Swaddling Songs
| Swaddling Songs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | April 1972 |
| Recorded | December 1971 |
| Genre | Folk rock, progressive folk, psychedelic folk |
| Length | 42:57 |
| Label | Deram Records |
| Producer | David Hitchcock |
| Singles from Swaddling Songs | |
| |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
Swaddling Songs is the only studio album by Irish progressive folk rock band Mellow Candle, originally released in 1972 by Deram Records.
Commercially unsuccessful at the time of release,[1] Swaddling Songs has since received critical acclaim[2][3] and original vinyl copies are highly collectable[4][5][6]. It has been re-released multiple times on various labels since 1989, including a 50th annniversary release by Deram in 2023.[7]
In 2022 the album's 50th anniversary was marked by the RTE radio documentary Swaddling Songs at 50.[8]
Swaddling Songs is notable for its multi-layered vocal harmonies and complex arrangements. It has become regarded a classic of the progressive folk genre.
A collection of demos and sessions for the album recorded 1969–1971 was released in 1996 as The Virgin Prophet.
Track listing[edit]
All tracks written by Clodagh Simonds except where noted.
- "Heaven Heath" (Alison Williams) – 3:00
- "Sheep Season" (Simonds, A. Williams, David Williams) – 5:01
- "Silversong" – 4:26
- "The Poet and the Witch" – 2:51
- "Messenger Birds" (A. Williams) – 3:38
- "Dan the Wing" – 2:45
- "Reverend Sisters" – 4:21
- "Break Your Token" – 2:27
- "Buy or Beware" (D. Williams) – 3:04
- "Vile Excesses" (D. Williams, William Murray) – 3:14
- "Lonely Man" – 4:30
- "Boulders on My Grave" – 3:40
Bonus tracks[edit]
The CD re-issue includes the following bonus tracks, originally relesed as a single in 1968:
- "Feeling High" (Simonds) – 2:23
- "Tea with the Sun" (Simonds) – 3:18
Singles[edit]
- "Dan The Wing" / "Silversong" (Deram DM 357, 1972)[11]. "Silversong" was covered (as "Silver Song") by All About Eve as a B-side to some versions of their single "Farewell Mr. Sorrow".[12]
Personnel[edit]
Mellow Candle[edit]
- Clodagh Simonds – lead vocals, backing vocals, piano, harpsichord, mellotron
- Alison Williams (Alison Bools) – lead vocals, backing vocals
- David Williams – guitar, backing vocals
- Frank Boylan – bass guitar, backing vocals
- William Murray – drums, percussion
Production[edit]
- David Hitchcock – producer
- Derek Varnals – engineer
- Kevin Fuller – engineer
- Recorded at Tollington Park Studios
Release history[edit]
Source for this section: [13]
- 1972 UK, Deram SDL 7
- 1989 Japan, Decca: Edison European Rock Series ERC-29223/DCI 23190
- 1989 US, Zen ZN-001
- 1993 South Korea, Si-Wan SRML 0021
- 1994 UK, See For Miles SEECD 404
- 1994 Japan, Decca: British Rock Masterpiece POCD-1903
- 2000 Japan, Decca: British Rock Legend/Rock Fantasy Series UICY-9033
- 2003 Australia, Progressive Line PL 545
- 2004 UK, Acme ADCD1040
- 2005 South Korea, Universal SRML 0021
- 2007 Leichtenstein, Tapestry TPT 206
- 2008 Japan, Decca: Rock Legend Series UICY-93825
- 2010 Japan, Deram: My Generation My Music UICY-20146
- 2011 UK, Rise Above Records (boxed set) RARLP007
- 2020 UK, Deram (Record Store Day white vinyl) 085447-0
- 2021 UK, Esoteric ECLEC2044
- 2023 Europe, Deram 487 755-7, 00602448775573
References[edit]
- ^ Funge, Cathal (13 June 2022). "The Lyric Feature: Swaddling Songs at 50 - the story of an Irish acid folk classic". RTE. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Young, Rob (September 2023). "Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs (reissue, 1972)". Uncut: 38–41.
- ^ Lynch, Declan (2 February 2023). "Mellow Candle lighting up the airwaves again: Radio". Sunday Independent. p. 19. Retrieved 4 July 2024 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs". Discogs. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Hammond, Derek (8 May 2008). "Swaddling Songs | Mellow Candle".
- ^ Wheeler, Lisa (29 April 2005). "Positive Feedback: Calm, Cool and Collected - Bidder Pays $2,650 for Mellow Candle". Goldmine. 31 (9): 9 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs". Discogs. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Funge, Cathal (13 June 2022). "The Lyric Feature: Swaddling Songs at 50 - the story of an Irish acid folk classic". RTE. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Mellow Candle – Feeling High / Tea With The Sun". Discogs. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Various – Sunday Sunshine (The World Of SNB Records)". Discogs. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Mellow Candle – Dan The Wing / Silversong". Discogs. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "All About Eve – Farewell Mr. Sorrow". Discogs. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs". Discogs. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
External links[edit]
- Swaddling Songs at Prog Archives
- Swaddling Songs at AllMusic. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
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