Martyn Wyndham-Read "Ballad Singer" German LP 1978

We've previously published work by this fine English folk singer who once made his home in Australia and has also been a constant visitor to our shores. He is still a regular performer. His interest in Australian bush and folk music continues.
This album is a 1978 German publication which provides music and lyrics for many of the tracks. The extensive notes on the rear and the LP insert are in both English and German.

A kind person, George, provided this album to my friend Gonzo who has lovingly ripped and cleaned the music and then gave the result to me for publication on this blog.  Many thanks George and Gonzo. (Click here to visit Gonzo's great blog)

Please note: Files are tagged as 1968 in error. If it matters to you, retag as 1978.


Track List
1. Broken Down Squatter
2. Widgegoara Joe
3. The Stockman's Last Bed
4. The Old Palmer Song
5. Bitter Whaling Ground
6. Euabalong Ball
7. I Drew my Ship
8. Flash Jack from Gundagai
9. Garten Mother's Lullaby
10. Dennis O'Reilly
11. Ballad of the Drover
12. Lord Franklin
13. Last Farewell to Sterling

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All files now available from MediaFire

Following such a positive response recommending MediaFire, I have now linked all downloads to MediaFire as well. I hope it all works out positively. I would hate to have to edit all those entries again in the near future. Here's hoping! The FileFactory links remain but, given the current situation, I recommend that visitors give preference to the MediaFire links.

And many thanks to those who contributed to the discussion by email and comments.

Uploading and downloading issues

Hi all!
I would like to open a discussion on file hosting facilities for this blog given my experiences with firstly Rapidshare, then Megaupload, and lately, FileFactory.
I'll summarise those experiences:-

Rapidshare - Very reliable for a long time with no problems and then they tightened up the rules so that any file held in a free account without being downloaded for over one month would be deleted (was previously three months).  They deleted several files without any notice and then started regularly issuing warnings about other files nearing the one month limit. This was the reason I discontinued with RapidShare. That change identified that even the older files, contrary to the notices from RapidShare, were still subject to regular downloading each week strongly throwing doubt on Rapidshare download counting integrity. (perhaps the fact that the notices included exhorations for me to buy a premium account had something to do with it???

Megaupload - I mainly picked it because, like RapidShare, free downloaders were not faced with those horrible "captchas" - just delays.  Their file management system for the account holder was very clumsy and there were a few problems with it but free uploading and downloading were relatively problem free most times and usually a bit faster than RapidShare in my experience.

FileFactory - When Megaupload was closed down, I had just a bit more than 24 hours to find an alternative before going away for a few days so my research was fairly limited and discussions on the WWW were suggesting FileFactory as a worthy contender. I tested it out and it seemed to work fairly well and my past experience downloading from them was satisfactory. The one major downside, for me, was those "capchtas" - I hate them when I download and I do not like forcing them on others. Unfortunately, FileFactory now appears to be seriously under-resourced for the additional traffic coming their way since the closure of Megaupload. As a free-user, I am currently restricted from uploading "pending further upload capacity" and they are warning of downloading delays. From a couple of comments, it sounds like downloading is currently a very unsatisfactory experience. Perhaps this will be rectified before too much longer but who knows?

My objective has always been to share material which is otherwise unavailable with other music lovers or researchers. I don't want to pay a small fortune for a "premium" account nor do I want to earn any rewards for downloads.  I have earnt rewards in the past but have never collected them as I believe that this is morally, if not legally, improper. I would prefer to avoid any system that has a "capchta" or similar verification system but I do want one that has a reasonable account holder file management system.

Any thoughts and recommendations?
I would love some feedback from visitors as to their thoughts and experiences. Do you have any suggestions or preferences on possible file hosting alternatives? I will even consider using two different file hosters. I'd be happy to consider anything. Another alternative - Would someone with a "premium" Rapidshare account like to host my files?

Downloading made simpler
Incidentally, you do not necessarily have to wallow through the various screens of file hosters and, even as a free downloader, you can queue files for download using a free, wonderful little program "Vity's FreeRapid Downloader".  You can get it from here (click to go to webpage)
If you are considering downloads from any of the multitude of sites covered, firstly run the program then right-click on the download link - select "copy  link location" or similar and this program should recognise the link and prompt you as to whether to use it to download. It takes care of all aspects of the download without using your browser, queues files for downloading rather than you having to do it manually later.  It will even provide you with the verification requests, if any, but you'll have to tend to them as they come up. You can even copy and paste multiple links in the one action. I've been using it for a couple of years and it is great and FREE.


Please, I would really like your input!

The Halliards - Untitled LP - 1960s

I know very little about this band but they brought out this LP in Australia in the late 1960s. The band members are listed as Derek Moule, Brian Hall, Paul Langford, Stan Armstrong and Eric Brooks with some help from Rob McCarthy, Bernie Kellow and John McLaughlin. They were an Australian group but it is obvious that some of them are ex-pats from the United Kingdom and Ireland. (Not to be confused with the folk band "Halliard")
This is not one of my rips. I picked this one up from one of my associates some considerable time ago and I have no idea who it was now.  Many thanks!
This is a great LP and they do great justice to the songs on this LP both vocally and instrumentally. In fact, it is one of my favourite albums. The songs are mainly a mix of tracks from the British Isles with one Australian traditional - "The Roma Railway". Also outstanding performances of "Sweet Thames Flow  Softly", "Twa Recruiting Sergeants", "Red Haired  Mary", "Biker Hill" and "Minore".

Track List
1. Come In, come in
2. Black Country
3. Sweet Thames Flow Softly
4. Manchester Rambler
5. William Bloat
6. Greasy Wheel
7. Biker Hill
8. Minore (Two sisters)
9. Roma Railway
10. Twa Recruiting Sergeant (from the Black Watch)
11. Red Haired Mary
12. Brady of Strabane


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Megaupload Closed Down

I believe that I now have active links for all offerings on this blog. Now using File Factory and I've gone a bit ga-ga doing complete new uploads and editing the links in the postings.
Now, I am not going to be surprised if I've failed to cover everything or something has gone wrong and I would love to hear of any errors I have made so I can fix them.

Martyn Wyndham-Read, Danny Spooner, Gordon MacIntyre and Peter Dickie "A Wench, a Whale and a Pint of Good Ale" 1966 LP Mono

This is the first of the albums that featured Danny Spooner. This time he is again in company with Martyn Wyndham-Read. Additionally, they are joined by another British ex-pat, Gordon MacIntyre. Gordon was very active in the Australian folk scene for many years; sadly passing away in 1999. Peter Dickie is also acknowledged but he is a complete enigma to me. The LP provides no details as to his actual input - can anyone help with some information on him?
This LP is self-statedly intended to provide greater British Isles folk input to the Australian scene which was then strongly influenced by the north American (US and Canadian) folk scene.
Again, we owe thanks to Denis for making and providing a recording of this LP.  There are some minor problem but it has edited well for such an old and well-loved LP.

Song List
1. The Farmer's Boy
2. The Apprentice Song
3. The Miller and the Maid
4. Er Fa La La Lo
5. The Devil and the Ploughman (Child 279 variant)
6. Greenland Whale Fishery
7. The Hog's-Eye Man
8. Ale Ale Glorious Ale
9. Banks of the Roses
10. I Drew My Ship
11. The Nightingale
12. Whip Jamboree
13. The Oggie Man (No More)
14. The Coast of Peru
15. Ay Waukin Oh
16. Farewell to Tarwarthie

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One of our US visitors has kindly pointed out that Peter Dickie is mentioned in Malcolm J Turnbull's history of the Australian folk movement (no - not the pollie Malcolm Turnbull) and you can find the relevant section at this link (click here).

Danny Spooner with Mick Farrell "in "Limbo" and other songs and places" 1978 LP

Danny Spooner surely did like putting out his early LPs in company with others. On this occasion he teamed up with one Mick Farrell who provides musical backing to Danny's guitar and also has some solo moments on the Uilleann Pipes.
I know, and can find, nothing about Mick Farrell other than in respect of his performance on this LP.  The LP notes advise that he was born in Sussex (England) and has Irish and Scottish ancestry.
I am a bit of a fan of the uilleann pipes (and also the Northrumbrian smallpipes). In the 1970s, interest in uilleann pipes was quite low despite the historically proficient performances by such greats as the then mostly retired Seamus Ennis (died 1982), Willie Clancy (died 1973) and Leo Rowsome (died 1970). The Dubliner maker, then in his eighties, Matt Kiernan, from whom Farrell says he obtained his pipes in 1975 was one of only a handful of active makers back then. Fortunately, the situation has improved greatly since then with lots of makers and players.
Obviously, Mick Farrell would have been a rarity in Australia in 1978. He states in the LP that "the chanter is pitched a little below C and this style is called the 'singing chanter' because of its felicitous compatibility with the human voice". In fact, he uses only the chanter (the drones are turned off) even in the solo parts. Regardless, he accompanies Danny brilliantly. (If interested there are some good clips featuring great uilleann pipes players on YouTube)

Track List
1. I drew my Ship (English traditional)
2. Limbo (British broadside)
3. The Newgate Stone (part English traditional)
4. Morrison's Jig (traditional)
5. The Maids of Cuil Mor (Irish)
6. Kishmul's Galley (a free translation of a Gaelic traditional)
7. Arthur McBride (Irish traditional - many versions of this)
8. Donald MacGillavry (Scottish traditional of the Jacobite era)
9. The Dancing Master (Irish instrumental)
10. Sean O Dubhir an Ghlenna (Sean O'Dwyer of the Glen) (Air and Song) (Irish Rebel Song)
11. The Lothian Hairst (Scottish traditional)
12. Felton Lonnin (Northrumbrian - Geordie)

I was provided with a great copy of this LP by one of our loyal visitors and the graphics but another visitor subsequently provided a cleaned up copy of the same LP and this is the version posted (I try not to do too much work if I don't have to). Many thanks to the both of you.

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Merry Christmas All

Just taking this moment to wish all my visitors a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

May all your good wishes come true and may the season be kind to you and yours.

A suggested New Year resolution:- Go to a folk festival and enjoy yourselves!

The Larrikins "A Larrikin History of Australia" 2 LP set 1987

These 25 tracks of "Bush Music, Songs and Bulldust to stop the Chooks laying for a Week" were performed live in Sydney in 1987 by the Larrikins then consisting of Warren Fahey, Cathie O'Sullivan, Dave de Hugard, Cleis Pearce, and Michael Atherton.
This is a very nice mix of tracks including Aussie traditionals, modern folk compositions, dance tunes etc. Tracks include The Death of Ben Hall. The Morning of the Fray, Norfolk Whalers, The Rabbit Trapper, Jim Jones at Botany Bay, The Freehold on the Plain, Banks of the Condamine, My Name is Edward Kelly, and Wee Pot Stove.
This is a good rip MP3 at 192 CBR. The total size with graphics is 126Mb. It is not one of my rips but I would be proud to claim it. Many thanks to whoever did this one. This is a very enjoyable album.

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Martyn Wyndham Read and Danny Spooner "All Around Down Under" Stereo LP 1989

As previously advised in this Blog, Danny Spooner has been resident in Australia for many years. His companion on this LP, Martyn Wyndham Read, has, spent several years in Australia developing a very respectable repertoire of Australian folk and traditional songs.
Again, we owe thanks to Denis for copying these tracks from off his LP and for the cover scans. The cover is very faded and I have greyscaled it for a little additional clarity.
There are some very good performances on this LP - They might be Brits but they do have a very good feel for these Australian songs.

And a small reminder - one of our visitors, Garry Gillard features Danny Spooner details on his website (click here)

Track List
1. Look out below (Danny)
2. Brisbane Ladies (both)
3. Our Jack (came home today) (both)
4. Four Little Johnny Cakes (Danny)
5. Put a Light in every Country Window (both)
6. When the Brumbies come to water (Martyn)
7. Lachlan Tigers (both)
8. New Life (Martyn)
9. Shearing in a Bar (Danny)
10. I don't go Shearing now (Martyn with Danny joining chorus)
11. The Pommy's Lament (Danny)

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