''Aqaba'' is a folk album by

June Tabor June Tabor (born 31 December 1947 in Warwick, England) is an English folk singer known for her solo work and her earlier collaborations with Maddy Prior and with Oysterband. Early life June Tabor was born and grew up in Warwick, England. As ...

released in 1988 on

Topic Records Topic Records is a British folk music label, which played a major role in the second British folk revival. It began as an offshoot of the Workers' Music Association in 1939, making it the oldest independent record label in the world.M. Brocken, ...

, catalogue number TSCD 449. The album was produced and engineered by Andrew Cronshaw at Ideal Sound Recorders, London. Notable for its spare, almost minimalist arrangements, the album includes a mixture of traditional and non-traditional songs, in particular two from Tabor favourite

Bill Caddick Lewis Frederick William Caddick (27 June 1944 – 19 November 2018) was an English folk singer-songwriter and guitarist, particularly noted for his songwriting and as a member of the innovative and influential group Home Service. Career outli ...

. The accompanying book to the Topic Records 70 year anniversary boxed set ''

Three Score and Ten ''Three Score and Ten: A Voice to the People'' is a multi-CD box set album issued by Topic Records in 2009 to celebrate 70 years as an independent British record label. The album consists of a hardback book containing the seven CDs and a paper ...

'' lists this album as one of its classic albums.Three Score and Ten Accompanying Book
/ref>

Track listing

# "The Old Man's Song (Don Quixote)" (

John Tams John Tams (born 16 February 1949) is an English actor, singer, songwriter, composer and musician born in Holbrook, Derbyshire, the son of a publican. He first worked as a reporter for the '' Ripley & Heanor News'' later working for BBC Radio De ...

) # "Searching for Lambs" (Traditional; arranged Tabor) # "The Banks of Red Roses" (Traditional; arranged Tabor, Ric Sanders) # "Where Are You Tonight, I Wonder?" (Andy M. Stewart) # "Aqaba" (Bill Caddick) # "Bogie's Bonnie Belle" (Traditional; arranged Tabor) # "The Reaper" (Traditional; arranged Tabor) # "Verdi Cries" (

Natalie Merchant Natalie Anne Merchant (born October 26, 1963) is an American alternative rock singer-songwriter. She joined the band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and was lead vocalist and primary lyricist for the group. She remained with the group for their first se ...

) # "The Grazier's Daughter" (Traditional; arranged Tabor) # "Seven Summers" (

Dave Goulder Dave Goulder (born 1 January 1939) is a British singer, guitarist, dry stone wall builder,Wicked Local, mountain climber, railway fireman, humorist, and composer. He is best known for his song "January Man" and for his collections of railway so ...

) # "Mayn Rue Plats" (Traditional; arranged Tabor, Ric Sanders) # "

The King Of Rome The King of Rome was a successful racing pigeon, winning a race from Rome, Italy, to England, in 1913. Bred and trained in England, it was owned by Charlie Hudson of Derby. It set a new long-distance record for a racing pigeon of England. The ...

" (Dave Sudbury)

Personnel

- vocals *

Huw Warren Huw Warren is a Welsh jazz pianist and composer whose work crosses several genres. He is known as co-leader and founder of the jazz quartet Perfect Houseplants. Career Huw Warren was the co-leader and founder of the jazz quartet Perfect Ho ...

- piano * Ric Sanders - violin *

Martin Simpson Martin Stewart Simpson (born 5 May 1953) is an English folk singer, guitarist and songwriter. His music reflects a wide variety of influences and styles, rooted in Britain, Ireland, America and beyond. He builds a purposeful, often upbeat voi ...

- guitar * Dave Bristow - synthesizer * Ian Blake - bass clarinet

References

June Tabor albums 1988 albums Topic Records albums {{1980s-folk-album-stub