Kitty Jay is a music album by Seth Lakeman

Seth Lakeman

Seth Bernard Lakeman is an English folk singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, who is most often associated with the fiddle and tenor guitar, but has also mastered the viola and banjo...

 published in 2004. It is his second album that he published as a principal performer. It was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize for 2005. "All of these songs have been written and inspired by stories and legends from Dartmoor

Dartmoor

Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...

" where Lakeman was brought up and still resides.

Background of each track

The inspiration for each track (with the exception of track 5) is briefly described in the programme notes.

"John Lomas"

John Lomas was a servant who fell in love with his mistress, and his passion for her leads him to murder.

"The Bold Knight"

This piece was inspired by a story that Mr Lakeman heard. It is about a knight lying injured upon a moor, not knowing what fate will befall upon him, until a girl arrives to save him, but she dies herself for that kind act.

"Fight For Favour"

A song about the battle to claim land when people began to emigrate to America.

"Kitty Jay"

This piece is about the servant girl, Kitty Jay, who killed herself on the moors. Her grave lies out of Ashburton towards Hound Tor

Hound Tor

Hound Tor is a tor on Dartmoor, Devon, England and is a good example of a heavily weathered granite outcrop. It is easily accessible, situated within a few minutes from the B3387 between Bovey Tracey and Widecombe-in-the-Moor...

, at a crossroads where fresh flowers lay. This piece was performed at the Mercury Music Prize.

"Henry Clark"

Henry Clark was a well loved shipbuider from Plymouth

Plymouth

Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...

 who suffered from a strange fate.

"The Storm"

One of Mr Lakeman's stories that he was told, about a captain and his crew who sailed out of Plymouth Sound, and as night draws in a storm is brewing.

"The Ballad of Josie"

About a couple who go for a walk one morning. The man returns alone, but the woman is never seen again.

Track listing

1. "John Lomas" (traditional) – 3:52
2. "The Bold Knight" (Seth Lakeman) – 3:51
3. "Fight For Favour" (Seth Lakeman) – 4:03
4. "Kitty Jay" (Seth Lakeman) – 3:12
5. "Farewell My Love" (Seth Lakeman) – 2:22
6. "Blood Upon Copper" (Seth Lakeman) – 3:04
7. "Henry Clark" (traditional) – 3:02
8. "The Storm" (Seth Lakeman) – 2:41
9. "Cape Clear" (traditional) – 4:20
10. "The Ballad of Josie" (Seth Lakeman) – 3:25
11. "The Streamers" (traditional) – 2:43

Personnel

• Seth Lakeman: Vocals, tenor guitar, violin, viola
• Sean Lakeman: Guitar, electric bass, mandolin
• Ben Nicholls: Double bass
• Iain Goodall: Drums
• Kathryn Roberts
  Kathryn Roberts
  Kathryn Roberts is an English folk singer, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire.Her first released recordings were on the album Intuition, a collection of songs by various South Yorkshire folk artists which also included her friend Kate Rusby...
  
  : Vocals
• Benji Kirkpatrick: Bouzouki, vocals
• Audrey Mills: Church organ