Scrumpy & Western EP
Encyclopedia
Scrumpy & Western EP was the second record release by Adge Cutler
and The Wurzels
and contained the 2 tracks from their original 1966 hit single "Drink Up Thy Zider / Twice Daily", plus 2 further tracks "Pill, Pill" and "Hark At 'Ee Jacko". The bands first single had reached #45 in the UK charts, despite the B-side Twice Daily being banned by the BBC for being too raunchy. The subsequent Scrumpy & Western EP released the following year, did not achieve as high a chart placing, however it gave name to whole new genre of music Scrumpy and Western
. All the tracks were recorded live by Bob Barratt at The Royal Oak Inn, Nailsea
on 2 November 1966.
The front cover of the EP has a photo of Adge Cutler (seated) with the band, against the background of a typical farm building. All are wearing "Yokel
Wear", that includes corduroy trousers, waistcoats, red kerchiefs and hats. Adge is holding the ubiquitous "Zider Jar".
. With a thick Somerset accent
, Adge played on his West Country
roots, singing many folk songs with local themes such as cider
making (and drinking), farming, dung-spreading, local villages and industrial work songs, often with a comic slant.
A number of live albums were recorded at local pubs and clubs, and included Adge Cutler penned songs such as Easton in Gordano
, The Champion Dung Spreader, and Thee's Got'n Where Thee Cassn't Back'n, Hassn't? together with songs written by others and some re-workings of popular folk songs of the time.
Adge Cutler died after falling asleep at the wheel of his car which overturned on a roundabout approaching the Severn Bridge
on 5 May 1974. He is buried in Nailsea
.
themes of cider, farming, local villages and west country traditions.
In 1976, they released "The Combine Harvester", a re-working of the song "Brand New Key
", by Melanie
, which became a UK hit, topping the charts for 2 weeks. The band quickly followed its success with the release of a number of similarly themed songs such as I Am A Cider Drinker (a rework of an existing melody "Una Paloma Blanca", which had been a hit for the George Baker Selection) which got to No 3 in the charts, and Farmer Bill's Cowman.
In 2007, The Wurzels and Tony Blackburn
re-released I Am A Cider Drinker with the royalties from the song going to the BUI Prostate Cancer
Care Appeal in Bristol
.
, most fans recognise another Wurzel song "Drink Up Thy Zider" as their anthem. It is played at the final whistle at Ashton Gate
if the home club win and it is sung by fans along with another Wurzel song "I am a cider drinker".
's West Country
that fuses comical folk-style songs, often full of double entendre
, with affectionate parodies of more mainstream musical genres, all delivered in the local accent/dialect
. Scrumpy
is a name given to traditional Somerset cider, and is frequently referred to in The Wurzels songs.
Exact styles vary by band or musician, and very few are known outside their native county
. The main exceptions to this are The Wurzels and Fred Wedlock
. Other artists who are included in the Scrumpy and Western genre include: The Yetties
from the village of Yetminster
in Dorset
, The Golden Lion Light Orchestra
from Worcestershire
, Who's Afear'd (also from Dorset), Trevor Crozier, Combyne Arvester (from Weston-super-Mare), the Yokels (from Wiltshire), Shag Connors and the Carrot Crunchers, and the Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra
.
Adge Cutler
Alan John 'Adge' Cutler was an English singer who had as his backing band the country and Western folk group The Wurzels. Cutler was known for his songs, but also his dry, West Country humour, and gained the unofficial title of "The Bard Of Avonmouth".-Early life:Alan John Cutler was born in...
and The Wurzels
The Wurzels
The Wurzels are a British Scrumpy and Western band...
and contained the 2 tracks from their original 1966 hit single "Drink Up Thy Zider / Twice Daily", plus 2 further tracks "Pill, Pill" and "Hark At 'Ee Jacko". The bands first single had reached #45 in the UK charts, despite the B-side Twice Daily being banned by the BBC for being too raunchy. The subsequent Scrumpy & Western EP released the following year, did not achieve as high a chart placing, however it gave name to whole new genre of music Scrumpy and Western
Scrumpy and Western
Scrumpy and Western refers humorously to music from England's West Country that fuses comical folk-style songs, often full of double entendre, with affectionate parodies of more mainstream musical genres, all delivered in the local accent/dialect...
. All the tracks were recorded live by Bob Barratt at The Royal Oak Inn, Nailsea
Nailsea
Nailsea is a town in the unitary authority of North Somerset within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England, approximately to the southwest of Bristol and about to the northeast of the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare. The nearest village is Backwell, which lies south of Nailsea on the...
on 2 November 1966.
The front cover of the EP has a photo of Adge Cutler (seated) with the band, against the background of a typical farm building. All are wearing "Yokel
Yokel
Yokel is a derogatory term referring to the stereotype of unsophisticated country people.-Stereotype:In the US, it is used to describe someone living in rural areas...
Wear", that includes corduroy trousers, waistcoats, red kerchiefs and hats. Adge is holding the ubiquitous "Zider Jar".
Adge Cutler and The Wurzels
The Wurzels were formed in 1966 as a backing group for, and by, singer/songwriter Adge CutlerAdge Cutler
Alan John 'Adge' Cutler was an English singer who had as his backing band the country and Western folk group The Wurzels. Cutler was known for his songs, but also his dry, West Country humour, and gained the unofficial title of "The Bard Of Avonmouth".-Early life:Alan John Cutler was born in...
. With a thick Somerset accent
West Country dialects
The West Country dialects and West Country accents are generic terms applied to any of several English dialects and accents used by much of the indigenous population of South West England, the area popularly known as the West Country....
, Adge played on his West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
roots, singing many folk songs with local themes such as cider
Cider
Cider or cyder is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. Cider varies in alcohol content from 2% abv to 8.5% abv or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, such as Germany and America, cider may be termed "apple wine"...
making (and drinking), farming, dung-spreading, local villages and industrial work songs, often with a comic slant.
A number of live albums were recorded at local pubs and clubs, and included Adge Cutler penned songs such as Easton in Gordano
Easton in Gordano
Easton in Gordano sometimes shortened to "E-I-G" is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is within the District of North Somerset and in 2001 the population was 4,719....
, The Champion Dung Spreader, and Thee's Got'n Where Thee Cassn't Back'n, Hassn't? together with songs written by others and some re-workings of popular folk songs of the time.
Adge Cutler died after falling asleep at the wheel of his car which overturned on a roundabout approaching the Severn Bridge
Severn Bridge
The Severn Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the River Severn between South Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol, England, and Monmouthshire in South Wales, via Beachley, a peninsula between the River Severn and River Wye estuary. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and...
on 5 May 1974. He is buried in Nailsea
Nailsea
Nailsea is a town in the unitary authority of North Somerset within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England, approximately to the southwest of Bristol and about to the northeast of the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare. The nearest village is Backwell, which lies south of Nailsea on the...
.
The Wurzels
After Adge's death the band continued to record, but deprived of their main songwriter they released in 1975 The Wurzels Are Scrumptious!, an album containing many favourites from the back catalogue, including a number of previously unrecorded Cutler songs. In order to continue the band used the common Scrumpy and Western device of re-writing popular pop songs of the time with the lyrics changed to include the usual yokelYokel
Yokel is a derogatory term referring to the stereotype of unsophisticated country people.-Stereotype:In the US, it is used to describe someone living in rural areas...
themes of cider, farming, local villages and west country traditions.
In 1976, they released "The Combine Harvester", a re-working of the song "Brand New Key
Brand New Key
"Brand New Key" is a pop song written by folk singer Melanie, which became a novelty hit in 1971-72. Taken from Melanie's album Gather Me, it was also known as "The Rollerskate Song" due to its chorus. It was her biggest hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in December 1971 and...
", by Melanie
Melanie Safka
Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk is an American singer-songwriter. Known professionally as simply Melanie, she is best known for her hits "Brand New Key", "Ruby Tuesday" and "Lay Down ".-Early career:...
, which became a UK hit, topping the charts for 2 weeks. The band quickly followed its success with the release of a number of similarly themed songs such as I Am A Cider Drinker (a rework of an existing melody "Una Paloma Blanca", which had been a hit for the George Baker Selection) which got to No 3 in the charts, and Farmer Bill's Cowman.
In 2007, The Wurzels and Tony Blackburn
Tony Blackburn
Tony Blackburn is an English disc jockey, who broadcast on the "pirate" stations Radio Caroline and Radio London in the 1960s and was the first disc jockey to broadcast on BBC Radio 1 in 1967. In 2002 he was the winner of the ITV reality TV programme I'm a Celebrity.....
re-released I Am A Cider Drinker with the royalties from the song going to the BUI Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
Care Appeal in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.
Drink Up Thy Zider and Bristol City Football Club
Although The Wurzels song "One For The Bristol City" is the official club song for Bristol City F.C.Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
, most fans recognise another Wurzel song "Drink Up Thy Zider" as their anthem. It is played at the final whistle at Ashton Gate
Ashton Gate
Ashton Gate Stadium is a stadium in Ashton Gate, Bristol, England, and is the home of Bristol City F.C. Located in the south-west of the city, just south of the River Avon, it has an all-seated capacity of 21,497, with an effective capacity for football matches of around 19,500, with an average...
if the home club win and it is sung by fans along with another Wurzel song "I am a cider drinker".
Scrumpy and Western Genre
The Scrumpy and Western genre refers to mainly humorous music from EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
that fuses comical folk-style songs, often full of double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
, with affectionate parodies of more mainstream musical genres, all delivered in the local accent/dialect
West Country dialects
The West Country dialects and West Country accents are generic terms applied to any of several English dialects and accents used by much of the indigenous population of South West England, the area popularly known as the West Country....
. Scrumpy
Scrumpy
Scrumpy is a term often used for strong ciders made in West Country of England. The term is especially used to distinguish those made locally in smaller quantities and using traditional methods from mass produced branded ciders....
is a name given to traditional Somerset cider, and is frequently referred to in The Wurzels songs.
Exact styles vary by band or musician, and very few are known outside their native county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
. The main exceptions to this are The Wurzels and Fred Wedlock
Fred Wedlock
Fred Wedlock was a folk singer best known for his UK hit single "The Oldest Swinger In Town". Wedlock performed at many venues in Britain and Europe, presented programmes for West Country TV and acted with the Bristol Old Vic and the Ministry of Entertainment, as well as undertaking after-dinner...
. Other artists who are included in the Scrumpy and Western genre include: The Yetties
The Yetties
The Yetties are an English folk music group and take their name from the Dorset village of Yetminster which was their childhood home. In 2007 The Yetties celebrated 40 years as a professional folk band....
from the village of Yetminster
Yetminster
Yetminster is a village in the English county of Dorset. It lies within the West Dorset administrative district of the county, about five miles south-west of the town of Sherborne. It is sited on the River Wriggle, a tributary of the River Yeo, and is built almost entirely of honey-coloured...
in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, The Golden Lion Light Orchestra
The Golden Lion Light Orchestra
The Golden Lion Light Orchestra is a four-piece traditional English and Irish folk music and ceilidh band. The band formed in the mid-1980's in the Golden Lion Pub, Cleehill, Shropshire, England, hence its name. They have since played at numerous venues, mostly centralised around the...
from Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, Who's Afear'd (also from Dorset), Trevor Crozier, Combyne Arvester (from Weston-super-Mare), the Yokels (from Wiltshire), Shag Connors and the Carrot Crunchers, and the Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra
Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra
The Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra were an eccentric band of British musicians, who joined together in early 1968 to play a fusion of comedy, jazz, and folk music, in a unique style which has been compared with the Temperance Seven and the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. Many of the songs performed dated...
.