Penguin Eggs by Nic Jones

Introduction

I have written about Nic Jones before and you can find out more about the great man in the piece below.

I’m not sure when I got this album, but I had seen the song “Canadee-I-O” on many compilations and skipped it because I thought it would be some twee folk song, then at some point, for some reason, it started playing and I was shocked and stunned that I had actively dismissed such a beauty. That made me want to investigate further and here is what I found with a few samples of an absolutely stunning folk album.

Penguin Eggs

The detail after the title below is either the composer's name or references from the three major numbering schemes for traditional folk songs, the Roud Folk Song Index, Child Ballad Numbers and the Laws Numbers.

Nic Jones sings and plays guitar on all songs except "Barrack Street".

1."Canadee - I - O" (Roud 309) 5:58

This is the song that made me buy the album. The story of a girl who stows away on a ship to get to the Canadian seaport town of the name in the song, When the crew find out she is a girl they decide to kill her because she is a female. The captain takes the crew on to make sure she reaches her destination where he marries her and she becomes a fine lady and captain's wife

2."The Drowned Lovers" (Roud 91;Child 216) 6:31

Tony Hall (melodeon), Bridget Danby (recorder)

The story of two doomed lovers. Wille is sent away from Margaret's bower but she follows him to the Clyde where the lovers end up together at the bottom of the Clyde. This song is also known as "Clyde Water" which becomes clear when you listen to it. This is a live take from the album "Game Set And Match"

3."The Humpback Whale" (Harry Robertson) 6:04

A straight description of recommending the crew don't go for the smaller fry when fishing, but target the Humpback Whale, This is just Nic on acoustic guitar describing the terrible things that happen on the whale hunt.

4."The Little Pot Stove" (Harry Robertson) 5:37

Tony Hall (melodeon), Bridget Danby (recorder vocals) Dave Burland (vocals)

This is a comfort song eulogising the little pot stove that keeps the crew warm on the boat.

5. "Courting Is a Pleasure" (Roud 454) 5:22

Bridget Danby(recorder)

One of the slow numbers on the album with some beautiful guitar work, but very sombre despite a man talking about meeting his lover, but then he finds that he has lost her, to another lover. This is one where the love is truly lost.

6. "Barrack Street" (Roud 1902; Laws K42) 4:28

Nick Jones (fiddle), Tony Hall (Melodeon), Bridget Danby (recorder)

A complete contrast to “Courting Is A Pleasure”, this is quite funny about a sailor being fleeced of his money and clothes by a lady after she gets him very drunk.

7. "Planxty Davis" (Instrumental) 2:51

Three minutes of some beautiful guitar playing from Nic.

8. "The Flandyke Shore" (Roud 2636) 2:53

Tony Hall (melodeon)

A story of exile beautifully complimented by the melodeon of Tony Hall.

He meets his love’s father on the Flandyke Shore who tells him his daughter has died of a broken heart.

9. "Farewell to the Gold" (Paul Metsers) 5:17

Bridget Danby (vocals) and Dave Burland (vocals)

A wonderful conclusion to the album about a man who goes gold prospecting, but does not find any. The gold only comes in dreams

Conclusion

This is definitely one of the best folk albums in my collection, in fact just one of the best albums in my collection. I hope the songs I have included will tempt you to investigate it further.

Further Reading and Albums