Here they are, in order of appearance: folk songs 1-52.
From the Violet album:
Lord Bateman Child 53L (mostly), sung unaccompanied; still my biggest hit in terms of plays.
The death of Bill Brown Unaccompanied, after Peter Bellamy
The unfortunate lass Unaccompanied, after Jon Boden; one of my favourite songs
The cruel mother Unaccompanied
Lemany Unaccompanied and in 3/4 (possibly a mistake); another of my favourites
The London waterman Unaccompanied, after Bellamy; followed by a whistle tune which I thought went well with it.
From the Indigo album:
Derwentwater’s Farewell With reed organ drone and D whistle
Hughie the Graeme Unaccompanied, after Tony Capstick
Grand conversation on Napoleon With reed organ drone and flute; dedicated to showing that this is the same tune as The Bedmaking
The bonny bunch of roses Another favourite song, with D whistle and reed organ (drone)
The death of Nelson Unaccompanied, after Bellamy
Two sisters A multiple-vocal overdub, using the short-ish version of the song sung by Jim Moray
Young Waters First use of melodica, bongoes and recorder, and my first ‘band’ arrangement. I was very pleased with this one at the time, and a year later I think it’s stood up OK.
From the white album:
A maid that is matchless With reed organ, melodica and flute, and simultaneous translation from the original Middle English.
The holly and the ivy A first venture into three-part harmony.
Shepherds arise More vocal harmonies, after the Coppers.
In Dessexshire as it befell Three-part harmonies, melodica drone, three-part melodica harmonies and more vocal tracks than is entirely comfortable.
The King Vocal harmonies: model’s own.
In the month of January Melodica drone and no harmonies. Fairly heavily ornamented by my standards, although it’s dialled down a bit from the originals (Sarah Makem and June Tabor)
From the Blue album:
Sir Patrick Spens After Nic Jones, unaccompanied.
True Thomas Drums, melodica and stuff. A nice, weird, insistent arrangement of one of the classics.
The outlandish knight A quiet, late-night Outlandish Knight, with zither.
Little Musgrave Straight through, no messing, no accompaniment.
The bonny hind At the time of recording I couldn’t hack Tony Rose’s concertina accompaniment, so I did my best with flute and melodica. I think it works.
George Collins A weird, supernatural song, with melodica and a rather squeaky G whistle.
Mary Hamilton A very sad song, unaccompanied (and with a tune more often used for Willie O Winsbury).
From the Green album:
Searching for lambs Another of my very favourite songs. Whistle, melodica, zither.
The streams of lovely Nancy Not to be confused with “Come all you little streamers”. Vocal and drums.
When a man’s in love A classic from Sam Henry’s collecting.
I live not where I love Another favourite, here spliced with “Sir John Fenwick’s” and some odd audio effects.
Once I had a sweetheart A ‘band’ arrangement with melodica, zither and drums.
Blackwaterside My first and so far only attempt to play a finger-picked chordal accompaniment on zither. Also features recorder.
From the Yellow album:
The valiant sailor Concertina, after John Kelly but slowed down.
The lofty tall ship With melodica, drums and concertina drone.
William Taylor Just drums and zither. I worked from a frustratingly incomplete text – I’d use a fuller version if I was doing it now.
Two pretty boys Unaccompanied, after Bellamy.
The lowlands of Holland Unaccompanied, after Martin Carthy.
I would that the wars were all done Recorder and concertina.
The dark-eyed sailor Concertina, C whistle, zither and drums.
From the Orange album:
Queen Jane Just flute and recorder; after Martin Graebe.
Earl Richard Mostly but not exclusively unaccompanied. After Tony Rose and Alan Grace, but with some modifications.
Rounding the Horn Another ‘band’ arrangement (recorder, concertina and drums), after Jo Freya.
Come down you bunch of roses Vocals and improvised percussion; after Gibb Schreffler.
The trees they do grow high Another of my very favourite songs, sung here in the open air (and with some recorder).
Dogger Bank A vigorous burst of unaccompanied nonsense, after Bellamy.
From the Red album:
The holland handkerchief Another Desert Island Folk Song, with concertina.
The poor murdered woman With concertina and zither.
Brigg Fair With recorder, concertina and mixed emotions.
Queen among the heather Unaccompanied, after June Tabor.
Grey goose and gander Harmonised nonsense.
Geordie Unaccompanied, and my most recent new acquisition.
Banks of Yarrow Unaccompanied, heavily modified, after Debra Cowan.
Fifty-Two Folk Songs 