Silly Sisters (album)
Encyclopedia
Silly Sisters is a 1976 album by English
folk singer
s Maddy Prior
and June Tabor
, their first collaborative effort as a duo. The pair later adopted the Silly Sisters
name for subsequent projects.
Maddy does a convincing Scottish accent on "Burning of Auchindoon".
Among the session musicians are several stars - Martin Carthy, Nic Jones and Andy Irvine have each recorded solo albums. Johnny Moynihan has recorded with Anne Briggs, Planxty
and Sweeney's Men
. Danny Thompson has recorded with Pentangle
, Ralph McTell
, Richard Thompson, Nick Drake
and John Martyn, among many others.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
folk singer
Folk Singer
Folk Singer is a 1964 album by Muddy Waters. Waters plays acoustic guitar, backed by Willie Dixon on string bass, Clifton James on drums, and Buddy Guy on acoustic guitar...
s Maddy Prior
Maddy Prior
Maddy Prior is an English folk singer, best known as the lead vocalist of Steeleye Span.-Early life:...
and June Tabor
June Tabor
June Tabor is an English folk singer.- Early years :June Tabor was inspired to sing by hearing Anne Briggs' EP Hazards of Love in 1965. "I went and locked myself in the bathroom for a fortnight and drove my mother mad. I learned the songs on that EP note for note, twiddle for twiddle. That's how I...
, their first collaborative effort as a duo. The pair later adopted the Silly Sisters
Silly Sisters (band)
The Silly Sisters is the name of the English folk music duo, formed by Maddy Prior and June Tabor. Initially they performed together under their own names, and as such released their first album, Silly Sisters, later taking this name as the name of their duo. As such they released a subsequent...
name for subsequent projects.
Track listing
- "Doffin' Mistress" (Traditional)
- "Doffin' Mistress" was first recorded by Anne BriggsAnne BriggsAnne Briggs is an English folk singer. Although she traveled widely in the 1960s and early 1970s, appearing at folk clubs and venues in England and Ireland, she never aspired to commercial success or to achieve widespread public acknowledgment of her music...
in 1963, and possibly originates in the cotton mills of UlsterUlsterUlster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
. Her version was a huge influence on both June Tabor and Maddy Prior in their decisions to become singers.
- "Doffin' Mistress" was first recorded by Anne Briggs
- "Burning of Auchindoon" (Traditional)
- Child Ballad 183. Based on events in 1592, it concerns a feud between the Huntly family and the Earl of MorayEarl of MorayThe title Earl of Moray has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland.Prior to the formal establishment of the peerage, Earl of Moray, numerous individuals ruled the kingdom of Moray or Mormaer of Moray until 1130 when the kingdom was destroyed by David I of Scotland.-History of the...
. The ruins of Auchindown Castle still exist.
- Child Ballad 183. Based on events in 1592, it concerns a feud between the Huntly family and the Earl of Moray
- "Lass of Loch RoyalThe Lass of Roch Royal-Synopsis:A woman comes to Gregory's castle, pleading to be let in; she is either pregnant or with a newborn son. His mother turns her away; sometimes she tells her that he went to sea, and she goes to follow him and dies in shipwreck. Gregory wakes and says he dreamed of her...
" (Traditional)- Child Ballad 76. Also known as "Lord Gregory". Words published by Herd 1776, and in the Scots Musical Museum in 1787. Recorded by Elizabeth CroninElizabeth CroninElizabeth "Bess" Cronin was an Irish singer who specialized in traditional music.Born in West Cork, the daughter of Seán Ó hIarlaithe, a schoolteacher, she lived in the Baile Bhuirne area all her life. She spent her teenage years on her uncle's farm nearby. She married Seán Ó Croinin and they...
in 1951 and the Everly Brothers in 1959.
- Child Ballad 76. Also known as "Lord Gregory". Words published by Herd 1776, and in the Scots Musical Museum in 1787. Recorded by Elizabeth Cronin
- "The Seven Joys of MaryThe Seven Joys of Mary (carol)"The Seven Joys of Mary" is a traditional carol about Mary's happiness at moments in the life of Jesus, probably inspired by the trope of the Seven Joys of the Virgin in the devotional literature and art of Medieval Europe...
" (Traditional)- The earliest version of this song is from the fourteenth century ("Joyes Fyve"). Also collected by Cecil SharpCecil SharpCecil James Sharp was the founding father of the folklore revival in England in the early 20th century, and many of England's traditional dances and music owe their continuing existence to his work in recording and publishing them.-Early life:Sharp was born in Camberwell, London, the eldest son of...
in 1918 from Mrs Nichols.
- The earliest version of this song is from the fourteenth century ("Joyes Fyve"). Also collected by Cecil Sharp
- "My Husband's Got No Courage In Him" (Traditional)
- A humorous erotic song that was first recorded by Jeannie RobertsonJeannie RobertsonJeannie Robertson was a Scottish folk singer.-Hamish Henderson and Alan Lomax:It is not known where Jeannie Robertson was born but she did live at 90, Hilton Street in Aberdeen, where a plaque now commemorates her. Like many of the Scottish Travellers from Aberdeen, Glasgow and Ayrshire, she went...
.
- A humorous erotic song that was first recorded by Jeannie Robertson
- "Singing The Travels" (Traditional)
- Collected from the Symondsbury Mummers. A dispute between a husbandman (a self-employed farmer) and a serving man. Maddy and June sang the same song again on the live album "Ballads and Candles" in 2000, with an extra verse.
- "Silver Whistle" (Traditional)
- A JacobiteJacobitismJacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
song from Flora MacNeil, translated from Gaelic. The tune was composed by Johnny Moynihan.
- A Jacobite
- "The Grey Funnel Line" (Cyril TawneyCyril TawneyCyril Tawney was an English singer-songwriter, proponent of the traditional songs of the West of England and traditional and modern maritime songs.- Biography :...
)- A description of the daily life of a sailor in the Royal Navy (often nicknamed "The grey funnel line" due to the battleship grey of its livery), written by Cyril Tawney based on his own life. This recording was used in the opening title sequence in the film SirensSirens (film)Sirens is a 1993 film, written and directed by John Duigan, and set in Australia between the two World Wars.Sirens, along with Four Weddings and a Funeral and Bitter Moon—all released in the U.S...
starring Hugh GrantHugh GrantHugh John Mungo Grant is an English actor and film producer. He has received a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA, and an Honorary César. His films have earned more than $2.4 billion from 25 theatrical releases worldwide. Grant achieved international stardom after appearing in Richard Curtis's...
.
- A description of the daily life of a sailor in the Royal Navy (often nicknamed "The grey funnel line" due to the battleship grey of its livery), written by Cyril Tawney based on his own life. This recording was used in the opening title sequence in the film Sirens
- "GeordieGeordie (ballad)-Synopsis:The "Geordie" of the title is taken for a crime, to hang; it may be rebellion, murder, horse-stealing, or poaching deer. His wife goes to appeal for his life, sometimes refusing offers to marry her, once widowed, along the way....
" (Traditional)- Child Ballad 209. A song about Scottish clan loyalty in the Hay family.
- "The Seven Wonders" (Traditional)
- A WelshWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
song collected from Jill King. A sequence of ever-more improbable events.
- A Welsh
- "Four Loom WeaverFour Loom WeaverFour Loom Weaver , probably derived from "The Poor Cotton Weaver" is a 19th-century English lament on starvation. One source also names it Jone o Grinfilt though this title usually refers to different lyrics and score, which is about the naiveté of country folk...
" (Traditional)- A song about unemployment in the nineteenth century, possibly dating from 1819-20. First recorded by Ewan MacCollEwan MacCollEwan MacColl was an English folk singer, songwriter, socialist, actor, poet, playwright, and record producer. He was married to theatre director Joan Littlewood, and later to American folksinger Peggy Seeger. He collaborated with Littlewood in the theatre and with Seeger in folk music...
in 1951.
- A song about unemployment in the nineteenth century, possibly dating from 1819-20. First recorded by Ewan MacColl
- "The Game Of Cards" (Traditional)
- Also known as "The Game of All Fours". Noted by Cecil Sharp in 1908. Another erotic song, this time using the language of playing cards to serve as innuendo to another sort of game.
- "Dame Durden" (Traditional)
- "Alright, chaps. Food!" says Martin Carthy at the start of the song, calling the musicians together. A Copper Family song which is a variation on the "Widdicombe Fair" theme.
Personnel
- Maddy Prior - vocals
- June Tabor - vocals
- Martin CarthyMartin CarthyMartin Carthy MBE is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon and later artists such as Richard Thompson since he emerged as a young musician in the early days...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Nic JonesNic JonesNicolas Paul "Nic" Jones is an English folk singer, fingerstyle guitarist and fiddle player whose professional career spanned the years 1964-1982. He recorded five solo albums, and was a frequent guest performer.-Biography:...
- fiddleFiddleThe term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music... - Tony Hall - melodeonMelodeon (organ)A melodeon is a type of 19th century reed organ with a foot-operated vacuum bellows, and a piano keyboard. It differs from the related harmonium, which uses a pressure bellows. Melodeons were manufactured in the United States sometime after 1812 until the Civil War era...
- Andy IrvineAndy Irvine (musician)Andrew Kennedy 'Andy' Irvine is a folk musician, singer, and songwriter, and a founding member of the popular band Planxty. He is an accomplished player of the mandolin, bouzouki, mandola, guitar-bouzouki, harmonica and hurdy-gurdy....
- mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single... - Johnny MoynihanJohnny MoynihanJohn "Johnny" Moynihan , is a folk singer based in Dublin, Ireland. He is often credited as being responsible for introducing the bouzouki and the Irish bouzouki into Irish music in the mid 1960s. Known as "The Bard of Dalymount", as a young man he played in the band Sweeney's Men with Andy Irvine,...
- bouzoukiBouzoukiThe bouzouki , is a musical instrument with Greek origin in the lute family. A mainstay of modern Greek music, the front of the body is flat and is usually heavily inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The instrument is played with a plectrum and has a sharp metallic sound, reminiscent of a mandolin but... - Gabriel Mckeon - uillean pipes
- Danny ThompsonDanny ThompsonDaniel Henry Edward 'Danny' Thompson is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist and businessman...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - John Gillaspie
- Brian Golbey
Critical Reviews
This album has been widely regarded as the best English acoustic traditional folk album of the 1970s. The combination of Maddy's soprano voice and June's somewhat lower voice created thrilling harmonies. The songs cover a wide range of subjects - work, religion, sexual relations, humour, tragedy and the absurd.Maddy does a convincing Scottish accent on "Burning of Auchindoon".
Among the session musicians are several stars - Martin Carthy, Nic Jones and Andy Irvine have each recorded solo albums. Johnny Moynihan has recorded with Anne Briggs, Planxty
Planxty
Planxty is an Irish folk music band formed in the 1970s, consisting initially of Christy Moore , Dónal Lunny , Andy Irvine , and Liam O'Flynn...
and Sweeney's Men
Sweeney's Men
Sweeney's Men was an Irish traditional band. They emerged from the late 1960s Irish roots revival, along with groups such as The Dubliners and the Clancy Brothers. The founding line-up in May 1966 was 'Galway Joe' Dolan, Johnny Moynihan and Andy Irvine....
. Danny Thompson has recorded with Pentangle
Pentangle (band)
Pentangle are a British folk rock band with some folk jazz influences. The original band were active in the late 1960s and early 1970s and a later version has been active since the early 1980s...
, Ralph McTell
Ralph McTell
Ralph McTell is an English singer-songwriter and acoustic guitar player who has been an influential figure on the UK folk music scene since the 1960s....
, Richard Thompson, Nick Drake
Nick Drake
Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
and John Martyn, among many others.