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MARTIN CARTHY AND DAVE SWARBRICK "Both Ears and Tail"
ATRAX RECS 002

This CD is subtitled, 'Live at the Folkus Folk Club 1966' so don't expect state of the art digital super full colour stereo surround sound. No, no, this is more what used to be called, 'sparkling black and white', but sparkle it certainly does. Their set was based around Martin Carthy's first recording on the Fontana label and includes fine versions of, 'The Wind that Shakes the Barley', 'Broomfield Hill', 'Man of Newlyn Town' and 'Sovay', while Dave Swarbrick leads the way with, 'Drowsy Maggie', ' The Marquis of Tullybardine', 'The Four Poster Bed' and 'The Mason's Apron'.

These are some of the edited highlights from a recording made by the sound crew at Arnold and Carlton College on the 16th June 1966. An eventful day for Messrs Carthy and Swarbrick, which led to the title, 'Both Ears and Tail'. Martin Carthy relates more of this story in the liner notes, as well as filling in some of the background to the songs and some interesting hindsight regarding this performance and the evolution of the duo's musical identity and direction.

A tad rough and ready in some places but this is more than made up for by pure excitement, boundless energy and great music.

Peter Fairbairn

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This album was reviewed in Issue 43 of The Living Tradition magazine.