''Acousticity'', released in 1993, was the first album in a new, stripped down format by the long-running
folk rock
Folk rock is a hybrid music genre that combines the elements of folk and rock music, which arose in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom in the mid-1960s. In the U.S., folk rock emerged from the folk music revival. Performers suc ...
outfit the
Albion Band
The Albion Band, also known as The Albion Country Band, The Albion Dance Band, and The Albion Christmas Band, were a British folk rock band, originally brought together and led by musician Ashley Hutchings. Generally considered one of the m ...
. It combines the song writing talents of the band members with traditional tunes and music from some of the best folk artists available at the time. It marked the beginning of a new lease of life for the long running and highly influential Albion Band, shaping the small group format that would be the basis of their line-up until their suspension in 2002.
History
Band leader and folk legend
Ashley Hutchings
Ashley Stephen Hutchings, MBE, sometimes known in early years by his nickname, "Tyger" Hutchings (born 26 January 1945) is an English bassist, vocalist, songwriter, arranger, band leader, writer and record producer. He was a founding member of t ...
pre-empted the
unplugged
Unplugged may refer to:
*Acoustic music, music not produced through electronic means
*Unplugged (B.A.P song), "Unplugged" (B.A.P song), 2014
*Unplugged (Modern Family), "Unplugged" (''Modern Family''), a 2010 episode of ''Modern Family''
Albums a ...
trend of the 1990s by reducing the numbers and instruments of his long running collective the Albion Band by bringing back longtime collaborator and fellow ex-
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock band, formed in 1967 by guitarists Richard Thompson and Simon Nicol, bassist Ashley Hutchings and drummer Shaun Frater (with Frater replaced by Martin Lamble after their first gig.) They started o ...
founder
Simon Nicol
Simon John Breckenridge Nicol (born 13 October 1950) is an English guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He was a founding member of British folk rock group Fairport Convention and is the only founding member still in the ...
, beside new talent: singer-songwriter and guitarist
Chris While
Chris While (born 1956) is an English songwriter, singer and musician, known particularly for her vocals and live performances. She has worked as a solo artist, a songwriter and as a member of a number of duos and groups. Her music is often cla ...
and energetic fiddler Ashley Reed. After touring in Britain and Canada with the new line-up, the band retired to the Astra Studios in Ashford, Kent to record some songs that were part of their live set and some newly rehearsed material. Live performances of this set were released as ''Acousticity on Tour'' (Talking Elephant, 2004).
Reception and Significance
The album was well received in the folk and roots press of the time and has been singled out by Ashley Hutchings as one of the proudest achievements in his long career.
[Bob Harris interview with Ashley Hutchings, 2006 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAi5rjv1XgY, retrieved on 14/01/09]
Track listing
# Flandyke Shore (3:35)
# The Foresters / Nicol's Real Ale Polka / The Travellers / The Seven Stones (5:16)
# Sister Moon (4:13)
# We Lie (5:04)
# Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump (3:46)
# Head-Smashed-In Reel (1:45)
# Black Jack, Blue John & Galena / Blue John Hornpipe (3:22)
# Bitter-Sweet Bed (2:53)
# Fastnet Rock / Man of War (6:02)
# Carolan's Cap / Sir Festus Burke (3:02)
# Dancer to the Drum (4:41)
# Fiddle on the Washboard (6:10)
Credits
* Track 1 Trad. arr. Nic Jones, Ashley Hutchings, Chris While
* Tracks 2a/c, 9a, 12 Ashley Reed
* Track 2b The Seven Stones
* Track 3 Chris While, Joe While
* Tracks 4, 5 Chris While, Ashley Hutchings
* Track 6 Ashley Reed, Simon Nicol, Chris While
* Track 7a Ashley Hutchings, Ashley Reed
* Track 7b Trad. arr. Ashley Reed, Chris While, Simon Nicol, Ashley Hutchings
* Track 8 Cyril Tawney
* Track 9b Steve Knightley
* Track 10 Turlough O'Carolan arr. Ashley Reed, Simon Nicol
* Track 11 Beth Nielsen Chapman
Production
* Recorded at Astra Studios, Monks Horton, Ashford, Kent
* Engineered by Dave Woolgar & Paul Godfrey
* Produced by Simon Nicol
* Cover and sleeve design by Malcolm (Really Wicked Productions
* Cover photos by Clive Taylor
* Back photo by Mick Sherlock
Personnel
* Ashley Hutchings, acoustic bass guitar, vocals;
* Simon Nicol, acoustic guitar, vocals;
* Ashley Reed, violin, vocals;
* Chris While, vocals, acoustic guitar;
* Diane Walmisley guests on vocals on Memories of You
References
{{Authority control
1993 albums
The Albion Band albums