Additional information
Albion Country Band: Simon Nicol (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, electric dulcimer, synthesizer); Martin Carthy (vocals, acoustic guitar); Sue Harris (vocals, oboe, hammer dulcimer); John Kirkpatrick (vocals, accordion, concertina, melodeon, electric piano); Ashley Hutchings (vocals, bass); Roger Sallow (drums, percussion). Additional personnel: Martin Nicholls, John Iveson, Colin Sheen, Paul Beer (sackbut); Dave Mattacks (percussion). Recorded at Sound Techniques, London, England in 1973. Personnel: Simon Nicol (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, dulcimer, keyboards, synthesizer); Martin Carthy (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Sue Harris (vocals, dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, oboe); John Kirkpatrick (vocals, anglo concertina, electric piano, melodeon); Ashley Hutchings (vocals); John Iveson, Martin Nicholls, Paul Beer, Colin Sheen (sackbut); Dave Mattacks (synthesizer, drums, percussion); Roger Swallow (drums, percussion). Liner Note Author: John Tobler. Recording information: Island Studio, St. Peter's Square, London, England; Sound Techniques Studio. Photographer: Keith Morris. Arrangers: Roger Swallow; John Kirkpatrick; Martin Carthy; Simon Nicol; Ashley Hutchings; Sue Harris. By 1973 a full-time group, The Albion Band was originally the name given to the musicians assembled by Ashley Hutchings for Shirley Collins' 1971 album NO ROSES. It boasted folk mainstay Martin Carthy and acknowledged master of the accordion John Kirkpatrick in its ranks, with further colouring added by oboist Sue Harris. However, the line-up proved short-lived and this, their sole album, was shelved for three years, being issued by Island only once Hutchings had moved on to another label and unveiled the ambitious 12-piece Albion Dance Band. BATTLE OF THE FIELD was the first flowering of Hutchings' vision of an electric ensemble devoted to traditional English music, and featured additional original songs in the same vein, such as Richard Thompson's mighty "Albion Sunrise" and "New St. George." The combination of strong material and fine musicianship set a high standard for subsequent permutations of the Albion Band to equal.
