the return of live music to the Strand's stage.
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DAVE BAINBRIDGE – NEW ALBUM
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New album 'To The Far Away' is now available to pre-order from the Open Sky Records online store!! The official release date is 30th September. The album will be available in the following formats:
* DELUXE BOX SET WITH SIGNED AND NUMBERED CERTIFICATE
5 x postcards 1 x signed and numbered certificate 1 x exclusive hardback photo book Limited Edition 2CD
(CD2 contains demo versions, alternate mixes)
* SIGNED 'TO THE FAR AWAY' 2CD
(CD2 contains demo versions, alternate mixes)
* TO THE FAR AWAY 2CD
(CD2 contains demo versions, alternate mixes)
* TO THE FAR AWAY CD
* TO THE FAR AWAY DOWNLOAD VERSION
(24bit wav / mp3 formats)
All the recording is now completed and at the time of writing I'm about half way through mixing the album. The limited edition book of my photos is all collated and the artwork is well on its way to being completed. I see this album as a continuation of the musical sound worlds of Iona as well as my Veil of Gossamer and Celestial Fire solo albums. Special guests on the album are:
Sally Minnear - Vocals
Iain Hornal - Vocals
Troy Donockley - High and Low Whistles, Uilleann Pipes, Cumbrian Voices
Frank van Essen - Drums, Solo Violin, Ensemble Violins & Violas
Jon Poole - Fretted and Fretless Bass Guitars
Jonas Pap - Cello
Nigel Cameron - Whistles
Julie Cameron-Hall - Violin
Martin Nolan - Whistles
Special mention must go to Canadian/Irish poet Lynn Caldwell, whom I collaborated with on the lyrics.
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THE COMPLETE FIRE – 3CD ANTHOLOGY
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Cherry Red have announced this compilation of all the Fire tracks known to exist, release date 21 Aug 2021. Assembled with the aid of chief Fireman Lambert, the 3-CD set features many rare delights, such as all four tracks (including the previously unreleased ‘It’s Not Easy Falling Out Of Love’ and ‘Boys And Girls Together’) that the band recorded in mid-1967 at the RG Jones studio under their original name of Friday’s Chyld, plus two tracks (‘Live To Love’ and ‘Back There Again’) that were recorded in late 1970 by a revised line-up, and which have never previously appeared on a Fire package.
Disc One rounds up their 1967-‘68 work (including both Decca-issued versions of the title track single).
Disc Two contains the album ‘The Magic Shoemaker’ plus sundry out-takes and alternative versions from the same period.
Disc Three is the original trio’s triumphant staging of an extended, revamped live ‘The Magic Shoemaker’ over two nights in 2007.
The booklet includes a full band history, rare photos and new quotes, ‘Father’s Name Is Dad: The Complete Fire’ is the final word on one of the most fascinating bands working on the late ‘60s British pop scene.
Track Listing:
DISC ONE: UNDERGROUND AND OVERHEAD (SINGLES + DEMOS)
1. Father’s Name Is Dad (Original Single Version)
2. Treacle Toffee World
3. Happy Sound
4. Spare A Copper
5. Will I Find Love?
6. Man In The Teapot
7. It’s Just Love
8. I’ve Still Got Time
9. I Know You Inside Out
10. Alison Wonderland
11. It’s Not Easy Falling Out Of Love (Friday’s Chyld)*
12. Boys And Girls Together (Friday’s Chyld)*
13. I Just Can’t Wait (Friday’s Chyld)
14. I Didn’t Know You (Friday’s Chyld)
15. Can’t Be So Bad
16. Green-Legged Auntie Sally
17. Oh Johnny
18. Round The Gum Tree
19. Toothy Ruthie
20. Father’s Name Is Dad (Remixed Single Version
DISC TWO: THE MAGIC SHOEMAKER (1970 ALBUM + DEMOS)
1. Children Of Imagination
2. Tell You A Story
3. Magic Shoes
4. Reason For Everything
5. Only A Dream
6. Flies Like A Bird
7. Like To Help You If I Can
8. I Can See The Sky
9. Shoemaker
10. Happy Man Am I
11. Children Of Imagination (Reprise)
Bonus Tracks
12. Only A Dream (Demo Version)
13. Magic Shoes (Demo Version)
14. Reason For Everything (Demo Version)
15. Mama When Will I Understand (Studio Version)
16. Live To Love
17. Back There Again
DISC THREE: THE MAGIC SHOEMAKER (2007 LIVE CONCERT)
1. Overture (To A Shoemaker)
2. Children Of Imagination
3. Tell You A Story
4. Magic Shoes
5. Reason For Everything
6. Treacle Toffee World
7. Only A Dream
8. Flies Like A Bird
9. It Wouldn’t Have Happened In My Day
10. War
11. Like To Help You If I Can
12. I Can See The Sky
13. Father’s Name Is Dad
14. It’s Just Love
15. Shoemaker
16. Happy Man Am I
17. Mama When Will I Understand (Live Version)
*previously unreleased
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RICK WAKEMAN CBE
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And finally, belated congratulations to Rick for his inclusion in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List – "Richard Christopher Wakeman. Musician, Presenter and Author. For services to Music and Broadcasting. (Scole, Suffolk)"
Ricks' response at:
https://www.rwcc.com/notices/cbe.php
[ends]
DICK GREENER
STRAWBSWEB- www.strawbsweb.co.uk
"You'll scarcely believe all the pleasures inside..."
