Captain Swing.........and other likely stories!


The tracks on this album all regularly feature in the live performances.
The tunes were recorded on two Sundays in March 1998 and produced to closely
resemble the live sound of Captain Swing

Walter Bulwer’s Polka/Norton New Belle Wake
The Wonder Hornpipe/Enrico
The Frog In The Bucket/Andrew Carr
Love Sick Polly/Waterloo
One Kiss
Heel And Toe Polka
Roger’s Waltz/Cold North Seas
The Falcon/The Hairy Turn
Seven Stars/The Locksmith
La Belle Janette/Ma Lad’s Ower Bonny
Sally And The Stopcock
Grandfather’s Polka/Worthy Christian Men

Walter Bulwer’s Polka from Walter Bulwer, a Suffolk fiddler Norton New Belle Wake a song tune from King’s Norton in Birmingham, the words can be found in King’s Norton Church The Wonder Hornpipe a traditional tune popularised by the Cock & Bull Band Enrico sometimes called Jacob, from the Thomas Hardy collection The Frog In The Bucket (Casserley) not a French tune Andrew Carr a song tune from the North East Love Sick Polly/Waterloo, both tunes from the book "A Northern Lass", no tempo given for Polly but it sounds best slow, Waterloo has been found all over England One Kiss from an old 78 record found in a junk shop Heel And Toe Polka a traditional tune from Southern England Roger’s Waltz a tune learnt by John from the violinist Roger Huckle Cold North Seas (Casserley) one of Andy’s sea-faring tunes from the heart of the industrial Midlands The Falcon (Casserley) named after Andy’s bike The Hairy Turn (Casserley) a reference to a dangerous manoeuvre in a 20 ton narrow boat with Mike at the helm Seven Stars used to be a traditional Irish jig The Locksmith (Casserley) because it has lots of keys La Belle Janette another from the Hardy collection Ma Lad’s Ower Bonny learnt at a session in Whitby Sally And The Stopcock (Casserley) an end of the evening frolic Grandfather’s Polka/Worthy Christian Men dance and song tunes used in the 1997 production of mystery plays in Birmingham Cathedral.

All tunes traditional or anonymous except those written by Andy.
All arrangements by Captain Swing.
Thanks to Emma Casserley for playing Cornet on track 12.
Thanks to Dave & Chris at Workshop for their patience and advice.

The members of Captain Swing featured on the CD are:
Liz Griffiths (recorders, anglo-concertina, tenor sax, percussion),
Rob James (guitar, mandola),
Andy Casserley (melodeon, anglo-concertina, alto sax, clarinet),
John Davis (bass guitar, recorder).


The name Captain Swing originates from a dubious historical English character from the 19th century, famous for inspiring the riots which led to the 1832 Reform Act. Captain Swing has also been used as the title of a stage play produced by the RSC in 1978, a book by Larry Duplechan about an American jazz singer, an album by Michelle Shocked, the name of a wrestler, the trading name of a defunct festival catering service, and used in some song lyrics by a 1970s punk band the Sex Pistols. Apart from the historical character none of this was known to the band when the name was adopted by today's Captain Swing!

Recorded, mixed and mastered at The Workshop Studios, Redditch in March/April 1998.
Produced by Captain Swing
© & ® Captain Swing 1998
CS Records CSCD001

Obtainable from Captain Swing at any of our dances
For mail orders please send an email for order details:
mike.griffiths@virgin.net
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Copyright © 1998 Mike Griffiths
This page was created 12 August 1998
Most recent revision 4 October 2001