The Voice of the People is an anthology of folk songs produced by Topic Records containing recordings of traditional singers and musicians from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The series was first issued in 1998 as 20 CDs, compiled by Dr Reg Hall, a visiting fellow at Sussex University. A second series was issued in 2012 consisting of four volumes (7 CDs) compiled by Shirley Collins, Steve Roud and Rod Stradling. A third series was issued in 2013 comprising 4 albums ( 6 CDs and 1 DVD) of field recordings recorded by Peter Kennedy and selected by Dr Reg Hall. A fourth series was released in 2016 with two albums of three CDs each chronicling the music of the 'London-Irish' from the 1950s to the present day.
Introduction The traditional singers and musicians were celebrities within their own community but the majority were unknown to the world at large until the 1950s and 60s when collectors arrived with portable tape recorders. A few of them recorded enough material for an entire album. Most are known for a couple of songs. A few scraps of biographical notes are given in booklets that accompany the discs. Every one of them led working-class lives. Volumes 9 and 19 are collections of instrumentals. In a few cases the singers used song books or ballad sheets to supplement their repertoire, but in most cases their versions are from oral tradition. This collection is the UK equivalent of Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music.
Reviews Brian Peters wrote in Roots World as "the crème de la crème of Britain's traditional singers and musicians". Veteran Records said it was "the greatest set of CDs of English, Irish and Scottish singing and music ever produced."
The album is listed in the accompanying book to the Topic Records 70 year anniversary boxed set Three Score and Ten as one of their classic recordsThree Score and Ten Accompanying Book with Creeping Jane from volume 8 as the tenth track on the first CD and The Nut Dance from volume 16 as the first track on the second CD.
Track listing The titles detailed below are those used by the singers although there are often other titles for the songs so the links may go to a different title. The references in parentheses for songs are from the three major numbering schemes for folk songs, the Roud Folk Song Index, Child Ballad Numbers originating from Francis James Child and the Laws Numbers from the George Malcolm Laws numbering system.
First series
The tune tracks are 6 with fiddle and piano, 9 bagpipes and track 15 accordion. All the other tracks are songs unaccompanied except track 5 accompanied by banjo and tracks 13 and 18 by banjo and fiddle.
Track 7 is a Morris dance tune with fiddle and vocals and track 25 is a dance tune on melodeons. All the remaining tracks are unaccompanied voice except track 9 accompanied by accordion, track 17 accompanied by fiddle and piano-accordion and track 21 accompanied by piano-accordion.
TrackTitle Artist Instrument Length 1 Herrings' Head (Roud 128) John Doughty3:122Burke's Engine(Roud 9228)Tommy McGrath3:383Untitled ScottischeScan Testerconcertina2:074You Canna Put It On to Sandy(Roud 5143)Jimmy McBeath 2:285Ladybower's/The Sister(Reels)Rose Murphyfiddle3:196 Three Sons of Rogues(Roud 130) George “Pop” Maynard1:407Young Bob Riley(Roud 753)Mary Ann Carolan1:528Uncle George's Hornpipe/Tommy Roberts’ HornpipeBob Cannmelodeon3:469The Ball o’ Kerrimeer(Roud 4828)John MacDonald2:1310 Widdlecombe Fair(Roud 666) Tom Brown3:1911Oh, The Hampshires Do Like Duff(Regimental March)Sam Bondmouth organ1:0212A Nice Piece Of Irish Pig's Head(Roud 12932)Maurice2:1913Glendarel Highlanders(6/8 march)/Kenmure's On and Awa’(6/8 march)/Lovat Scouts(2/4 march)/Monymusk(Highland fling)Curley McKay & Willie Kemppiano accordion, vocals & trumpet3:2014 Clinking O'er The Lea(Roud 118; Child 279)Maggie Murphy3:1815 The Derby Ram(Roud 126) Sid Steer3:0116 Old King Cole(Roud 1164) Michael Gorman with chorus2:3617Live performance – Bampton BillBampton Morris with Jinky Wellsfiddle & voice2:3618Down the Road(Roud 15128)Fred Jordan3:4219The Rosin Box(Roud 2501)John Reilly1:4720The Stack of Barley(hornpipe)Ellen O’Dywerconcertina1:2821Most Beautiful Leg of the Mallard(Roud 1517)Henry Michelmore3:0222The Keyhole in the Door(Roud 2099)Jim Wilsonwith chorus3:0223The Blue Meadow(Reel)Paddy Breentin whistle2:4524The Varsoviana(original tune)The Varsoviana(later tune)Ned Pearsonfiddle & vocals2:4425The Old Sow(Roud 1737)Albert Richardson2:1726The Cod Fish(Roud 149)Nora Cleary1:4927Stirling Militia(march)/Ruthven House(strathspey/fairy dance(reel)Will & Ian Powrieaccordion & fiddle3:0928Up to the Rigs of London Town(Roud 868)Charlie Wills2:2629The Pigeon on the Gate(reel)Jim & Seamus Donaghuetin whistle & tambourine2:05
TrackTitle Artist Instrument Length 1Majuba Hill(Pipe March)John MacDonaldaccordion0:50 2A Broadside(Roud 492; Laws N4)Bob Hart2:27 3 The Wild Colonial Boy(Roud 677; Laws L20) Margaret Barry and Michael Gormanaccompanied by banjo & fiddle2:49 4The Wife of the Bold Tenant Farmer(Roud 5164)Joe Heaney3:04 5MacPherson's Rant(Roud 2160)Davie Stewartaccompanied by accordion6:05 6The Young Horseman(Roud 1185)Martin Howley2:16 7The Haughs o' Cromdale(Roud 5147)John MacDonaldaccompanied by accordion1:20 8The Aghalee Heroes(Roud 6546)Robert Cinnamond2:32 9Young Jimmy Foyers(Roud 1941)Sheila Stewart2:44 10A Grand Conversation With Napoleon(Roud 1189)Tom Costello4:49 11The Glen of AherlowLucy Farrfiddle2:12 12Creeping Jane(Roud 1012; Laws Q23)Joseph Taylor3:02 13Skibbereen(Roud 2312)Freddy McKay4:31 14Bloody Waterloo(Roud 622)Willie Scott4:08 15Down in the Town of Old Bantry(Roud 12938)Tommy McGrath2:01 16Boulavogue(Roud 2356)Davie Stewartaccompanied by accordion3:45 17Bonaparte's Retreat(set dance)Bernard O'Sullivan & Tommy McMahonconcertinas3:02 18The Wind That Shakes the Barley(Roud 2994)Sarah Makem3:21 19Hartlake Bridge(Roud 1729)Jasper Smith1:34 20Morrissey and the Russian Sailor(Roud 2150; Laws H18)Joe Heaney3:49 21The Bonny Bunch of Roses(Roud 664; Laws J5)Cyril Poacher2:34 22Calvery(Roud 1148)May Bradley2:26 23Michael Power(Roud 8141)Straighty Flanagan4:15 24The Bold Fenian Men(Roud 9266)Margaret Barryaccompanied by banjo4:13
TrackTitle Artist Instrument Length 1Jenny Lind(polka) Scan Tester & Rabbity Baxter concertina & tambourine1:59 2The Flowers Of Edinburgh / Bobbing Around (Morris dance tunes)Jinky Wells fiddle & voice 3:10 3The Yarmouth Breakdown(hornpipe)Percy Brown melodeon1:08 4The Italian WaltzOscar Woods melodeon3:09 5The Boscastle Breakdown (stepdance)The Boscastle & Tintagel Players concertinas, cello & stepping1:21 6Shepherd's Hey(Morris dance tune)Jack Hyde mouth-organ1:02 7In And Out The Windows(polka)/ The Monkey HornpipeScan Tester concertina3:08 8Hands Across / The Four-Handed ReelThe Dorset Trio fiddle, concertina & cello2:18 9Woodland Flowers / Uncle Jim's BarndanceBob Cann melodeon4:07 10Greensleeves(Morris jig tune)/Napoleon's MarchStephen Baldwin fiddle2:51 11Over The Waves / The Cuckoo WaltzJimmy Dixon & Ron Whatmore mouth-organs2:10 12Old Mrs Cuddledee Walter Bulwer mandolin-banjo0:53 13The Egg Hornpipe / The Shipdham Hornpipe / The Sailor's HornpipeWalter Bulwer fiddle3:30 14Untitled PolkaScan Tester & Rabbity Baxter concertina & tambourine2:33 15Johnny's So Long At The Fair(Morris dance tune)Arnold Woodley fiddle1:56 16Over The Hills To Glory(Country dance)Bill Kimber concertina2:18 17Untitled Polka/Golden Slippers/Mick's TuneFont Whatling melodeon2:41 18The Irish Washerwoman / Garyowen / Rory O’More / St Patrick's Day(jigs)Billy Cooper dulcimer2:27 19The Italian SchottischeThe Dorset Trio fiddle, melodeon & cello2:00 20The Gypsy Hornpipe. Untitled SchottischeStephen Baldwin fiddle2:00 21Untitled SchottischeScan Tester & Daisy Sherlock concertina & piano1:57 22The Veleta / The Heel And Toe PolkaPercy Brown melodeon3:53 23The Earl Soham Slog. Harkie Nestling's(stepdance tunes)Fred Whiting fiddle4:13 24The Manchester Hornpipe / Click Go The ShearsRuth Askew & George Privett melodeon & spoons2:05 25Sheep-Shearing. Untitled PolkaThe Dorset Trio fiddle, concertina & cello3:18 26Untitled Polka. Untitled PolkaOscar Woods melodeon3:18 27The Maid Of The Mill. Bacca Pipes / Jockey To The Fair. (Morris dance tunes)Bertie Clark fiddle3:44 28Nobody's Darling But Mine / Untitled( waltzes)/Quick- Step MedleyJimmy Dixon & Ron Whatmore mouth-organs3:24 29Live Performance on the streets of Minehead(The Boat is Tipping Over)The Sailors’ Hobby Horse melodeon & two drums1:51
TrackTitle Artist Instrument Length 1 Bonny Kate/Jenny's Chickens(reels) Eddie Corcoran & Séamus Tanseytin whistle & tambourine 1:582 The Herring(Roud 128)Mikeen McCarthy3:593The Old Jolly Booger(Roud 19111) Jack Elliott with chorus2:344 MacKenzies's Highlanders/The Inverness Gathering(pipe marches) Willie Kemp & Curly MacKayocarina & piano accordion3:255 The Leperchaun( Roud 5274) Margaret Barry & Michael Gormanbanjo & fiddle1:506 The Derby Miller(The Three Rogues)(Roud 138; Laws Q21) Jumbo Brightwell2:337 Tell Her I Am/Teviot Brig(jigs) Will Atkinsonmouth organ2:008 The Hungry Army(Roud 1746) Walter Pardon3:319 Hieland Rory(Roud 5146) Jimmy McBeath1:5310Old Joe, The Boat Is Going Over/Untitled Polka Percy Brownmelodeon3:26The Pigeon on the Gate(step dance )Font Whatling & Wattie Wrightmelodeon & step dancing11 The Barley Grain(Roud 164) Austin Flanagan 5:56 12 The Heel and Toe Polka/The Morpeth Rant(country dance)Ned Pearson fiddle 2:01 13 Sing ivy(Roud 21093)Charlie Potter 1:22 14 I Am a Donkey Driver(Roud 1147) Harry Upton 2:04 15 The Queen of the Fair/The lark in the Morning(jigs)Michael Groganaccordion 3:03 16 The Ball O’ Kerriemeer(Roud 4828)Willie Kemp & Curly MacKayaccompanied by piano accordion 3:18 17 The Pigeon at the Gate(step dance )/The next Song in the ProgramAlbert SmithJew's harp & vocals 3:01Tiddlewink Old ManJasper SmithDerby DerbyMinty SmithWe are the Peckham BoysRay DriscollYonder Comes the DevilJoe JonesOld Brown sat in the Rose and CrownAlbert SmithClimbing Up My Old Apple Tree/St. Patrick's DayjigsJasper Smith 18 Off to California/the Greencastle(hornpipes)Willy Taylor, Joe Hutton & Will Atkinsonfiddle, small pipes & mouth organ 3:12 19 Its Now’t to Do With Me Now(Roud 5315)Martin Gorman 1:52 20 The Four-Hand Reel (a.k.a. The Pigeon at the Gate)Phil Tanner 2:34 21 Johnny McIndoe(Roud 3390)Jimmy McBeath 2:26 22 Old John Wallis(Roud 294)Bob Brader 2:05 23 Ballydesmond/Knocknabowl(Kerry polkas )Julia Cliffordfiddle 2:23 24 I Wish There Was No Prisons(Roud 1708)George Spicer 1:09 25 the Inverness Gathering/Dornoch Links(pipe marches)Donald Davisonmouth organ 3:27 26 I'm Going to be Mother Today(Roud 8093)Johnny Doughty 1:42 27 A Parody (Roud 12926)Unidentified & Margaret Barryaccompanied by banjo 4:07 28 the Soldier's Joy(reel)Gargan's Athlone Accordion Band 3:10