if the musicians involved weren't getting paid anyway I don't feel too bad about buying the Domino reissue which I, uh, just did
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Saturday, 1 December 2018 21:01 (five years ago) link
But isn't the story that the Domino reissue was done with the master tapes - how did they get them?
― kraudive, Saturday, 1 December 2018 21:28 (five years ago) link
Oliver Knight is a sound engineer and Lal Waterson's son... perhaps he had them?
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Saturday, 1 December 2018 21:29 (five years ago) link
This article on the proceeding doesn't do much clarify the dispute ("Domino was found to have no prospect of a defence, and the matter was summarily decided":
https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/whats-on/harrogate-record-label-wins-fight-against-famous-company-1-9471219
Confusingly, Financial Times at the time of the reissue last year:
Just 2,000 copies were manufactured in 1972, half of them unplayable because the hole was pressed off-centre. With lukewarm support from fans, the album went out of print. Financial problems forced Leader to sell his record labels. The new owner, Highway, sold the rights to a third company, Celtic Music, which focused on Leader’s recordings of Irish traditional music. Bright Phoebus remained unreleased.But its reputation grew. In 2013 the Bright Phoebus Revisited Tour, featuring a band that included Marry, Carthy and Hawley with Jarvis Cocker, along with a BBC Radio 4 documentary, provided clear evidence of strong interest in the album. “It was ahead of its time,” says Marry. With demand for its release from a growing number of fervent fans unswayed by arcane arguments about folk music purity, Domino Records has bought the rights and remastered it. “It feels bloody great,” says Marry.
But its reputation grew. In 2013 the Bright Phoebus Revisited Tour, featuring a band that included Marry, Carthy and Hawley with Jarvis Cocker, along with a BBC Radio 4 documentary, provided clear evidence of strong interest in the album. “It was ahead of its time,” says Marry. With demand for its release from a growing number of fervent fans unswayed by arcane arguments about folk music purity, Domino Records has bought the rights and remastered it. “It feels bloody great,” says Marry.
Eliza Carthy is retweeting folks encouraging people to buy the Domino release and calling it a "tragedy in performing art." It seems possible that ownership of the copyright was disputed between Celtic Music (the prevailing party here) and the Watersons' heirs (who Domino "bought the rights from," got the masters and were paying royalties to?).
In any case, a lovely record. Sad to have the copyright holder, with no connection to the artists, or even the original label, keep it from listeners (or keep a crap version in circ).
― by the light of the burning Citroën, Saturday, 1 December 2018 21:30 (five years ago) link
Yeah Domino don't seem like the bad guys here
― Colonel Poo, Saturday, 1 December 2018 21:35 (five years ago) link
I'm not sure I believe that only 2000 copies were ever printed story because, when I lived in Glasgow, I had a copy and at least two other people I knew also had copies - and it didn't cost an arm and a leg either.
― Monica Kindle (Tom D.), Saturday, 1 December 2018 21:38 (five years ago) link
... pressed, not feckin' printed!
― Monica Kindle (Tom D.), Saturday, 1 December 2018 21:39 (five years ago) link
original pressing was 2k with 1k viable, it did have at least two other vinyl pressings according to Discogs
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Saturday, 1 December 2018 21:44 (five years ago) link
i went to see one of the bright phoebus revisited concerts - eliza carthy, martin carthy, norma waterson, marry waterson (lal's daughter) plus richard hawley and some other people. really good, though martin c. was the only person there who actually played on the original record iirc
― my name is leee john, for we are many (NickB), Saturday, 1 December 2018 21:53 (five years ago) link
That explains it! I wondered why it was so cheap!
― Monica Kindle (Tom D.), Saturday, 1 December 2018 22:14 (five years ago) link
... other than the fact that no-one was interested it in those days.
― Monica Kindle (Tom D.), Saturday, 1 December 2018 22:15 (five years ago) link
I bought it when it was first (re)released on vinyl. And I love it. It bugs me if they get nothing from it, of course.
― Leaghaidh am brón an t-anam bochd (dowd), Sunday, 2 December 2018 00:14 (five years ago) link
Some of this album is so very Hull it adds an extra layer of intimacy and relevance for me
― Bound 4 da Remoan (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 2 December 2018 00:19 (five years ago) link
It could really do without Rubber Band, Magical Man, and Shady Lady - but the rest is so good (including the early stuff on the second record.)
― Leaghaidh am brón an t-anam bochd (dowd), Sunday, 2 December 2018 00:25 (five years ago) link
Ah they're part of the mix of the album. "Shady Lady" I really enjoy some days, obv those are three are probably nobody's favourites
― Bound 4 da Remoan (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 2 December 2018 00:29 (five years ago) link
They certainly give off a "Watersons gig in a lively pub" vibe
― Bound 4 da Remoan (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 2 December 2018 00:31 (five years ago) link
Loving Frost and Fire lately
― valet doberman (Jon not Jon), Sunday, 2 December 2018 00:49 (five years ago) link
Frost and Fire is fab. I like A Yorkshire Garland even more. Watersons is great winter music imo.
― Bound 4 da Remoan (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 2 December 2018 00:56 (five years ago) link
love 'frost and fire', never got round to 'a yorkshire garland'. noodle vague will know this but this is crucial, beautiful watersons viewing:
https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-travelling-for-a-living-1966-online
― my name is leee john, for we are many (NickB), Sunday, 2 December 2018 08:10 (five years ago) link
twenty minutes into watching it again and even for a music documentary, there's so much booze and fags in that
― my name is leee john, for we are many (NickB), Sunday, 2 December 2018 08:36 (five years ago) link
other thing i loved was that norma seems to go on tour with a platypus nailed to a plank
― my name is leee john, for we are many (NickB), Sunday, 2 December 2018 08:42 (five years ago) link
Haven't seen the whole doc before! Only clips on YouTube.
― Bound 4 da Remoan (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 2 December 2018 11:31 (five years ago) link
ah well enjoy! rubber band haterz might feel differently after seeing it btw, mike seems like a sweet guy and that daftness is part and parcel of his charm
― my name is leee john, for we are many (NickB), Sunday, 2 December 2018 11:47 (five years ago) link
it’s the other guy with his hair and his porn and his beatles records you need to worry about
― my name is leee john, for we are many (NickB), Sunday, 2 December 2018 11:48 (five years ago) link
i’d never heard of bright phoebus despite yorkshire garland and frost and fire being long time favourites. i’ve listened to it now thanks to this thread and it’s wonderful. i have a high level of tolerance for elastic band/magical man/shady lady - they’re cornball but the sound of having fun and sit well amongst the rawness of the other songs, not just in the aesthetics of the lp but as a picture of life. the beauty of this album is elsewhere but as slightly embarrassing, unbuckled, silly fun it’s enjoyable.
― Fizzles, Sunday, 2 December 2018 19:11 (five years ago) link
*rubber band
much prefer it to the latter day tweeness of eg nu-coppers - the melding of fun and foul doesn’t work for me. bob and ron incontrovertible in their tart-voiced sussex harmonies.
― Fizzles, Sunday, 2 December 2018 19:14 (five years ago) link
Folkers are fond of their whimsy, even Martin Carthy does silly numbers, Dick Gaughan doesn't though. I saw a Mike Waterson solo (unaccompanied) concert once and one of the highlights of his set was a song called (something like) "Them Geese Is Ducks".
― Monica Kindle (Tom D.), Sunday, 2 December 2018 19:15 (five years ago) link
THE IRON ROAD IS A HARD ROAD #dickgaughanwhimsy
― Fizzles, Sunday, 2 December 2018 19:32 (five years ago) link
He's funny, Dick Gaughan, all of these guys are entertainers, but he doesn't do whimsical, no sirree.
― Monica Kindle (Tom D.), Sunday, 2 December 2018 19:33 (five years ago) link
the image of dick gaughan’s face at encountering some unnecessary whimsy is making me laugh on the sofa. but yes, whimsy def a part of english folk - feels like it’s about having a performing repertoire. but also the absurd logic is never far even from the grim songs
― Fizzles, Sunday, 2 December 2018 19:44 (five years ago) link
It's a part of folk music all over the world, not just England.
― Monica Kindle (Tom D.), Sunday, 2 December 2018 20:34 (five years ago) link
People are silly.
people like to laugh! even a light lol is a lol
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 2 December 2018 23:12 (five years ago) link
Too right.
― Monica Kindle (Tom D.), Sunday, 2 December 2018 23:33 (five years ago) link
Just got a copy of the Hangman's Beautiful Daughter by Incredible String Band and I'm very into stoned whimsy right now
― The Poppy Bush AutoZone (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 3 December 2018 00:00 (five years ago) link
not a bad place to be! :)
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Monday, 3 December 2018 01:01 (five years ago) link
when will the Shirley Collins doc make it to my city?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!? that is what i would like to know
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Monday, 3 December 2018 01:13 (five years ago) link
Yeah that looks amazing
― The Poppy Bush AutoZone (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 3 December 2018 01:48 (five years ago) link
A book on Dr. Strangely Strange coming out in March, looks promising (got a blurb from Rob Young who wrote Electric Eden):
https://drstrangelystrange.co.uk/index.html
― by the light of the burning Citroën, Monday, 3 December 2018 02:50 (five years ago) link
Oof, I picked up a vinyl copy of the reissue and it's so, so wonderful. It's really, really got to me. Less than NV but I have some vaguer connections with the Hull area and it's enchanting me. Love this place, this is really unexpected.
― kraudive, Friday, 7 December 2018 17:47 (five years ago) link
Was surprised to see a copy of Domino's Bright Phoebus in Fopp and I bought it. I assumed they'd all be gone.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 7 December 2018 21:06 (five years ago) link
I freaked out and ended up with two copies - bought the cheapest new copy on discogs, then found one in a local record shop before the first order had been confirmed so I bought that too just in case
― my name is leee john, for we are many (NickB), Friday, 7 December 2018 21:27 (five years ago) link
Does it have the second disc, the demos? I love Song for Thirza.
― Leaghaidh am brón an t-anam bochd (dowd), Friday, 7 December 2018 23:07 (five years ago) link
For those into ‘digital ownership’ and who are trying to figure out what to spend their emusic credits on as that service spins down the drain, they still had the expanded version for sale as of this past Monday
― valet doberman (Jon not Jon), Saturday, 8 December 2018 17:09 (five years ago) link
Hmm. The download code I got with my sealed vinyl copy didn't work.
― kraudive, Saturday, 8 December 2018 17:48 (five years ago) link
I've just ordered the 2 CD version of Bright Phoebus on German Amazon Marketplace. I own the single disc version, but want to get the deluxe set.
― Duke, Saturday, 8 December 2018 21:27 (five years ago) link
The seller says they have one new copy in stock for standard price
― Duke, Saturday, 8 December 2018 21:28 (five years ago) link
C'mon "Shady Lady" and "Rubber Band" are amazing. Amazing how they made such a great song out of just effectively saying "you need more sun" repatedly. Maybe my second or third favorite.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 22 December 2018 12:46 (five years ago) link
RAG you are a mensch
― Driving Drone for Christmas (Noodle Vague), Saturday, 22 December 2018 12:49 (five years ago) link