More (Mostly) Folk Music

Arthur Johnstone   •   Generations Of Change

image
image image image
  • Generations Of Change
    • 1985 - Lismor LIFL 7007 LP (UK)
  • Side One
    1. A Beggar Wench (Trad. Arr. Johnstone)
    2. The Fairfield Crane (The Shipyard Apprentice) (Buchan, Fisher, Campbell)
    3. They Don't Write Them Like That Anymore (Betts)
    4. Danny Farrell (St. John)
    5. Your Daughters and Your Sons (Sands)
    6. Freedom Come All Ye (Henderson)
  • Side Two
    1. Generations Of Change (Armour)
    2. Ramblin' Rover (A.M. Stewart)
    3. Victor Jara (Guthrie, A. Mitchell)
    4. The Boston Burglar (Trad. Arr. Johnstone)
    5. Terror Time (McColl)
    6. Yellow On The Broom (McNaughton)

  • Musicians
  • Credits
    • Produced by Bob McDowall
    • Engineer: Clark Sorley at Sirocco Studios
    • Graphics: Donnie George (Photo-litho)
    • Front Cover Art & Design: John Gahagan D.A.
    • Photograph of Arthur Johnstone: Gordon Hotchkiss
    • ®® 1985 Lismor Recordings, 42 Kilmarnock Road, Glasgow G41 3NH

Sleeve Notes

It came as a shock, when sitting down to write this, to realise just how long I have known Arthur Johnstone.

When I first found out that there were people singing and playing what are usually called "Folk Songs" — Arthur Johnstone was there.

Whenever there was a festival or gathering of people singing — Arthur Johnstone was there.

It was in listening to Arthur that I learned there was much more to our Folk culture than the simple recording of past lifestyles and that our tradition was a living part of us. He has that elusive quality found in the great singers — to listen to him sing is to understand our history better and to feel a unity between past and present.

It is an honour and a privilege to write this small introduction to one of our greatest and most important singers. When the transient fame of short-lived "stars" of the commercial entertainment industry has long gone, people will still be playing this record and learning from it; the songs will become part of their lives; without always being conscious of it, they will learn the songs and find themselves singing them. For these songs are the stuff of life itself; some old, some brand new, but all having one thing in common — they are songs about you and me, about what we have seen and lived and what the hope for the future can be.

Long may they be sung and long may we hear Arthur Johnstone singing them and teaching us how they should be sung.

Dick Gaughan