Battle of the Field

Battle of the Field is a folk rock album by the Albion Country Band, recorded in summer 1973 immediately prior to the band's breakup and only released in 1976 following public demand.

Battle of the Field
Studio album by The Albion Country Band
Released	1976
Recorded	1973
Studio	Sound Techniques and Island Studio
Genre	Folk rock
Length	36:25
Label	Island
Producer	John Wood
The Albion Country Band chronology
No Roses (with Shirley Collins) (1971) Battle of the Field (1976) The Prospect Before Us (1977)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

The album was produced and engineered by John Wood, and was recorded at Sound Techniques Studio, Chelsea, London and Island Studio, St Peter's Square, London. The album cover was designed by Ian Logan Associates with photographs by Keith Morris, and the original LP sleeve notes were by Rod McShane.^[2]

Recording

Writing at mainlynorfolk.info, Tony Rees says:

The Albion Country Band recorded Battle of the Field in 1973 but the album was shelved when the band folded. When it was finally released on Island's budget label HELP in 1976, one track ("All of a Row") was deemed unfit for inclusion as the band were not particularly happy with it and anyway, Martin Carthy had by then re-recorded it in a different arrangement for his album Sweet Wivelsfield. As the original band could not be re-convened, John Kirkpatrick and Sue Harris quickly recorded a new track, "Reaphook and Sickle", to fill the vacant slot on the album. They were assisted by Dave Mattacks on percussion and also hammered dulcimer tuning, according to John Kirkpatrick!^[3]

Track listing

All tracks traditional, arranged by Carthy, Harris, Hutchings, Kirkpartrick, Nicol and Swallow except "Albion Sunrise" and "New St. George" composed by Richard Thompson

Side 1

1. "Albion Sunrise" - 2:54
2. Morris Medley: "Mouresque" / "London Pride" / "So Selfish Runs The Hare" (song) / "Maid of the Mill" / "Sheriff's Ride" - 7:14
3. "I Was a Young Man" (Roud 1572) - 4:03
4. "New St. George" - 2:37
5. "La Rotta" - 1:37

Side 2

1. "Gallant Poacher" - 4:26 (Roud 793)
2. "Cheshire Rounds" / "The Old Lancashire Hornpipe" - 2:42
3. "Hangèd I Shall Be" - 6:20
4. "Reaphook and Sickle" - 2:44 (Roud 1375)
5. "Battle of the Somme" (instrumental, W. Lawrie) - 1:48

Personnel

• Martin Carthy - vocals, acoustic guitar
• Sue Harris - vocals, oboe, hammer dulcimer
• Ashley Hutchings - vocals, electric bass guitar
• John Kirkpatrick - vocals, Anglo-concertina, button accordion, melodeon, electric piano
• Simon Nicol - vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, electric dulcimer, synthesiser
• Roger Swallow - drums, percussion

with

• Dave Mattacks - percussion on "Reaphook and Sickle"
• Martin Nicholls, John Iveson, Colin Sheen and Paul Beer - sackbuts on "Gallant Poacher"