As anyone can see, I don't exactly stick to one flavor when it comes to music, or much of anything else for that matter. So following a burst of jazz guitar we come to an album that has always been one of the favorites in my eclectic collection. The group is Huxtable, Christensen & Hood and "Wallflowers" is the first recording I ever encountered, and one of only two I own, by these ladies. Unfortunately I only have a cassette from which this share is taken, but I think the quality is passable enough to confirm their wonderful harmonies and feeling. Most of this music is what I would call traditional/folk and celtic in style although there are a couple of somewhat contrasting tunes like "First and Only Tango" and "Oldest of Friends" which somewhat defy easy categories. This music is rich and steeped in history, relationships and traditions. I really can't think of many vocal groups I enjoy any more than these ladies although I would suggest a group like Trapezoid (another of my all-time favorites) would compare. There's some seafaring and blacksmithing, childhood rememberances, undying love and a bit of everything timeless. Once again, it's just not right that this group wouldn't have more material out there and that recordings like this aren't available on CD. So I felt compelled to include this one on my blog in hopes that a few of my friends in blogland will be able to smile along to these beautiful voices as I have for probably 20 years or more. Please remember to let me know what you think, don't be a stranger, or a wallflower...
Huxtable, Christensen & Hood - Wallflowers - 1980
Philo Records PHC-1053
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Banks of the Sweet Primroses
The Truth From Above
Lake George 1922
Sheepcrook and Black Dog
The Week Before Easter
I'll Weave My Love A Garland (The Loyal Lover)
Oldest of Friends
Came Ye O'er Frae France
The Flying Cloud
Mon coeur se recomande a vous
The Blacksmith
Great Dream From Heaven
First and Only Tango
11 comments:
Just found your blog. I guest your tastes have been as eclectic as mine. I have one LP of Huxtable... the same Wallflowers.
I've always gone back to this one, especially for the gorgeous song 'Lake George 1922'.
Thanks, Ralph11
Hi Ralph11. Yes, that Lake George is haunting stuff. I just can't believe that there isn't more out there by this group. What a beautiful sound and spirit. Glad to hear from other fans of what otherwise appears to be sadly obscure.
Nice that someone else has this. I have the LP, and have always treasured Oldest of Friends, such a basic and beautiful tune.
I couldn't agree more. When I first heard "Oldest of Friends" I didn't think it was anything up to the level of the other tracks, but in time it more than proved me wrong. Deceivingly simple perhaps, highly memorable and pleasing for sure. Thanks for commenting Abbott!
Wallflowers is a wonderful album; each track a winner in my book. My vinyl copy is long gone and my tape is barely playable. I would buy a CD in a second, if they ever release one.
I owned this on vinyl years ago and loved it. Their "Sheepcrook and Black Dog" was always my favorite version of the song. But I lost the album in a move, MANY years passed, and although I could still sing the the music note-for-note, I couldn't even recall the group's name. But last night I reconnected with another old favorite--Galleries by Young Tradition--which also features The loyal Lover, and that set the wheels of memory turning. I'm so glad I was able to make my way here.
Thanks for the good word "Harriet". That's the kind of thing a blogger like me hopes to hear. It's also what inspired me to finally make the effort to create such a blog. I had some of the same experiences with long lost music I was hopelessly searching for. Let's hear it for the "wheels of memory".
Thanks for uploading this album. However, when I went to download it, it got stuck at the same place every time. As I'm not sure whether there's a problem with the content or the site, I thought I'd let you know.
Problem solved: it must have been a glitch on the site. Thanks.
I'm glad it ended up working for you but thanks for making the comment. It's good to know if things aren't working right, or if they are! Hope you enjoyed the music.
THe link to the download is broken, or the file has been removed.
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