Customer Reviews

Sweet Wivelsfield

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Unlike other British folk guitar heroes such as Bert Jansch, John Renbourn and Davey Graham, who were tremendously influenced by blues, jazz and other American music forms, Carthy based his guitar style on British music traditions. Borrowing from concertina, fiddle and bagpipe music, he virtually re-invented the instrument. His impact reaches beyond Britain, you can hear his influence in the playing of French guitarists such as Pierre Bensusan, Paul Simon got Scarborough Fair from Carthy, Richard Thompson has acknowleged him as a singularly essential influence, and Bob Dylan is among those who have borrowed from this masterful musician.
Pop musicians such as Jethro Tull and folk rockers like Steeleye Span(except when Carthy is in the band) cannot hold a candle to this guy.
This is just one album out of a catalogue of stunning material produced during an unmatched carreer.

I discovered Martin Carthy through Steeleye Span, a band he played in off and on throughout the Seventies. Carthy's work with that band, however, did not entirely prepare me for this solo album first released on Rounder in 1974. It is truly a solo recording with Carthy accompanying himself only on guitar--and on two numbers he sings a capella: "Mary Neal" and "John Barleycorn," the latter in a version that will not be recognizeable to those who know it only by way of Traffic or Jethro Tull. Carthy is an accomplished British folksinger/guitarist and while he may not display the same virtuosity on guitar as Bert Jansch or John Renbourn in terms of fancy fretwork, each of these ten traditional songs have a warmth and charm about them. [If ten tracks seems a bit short, three of these songs run in excess of six minutes each.] For those who like their folk music traditional and uncomplicated, this will satisfy you more than adequately. RECOMMENDED

Martin Carthy is, simply put, the real thing. If you've been looking for English folk music with substance, here it is. I have never heard a Martin Carthy record that wasn't enjoyable. Forget his work with Steeleye Span, the Albion Country Band, and concentrate on his solo work instead. And this album, "Sweet Wivelsfield" is as great a start as any. May all of his discs continue to be reissued again and again. The beauty of Carthy's work is that apart from being a great musician and singer, he also is a great researcher of songs, finding inspiration from the most traditional of Child ballads to the most eclectic combinations of Mozart and e.e. cummings.