Recorded by Paul Carter and Frank Purslow in the singer’s home in Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 1969;
Notes by Frank Purslow;
Cover photograph by Brian Shuel

Musicians

Pboebe Smith: vocals

Tracks

Side 1

1. Once I Had a True Love (Roud 170) (5.00)
2. A Blacksmith Courted Me (Roud 816) (7.54)
3. Young Ellender (Roud 1417) (4.48)
4. Higher Germany (Roud 904; G/D 1:96) (3.18)

Side 2

5. Molly Vaughan (Roud 166; Laws O36; Henry H114) (4.21)
6. The Tan Yard Side (Roud 1021; Laws M28; Henry H52b) (2.19)
7. The Yellow Handkerchief (Roud 954) (3.51)
8. The Wexport Girl (Roud 263; Laws P35; G/D 2:200) (6.19)
9. The Dear Little Maiden (Roud 1751) (3.26)

All tracks trad.

Recorded by Mike Yates in Kent, Surrey and Sussex 1972-1975

Musicians

Bill Ellson: vocals, mouth organ [15];
Mary Ann Haynes: vocals [2, 4-6, 17];
Joe Jones: vocals [9-10];
Jasper Smith: vocals [1, 3, 8, 16, 19];
Levi Smith: vocals [11-13, 18];
Pboebe Smith: vocals [14];
Wiggy Smith: vocals [7, 20]

Tracks

Side 1

1. [JS] You Subjects of England (Roud 851) (1.22)
2. [MAH] Little Dun Dee (Roud 176) (1.59)
3. [JS] Hartlake Bridge (Roud 1729) (1.34)
4. [MAH] The Young Officer (Roud 21; Child 4; G/D 2:225; Henry H163) (3.41)
5. [MAH] All Through Mi Rakli (Roud 852) (1.01)
6. [MAH] At The Atchin Tan (Roud 1732) (1.15)
7. [WS] The Oakham Poachers (Roud 1686) (1.47)
8. [JS] Thornymoor Park (Roud 222) (1.16)
9. [JJ] The Farmer of Chester (Roud 2638; Laws L2) (1.44)
10. [JJ] The King and the Keeper (Roud 853) (2.35)
11. [LS] Georgie (Roud 90; Child 209; G/D 2:249) (1.25)
12. [LS] The Haymakers (Roud 153; Henry H697) (1.04)
13. [LS] The Broomdasher (Roud 1733) (1.04)

Side 2

14. [PS] Barbara Allen (Roud 54; Child 84; G/D 6:1193; Henry H236) (11.06)
15. [BE] Will You Buy My Sweet Blooming Lavender? (Roud 854) / Love Is Pleasing waltz (2.25)
16. [JS] The Squire and the Gypsy (Roud 229; Laws O4) (0.55)
17. [MAH] Erin’s Lovely Home (Roud 1427; Laws M6; G/D 6:1098; Henry H46) (2.42)
18. [LS] The Game of Cards (Roud 232) (1.16)
19. [JS] While the Yogger Mush Lays Sleeping (Roud 363) (1.39)
20. [WS] The Deserter (Roud 493; G/D 1:83) (2.52)

All tracks trad.

Recorded by Mike Yates 1975-76;
Produced by Mike Yates and Tony Engle;
Sleeve notes by Cecily Taylor;
Booklet notes and photographs by Mike Yates;
Front sleeve photograph by Fred Shaw, hand-coloured by Julia Bennett Studios, London

Musicians

Jasper Smith, vocals [1, 8, 11, 14], mouth organ [5, 9, 17], tuning [5, 17];
Levi Smith, vocals [3, 15], drum [17];
Minty Smith, vocals [4, 10-11], tuning [9];
Pboebe Smith, vocals [2, 6-7, 12-13, 16]

Tracks

Side 1

1. The Small Bird’s Whistle (Roud 199; Child 106; G/D 1:163) (1.58)
2. The Sheepfold (Roud 559; Laws O10) (5.43)
3. One Penny (Roud 393) (0.50)
4. The Basket of Eggs (Roud 377; G/D 2:307) (2.14)
5. The Pony March / Whistling Rufus (2.06)
6. Green Bushes (Roud 1040; Laws P2; Henry H143) (4.52)
7. Raking the Hay (Roud 855) (4.58)
8. The Moon Shines Bright (Roud 702) (1.11)

Side 2

9. Father Had a Knife (Roud 850) (1.13)
10. The Jew’s Garden (Roud 73; Child 155) (1.03)
11. Step Dance Tunes (1.00)
12. Sweet William (Roud 273; Laws K12; G/D 6:1245) (6.10)
13. Johnny Abourne (Roud 600; G/D 8:1535; Henry H151) (5.05)
14. Died for Love (Roud 18828) (1.51)
15. The Irish Girl (Roud 308; G/D 5:946; Henry H711) (1.10)
16. Captain Thunderbold (Roud 1453) (2.38)
17. Jigs and Polkas incl: Cock of the North; Flowers of Edinburgh; The Girl I Left Behind Me (2.42)

All tracks trad. except
Track 5b Mills / Kennedy

Recorded in Suffolk by Mike Yates in 1975/6 [1-10] and by Paul Carter and Frank Purslow in 1969 [11];
and at the King’s Head in Islington, London, by Rod Stradling in 1969 [13] and by Peta Webb in 1970 [12, 14];
Design by John Howson and Ken Lees;
Notes by John Howson, Mike Yates, Danny Stradling and Peta Webb

Musical Traditions review by Danny Stradling

Musicians

Pboebe Smith: vocals [1-8, 10-11, 13-14], step dancing [12];
Joe Smith (Phoebe’s husband): vocals [8-9];
Martin Byrnes: fiddle [12]

Tracks

1. Raking the Hay (Roud 855) (4.59)
2. Old Gypsy’s Waggon (Romany Rye) (Roud 13213) (2.08)
3. Barbara Allen (Roud 54; Child 84; G/D 6:1193; Henry H236) (11.03)
4. Jolly Herring (Roud 128; TYG 31) (3.06)
5. Johnny Abourne (Roud 600; G/D 8:1535; Henry H151) (5.08)
6. Wings of a Swallow (Old Rocky Road) (Roud 13214) (2.06)
7. Green Bushes (Roud 1040; Laws P2; Henry H143) (4.59)
8. Young Morgan (Roud 5369) (1.24)
9. Lavender (Roud 854) (0.42)
10. The Sheepfold (Roud 559; Laws O10) (7.37)
11. A Blacksmith Courted Me (Roud 816) (7.50)
12. Stepdance (1.05)
13. Game of All Fours (Roud 232) (3.00)
14. The Yellow Handkerchief (Roud 954) (4.16)

All tracks trad.

Track 11 is from Once I Had a True Love (Topic 12TS193, 1970);
Track 3 is from Songs of the Open Road (Topic 12TS253, 1975);
Tracks 1, 5, 7, 10 are from The Travelling Songster (Topic 12TS304, 1977)