Customer Reviews

English Rebel Songs 1381-1984

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This is a re-recorded (not simply remastered) version of the old favorite. The tracks are all tastefully re-done, many better than the original. It doesn't have the same strange mystique as the original release, but it's still a solid piece of work.

Cutty Wren isn't cut into two parts.
Bad Squire and Coal Not Dole are new tracks...

1377 that is.
Ive only got the first version of this but its a wonderful album. It shows the roots of "protest music" through what we would consider old folk songs, it shows that people have always been struggling and gives a bit to chew on. Its great for fans of punk open-minded enough to accept that punk isnt just 1 2 3 4 and some screaming (which is good in its own right) as well as being great for folks who realize that Chumbawamba were much more open minded and intelligent than the punks who've cried sell-out have given them credit for.

I bought this when it came out on vinyl in about 1987 & recently bought it again as I like in so much. I contains acapella songs from different points in English history; the songs are all protest songs by oppressed people such as the diggers, the chartists, Irish nationalists, World War 1 soldiers, coal miners and so on. The music is melodic & well sung. The CD has some re-recorded versions which in some ways work better that the original recordings (e.g. Danbert Nobacon's nasal /adanoidal singing is less evident than before). This is melodic singing & one finds yourself singing along too. However, the best thing about it are the lyrics, which are the original words used in the 19th century (or whenever the song was recorded). The recording was made to show that protest, and protest songs, was not a new fad, but a historical tradition with a long past. It is a valid historical document & a beautiful listen. It bears no audiable relation to the group's other recordings.

the English Rebel Songs (1381-1984) sessions contains 13 songs sung in a manner of just over a half an hour. each acapella song is short but unforgotten. the voices that come out of Chumbawamba are remarkable and really slams chumbawamba as one of the few and rare bands that can actually sing without lyp-synching, and they're put to the test with English Rebel Songs (1381-1984). this albums is highly recommended for those who love music and its history.

A great collection of English rebel/protest songs from 1381 to the present. Very well performed.