CAEDMON-CAEDMON-1968/1978(DEMO)

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(12-TRACKS)
1-TEN MAIDENS FAIR
2-MAKER MAN
3-DEATH OF A FOX
4-SEA SONG
5-ASLAN
6-BEYOND THE SECOND MILE
7-LIVING IN THE SUNSBINE
8-STORM
9-COLUMBAS SONG
10-SMILE ON YOUR FACE
11-CAEDMON'S HYMN
12-GIVE ME.
CREDITS:
Ken Patterson
Angela Naylor
Andy Love
Sam Wilson
Simon Jaquet
Jym Biset.
CAEDMON-LIVE-1978(14-TRACKS)
1-LONDON PSALM
2-IVORY TOWER
3-WORLDS AND FRIENDS
4-ASLAN
5-SEA SONG
6-THE GARDEN
7-CAEDOMN HYMN
8-SUNCHILD
9-HEAVEN HAVEN
10-TEN MAIDENS FAIR
11-MAKER MAN
12-STORM
13-BEYOND THE SECOND MILE
14-COLUMBA
The Scottish group Caedmon's only LP rested in relative obscurity for years until one of the 500 copies turned up in the early '90s. The band was contacted, a few stray copies were unearthed, and collectormania set in, aimed at procuring what some were proclaiming to be the best folk rock album ever recorded, Christian or otherwise. So does Caedmon live up to all the hype? Absolutely yes! Wow! The professional standards set by this custom are so astonishing all other Christian folk albums sound anemic by comparison. The production, the arrangements, the playing, the songwriting, the enamoring vocals of lead singer Angela Naylor - everything on this album is A+ throughout. Ten Maidens Fair' opens in the roguish tradition of Steeleye Span as it tells Christ's parable amid cascades of mandolin that duel with biting fuzz guitar - a frequent combination here that has lent folks to describing Caedmon's music as "add" or psychedelic folk. "Maker Man" has a cool jazzy feel with some nice bongo accompaniment that's prominent throughout the LP. 'Death Of A Fox" introduces the proficient cello playing of Ken Patterson. This song is truly "progressive folk rock" - a fast aggressive piece with a melodic center section that combines classical mood with traditional Scottish jigs and reels. One of the males takes over lead vocals for "Sea Song", a touching ballad that evokes an air of sadness as a lone electric lead plays over soft keyboards and acoustic guitar. "Asian" follows with a vengeance and some of the most lethal fuzz on the album. "Living In The Sunshine" jams with a touch of funky syncopation. "Storm" on the other hand is an intricate and mesmerizing folk/psych masterpiece that cites Mark 4:35^1 as its inspiration. Mandolin and cello compete at breakneck speed in 'Columba's Song' which tells the story of a conflict between a druid and holy man. 'Smile On Your Face' provides some straightforward jamming British folk rock, while 'Caedmon's Hymn' doses the LP with a solemn meditative prayer backed by recorder and floating harmonies. Two additional songs appear on a 45 that was originally included with the LP - "Beyond The Second Mile' (yet another evocative ballad that provides Angela's most captivating vocal performance yet) and the Negro spiritual 'Give Me Jesus'. Got all that? OK, the bad news: in the rare event that a copy does turn up it's usually in the $1200+ range. Sigh. Ah, but there's good news, too: the album was re-issued in 1994 on both vinyl and CD (and for considerably less than a house payment, too!). The vinyl pressing is true to the original beautiful cover art, includes a liner sleeve with all lyrics, and adds the essential song from the 45 ('Beyond The Second Mile'). Obviously I've gone to great lengths here to describe this wonder. Still it's difficult to put these sounds into words that do it justice -There's so much Emotion and depth in here that can only come through the listening experience. ICertainly hope you'll have that opportunity. Caedmon - Memories from a quarter of a century ago... The band started in Edinburgh 1973 as a three piece,Got Together for a Christmas Carol Concert. It was Ken Patterson, Angela Naylor, and Andy Love. Joined by Sam Wilson and Simon Jaquet in early 74. This five piece line-up carried on till that Autumn, when Jim Bisset replaced Andy (who left to move to Aberdeen)Stable (if occasionally fraught!) line-up from 74 till demise March 78:
Angela Naylor- Vocals
Ken Patterson -Cello,keyboards, acoustic guitar, vocals
Jim Bisset- Electric and acoustic guitars, vocals
Sam Wilson- Bass guitar, vocals
Simon Jaquet Acoustic guitar, mandolin, clarinet, bongos, vocals
Some career high points !?Sold out week-long series of concerts at Netherbow Theatre during hot summers at the Edinburgh Festival 1976 and 1977. Also involved dressing up as monks and processing down the Royal Mile.Our fine Ford Transit van – ‘Abby’ (named after Abbess Hilda, Caedmon’s 7th century boss)Touring churches, student unions, and village halls round central Scotland 1975 – 77 plying our wares to various student/youth fellowship/church audiencesDiscovering we could get foldback by using Jim’s stereo speakers propped up on stageDriving 400 miles overnight from Edinburgh to the Greenbelt Festival in ?1976 only to be elbowed off the stage by Nutshell (God bless ‘em)Farewell concert in Edinburgh’s George Square Theatre March 78 to an audience of 550 friends, lovers, fans, and acolytes. The live recording consisted principally of hum.Producing (and immediately selling) 500 copies of our very own home- produced album in 1978. We got the spirit and ethos of punk if not the music… The single was included because we had recorded too much material and didn’t want to drop anything.Discovering that the album is currently worth £500 on the collector’s market (if you can find one with lyric sheet and single). There’s also a plethora of hyperbolic web-based reviews! http://christianrockzone.listen2myradio.com/.