English Rebel Songs 1381–1984
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''English Rebel Songs 1381–1984'' is the third studio album by English band Chumbawamba. It was originally released in
1988 File:1988 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The oil platform Piper Alpha explodes and collapses in the North Sea, killing 165 workers; The USS Vincennes (CG-49) mistakenly shoots down Iran Air Flight 655; Australia celebrates its Bicenten ...
with a slightly different track list under the title ''English Rebel Songs 1381–1914'', then re-recorded in 2003. Composed mostly of traditional English protest songs, the recording was a stark contrast to the group's previous punk recordings, pointing towards their future integration of choral and a cappella music, as well as a greater focus on harmony in their musical sound. The 2003 recording added some light instrumentation on some tracks. Some of the songs come from ''Stand Together'' by Hackney and Islington music group, ''100 Songs Of Toil'' by Karl Dallas, ''A Touch On The Times'', and ''A Ballad History of England'' by Roy Palmer. Many of the songs are still performed by modern English folk bands such as
The Houghton Weavers The Houghton Weavers are an English folk music band formed in 1975, in Westhoughton, Bolton, Greater Manchester ( historically part of Lancashire), England. The current band members are David Littler ( acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, banjo ...
and Coope, Boyes & Simpson. The original LP recording (1988) was released on CD in
1994 File:1994 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1994 Winter Olympics are held in Lillehammer, Norway; The Kaiser Permanente building after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; A model of the MS Estonia, which sank in the Baltic Sea; Nelson ...
by
One Little Indian Records One Little Independent Records (formerly One Little Indian Records) is an English independent record label. It was set up in 1985 by members of various anarcho-punk bands, and managed by former Flux of Pink Indians bassist Derek Birkett. In t ...
. Chumbawamba re-recorded the album (and modified the title) in 2003, adding two extra tracks, releasing it under their newly formed
MUTT Records Chumbawamba () were a British rock band formed in 1982 and disbanded in 2012. They are best known for their 1997 single "Tubthumping", which was nominated for Best British Single at the 1998 Brit Awards. Other singles include " Amnesia", " Enou ...
label.


Reception

''
Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
'' called the album "eloquent", with "utterly relevant" songs, emphasizing that the singing in the 1988 version "was far better than anyone expected", and commending the improved technical quality of the 2003 recording,Chumbawamba: English Rebel Songs 1381–1984
reviewed by Chris Nickson; at
Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
; retrieved 8 December 2016
while ''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publish ...
'' praised the album as having "rousing" songs, with "excellent" vocal performances, but expressed concern that there were no songs from later than 1984.Album: Chumbawamba: English Rebel Songs 1381–1984, Mutt
at ''
the Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publish ...
''; published 12 June 2003; retrieved 8 December 2016


Track listing (2003 version)

''From the 2003 re-release'': "Now, fifteen years later, we felt we'd learned enough about our voices to try again, updating and rearranging the songs against a backdrop of US/British warmongering. The songs were discovered in songbooks and in folk clubs and on cassette tapes, chopped and changed and bludgeoned into shape with utmost respect for the original tunes."


Track listing (1988/1994 versions)

# "The Cutty Wren (Part 1)" # "The Diggers Song" # "Colliers March" # "The Triumph of General Ludd" # "Chartist Anthem" # "Song on the Times" # "Smashing of the Van" # "The World Turned Upside Down" # "Poverty Knock" # "Idris Strike Song" # "Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire" # "The Cutty Wren (Part 2)" ''According to the 1994 CD notes'': "The words are sung, with a couple of exceptions, exactly how we found them written. To start chopping and changing them all to fit in with modern language and ideas would have destroyed the reason why we wanted to do them like this (Which isn't to say that folk music isn't to be changed, edited and modernised.) Consequently the language and meaning seem a bit peculiar at times."


Personnel

2003 re-recording *
Lou Watts Louise "Lou" Watts (born 4 June 1962) is a British musician, perhaps best known for her work as the lead singer of anarcho-punk and later folk band, Chumbawamba. Born in Burnley, Watts was introduced to the band by friend and member Alice ...
* Harry Hamer * Danbert Nobacon * Jude Abbott *
Boff Whalley Allan Mark "Boff" Whalley (born 1 January 1961) is an English musician and writer. Formerly the lead guitarist for the anarcho-punk and folk band Chumbawamba, he is now a playwright and the founder of Commoners Choir who released their first ...
* Neil Ferguson * Simon "Commonknowledge" Lanzon 1988 recording * Harry * Simon Commonknowledge * Lou * Boff * Mavis Dillon * Cobie Laan * Danbert Nobacon * ''Alice Nutter was otherwise engaged'' * ''Dunst was reading football fanzine''


References


External links


''English Rebel Songs 1381–1984''
at
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(streamed copy where licensed) {{DEFAULTSORT:English Rebel Songs 1381-1984 Chumbawamba albums 1988 albums Agit-Prop Records albums One Little Independent Records albums A cappella albums