Blowzabella: A Discography History

by Agostino Roncallo e Claude Jannic

Blowzabella, LP Plant Life1982 - PLR 038

Blowzabella is the name of a well known folk dance, collected and transcribed by Bill O'Toole to which the disc is dedicated . This name was chosen by a group of students of the London College of Furniture, fans of making music instruments. These people are standing on Ian Martin’s photography, front cover of their first album. Interesting, on the inside cover, a description of the manufactured instruments is given., instruments used in various compositions. The work is sober without any particular original arrangements but attests to the wide range of the research: "Yane Sandanski", one of the best pieces of the album comes from the Macedonian tradition.

Blowzabella, In Colour, LP Plant Life 1983 - PLR 051

Again, the group stands on the cover but, this time, on a color photography signed by David Hoffmann. Hence, perhaps, comes the album title. In the second and third covers, are shown a lot of instruments, the builders and the pieces performed. Some of these, such as the beautiful spanish jig "The Willow three", are described in detail and illustrated by the description of the dance steps to perform. In a few words, this is a very precious album. A curiosity: “Masters of War"was written by Bob Dylan in 1962.

Blowzabella, Bobbityshoothy, LP Plant Life 1984 - PLR 064

Two years after their debut, recorded at Ideal Sound of London, an innovative work in many ways is presented. The songs are more traditional, arranged by the group up to their individual components but are, in many cases, new compositions. This work is therefore more complex but much more sober in presentation. We do not have any piece of information about the graphic: a piper is represented with a colorful hat. Also missing are data about the instruments (to which, by now, we are used), and about the tracks. No small drawing leaflet explains the dance steps, it’s too bad!

Frankie Armstrong, Blowzabella, Brian Pearson, Jon Gillaspie, Tam Lin, LP Plant Life 1984 - PLR 063

Along with Frankie Armstrong, Brian Pearson and Jon Gillaspie, Blowzabella collects a new, wonderful work. This project has taken shape around an old ballad, Tam Lin, that was, in recent years, a source of inspiration for movies, poems and short stories. On this ballad, Paul James and Dave Shepherd have composed an original horn section. The striking album cover was designed by Janina Lech.

Blowzabella, Wall Of Sound, LP Plant Life 1986 - PLR 074

Wall of sound" is the first album Blowzabella after Nigel Eaton's (hurdy-gurdy) entry into the group. The package of Janina Lech appears, in this case, rather kitsch, and maybe even a little anonymous. To improve the situation, the photos (authors: Paul James and Jon Swayne) of producer Charles Gray in the recording room (flanked by small Charlie Henderson, who knows?).can be seen on the back. .Also, on the back cover, are given a description of the individual tracks (thank goodness!) and data related to the arrangements that does not correspond at all to those printed on the vinyl. Finally, the album is very nice and consoles us.

The B to A of Blowzabella, Cassette Blowzabella 1987 - BZB 01

This publication on cassette follows the publishing of the rare volume dedicated to the music of the group, Encyclopaedia Blowzabella. All arrangements are made by Blowzabella (N. Eaton, P. James, I. Luff, D. Roberts, D. Shepherd, J. Swayne). The recording, that took place live on 12/04/87 at Pathway in London, is a two-track digital record. The producer is Charles Gray. The cover art is by Janina Lech.

Blowzabella, A Richer Dust, LP Plant Life 1988 - PLR 080 

The saxophonist and vocalist Jo Fraser joins the group. And this is certainly a great news because this new album is well made, innovative and lively in the arrangements. I'ts inspired by the events of the "War of the Roses" and, in particular, by the Battle of Stoke Fields, recalled in 1986. The disc contains an explanatory sheet which traces some historical moments and the reasons which prompted the group to address these issues (such as David Roberts's book "The Battle of Stoke Fields"). The front and back covers show two beautiful photographs of the band, the work of Angela Coombes.

Blowzabella, Pingha Frenzy, LP Some Bizarre1986 - KELVIN 422

This is the first of the group live, recorded in Brazil in August 1987 and produced by Charles Gray. The cover art, cardboard poor, has a plan "Fence off the Amazon" by Philip Ridley. If "Phinga" is the Brazilian national drink, "Phinga Frenzy" is the sound of Blowzabella, so real and unadulterated. We find, on the cover, some effective definitions: Brazil looks like a country full of contrasts, rich and poor, voodoo and samba, but the tour group is instead described as a path (which lasted a month) made of energy and excitement.

Blowzabella, Vanilla, LP Topic records Ltd. 1990 - SPDCD 1028

Perhaps the most innovative and original work of the band, which, amongst other things, includes a brilliant performance of Riccardo Tesi’s Fulmine. The cover art is quite bare: a photo of the group (by Andrew Cleal) is located in the upper right corner, at the intersection between the name and album title. Among the most interesting tracks, it is worth listening to "Horizonte" by Paul James and "Spaghetti Panic (live footage at the end) by the young Andy Cutting. It 's strange that, after this work, which is the culmination of Blowzabella’s history, the group has virtually disappeared, except to find him in a compilation some years later.

Blowzabella, Compilation, CD Osmosys Records 1995 - OSMO CD001

This is a significant compilation collecting 15 pieces, taken from the first six albums of the group (Blowzabella in 1982 to the namesake of Vanilla 1990). The CD package is accompanied by some biographical notes written by Paul James. Otherwise the graphics are rough, the designs of Graham Hawkins on the cover are truly ugly.

BordunMusik Fest (Live in Kremsmünster), CD  Akreabel 1997 - CD 0198

BordunMusik-Fest is a live sampler CD of the 1997 edition of the festival located in Kremsmünster (Austria). The album is produced and distributed by the Akrea company. Simon Wascher (Austrian hurdy-gurdy player) was the artistic director and the chairman of the festival that was dedicated to the drones’ instruments, especially to hurdy-gurdy and to bagpipe. He also wrote the notes of the booklet (available in German and in English). The quality of the recording is quite poor regarding the actual standards, but the recording is however interesting from an historical point of view. In 1995, when, in fact, Blowzabella no longer existed, Ian Luff convinces Jon, Andy, Nigel and Dave, to play a concert in Bath. From 1996 to 2001 they played a few gigs each year as Blowzabella and wrote some new tunes. Among these concerts, they performed at BordunMusik-Fest in 1997. The album includes a version of the "Last Chance Bourrée / Famous Wolf" medley. The album presents also Nigel Eaton accompanied by the beautiful voice of Julie Murphy (i.e. Whirling Pope Joan) in three tracks: "Ffoles Llantrisant", "Rouanez Karet An Arvor" (a previously unreleased track) and "Bloodlines".

TFF Rudolstadt 2003, Roots Folk World Music Festival, CD Sampler

On July, 6th 2003 Blowzabella participates in the Tanz Folk Festival Rudolstadt performing a splendid version of Horizonto, a song composed by Paul James on his way back from the trip to Brazil during which the Pinga Frenzy album was recorded. Track by Blowzabella: 12. Horizonto 3.20 - Composer : Paul James

Blowzabella, Octomento, CD Not On Label 2007 - Blowzabella1

After 17 years of silence, the long awaited by fans return of Blowzabella. In truth, they were some years that the group found itself, especially in summer, participating in the festival: in 2003, they play a memorable concert at Saint-Chartrier. The ideas came and here is time for a new CD despite the leaving of Nigel Eaton, replaced by the bright Gregory Jolivet, and of Ian Luff, replaced by Barn Stradling. The album begins with a composition by Andy Cutting "Oliver's / Two Beers" and finds its first climax with the stunning "The origins of the World" by Dave Shepherd. Beautifully evocative are also "One for Sorrow" by Paul James and "Ham Street" by Jon Swayne. Then, are given two traditional "The Gallant Indiscreet" performed by the group with great efficiency, and "Jacky Tar" that inspired Dave Shepherd to play an "octave" violin. The current line up consists of Andy Cutting (button accordion Diatonic), Jo Freya (clarinet, saxophones), Paul James (bagpipes, saxophones), Gregory Jolivet (hurdy-gurdy), Dave Shepherd (violins), Barn Stradling (bass guitar) and Jon Swayne (bagpipes, saxophones). The CD is, in fact, self, or rather, produced by the group. The cover is a photograph by Victor Nicholls.

Blowzabella, Dance, CD Not On Label 2010 - BLOWZABELLA2

The new, powerful, live and self produced Blowzabella’s record is released in the Spring of 2010. The pieces belong to the repertoire of Blowzabella and were recorded live by Mark Simms at the concerts of Exeter, Bath, and Lincoln. Each interpretation includes innovative refinements. The booklet notes are by Paul James and the beautiful cover art is entrusted to Clear22.com. The photos were taken by Jez Prout, Lieve Boussauw and (for Jo Freya) Peter Abrahams.

Blowzabella, Strange News, CD Not On Label 2013, BLOWZABELLA 11a3

The group celebrates its 35th anniversary with this album. The album is beautiful and alternates some dances (mazurkas, bourrées and schottisches) in pure Blowzabella style and some traditional sung by Jo Freya, a real novelty. The vocals were recorded in Leeds by Neil Ferguson. Patrick Bouffard contributes very well on hurdy-gurdy on “The Diggers / Cottillion”. The music was recorded by Paul James and Jon Swayne in England at Kennard Moor Drove, Coxbridge, Sommerset and in France at Patrick Bouffard’s place in Franchesse.  The quality of the recording causes some doubts. The sound seems poorly detailed and a bit chaotic, especially in the lower frequencies. The cover presents a beautiful photograph by Lieve Boussaw.

Blowzabella, Two Score, CD Not On label 2018 - BLOWZABELLA4

Blowzabella celebrates its 40th anniversary with this album. The cover by Paul Woloschuk presents the group standing in front of an old wall, just like the one of the first album in 1982. This album comes from the individual research of each musician and, on top of that, from the collective work of the group. The result is that the style becomes homogeneous and characterizes the "Blowzabella sound”. Blowzabella is a real group for the meticulousness devoted to the arrangements through a common work.

Blowzabella, Tilham, CD Not On Label 2022 - BLOWZABELLA5

On Tilham, the balance of material follows the now-customary pattern – a well-sequenced programme of instrumental tracks (tunes, mostly in pairs format) in amongst which are nestled three memorable excursions into song. On this occasion, the tune quotient includes just two traditional items – The Cumberland Militia, from the late-18th-century tune book of Joseph Barnes, is a version of a morris tune, whereas the disc’s lusty final item, The Corsican Fairy, comes from a Lake District source (the Browne Family tune collection). All other tunes have been composed by band members. Jo also contributes the wonderfully evocative song Swirling Flame, the melody for which arose out of a piece written for a themed summer school at Somerset’s Halsway Manor. Jo takes the vocal lead on both this and the rather addictive Breton song Les Trois Jolis Mineurs(which is capped off neatly by Paul’s 6/8 rondeau Umberella). The third song is Paul’s fond interpretation of The Green Bushes, whose unusual instrumental setting features two whistle parts.