Musicians

Fran Morter: vocals, flute;
Adam Rees: guitar, tenor guitar, violin

Tracks

1. Dives and Lazarus (Roud 477; Child 56) (5.15)
2. The Tailor’s Britches (Roud 1610; TYG 49) (2.27)
3. April Morning (Roud 1546) (4.00)
4. Lovely Joan (Roud 592) (3.11)
5. The Irish Girl (Roud 308; G/D 5:946; Henry H711) (3.53)

All tracks trad.

Recorded, mixed, mastered and produced by Ian Carter;
Recorded on location at St Peter and St Paul Church, Harndon-on-the-Hill, and Fran Foote’s living room, Basildon;
Belinda & Fran photo by Gary Franklin;
Textile art by Fran Foote;
Design by Nicola Kearey

Folk Radio UK review by Mike Davies

Musicians

Belinda Kempster: vocals [1-11];
Fran Foote: vocals [1-11], shruti box [2, 7, 11];
Ernest Austin: vocals [12]

Tracks

1. John Barleycorn (Roud 164; G/D 3:559) (3.28)
2. The Sheep-Shearing Song (Roud 812) (4.06)
3. The Dark-Eyed Sailor (Roud 265; Laws N35; G/D 5:1037; Henry H232) (4.49)
4. Bushes and Briars (Roud 1027) (3.28)
5. The Female Drummer (Roud 226; G/D 1:182; Henry H497) (5.36)
6. Little Bugger (Roud 149) (1.37)
7. Dearly Missed (Roud 191; TYG 2) (6.28)
8. The Nutting Girl (Roud 509; G/D 7:1475) (5.28)
9. The Knife in the Window (Roud 32572) (2.55)
10. The Bonny Labouring Boy (Roud 1162; Laws M14; Henry H576) (3.21)
11. Tarry Trousers (Roud 427) (2.28)
12. Ernie’s Song (0.42)

Notes

Belinda Kemster began singing traditional songs in the 1960s: “Our family has a history of farming and working on the land; these songs come from that way of life at work and at play.” She met her husband in a folk club, and their daughter Fran Foote grew up immersed in the local folk scene, learning songs from her parents from a very young age. Many of their songs were learned from Fran’s great uncle and farm labourer Ernie Austin, who was recorded for Topic’s album Flash Company in 1973. Austin lived and worked in the small village of Bentley, just outside Colchester, and sang songs related to his work and recreation, stuff you’d sing down the pub.

This collection of songs is made up of those taught to Belinda by Ernie and from private family recordings. Also included are personal favourites from Belinda’s repertoire: “We want our family’s music to be documented. This is the tradition of our family and singing these songs together feels like coming home.” Clay Hill Road is an area of Basildon that Belinda and Fran have always lived near.