#title English Rebel Songs 1381–1984 #author Chumbawamba #date Retreived March 3, 2023 #source [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Rebel_Songs_1381%E2%80%931984][Wikipedia]] #lang en #pubdate 2023-03-07T12:21:51 #topics The Diggers, The English Revolution **[[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgwKIfLV3Sw4rXqfZZVISKJttVqtzlUC9][Listen Here]]** ** Wikipedia | English Rebel Songs 1381–1984 | | [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Album][Studio album]] by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chumbawamba][Chumbawamba]] | | Released | 1988/1994/2003 | | Recorded | 1988/2003 | | [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_genre][Genre]] | [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_music][Folk]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_cappella][a cappella]] | | Length | 36:28 | | [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_label][Label]] | [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agit-Prop_Records][Agit-Prop Records]]/[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MUTT_Records][MUTT]] | | [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chumbawamba][Chumbawamba]] chronology | | [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never_Mind_the_Ballots][Never Mind the Ballots]]| (1987) | | English Rebel Songs 1381–1984 | (1988) | | [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slap!][Slap!]] | (1990) | English Rebel Songs 1381–1984 is the third studio album by English band [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chumbawamba][Chumbawamba]]. It was originally released in [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988_in_music][1988]] with a slightly different track list under the title English Rebel Songs 1381–1914, then re-recorded in [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_in_music][2003]]. Composed mostly of traditional English [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protest_songs][protest songs]], the recording was a stark contrast to the group's previous punk recordings, pointing towards their future integration of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choral][choral]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_cappella][a cappella]] music, as well as a greater focus on [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmony][harmony]] in their musical sound. The 2003 recording added some light instrumentation on some tracks. Some of the songs come from Stand Together by Hackney and Islington music group, 100 Songs Of Toil by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Dallas][Karl Dallas]], A Touch On The Times, and A Ballad History of England by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Palmer_(folklorist)][Roy Palmer]]. Many of the songs are still performed by modern English folk bands such as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Houghton_Weavers][The Houghton Weavers]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coope_Boyes_and_Simpson][Coope, Boyes & Simpson]]. The original LP recording (1988) was released on CD in [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_in_music][1994]] by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Little_Indian_Records][One Little Indian Records]]. Chumbawamba re-recorded the album (and modified the title) in 2003, adding two extra tracks, releasing it under their newly formed [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MUTT_Records][MUTT Records]] label. *** Reception [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allmusic][Allmusic]] called the album "eloquent", with "utterly relevant" songs, emphasizing that the singing in the 1988 version "was far better than anyone expected", and commending the improved technical quality of the 2003 recording,[1] while [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Independent][The Independent]] praised the album as having "rousing" songs, with "excellent" vocal performances, but expressed concern that there were no songs from later than 1984.[2] *** Track listing (2003 version) | # | Song Name | Length | Year | Notes | | 1 | "The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutty_Wren][Cutty Wren]]" | 1:55 | 1381? | Said to have been written during the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peasants%27_Revolt][Peasants' Revolt]], but not recorded before 1776 | | 2 | "The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diggers%27_Song][Diggers' Song]]" | 2:31 | 17th century | Written by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrard_Winstanley][Gerrard Winstanley]], leader of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diggers][Diggers]] | | 3 | "Colliers' March" | 2:28 | 1782 | Written by John Freeth; Refers to a march of workers in [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham][Birmingham]] protesting at the price of bread | | 4 | "The Triumph of General Ludd" | 3:02 | 1812 | Refers to the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite][Luddite]] Rebellion | | 5 | "Chartist Anthem" | 1:34 | 1847 | Written by Ben Boucher. Refers to the People's Charter drawn up by the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartism][Chartists]] in 1838 demanding [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_suffrage][universal suffrage]] | | 6 | "The Bad Squire" | 3:54 | 1847 | Adaptation of a poem by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Kingsley][Charles Kingsley]] written in defence of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poachers][poachers]]. The original text can be found [[http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/45076-Charles-Kingsley-The-Bad-Squire][here]]. | | 7 | "Song on the Times" | 2:35 | 1840s | Written after the repeal of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_Laws][Corn Laws]] | | 8 | "Smashing of the Van" | 2:09 | 1867 | Refers to the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Martyrs][Manchester Martyrs]] who were hanged in [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester][Manchester]] for shooting a policeman while rescuing two Irish republicans from jail | | 9 | "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_Turned_Upside_Down][The World Turned Upside Down]]" | 1:25 | 1647 | The title comes from a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diggers][Diggers]] pamphlet | | 10 | "Poverty Knock" | 3:14 | 1890s | Written by factory workers | | 11 | "Idris Strike Song" | 2:49 | 1911 | Written in 1911 about a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strike_action][strike]] at the Idris soft drink factory in [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales][Wales]]; the Idris brand is now owned by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britvic][Britvic]] | | 12 | "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_on_the_Old_Barbed_Wire][Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire]]" | 2:02 | 1918 | Written by soldiers during [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I][World War I]]; refers to incompetent leaders sending legions of young to their deaths | | 13 | "Coal Not Dole" | 2:00 | 1984 | Written by Kay Sutcliffe & Mat Fox about the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_miners%27_strike_(1984%E2%80%931985)][UK miners' strike (1984–1985)]] From the 2003 re-release: "Now, fifteen years later, we felt we'd learned enough about our voices to try again, updating and rearranging the songs against a backdrop of US/British warmongering. The songs were discovered in songbooks and in folk clubs and on cassette tapes, chopped and changed and bludgeoned into shape with utmost respect for the original tunes." *** Track listing (1988/1994 versions) 1. "The Cutty Wren (Part 1)" 1. "The Diggers Song" 1. "Colliers March" 1. "The Triumph of General Ludd" 1. "Chartist Anthem" 1. "Song on the Times" 1. "Smashing of the Van" 1. "The World Turned Upside Down" 1. "Poverty Knock" 1. "Idris Strike Song" 1. "Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire" 1. "The Cutty Wren (Part 2)" According to the 1994 CD notes: "The words are sung, with a couple of exceptions, exactly how we found them written. To start chopping and changing them all to fit in with modern language and ideas would have destroyed the reason why we wanted to do them like this (Which isn't to say that folk music isn't to be changed, edited and modernised.) Consequently the language and meaning seem a bit peculiar at times." *** Personnel 2003 re-recording - [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Watts][Lou Watts]] - Harry Hamer - [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danbert_Nobacon][Danbert Nobacon]] - [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_Abbott][Jude Abbott]] - [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boff_Whalley][Boff Whalley]] - Neil Ferguson - Simon "Commonknowledge" Lanzon 1988 recording - Harry - Simon Commonknowledge - [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Watts][Lou]] - [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boff_Whalley][Boff]] - Mavis Dillon - Cobie Laan - [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danbert_Nobacon][Danbert Nobacon]] - Alice Nutter was otherwise engaged - Dunst was reading football fanzine
[1] [[http://www.allmusic.com/album/english-rebel-songs-1381-1984-mw0000535394][Chumbawamba: English Rebel Songs 1381–1984]], reviewed by Chris Nickson; at [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allmusic][Allmusic]]; retrieved 8 December 2016 [2] [[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-chumbawamba-108658.html][Album: Chumbawamba: English Rebel Songs 1381–1984, Mutt]] at [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Independent][the Independent]]; published 12 June 2003; retrieved 8 December 2016