REVIEW FROM www.livingtradition.co.uk

ROY PALMER
Working Songs: Industrial Ballads And Poems From Britain And Ireland, 1780s-1980s
Heron Publishing ISBN: 9780954068257

The historian E.P.Thompson has rightly described Roy Palmer, along with his prolific output of books and articles as, “an unusual link between the world of scholarship and practical song”. This, his latest production, in no way disappoints.

The songs here are wide in scope with a preponderance of new material drawn largely from Broadsides.  At various points in the book we see the links between the printed and oral tradition. For example, Hard Times Of Old England, broadside in origin and kept alive, with little change, in oral tradition by the Copper Family.  Classics of the genre include; Poverty Knock, The Blantyre Explosion, The Coal Owner And The Pitman's Wife, and the Jute Mill Song.

Within this extensive collection, 93 of the songs have musical notation. The material is enhanced by superb photographs and illustrations, copious detailed notes, and an extensive bibliography/discography.  It is also a social and economic history, in short a handbook of real substance running to 400 pages.

Modern songs include the compositions of Norman Buchan, Mary Brooksbank, Dave Goulder, Johnny Handle, Ewan MacColl, Matt McGinn, Jock Purdon, Cyril Tawney and Bernard Wrigley.

The last song in this fine compilation is I'm A Poor Old Weaver, collected by Alison McMorland from Lucy Berry of Bolton in 1974.  Lucy stated that she felt “a deep sense of satisfaction that what she and her workmates had achieved in her working life”.  This cracker of a song and all the others, demonstrate, in varying degrees, the emotive power, practical function(s) and social significance of song in the work or work related context.

In 2006 Roy Palmer was awarded the prestigious Gold Badge from the English Folk Dance Song Society for his services. This book is of gold standard............

Geordie McIntyre