As soon as I heard 'In dulce jubilo' by Mike Oldfield in the 70s, I was hooked on jazzed up folk music. This was followed by 'All around my hat' by Steeleye Span, and then 'Day trip to Bangor' by Fiddlers Dram.

I spent a long time searching for more, and found basically about three people behind the whole lot, which surprised me considering there was quite a bit around from the 70s onwards.

To both save anyone the shlep I had (main source the shop in Cecil Sharp house, Regent's Park, London, which is now located in the centre of London as it has left Cecil Sharp house) and to promote what is one of my main favourite music, I'll list as many of the best tracks I've found in case anyone else would like to sample a style rarely heard on the radio since Day trip to Bangor nearly 30 years ago.

Ashley Hutchings is the major producer of mainly Morris dances (don't go to sleep, these are rock versions), the best in my opinion 'Speed the plough' and 'Postman's knock', and the Morris On series of albums are now up to about the 4th, and still coming.
Next, Richard Thompson, the guitarist who produced the amazing album 'Strict Tempo', and finally the band most folk rock artists were in at one time or another, the Albion band and its many variations.
There's also an unexpected element in Status Quo's 'Burning bridges', which features a tune many of us also learnt at school on the recorder. And a snippet of a Scottish dance treated in a similar way in Wizzard's 'Are you ready to rock'.

I hope I can introduce a few new people to what (for those into it) is one of the best types of music to cheer you up, make you feel like dancing, and generally get you going that I know. And if there are any more tracks by other artists, please add them here, I'm always after more. I know there are some similar records from France, Belgium and Holland but I have no details. I also play some myself and hope to record a few tracks of tunes I haven't heard yet with the rock treatment, when I can get round to it, the first being 'The wild rover', which fits the style perfectly- and all out of copyright!

Would you consider the likes of the Pogues as folk rock? Love that style of music.

Er... are you psychic Copago? After writing about 'The wild rover' just now, I thought I'd play it, and while it was on, a little message popped up that I received a reply. And of course, who was playing the song? The Pogues of course! (feat. Sinead O'Connor). And yes, I have quite a few of the Pogues' songs as well, all Celtic folk is on the same lines as both British and European folk and Morris dances, so it's definitely included when they use traditional music as they often do.

OK, I think the elements were already in place for the Pogues to be playing at that moment, but it could have been any of the others I had mentioned, or the version by The Dubliners etc., so still a pretty good bullseye hit in my view

Quote:

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Er... are you psychic Copago?

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I knew you were going to say that.

My favourite music is Australian folk, especially the more hyped up stuff and it all has a heavy Irish influence.

I like anything from Richard Thompson, from Fairport Convention to the albums with then-wife Linda, to his solo recordings. I haven't heard much Steeleye Span, I think I have a live album they released. Last year I bought a copy of The Incredible String Band's "5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion/The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" two albums on one cd, which was amazing. Now I'm hunting for more
of their re-issues.

Probably more rock than folk, depending on one's taste- I list Mckendree Spring, McGuinness Flint, Gallagher & Lyle (their early lp's), and Seatrain among my favorites as well as early releases from Horslips.

There's a double cd of John Martyn's more folky tunes on Island Records worth hunting down. I just love his voice. Lindisfarne is another favorite, especially their live album. "The Best of Bert Jansch" is another great album I recommend, a great traditional folk compilation.

Earlier this year I finally tracked down a couple cd's from Anne Briggs, a real treasure for those who love traditional British folk. She has such an amazing beautiful voice. There's very little, if any instrumentation to her music, just that incredible voice. Though I admit her music isn't a popular one, very much an acquired taste, if you like it, you'll love it (excuse my gushing as I fell in love with her music very quick!).

As long as we're mentioning the Pogues, and a very worthy mention that is, how about The Waterboys- a fine folk rock band in their time? Somewhat folky, but always worth plugging is Nick Drake and any band or singer that tries to follow in his footsteps such as Belle & Sebastian.

I'd like to hear more of Ewan MacColl as his "Dirty Old Town" ranks as my favorite folk song.

Oh yeah, The Waterboys - excellent group.

A pub up around your way Satguru, the Black Lion in Kilburn, used to have a great group on a Saturday night with all Pogues/Waterboys kind of music.

What about Saw Doctors? Bit more pop than folk I suppose.

The Saw Doctors? Now that's a new one on me...
I've never been much of a pub person really, more a coffee bar or tea shop one, I did see my friend's band in various pubs some time ago and I think that was it. But even then they were usually in a side room and you had to pay. But if I knew Richard Thompson or Ashley Hutchings was going to be there I would definitely make an appearance.

The only pub performance I wanted to see recently was a few years ago when Harry Hill, one of my favourite comedians, was on in a place in Putney (the opposite side of London). We drove about an hour to find it was cancelled. I think maybe that summed it up for me

(Unless I missed something...) let us not forget about Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie.

Glad to see I'm not the only aging hippie on this site. Last Sunday (18th) went into Oxford to see Steeleye Span on the first night of their 35th Anniversary Tour. Two hours of great music. Some oldies and quite a bit of new stuff. Maddy Prior sounds just as good as always.

Pentangle
John Renbourn Group -- now we've moved folk music back a century or two

Jacquie McShee and John Renbourn are still touring (they played here recently) and are still brilliant.