Early Days

Sleeve Notes In 1965 Topic released the album New Voices which, as its name implies, was an album of singers whose voices, although familiar in the folk clubs of the time, were new to record. The introductory notes to that album including the following passage: It's customary for recording companies to blow big fanfares when introducing new artists and to use windy words such as "honour" and "pride". Well, it is an honour and Topic is proud to present these singers but we feel that their own songs and their own singing are the best recommendation, and they need no other. This note, describing The Watersons, accompanied their 1966 album, The Watersons: The Watersons' enviable combination of dark good looks, ringing voices, abundant charm and immense vitality have already given them the kind of star status within the folk song revival which is usually reserved for pop singers outside it. They are unpretentious and unconventional stars, taking television appearances, top billing at concerts and ovations at clubs in their stride. Their gypsyish zestfulness is worlds away from the strictly commercial glamour of the world of pop music: but their own glamour is all the more potent since it is the product of personality rather than publicity. There are four in the group, Michael, Norma and Elaine Waterson (two sisters and a brother), and their second cousin, John Harrison. Michael Waterson sings lead most often and they all come in on choruses with their own hand crafted harmonies, an immediate recognisable and uniquely distinctive group sound which is uninhibited, spontaneous seeming and rich in texture. The Watersons sing songs from all over the country but pay special attention to those collected in their native East Yorkshire. They live in Hull, the great seaport beside the Humber that also produced one of our greatest poets, Andrew Marvell; and in Hull they have for some years run their famous club, Folk Union One. They already have one LP on Topic, the widely praised collection of ritual and ceremonial songs Frost and Fire, and are also featured on the anthology record New Voices. They are no longer new voices but familiar and feted ones, singing on this new record, songs they have made particularly their own. [A. L. Lloyd] Tracks 1-5 are from the multi-performer album; track 6 is previously unreleased; tracks 7-17 are taken from; tracks 18-27 are from. (P) 1965, 1966, 1994.