Martin Carthy

The Carthy Chronicles: A Journey Through the Folk Revival

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AllMusic Review by Chris Nickson

It would be far too easy to simply call this the definitive Martin Carthy compilation. Given its length -- four CDs plus a CD-ROM -- it would seem to cover all the high spots. In fact, it goes far deeper, looking at his career not chronologically, but splitting the albums into Classic Carthy, Carthy in Company, Carthy Contemporaries, and Child: Carthy. It's an approach that works well and which also discovers plenty of hidden gems that have never seen the light of day before, from early live performances to tracks by his first band, Three City Four, that have never been reissued on CD. It all underscores the fact that Carthy is a major force in English -- and British -- folk music, someone who deserves every plaudit he's ever been given, whether for his understated guitar technique or his thoughtful interpretations of traditional songs, illustrated here on the first and last discs. And while his reputation rests heavily on that traditional arrangement of material, he's done a good share of modern work, too, whether his own, all-too-infrequent compositions like "Company Policy," Dylan, Richard Thompson, or even Gilbert O'Sullivan. From solo work to duets with fiddler Dave Swarbrick, the bold Brass Monkey, and Waterson:Carthy, the man plowed a lot of furrows and the compilers of this set have gone over them all with a very fine-toothed comb. Add to that an excellent booklet, and one has an outstanding set and a well-deserved tribute to one of the great folk figures.

Track Listing - Disc 1

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time
1	Scarborough Fair Traditional	Martin Carthy	4:12
2	Byker Hill Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Dave Swarbrick	2:57
3	Cold, Haily, Windy Night Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Dave Swarbrick	4:25
4	Skewbald Traditional	Martin Carthy	3:58
5	Creeping Jane Traditional	Martin Carthy	4:17
6	Old Horse Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Howard (Jimmy) Evans / John Kirkpatrick / Richard Thompson	3:52
7	A Question of Sport Martin Carthy	Martin Carthy feat: Dave Swarbrick	3:41
8	Lovely Joan Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Howard (Jimmy) Evans / John Kirkpatrick	3:13
9	The Maid and the Palmer Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Brass Monkey	5:38
10	Begging Song Martin Carthy / Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Dave Swarbrick	6:21
11	I Was a Young Man Traditional	Martin Carthy	2:44
12	Prince Heathen Traditional	Martin Carthy	7:55
13	Prickle Holly Bush Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Lal Waterson / Mike Waterson / Norma Waterson / Rachel Waterson	5:31
14	Lord Franklin Traditional	Martin Carthy	3:39
15	Lemady/Arise and Pick a Posy Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: The Albion Band	3:22
16	Famous Flower of Serving Men Traditional	Martin Carthy	9:21
17	Glorishears Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: John Kirkpatrick	2:43

Track Listing - Disc 2

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time
1	New St. George Richard Thompson	Martin Carthy feat: The Albion Band	4:24
2	Carthy's March/The Lemon Tree Dave Swarbrick	Martin Carthy feat: Band of Hope	4:29
3	I Haven't Told Her, She Hasn't Told Me	Martin Carthy feat: Dave Swarbrick	1:19
4	My Girl	Martin Carthy feat: Rory and Alex McEwen / Lisa Turner	2:34
5	Boys of Bedlam Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Steeleye Span	4:20
6	Oh, Had I a Golden Thread Pete Seeger	Martin Carthy feat: Three City Four	2:58
7	Anc Song (Azicatal) Martin Carthy	Martin Carthy feat: Blue Murder	2:26
8	Wimoweh Paul Campbell	Martin Carthy	1:05
9	Young Banker Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: The Watersons	3:10
10	The Postman's Knock Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Ashley Hutchings	1:56
11	Constant Billy Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: John Kirkpatrick	5:35
12	Lakes of Cold Flynn Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: John Kirkpatrick	5:30
13	Irish Washerwoman/Ash Plant Traditional	Martin Carthy	3:04
14	Arthur McBride Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Dave Swarbrick	3:23
15	The Royal Forester/Bald-Headed End of the Broom Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: The Watersons	6:26
16	Nafarroa	Martin Carthy feat: Oskorri	4:11
17	The Wren Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Dave Swarbrick	1:37
18	The King Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Steeleye Span	1:26
19	Joy Health Love and Peace Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: The Watersons	1:36
20	Hunting the Wren Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Steeleye Span	2:47
21	Hunting the Cutty Wren Les Barker / Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Les Barker / June Tabor	3:21
22	Byker Hill Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Dave Swarbrick	7:29

Track Listing - Disc 3

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time
1	Nothing Rhymed Gilbert O'Sullivan	Martin Carthy	2:12
2	Lord of the Dance Sydney Carter	Martin Carthy feat: Dave Swarbrick	2:43
3	Rivers of Babylon (Babalon)	Martin Carthy	1:24
4	History Lesson Leon Rosselson	Martin Carthy feat: Three City Four / Leon Rosselson	2:56
5	January Man Dave Goulder	Martin Carthy	3:18
6	Ballad of Alfie Hinds	Martin Carthy	2:37
7	The Humane Turnkey, Pt. 2 Peter Bellamy	Martin Carthy	2:20
8	Farewell, Farewell Martin Carthy	Martin Carthy	3:17
9	Dust to Dust John Kirkpatrick	Martin Carthy	3:43
10	Stitch in Time Mike Waterson	Martin Carthy	3:06
11	Trimdon Grange Tommy Armstrong	Martin Carthy	5:14
12	Palaces of Gold Leon Rosselson	Martin Carthy	5:00
13	Springhill Mine Disaster Ewan MacColl / Peggy Seeger	Martin Carthy	4:15
14	Coal Not Dole Kay Sutcliffe	Martin Carthy feat: The Watersons	3:27
15	Perfumes of Arabia Maggie Holland	Martin Carthy	3:32
16	Such a War Has Never Been Les Barker / Martin Carthy	Martin Carthy feat: Dave Swarbrick	3:36
17	The Wife of the Soldier Bertolt Brecht / John Scott	Martin Carthy	1:34
18	The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll Bob Dylan	Martin Carthy	5:03
19	The Ant and the Grasshopper Leon Rosselson	Martin Carthy	2:57
20	Company Policy Martin Carthy	Martin Carthy	3:59
21	On a Monday Morning Paul Hutchinson	Martin Carthy	2:37
22	Rave On Norman Petty / Bill Tilghman / Sonny West	Martin Carthy feat: Steeleye Span	1:54
23	Oor Hamlet Adam McNaughtan	Martin Carthy	3:49
24	The Harry Lime Theme (Third Man Theme) Anton Karas	Martin Carthy	3:32

Track Listing - Disc 4

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time
1	Jack Orion Martin Carthy	Martin Carthy feat: Dave Swarbrick	4:09
2	The Seven Virgins (Leaves of Life) Traditional	Martin Carthy	3:03
3	Duncan and Brady	Martin Carthy feat: Rory and Alex McEwen / Lisa Turner	2:23
4	Geordie Traditional	Martin Carthy	3:26
5	Sir Patrick Spens Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Eliza Carthy	5:36
6	King Henry Traditional	Martin Carthy	6:20
7	Sovay the Female Highwayman Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Dave Swarbrick	3:45
8	Man of Newlyn Town Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Dave Swarbrick	2:19
9	The Bows of London Traditional	Martin Carthy	5:55
10	Lucy Wan Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Dave Swarbrick	4:19
11	Lord Randall Traditional	Martin Carthy	4:35
12	The Whale Catchers Traditional	Martin Carthy	3:00
13	Rufford Park Poachers Martin Carthy	Martin Carthy	3:54
14	John Barleycorn Traditional	Martin Carthy	2:28
15	Hard Times of Old England Traditional	Martin Carthy	2:57
16	Hard Cheese of Old England Les Barker / Traditional	Martin Carthy	2:49
17	Over the Hills and Far Away Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Isla St. Clair	2:02
18	The Farmer's Servant Traditional	Martin Carthy	1:50
19	False Knight on the Road Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Steeleye Span	5:36
20	The Elfin Knight Traditional	Martin Carthy feat: Bert Jansch	3:51

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