efn Reviews

James “Brasser” Copper was born in the Sussex village of Rottingdean in 1845. In 1897 Kate Lee, on of the founders of the Folk Song Society, noted “about half a hundred” songs from Brasser and his younger brother Tom, including material learned from their grandfather. In 1936 Brasser's son Jim wrote down about 60 of the family songs in an old farm cash book for the benefit of his son Bob and nephew Ron.

After publishing some of the family material in the first edition of the Folk Song Society's journal the “folk establishment” promptly forgot about the Coppers until 1950. In that year Jim heard a song from the family repertoire on the radio and wrote to the BBC to say that it was still sung in Rottingdean. As a result Jim and Bob broadcast one of their songs and over the years, in various combinations the family performed in public and recorded.

By the late 1960s Bob was singing with his son John and daughter Jill and their songs became folk club standards thanks to their being taken up by The Young Tradition.

On this recording we have all of Bob's six grandchildren in various combinations. We start with Tom singing Hard Times of Old England. I couldn't resist putting on Bob's 1998 recording of the same song by way of comparison. Bob sang solo, while Tom has his brother, sister and cousins on the chorus. I rather prefer Bob's sensitive handling of this song, but he did have the benefit of about 40 years additional experience.

Continuing, there is a lively rendering of Dame Durden by all six followed by The Irish Girl as a solo from Andy Barratt. The strength, however, is in the ensemble pieces with such magnificent standards as Come Write Me Down, Rose of Allendale, Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy and Banks of the Sweet Primroses.

After listening to Lucy's 1998 duet with her aunt of Sweet Lemeny I had high hopes of her solo of Charming Molly but I am afraid that it did disappoint, as much due to expectations raised by the previous recording as for any fault on this one.

These are songs are part of a living tradition, sung as they are, and have been for generations, at family gatherings and in local pubs. I have seen three generations of this family on stage and if I live as long as Bob Copper I hope to see a fourth.

This CD is something to buy and treasure. For a reissue of recordings by Bob with his father, cousin and uncle please click here.

Track Listing

1. Hard Times Of Old England (Tom)
2. Dame Durden (all)
3. The Irish Girl (As I Walked Out) (Andy)
4. Come Write Me Down (all)
5. Charming Molly (Lucy)
6. Brisk And Lively Lad (Mark / Andy / Sean)
7. Rose Of Allendale (all)
8. Pleasant Month Of May (Ben / Lucy / Tom)
9. Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy (all)
10. Come All Bold Britons (Sean / Ben)
11. Cupid's Garden (Mark / Tom)
12. Banks Of The Sweet Primroses (all)