> Folk Music > Records > The Willett Family: The Roving Journeymen
The Roving Journeymen
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The Roving Journeymen Topic Records 12T84 (LP, UK, 1963) |
Recorded by Bill Leader and Paul Carter in the singer's
home on a caravan site near Ashford, Middlesex in 1962;
Topic Records Ltd acknowledges the help of Ken Stubbs, of Lingfield, Surrey, who first located and recorded the Willetts;
Edited by Paul Carter;
Photograph and sleeve design by Brian Shuel
Musicians
Tom Willett (1878-1966): vocals [1-2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12];
Chris Willett (1914-2004): vocals [5, 7, 9, 11];
Ben Willett (1909-1974): vocals [3]
Tracks
Side 1 | Side 2 |
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All songs trad. |
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Review
This review is from Gramophone, September 1963:
… If The Iron Muse deals with the world of industry, The Roving Journeymen (12T84), the work of the Willett Family–Tom, Chris and Ben–moves out into the countryside, presenting unaccompanied singing by three members of a gypsy family. Once again, A. L. Lloyd has provided detailed and exceptionally valuable notes. The fact that the songs are all unaccompanied and that they were recorded at Tom Willett's home (at one point a female voice can be heard saying: “You make him drunk, he'll sing better”) may suggest that this is an LP for the specialist. I think this is probably true. The collector who just wants to hear good folk-songs well sung is likely to find this record a trifle austere. For the enthusiast, however, it is of enormous interest. Tom Willett (84 years old) performs a variety of songs, many of them previously undocumented, including a lengthy version of Lord Bateman and a very moving lovesong, The Blacksmith Courted Me.
> Folk Music > Records > The Willett Family: A-Swinging Down the Lane
A-Swinging Down the Lane
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A-Swinging Down the Lane Forest Tracks FT2CD KS1 (2 CD-R, UK, September 2013) |
Recorded by Ken Stubbs in 1960-62 in Middlesex, Kent and Sussex;
Notes by Paul Marsh, based on his own research and other information
Musicians
Tom Willett (1878-1966): vocals [1-15, 17-26, 29-32, 33-38];
Mary-Ann Willett (née Smart, 1883-1966): vocals [30-31, 38];
Tom Willett Jnr. (1904-1983): vocals [43];
Ben Willett (1909-1974): vocals [28, 34];
Chris Willett (1914-2004): vocals [27, 29-33, 39-41];
Noah Willett (1894-1978): vocals [42];
‘Young’ Willett (born c. 1948): vocals [16]
Tracks
CD 1 | CD 2 |
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All tracks are sung by Tom Willett unless notes otherwise. |
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> Folk Music > Records > The Willett Family: Adieu to Old England
Adieu to Old England
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Adieu to Old England Musical Traditions Records MTCD361-2 (2 CD-R, UK, October 2013) |
Recorded by Ken Stubbs, Paul Carter and Mike Yates
Musical Traditions booklet notes by Rod Stradling
Musicians
Tom Willett (1878-1966): vocals [1-22, 25, 31-32];
Chris Willett (1914-2004): vocals [22-23, 25-26, 28-30, 33-35];
Ben Willett (1909-1974): vocals [24, 27]
Tracks
CD 1: Tom Willett | CD 2: Tom, Chris and Ben Willett |
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All tracks recorded by Ken Stubbs in c. 1960 except
Track 32 recorded by Paul Carter in 1962
(from
The Roving Journeymen);
Track 34 recorded by Mike Yates in 1978
(from
Here's Luck to a Man);
Tracks 33, 35 recorded by Mike Yates in 1978
> Folk Music > Records > The Willett Family
Other books and records with the Willett Family
Ken Stubbs,
The Life of a Man: English Folk Songs from the Home Counties,
London: E.F.D.S. Publications, 1970
Various Artists,
Travellers: Songs, Stories and Tunes from English Gypsies,
LP, Topic 12TS395, 1979
Various Artists,
Hidden English: A Celebration of English Traditional Music,
CD, Topic TSCD600, 1996
Various Artists,
My Ship Shall Sail the Ocean
(The Voice of the People Vol. 2),
CD, Topic TSCD652, 1998
Various Artists,
Farewell, My Own Dear Native Land
(The Voice of the People Vol. 4),
CD, Topic TSCD654, 1998
Various Artists,
My Father's the King of the Gypsies
(The Voice of the People Vol. 11),
CD, Topic TSCD661, 1998
Various Artists,
We've Received Orders to Sail
(The Voice of the People Vol. 12),
CD, Topic TSCD662, 1998
Various Artists,
There Is a Man Upon the Farm
(The Voice of the People Vol. 20),
CD, Topic TSCD670, 1998
Various Artists,
Here's Luck to a Man …,
Gypsy Songs and Music from South-East England,
CD, Musical Traditions MTCD320, 2003
Various Artists,
Three Score and Ten: 70 Years of Topic Records,
7 CD, Topic TOPIC70, 2009
Various Artists,
I'm a Romany Rai
(The Voice of the People Vol. 22),
2 CD, Topic TSCD672D, 2012
Various Artists,
Wait Till the Clouds Roll By,
3 CD, Musical Traditions MTCD518-0, 2020