Originally released in 1965 and unavailable on vinyl since 1967, ‘Frost and Fire, A Calendar Of Ritual and Magical Songs’,was the debut album from the then new group on the folk scene. Originally from Hull, two sisters, Norma and Elaine (or ‘Lal’), their brother, Mike and cousin, John Harrison, had been singing family songs all their lives and as a new folk group had been attracting attention for their powerful and exciting performances. They were taken into the studio by Bill Leader to record an album for Topic Records and what came out of the sessions was incredible. Frost and Fire was essentially a concept album, the songs following the passage of the year. It’s effect was seismic, standing the folk scene on it’s head and influencing not just folkies but the ever growing and eclectic rock scene as well, particularly Traffic whose magnificent “John Barleycorn Must Die” came directly from Frost and Fire.
Sympathetically and carefully re-mastered from the original master and cut at 45rpm for optimal quality, the resulting sound on this new release of Frost and Fire is nothing short of a revelation. Belying it’s years, the power and sonority of the voices hits the listener just as hard now as it did in 1965.
“Ground Zero for anyone discovering English folk song and culture” – Tradfolk.co
“Quite without parallel amongst British group singing” – English Dance and Song
“These are vital, transcendent recordings. Essential listening” – Living Tradition
Also available as...
You may also like...
Cobalt Chapel (CD)
£10.00Original price was: £10.00.£8.00Current price is: £8.00.Cobalt Chapel
Eerie and atmospheric choral psychedelia with a twist of folk, progressive and soundtracks.
Cymande (Vinyl)
£22.00Cymande
From unsung heroes to living legends whose influence is huge. “‘Cymande’ stands as a slippery classic on its own terms”. Black Vinyl edition.
Day By Day (Vinyl)
£18.99Original price was: £18.99.£16.00Current price is: £16.00.White Flowers
Beginning to reverberate a monolithic sound of their own. Blue vinyl edition.
Sun God (Vinyl)
£16.00Original price was: £16.00.£12.00Current price is: £12.00.Sunday Driver
“A Dickensian Kate Bush”. Red vinyl edition with lyric insert.
The Nation’s Most Central Location (Orange Vinyl)
£26.00Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan
The much-anticipated follow-up to ‘Districts, Roads, Open Space’. Limited edition orange vinyl.
Farmer’s Angle (CD)
£11.99Original price was: £11.99.£8.00Current price is: £8.00.Belbury Poly
CD reissue of the Ghost Box label’s debut release in 2004.