Interesting albums from the folk and roots music history, by Marius Roeting.
About 45 years ago, John Jones (melodeon), Alan Prosser (guitarist) and Ian Telfer (violinist) performed together with singer Cathy Lesurf and others as dance band The Oyster Ceilidh Band, playing music for folk dancing. The formation Fiddler’s dram, a side project of the Oysterband, was more concert-oriented, and also known for their hit Daytrip to Bangor (Didn’t we have a lovely time).
The Oyster Celidh Band shifted their attention towards more on-stage performances and (LP) album recording; they released a debut album ‘Jack’s Alive’. Sometimes they used electrically amplified instruments (guitar, synthesizer, bass), but the core remained acoustic melodies and dance melodies.
This changed over the years, as did the name: from The Oyster Celidh Band to The Oyster band (and after some changes in musicians into Oyster band and Oysterband). The first album under this name was called ‘English Rock ‘n’ Roll The Early Years 1800-1850′. The music evolved and albums like ‘Liberty Hall’ and ‘Step Outside’ show intense folk rock, sometimes very loud, sharp and even provocative.
In 1990 the Oysterband started quite an unusual collaboration with the traditional singer June Tabor. Their ‘Freedom and Rain’ is still considered a milestone in British folk history. Perhaps because of this, the sound of the Oysterband developed into a more polished sound, resulting in a period where just acoustic instruments took the lead. After the arrival of cellist-bass player Ray Cooper (also named ‘Chopper’) and drummer Lee Partis rock, folk, acoustic and electric elements fused together in a very professional way. Sometimes intense, but still transparent. Most notably with the development towards composing songs themselves.
The album ‘Meet you there’ is widely considered the best (produced) album of Oysterband. A second production together with June Tabor followed, as well as some records by themselves. The Oysterband, together with Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and The Albion band, form the top of British folk rock.
This autumn the formation with founders Jones, Telfer and Prosser announced they will not perform live anymore. At least we’ll have the many albums of the group, like ‘Meet you there’, the central album in this DiscCover.
Oysterband around the time of ‘Meet you there’
Oysterband – Meet you there – Westpark Music WP87141
01. Over The Water 5:36
02. Here Comes The Flood 3:54
03. Where The World Divides 3:33
04. Walking Down The Road With You 3:57
05. Bury Me Standing 4:01
06. Everything Must Go 3:09
07. Control 3:39
08. The Boy’s Still Running 4:02
09. Someone Somewhere 4:27
10. Just One Life 3:39
11. Dancing As Fast As I Can 5:37
Oysterband – The Oxford Girl and Other Stories – Running Man Records RMCD6
12. The Early Days of a Better Nation 4:07
13. When I’m Up (I Can’t Get Down) 3:37
14. Put out the Lights 5:04
All tracks: Prosser, Chopper, Telfer, Jones, Partis
