Eliza Carthy, Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson & co

[mouldybear]

A very fine performance of Waterson Carthy superbly sung by Eliza.

Another great ballad.

[sjmckenzie101]

can someone name the tune they are playing to raggle taggle gypsy? i love it.

it sounds quite different to the versions I know. More than just a shift to major - it's a different tune.

[fannybaba]

Gleet.

[jaynEwinslade]

So simple and pure and yet so intricate and clever. Such a wonderful English folk sound. The Wraggle Taggle Gypsy is so rich in our heritage.

Bless you all

Jayn Winslade

[GreatBonFire]

Love your records!! They work as well here in sweden as over there!! :)

[triqualina]

If I could play the violin like Eliza....well, I don't even know. But if I could...I don't think anything could stop me doing anything.

[veriddian]

I love Waterson Carthy! My Dad went to school with Martin and he is always really friendly when we talk to him at gigs. Eliza Carthy is the saviour of modern folk music!

[carollizc]

Love the unusual tune here...so many versions of this are sung to some version of "Princess Royal". I like that this is a totally different tune.

[kumiak]

Totally agree! They have shifted it into a major, and it sounds awesome. There are some really cool timing tricks as well. Just love it.

[vinnycav]

the first song is brilliant. just brilliant.

[jonno52]

Beautiful ! now that's what I call music. Thanks for posting.

[mijbil49]

Oh Eliza! There is no doubt, you got all the right genes.

[Sheamusj]

Glorious!

Thank you from Canada.

[codnchips]

Blown away by the originality of both arrangements and quality of presentation. I used to love folk music during the days of Pentangle but then went on to other things. I think i've missed a lot and it's good to see quality folk is alive and well.

[specialk1988]

Both songs just fantastic! Truly talented musicians making truly beautiful music.

[millardforever]

Love this version of the song, they put such originality into it!

[LauraAlex007]

i love this song so much

[blahblahblah85]

norma is a lovely performer and still so pretty. Her skin and eyes r beautiful. I love her hand movements :)

[Islwynpaul]

After 10 pints I'd agree with you, before then it's Eliza every time. LOL :-)

[halantow]

Eliza is so pop! What about the waterson carthy roots!

[Enelya]

Wonderful, thanks for posting this :)

[LairMistress]

I wish this group would come back to Seattle again soon! I'm trying to learn to sing while playing fiddle the way Eliza does; and Norma is a wonderfully charismatic vocalist! I've missed seeing them at the Tractor Tavern these past couple of years...

[AtmaRising]

this is purely brilliant...my innards are tingling

[grooveycat]

brings back memories of an excellent night many years ago in a Falloefield pub in Manchester, first time I heard them over hot pot beer and what felt a huge folk family all together in one place, my favorite song was " one more for the road" if any one has that please post it. ta x

[Jarrahnut]

How wonderful. I first saw Martin Carthy and the Three City Four in Manchester Free Trade Hall, in 1964. I was mesmerised by the beauty of their performance! In 1967, I saw the Watersons at Queen's University in Belfast. Once again, I was mesmerised - I'd never seen mini-skirts as short as Norma and Lal were wearing that night! And such heavenly harmony! Eliza is beautiful too! May they sing for ever!

We don't have to WIN the human race ... just SAVE it ...

Colin Hugh Abbott.

[oldrabidone]

Just seen them live and they played this song, it blew me away AMAZING!!!

[Ed17cellotape]

you bastard!

where did you see them?

i can't wait to get the chance. I am so upset to have missed the Albert Hall show :(

[oldrabidone]

in torrington in devon, it was a small venue and i was right at the front! :P

[Ed17cellotape]

i hate you. :)

[babystreetfighta]

If you want to see them live and up close- they go to the Bampton Morris dancing every year (in Bampton-around may day but advertised on the net)

After the dancing its all night sessions in the pubs... Dave Swarbrick turns up sometimes too!

[Ed17cellotape]

Thanks for the advice.

I've already arranged something though. I'm going to see them at the Beverly Folk Festival in June.

:)

[babystreetfighta]

If you want to see them live and up close- they go to the Bampton Morris dancing every year (in Bampton-around may day but advertised on the net)

After the dancing its all night sessions in the pubs... Dave Swarbrick turns up sometimes too!

[Ed17cellotape]

i hate you. :)

[Ed17cellotape]

i hate you. :)

[oldrabidone]

hehe but thats not the best bit.... i met them after the show and got thier autographs :D

[Ed17cellotape]

my client has no comment

[Ed17cellotape]

I can't believe I missed this show.

[HashRouge]

I hardly think this is 'destroying a folk song'. Fine, you don't like it, but there is nothing technically wrong with it. The vocals are lovely, and the accompaniement sounds superb. If, like me, you don't know the song already, it sounds fantastic. Besides, I thought folk music is all about reinterpreting old material.

[saffsgrandad]

I tend to agree. Antone who has loved and played folk music knows that there are many many versions of any song. I know from the intro this was given when I saw Waterson-Carthy that this tune is far older than the one with which we are all more familiar. Eliza and Martin Carthy are not just folk musicians but folk historians too.

[trollfiddler]

Sadly I have to agree, I don't know how her mum and dad can stand there and assist their daughter destroying a folk song like that. It's about as untrad as you can get. You'd think her mum and dad would steer her in the right direction, but it looks like family transcends good taste. She has a nice voice though.

[whiteviera]

Don't know what you are all on about. This version sucks. The song doesn't lend itself to a watery ballad. This should be sung by men only. Irish artists do much better versions. Pure pap

[YuukiGunn]

Did you listen to it past the second verse?

[soliloquise]

You are welcome to your opinion. It's just shit :)

[whiteviera]

I listened again, it sucks the second time around. The lady has a fine voice and they are very talented musicians. This version is far too 'nice' lets say, theres no edge to it. I just don't get it and I guarantee you most people who have listened to the many versions of this song by other artists would agree. This is far too orchestrated for the song.

[Ed17cellotape]

Which song have they ruined?

[whiteviera]

Raggle Taggle Gypsy of course.

[Ed17cellotape]

ok. Just wanted to clarify which song you were spouting shit about.

Thanks.

:)

[whiteviera]

Very mature comment from a 20 year who knows it all. Now where have seen one of those before.

Away and grow a beard son.

[Ed17cellotape]

Thanks.

If I grow a beard, will you grow an open mind?

The problem with you saying they've ruined the song is that in reality you only mean they've ruined it for you. And this only depends on when/where/how/who you first heard it sung by.

First is not always best, but it tends to be people's favourite way to listen to a song.

They've sold it for me. I think it's brilliant. And judging by the rating of the video, they've sold it for most others too.

[Ed17cellotape]

To declare they've ruined a song is ridiculous. Do you not think Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy know a tad more about folk music than either of us?

[Ed17cellotape]

To declare they've ruined a song is ridiculous. Do you not think Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy know a tad more about folk music than either of us?

[bountybar]

Ed, your are beginning and learning what it often takes years fully to appreciate, which is that you will rarely encounter a more toxic brew of vituperation, spleen, back-biting and subjective opinion masquerading as objective absolutism than that to be found -predominantly but not exclusively - in English folk music.

[bountybar]

...and I really ought to remember to spell check/proof read before posting!

[Ed17cellotape]

"subjective opinion masquerading as objective absolutism"

Beautifully put.

I'll take the advice. Thanks.

[BobTheMunificent]

To be fair, in *any* area of the arts you will find people who believe that they, and they only, possess an exclusive hotline to the Absolute Truth and all others are ignorant philistines who should be grateful for the scorn heaped upon their bumbling heads by the Masters Of Reality as it can only serve to teach them the error in their ignorance and educate them in the ways of The Righteous Ones.

Or something...

[whiteviera]

Very articulate but indeed quite sad!!!

[HullBloke1313]

Thankyou for your contribution.

Goodbye.

[whiteviera]

No worries, anytime!!!

[viking1au]

Wow! Some major talent here. Martin & Norma, with daughter Eliza and a couple of her "Ratcatchers". Martin is a living legend and this certainly would not / could not, have happened without him.

[HashRouge]

Which 'Ratcatchers' are you seeing? I don't think either of the Johns are their, and I couldn't spot Ben Ivitsky.

[girlsandwings]

reminds me of young dreamy in love days my boy and me

[MHWoods]

Re the venue, it looks like the Union Chapel in Upper Street, Islington to me.

[NightingaleHMP]

I adore Eliza Carthy se is so beautiful and she is an incredible musician and singer. I could watch and listen to her for ever...must see if I can find more video of her now...wel done and THANK YOU!!

Eliza I love you...!!

[coramunroe]

Gosh, she has a great voice...

[viking1au]

The guitar is classic Martin Carthy, in his strange tuning of the guitar.

[viking1au]

Amazing--- Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson, (Waterson Carthy) and daughter Eliza; and let's not forget her band, the Ratcatchers. Totally amazing music! Just love this.

[davesamain]

Where and when was this recorded? Looks like quite a venue...

[gilyat]

Hi I think it was the Royal Albert Hall earlier this year. I was there, and if I remember rightly this was it recorded here. It was a fabulous night, all the waterson family were there, plus guests. Lal's daughter sang one of her mother's songs, it was SO like Lal it could have been her singing it. Very Moving.

[gilyat]

Sorry my second reply was in error!

[gilyat]

I think this was at the Royal Albert Hall earlier this year I was there, it was a great night. All the Waterson Family were there, plus guests. Lals daughter sang one of mothers songs , it could have been Lal singing! Very moving.

[davesamain]

Top class. The height of English culture - ever evolving and long may it be so.

[viking1au]

Absolutely correct! Martin is a legend, as is Norma! The next big thing coming through is Eliza. --- Wonderful music !!!!!

[viking1au]

Magnificent! Martin & Norma are great, as to is "the next thing coming through" Eliza! First song seems to be a variant of the song made famous by Martin: Seven Yellow Gypsies", but indeed very different.

[Teresa4212]

I love that tune for "Raggle-taggle Gypsy". It's one of those catchy ones that won't let me go. :)

[verrejoputa]

incredible!! I love both songs, specially stars in my crown, it's wonderful. They're the best musicians in the world. I wish I lived in England so that I could see them live.

Thank you so much for the video.

[toftmf]

Absolutely amazing...I have a couple of versions of the various Waterson: Carthy groupings doing Stars In My Crown & I can't hear it often enouogh ! Must say, tho, that I miss Mike & Lal Waterson's voices.