Ruth and Sadie Price
latest CD - RaSP

Track list and info about the songs with a few short clips that you can listen to

1 - Master Smith Said to John - 3:07


Our dad, Bill Price, learned this song from Bob Auty, formerly of the Holme Valley Beagles. We've "buggered it abaht a bit" by singing the refrain as a round. The tempo of this song, as we sing it, reflects the beating hooves of running horses.
2 - Pony Driving Song - 3:43


Another one from Our Dad Bill Price's singing. "Parts of this song were collected in Methley, Nr Castleford. This version is from the singing of Joe Lindley, who was a doggy at Swillington Colliery. The Pony drivers were lads of 13-14 in their first job in the pit leading pony-drawn tubs along the narrow galleries. The turn-minder, or doggy, (in this case Bobby Bellwood) was in charge of the team of pony-drivers, counting and allocating the tubs to the face workers, and being older and stronger, he would lift derailed tubs back onto the rails. Joe himself was a doggy at 16." Wendy Price
3 - Forster's Mill - 1:34

"On 9th April 1812, Forster's Mill at Horbury, Nr Wakefield, was attacked by 300 luddites from the Spen Valley, and extensive damage was caused to the machines and property. This account of the attack was noted at The Shears Inn, Hightown, Nr Liversedge, by Frank Peel, whilst collecting material for his book 'The Rising Of The Luddites, Chartists and Plug Drawers' (1880)." Wendy Price
4 - Jolly Country Lads (Counting Song) - 2:20

From Mary and Nigel Huddleston's "Songs Of The Ridings - The Yorksire Musical Museum" 2001. Our version is largely but not exactly as it appears in the book.
5 - Cropper Lads - 2:27


"At the beginning of the 19th Century when machines were being introduced into the mills and factories, rebellion was brewing among the craftsmen who were thrown out of work. The first signs of violence came from the Nottingham lace makers, and encouraged by this, the West Riding cloth finishers (croppers) began to urge that similar measures should be taken to destroy the cropping frames being introduced by the Yorkshire manufacturers. Thus arose the Fraternity of Luddites, pledged 'to submit without demur or question to the commands of General Ludd'. 'Enoch' was the hammer used by the Luddites in breaking the frames, named after the chief partner of the firm engaged in their manufacture, Enoch Taylor - 'Enoch has made them and Enoch shall smash them'." Wendy Price
6 - Fine Old Yorkshire Gentleman (The Wensleydale Lad) - 3:49

The story of a country lad's first visit to town and how his native wit triumphs over the city dwellers sophistication. This was Bill's 'signature' song and the title of his first album (1973). Collected in Horton In Ribblesdale with verses 2 and 5 being added from Holroyd's 'Yorkshire Ballads' (1892).
7 - Catch Me If You Can - 4:51

An oft sung tale of accidental pregnancy except in this case the pregnancy is attributed to the singing of a song rather than the playing of a tune, as is often the case in songs with a similar subject. Bill got this song from Vic Ellis of Leeds.
8 - The Eskdale Hare - 3:48

Written by Gus Gomersal (uncle Gus) a close friend of our family. Gus was an avid science fiction/fantasy reader and a regularly visitor to Whitby and the surrounding area. Uncle Gus wrote this so he would always have a song no-one else had sung, and so justify getting free admission to folk clubs on singers nights. The words were put to music by Steve Walker of Dewsbury, another good friend of the family. It tells the story of a great white hare wreaking havoc in the Eskdale valley, and the local farmers attempts to kill or catch the hare with a scary twist at the end as the hare is killed.
9 - The Barleycorn - 4:31


Our Dad said he though he picked this up during his time in Canada in the 1960's. It's an Irish Version of this many versioned song, John Barleycorn.
10 - Squire Frith - 3:28

Another song given to us by Bob Auty formerly of the Holme Valley Beagles, not the whole song just 6 verses, as directed by Bob. It tells the true story of an alleged 40 Mile Hunt on the Bank Hall Estate.
11 - The Farewell Shanty - 2:06

Bill was good friends with the Cornish fisherman/singer Mervyn Vincent and we would make occasional visits as children to stay with him. Bill learned this song from Mervyn. Sadie and I had not heard Bill's version of the song until about 2007 when a rare recording from the 1978 Old Dominion Folk Festival in Norfolk, Virginia arrived (via the wonders of cyberspace).
12 - Breaths - 4:00


Words by Senegalese poet Birago Diop set to music by Afro American choral group 'Sweet Honey in the Rock'. I think Sadie and I picked this up at Vancouver Folk festival in around 1979/1980 when we were very, (very) young. A song about the afterlife continuum of humankind in spirit and nature. "Those who have died have never, never left."
CD - RaSP - 40:14
Copyright © 2011 Ruth and Sadie Price - All Rights Reserved

This is two part harmony singing at its most delightful...a really enjojable CD
Colin Cater

Read more published reviews of this album

-:-
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Alistair Russell, Glade Recordings.
Produced by Ruth and Sadie Price, and Alistair Russell.