Patterns of Folk
1971—Waverley SZLP 22124 LP
Side One
If I Had A Hammer
Before I Met You
Jeely-Piece Song (Adam McNaughton)
Song For A Winters Night
I Cant Help But (Where Im Bound)
I Never Will Marry
Wild Rover
Side Two
The Orange And Green (James McLean)
Children Of The Mist
Farewell to Fuinary
Rivers Of Texas
Song Of The City
The Strangest Drean
Wild Colonial Boy
Credits
Jim Craig: vocals, guitar
Nancy Craig: vocals
Ed Pollard: vocals, guitar
Noel Eadie: vocals, double bass
Produced by Bryce Laing
Sound Engineers: Robert Sibbald and Brian Ferguson
Front Cover: Graham Falconer
Based on the series "Patterns of Folk" Presented by Scottish Television and Produced by Russell Galbraith
Sleeve Notes
Television programmes, like record albums, can be a long time in the making. And, in a
sense, genesis of the TV series on which this record is based occurred more than twenty
years ago. It was as a schoolboy that I first encountered ships' patterns in a Clydeside
junkyard. Many-sized, multi-shaped, wooden frames, they are used in casting parts of
the main engines. They fascinated me then-and fascinate me still-a splendid record of
a unique trade. So, when Scottish Television were looking for a new format and a new
studio setting in which to stage The Islanders' kind of music, it seemed to me that the
patterns I had first seen all those years ago would suit our purpose admirably. Much
more than just a marvellous set of props, the connection between the patterns and the
music we were presenting was very real: folk music and craft skills are often linked by
a common heritage. And the patterns soon proved the strength of our argument by
adding another dimension to the songs performed by The Islanders and their guests.
Incidentally, the patterns, which our Archie McArthur manipulated so skilfully on the
show were authentic down to the smallest detail. Stephen's Engineering, of Linthouse,
Glasgow, agreed to lend them for the entire run of the series-on the strict understanding
that if a ship broke down, and we had the appropriate pattern, it would be returned
immediately! This didn't happen which in ways is a pity. I can just imagine the look on
Jim Craig's face if the set had disappeared half-way through one of his numbers
We had worked together on several television programmes in the past, but Patterns of
Folk was The Islanders first full starring role in a series of their own. What we wanted to
present was a new kind of folk show-one which would appeal to committed devotees and
a general audience alike. Indeed, the break with tradition was so complete that on one
occasion the boys appeared in pink suits. Expensive too! Their material-the songs, not
the suits- also reflected the best of folk music everywhere. Seven television programmes
devour more than seventy songs and, unfortunately, we can't use all of them on this record,
but record producer Bryce Laing has managed to capture the full, robust flavour of much of
the TV series.
Consider, for instance, the always-funny JEELY-PIECE SONG, and its account of high
living frustrations if you happen still to be a weanling, or the equally authentic, but
more serious ORANGE AND THE GREEN, containing as it does a pointed message for
bigots of either hue. There's also an unusual and little-heard version of the WILD
COLONIAL BOY sung in forceful fashion by Jim. Gentler and very different is Nancy's
sad and lonely promise, I NEVER .WILL MARRY, and the haunting, poignant FAREWELL
TO FUINARY so beautifully performed by Ed.
I won't list my own special favourite, but I will say that there isn't & bad song on
the entire record. If you agree that it had its beginnings all those years ago, I hope
you will agree that it was well worth that wait.
Russell Galbraith