Penguin Eggs

I've been looking for a CD copy of Penguin Eggs for a long time but, as I do own an original vinyl copy, I wasn't prepared to stump up 10GBP or more for it. Enter eBay and I scored me an original, sealed CD of said item for just three of your English pounds, free postage. It arrived yesterday.

I don't care much for English folk music, though I owe it a debt of gratitude for wakening up these pop-orientated ears in the late 60s via Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and albums such as Morris On, to folk music in general. I moved on rapidly to the music of my own country instead and these days can't really bear "Liege and Lief', no matter how many times they remaster it. The rest of it, the stuff of Viz-mockery, the tankards of real ale, wooly jumpers, hey nonny nos, fingers stuck in ear, people called Doug, comely maidens thickening around the waist, young men scouring Merrie England in search of the elusive Cuckoo's Nest, the intrusive English 'R' between two vowels -I can't be doing with any of that.

Penguin Eggs is different. In the first instance, it's Nic Jones, a guitar player of impeccable taste and talent. Secondly, it's a fine collection of songs presented in the simplest of fashion -a sympathetic female voice on backup, the odd harmonium*, concertina** or recorder. Deceptively so, for it warrants repeated listening and never fails to reveal new aural treasures, little touches that bring a smile to your ears.

Listening to it yesterday, albeit on bog-standard redbook CD, I was struck by how good it sounded, rich beautiful, guitar. They sure knew how to record LPs in those old Topic days! This album has never failed to entrance me and I listened gleefully to this 40 minute-plus album of gems, such as Courting is a Pleasure, Farewell to the Gold, The Humpback Whale (containing the words of the title, "Penguin Eggs") and the opener, Canadee-I-O, which impressed Bob Dylan so much, he also chose to record it on his "Good As I Been To You" acoustic album, using much the same arrangement, years later.

If you like acoustic music, then I urge you to secure a copy. It's music Jim, but sadly, not as the kids know it.

A final word for poor old Nic Jones. Injured massively in a car crash in 1982, it effectively ended his career and he recorded no more.

Here is the sleeve of this landmark release:

Lest anyone think I've been too hard on English folk music I also like Billy Pigg (The Border Minstrel) and the High Level Ranters. And this one, June Tabor with Martin Simpson, "A Cut Above".

* Melodeon. Must try harder.

** No concertina.