Beat about the Bush
Encyclopedia
Beat about the Bush is a 1994 studio album by English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands
.
It is their debut studio album to be released on CD, following the discontinued cassette albums that are Show of Hands from 1987, Tall Ships from 1990 and Out of the Count from 1991.
Following Mike Trim's successful recording engineer work on Show of Hands Live
, the joint vision on Beat About the Bush was to produce the elusive "radio freindly" folk/roots album that retained the band's live album whilst adding a rhythm section. Steve Knightley said in 2007 "lots of friends were drafted for the sessions and after one boozy late night with Ralph McTell [the duo] were in no state to face the cameeras for the CD cover shot the next day. The suggestion to cover [the duo]'s faces with instruments came from George Wright, the photographer and save the world from a sorry spectacle. However, despite Mike's best efforts, radio reaction was minimal and another ten years were to pass before we dipped our toes once more into the world of bass and percussion."
The track "The Galway Farmer" would later be a staple on every live performance by the duo (and Steve Knightley solo). It is one of the band's better known tracks, and would end up being on various other albums in different recordings (such as it's apppearence on the band's well known live album
of their 24/3/96 gig at the Royal Albert Hall, where it closed the main set.) The song "Day Has Come" would be completely re-arranged for future live performance. "The Oak" has continued to be played live amongst other songs on the album, including the tradition "Blue Cockade".
The album was originally issued as the band's fourth studio album (at the time the only one remaining in print) on 1994 by TWAH! Records. Following the band's formation of the Hands on Music
record label, the album would eventually be re-released in 1999.
, except where noted.
Show of Hands
Show of Hands is an English acoustic roots and folk duo comprising singer-songwriter Steve Knightley and multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer. In recent years they have been accompanied on tour and in the studio by jazz double-bassist Miranda Sykes.-Origins:...
.
It is their debut studio album to be released on CD, following the discontinued cassette albums that are Show of Hands from 1987, Tall Ships from 1990 and Out of the Count from 1991.
Following Mike Trim's successful recording engineer work on Show of Hands Live
Show of Hands Live
Live is a live album by English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands.It is their first album to be released on CD.The album was re-released in 1999.-Track listing:...
, the joint vision on Beat About the Bush was to produce the elusive "radio freindly" folk/roots album that retained the band's live album whilst adding a rhythm section. Steve Knightley said in 2007 "lots of friends were drafted for the sessions and after one boozy late night with Ralph McTell [the duo] were in no state to face the cameeras for the CD cover shot the next day. The suggestion to cover [the duo]'s faces with instruments came from George Wright, the photographer and save the world from a sorry spectacle. However, despite Mike's best efforts, radio reaction was minimal and another ten years were to pass before we dipped our toes once more into the world of bass and percussion."
The track "The Galway Farmer" would later be a staple on every live performance by the duo (and Steve Knightley solo). It is one of the band's better known tracks, and would end up being on various other albums in different recordings (such as it's apppearence on the band's well known live album
Live at the Royal Albert Hall (Show of Hands album)
Live at the Royal Albert Hall is a 1996 live album by English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands. It was performed live at the Royal Albert Hall on 24 March 1996, following the success of their studio album, Lie of the Land.-Track listing:...
of their 24/3/96 gig at the Royal Albert Hall, where it closed the main set.) The song "Day Has Come" would be completely re-arranged for future live performance. "The Oak" has continued to be played live amongst other songs on the album, including the tradition "Blue Cockade".
The album was originally issued as the band's fourth studio album (at the time the only one remaining in print) on 1994 by TWAH! Records. Following the band's formation of the Hands on Music
Show of Hands
Show of Hands is an English acoustic roots and folk duo comprising singer-songwriter Steve Knightley and multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer. In recent years they have been accompanied on tour and in the studio by jazz double-bassist Miranda Sykes.-Origins:...
record label, the album would eventually be re-released in 1999.
Track listing
All songs written by Steve KnightleySteve Knightley
Steve Knightley is a singer-songwriter, musician and one half of British acoustic roots duo Show of Hands.-Career:...
, except where noted.
- "Beat about the Bush" – 4:41
- "The Class of Seventy Three" – 3:09
- "Armadas" – 4:31
- "Nine Hundred Miles" (TradTradTrad is generally an abbreviation of the word "Traditional". Its meaning varies with context, but the following have been observed:* In music, trad may refer to:** Traditional music** Trad jazz, also known as "Dixieland"...
) / "Poor Wayfaring Stranger" (Trad) – 4:19 - "Shadows in the Dark" – 3:51
- "The Galway Farmer" – 5:48
- "White Tribes" (Knightley/Matt Clifford) – 2:38
- "Day Has Come" – 4:39
- "The Hook of Love" – 4:18
- "Cars" – 3:55
- "The Blue Cockade" (Trad) – 6:11
- "Mr May’s" (Phil BeerPhil BeerPhil Beer is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and one half of English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands.-Biography:...
) / "Gloucester Hornpipe" (Trad) – 4:06 - "The Oak" – 3:07
Credits
- Steve KnightleySteve KnightleySteve Knightley is a singer-songwriter, musician and one half of British acoustic roots duo Show of Hands.-Career:...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, acoustic guitar, cuatroCuatro (instrument)The cuatro is any of several Latin American instruments of the guitar or lute family. The cuatro is smaller than a guitar. Cuatro means four in Spanish, although current instruments may have more than four strings....
, mandocelloMandocelloThe mandocello is a plucked string instrument of the mandolin family. It has eight strings in four paired courses, tuned in 5ths like a mandolin, but is larger, and tuned CC-GG-dd-aa . It is to the mandolin what the cello is to the violin.-Construction:Mandocello construction is similar to the... - Phil BeerPhil BeerPhil Beer is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and one half of English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands.-Biography:...
- vocals, acoustic guitar, fiddle, mandocello, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, melodeonMelodeon (organ)A melodeon is a type of 19th century reed organ with a foot-operated vacuum bellows, and a piano keyboard. It differs from the related harmonium, which uses a pressure bellows. Melodeons were manufactured in the United States sometime after 1812 until the Civil War era...
, slide guitarSlide guitarSlide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
, Spanish guitar, violaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average... - Biddy Blyth - fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, harpHarpThe harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
, whistleWhistleA whistle or call is a simple aerophone, an instrument which produces sound from a stream of forced air. It may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means... - Matt Clifford - pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
- Nick France - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, tea tray - Stefean Hannigan - bodhranBodhránThe bodhrán is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65 cm in diameter, with most drums measuring 35 to 45 cm . The sides of the drum are 9 to 20 cm deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side...
, uilleann pipesUilleann pipesThe uilleann pipes or //; ) are the characteristic national bagpipe of Ireland, their current name, earlier known in English as "union pipes", is a part translation of the Irish-language term píobaí uilleann , from their method of inflation.The bag of the uilleann pipes is inflated by means of a... - Ralph McTellRalph McTellRalph McTell is an English singer-songwriter and acoustic guitar player who has been an influential figure on the UK folk music scene since the 1960s....
- vocals, mouth harpMouth harpMouth harp may refer to:* Harmonica* Jew's harp... - Mike Trim - vocals, acoustic bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Vladimir Vega - vocals, charangoCharangoThe charango is a small Andean stringed instrument of the lute family, 66 cm long, traditionally made with the shell of the back of an armadillo. Primarily played in traditional Andean music, and is sometimes used by other Latin American musicians. Many contemporary charangos are now made with...
, zamponas - Pete ZornPete ZornPete Zorn is an American multi-instrumentalist who plays roots music. He is best known as a longstanding member of Richard Thompson's touring band, where he serves as backing vocalist and plays acoustic guitar, mandolin, saxophone, flute, and tin whistle.Although he frequently tours with Thompson,...
- acoustic bass guitar, electric bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
External links
- [ Beat about the Bush on Allmusic]