Topic Records "Set dances, hornpipes, jigs and reels…"

The latest news and special offers from Topic Records. "Set dances, hornpipes, jigs and reels…"    During March, Topic Records celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with two fabulous new releases of Irish music in London, plus special offers from a back-catalogue rich in the music of Ireland. Topic is very proud to have presented over many years a wealth of diverse music from the Emerald Isle, and to still be involved in an important ongoing tradition. Topic’s latest releases in the widely-acclaimed series of traditional music from these islands, The Voice of the People, presents, over two 3CD sets, nearly 200 tracks of the most vital, dynamic music made by Irish immigrants in London over the last six decades:   TSCD679T "It was mighty!"  In the early 1950s, some of the most talented young traditional musicians from rural Ireland found themselves in London, working on building sites and in heavy construction, away from home, but among hundreds of people like them. Music was played in pubs and dance halls and, for a decade or two, almost every night of the week, Camden Town, Fulham and neighbouring boroughs were buzzing. Many of the early pioneers of this music, great artists by any reckoning, are represented here, captured at the peak of their powers. TSCD680T "It was great altogether!" Irish traditional music was well-established in pubs and dance halls and at Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann meetings in Greater London by the mid-1960s, the groundwork having been done by a generation of young musicians from rural Ireland. Often direct descendants, the latest generation of musicians set equally high standards and have determined to keep the original reasons for playing and keep the old styles alive. March special offers This month we have four titles from Topic’s splendid selection of Irish music on CD, edited by Reg Hall, at the very special price of only £6 each:     TSCD 602   IRISH DANCE MUSIC TSCD 604   PAST MASTERS OF IRISH DANCE MUSIC TSCD 605   PAST MASTERS OF IRISH FIDDLE MUSIC TSCD 606   ROUND THE HOUSE AND MIND THE DRESSER The Voice of the People series has included some superb examples of traditional Irish music, and we are offering two of these volumes at a very special price throughout the month of March:   TSCD 674   SARAH MAKEM  The Heart Is True   £  9.00 A fine Irish traditional singer recorded by many song collectors visiting Ireland in the 1950s, Sarah Makem’s voice reflected a strength and generosity of spirit crucial to the understanding of the Irish tradition. TSCD 677T   VARIOUS ARTISTS  The Flax In Bloom   £ 12.00 Peter Kennedy and Sean O’Boyle uncovered a treasure trove of songs, singers and music-making in their recording travels around Ulster in the early 1950s, and this stunning 3CD set gives a wide and varied view of traditional music of that time and place.   This year’s Record Store Day celebrations take place on Saturday 16th April. On the day, Topic will be releasing an exclusive 7” vinyl single by Martin Simpson and some of his musical friends. A double A-side, the single features Martin with Andy Cutting and Tom A. Wright on a brilliant version of Booker T. and the MGs’ ‘Green Onions’, and, on the other side, with Andy Cutting and Nancy Kerr on the classic ballad ‘Willie Taylor’.     Fledg’ling Records will also be taking part, with an exclusive reissue of a rare Shirley Collins 7” EP that originally came out on the Collector label in 1964, ‘English Songs volume 2’, in a replica flipback sleeve plus a new inner sleeve with rare photographs. The Incredible String Band on Fledg’ling Records Fifty years ago, The Incredible String Band released their first album on the Elektra Records label. In 2010, our friends at Fledg’ling Records presented a beautifully remastered and repackaged version of the album with the full support and co-operation of Mike Heron, Clive Palmer and Robin Williamson, as well as original producer Joe Boyd, and engineer John Wood. To celebrate it’s fiftieth anniversary, Fledg’ling is offering this definitive version of the debut album on CD for just £5: FLED 3076   THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND – Their First Album    Tour News Martin Simpson Martin continues his busy schedule of touring, with solo gigs and those with SimpsonŸCuttingŸKerr booked through to September. Details from his website by clicking here: Martin Simpson tour dates

Two new titles in The Voice of the People series from Topic Records

It was mighty! It was great altogether!   On 18th March 2016 Topic will proudly release the latest volumes in the widely-acclaimed ongoing series of traditional music from these islands, The Voice of the People;  nearly 200 tracks of the most vital, dynamic music made by Irish immigrants in London over the last six decades make up two 3CD sets: TSCD679T "It was mighty!"  There wasn't a corner of what was to become Greater London in the 1950s where there wasn't some Irish music to be heard, if you knew where to find it. This special collection of recordings presents and explores the fine examples of the music-making of those immigrants from rural Ireland who settled in London in the first couple of decades after the War. TSCD680T "It was great altogether!"  This compilation explores the traditional Irish music which has continued to secure a place for itself in London throughout the last fifty years; demonstrating both the "old" music, completely untouched by the goings-on in Irish popular music, and the traditional music from the current scene led by second and third generation musicians.    This year’s Record Store Day celebrations take place on Saturday 16th April. On the day, Topic will be releasing an exclusive 7” vinyl single by Martin Simpson and some of his musical friends. A double A-side, the single features Martin with Andy Cutting and Tom A. Wright on a brilliant version of Booker T. and the MGs’ ‘Green Onions’, and, on the other side, with Andy Cutting and Nancy Kerr on the classic ballad ‘Willie Taylor’.   Fledg’ling Records will also be taking part, with an exclusive reissue of a rare Shirley Collins 7” EP that originally came out on the Collector label in 1964, ‘English Songs volume 2’, in a replica flipback sleeve plus a new inner sleeve with rare photographs. February special offers This month we have four titles from Topic’s highly regarded World Series on offer at the very special price of only £6 each:     TSCD 918  PAPUA NEW GUINEA ~ Healing, Feasting & Magical Ritual TSCD 922  THE TEMPLE MUSIC OF KERALA IN SOUTH INDIA TSCD 923  GUMBOOT GUITAR ~ Zulu Street Guitar Music from South Africa TSCD 925  THE KING’S MUSICIANS ~ Royalist Music of Buganda-Uganda Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party have a fabulous new album Old Adam due in February. Fay’s two albums for Topic are available this month for only £6 each: TSCD 573  FAY HIELD ~ Looking Glass TSCD586  FAY HIELD & THE HURRICANE PARTY ~ Orfeo Shirley Collins on Fledg’ling Records  After splendid 80th birthday celebrations during 2015 and an upcoming book from the Secret Queen of England, our good friends at Fledg’ling Records are offering six of Shirley Collins’ beautiful albums for just £5 each. The perfect chance to fill gaps in your record library or introduce a friend to the delights of Shirley's singing:           FLED 3019  SHIRLEY & DOLLY COLLINS ~ For As Many As Will FLED 3023  SHIRLEY COLLINS ~ Adieu To Old England FLED 3028  SHIRLEY COLLINS ~ The Power of the True Love Knot FLED 3029  SHIRLEY COLLINS ~ False True Lovers FLED 3057  SHIRLEY & DOLLY COLLINS ~ Snapshots FLED 3080  SHIRLEY COLLINS ~ Sweet England    Tour News Martin Carthy & John Kirkpatrick Two of folk music’s greatest practitioners head out on tour together in February. Starting at the Marlowe Theatre on 12th February, the tour runs through until 28th February, finishing at Peterborough’s Key Theatre. Details of all tour dates can be found by clicking the following link: John KIrkpatrick & Martin Carthy February 2016 tour Martin Simpson Martin continues his busy schedule of touring, with solo gigs and those with SimpsonŸCuttingŸKerr booked through to September. Details from his website by clicking here: Martin Simpson tour dates   Best wishes from Topic