HARD TRAVELLIN' 1971 PRIVATE PRESS PSYCH FOLK LP

	£		167
	$		221

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‘HARD TRAVELIN’’ 1971 PSYCH/FOLK LP TOP COPY! (FLAMS FR 1065)

So, so rare, this private pressed, folk gem from 1971.  the excellent reference ‘Tapestry of Delights’ says that ‘Just 99 copies were pressed this now ultra rare Incredible String Band-influenced effort.’ 

HARD TRAVELLIN' - HARD TRAVELLIN' 1971 MONSTER RARE FOLK PRIVATE PRESSING LP

**** LIMITED PRESSING OF ONLY 99 COPIES ****

The Kent record label, FLAMS, was set up in 1968 by John Cree, a Dover musician, to market his drum tuition LP.

FLAMS released a handful of albums at the time, The Bod Bowles Jazz Band and a compilation LP of artists appearing at the renowned live venue in Dover, The Louis Armstrong. Hard Travellin’ were one of the few local bands given their own release. 

At that time, any record release of 100 or more copies incurred the administration and tax commitments due to professional releases.  Therefore if a band could scrape the money together for a studio session and an LP pressing, 99 copies were often enough to punt round local live gigs and provide the added kudos that having one’s ‘own’ LP for sale would surely bring.

That makes the surviving LPs incredibly rare and hugely desirable among collectors.  Many private pressings were been bootlegged from rough old copies during the 1980’s and 90’s.  Some were ‘re-released’ on CD.  Sadly, this is one that hasn’t and the only possible way to know the music is to acquire an original copy. 

This one is in lovely condition.  One, entirely superficial, hairline, whispy mark which has not damaged the vinyl or affects play in any way, is the only thing that prevents a genuinely mint grading.  So, Near Mint with an E+ sleeve, signed, incidentally, by one of the band members.

Musically, it’s been suggested that the album is Incredible String Band influenced.  Although I can hear that on a couple of numbers, ‘Everthing’s Fine Right Now’ being very redolent of the ‘Hedgehog Song’, the bulk of the album is typical of the second wave folk revival of the late sixties and early seventies.  Beth Skelton’s powerful voice dominate the vocal make up, supported by Paul Sherman and John Hornsey on harmonies, vocals, guitar and banjo.  Though Beth’s voice is typically English folk in nature, she is capable of producing quite an ethereal sound on a couple of tracks.

Her voice reminds me in many ways of Judy Dyble, Fairport Convention’s first vocalist.  Comparisons with Pentangle, Shirley Collins etc, are inevitable, if not for anything more than the choice of material.  However, ‘Hard Travellin’ have very much their own sound and I shall be genuinely sorry to let this go, it having been on my turntable for a good deal longer than necessary for a cursory test playing!

Tracks: Edward;

Once I had a sweetheart;

Seven golden daffodils;

Full of smiles;

Butcher boy;

When morning breaks;

Everything's fine right now;

Geordie;

Brennan on the Moor;

Children of the summer sun;

Bavarian masterpiece

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