- Ed McCurdy
-
Bawdy
Ballads of Shakespeare's Time
- Go Bring Me A Lass Time: 1:14
- The Trooper Time: 1:43
- A Young Man And A Maid Time: 1:19
- A Wanton Trick Time: 1:48
- There Was A Knight Time: 1:38
- Two Maidens Went Milking One Day Time: 1:47
- A Lusty Young Smith Time: 2:24
- Tom And Doll Time: 3:17
- A Riddle Time: 1:54
- A Maiden Did A-bathing Go Time: 2:01
- The Jolly Tinker Time: 1:19
- Old Fumbler Time: 1:14
- The Three Travelers Time: 2:19
- Kitt Hath Lost Her Key Time: 1:00
- To A Lady Time: 1:42
- The Four Able Physicians Time: 1:49
- Sylvia The Fair Time: 1:23
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Side A
- Go Bring Me A Lass
- The Trooper
- A Young Man and A Maid
- A Wanton Trick
- There Was A Knight
- Two Maidens Went Milking One Day
- A Lusty Young Smith
- Tom and Doll
Side B
- A Riddle
- A Maiden Did A-Bathing Go
- The Jolly Tinker
- Old Fumbler
- The Three Travelers
- Kitt Hath Lost Her Key
- To A Lady
- The Four Able Physicians
- Sylvia The Fair
ED McCURDY
Featuring Alan Arkin—recorder
Erik Darling—Banjo & Guitar
These songs, courtly in demeanor, tell of things shocking and lovely. Their richness and purity is revealed as their symbolism is unbraided.
They are culled, primarily, from Elizabethan England with its pomp, gill-edges and Shakespearean lustiness. And they flourish with double entendre common to the idiom of that day. According to the lyrics, the ladies are swathed in petticoats and naiveté and hesitate to obey a male gesture of desire. But, beneath it all, they are willing—joyfully so—and fall quite elegantly into the bed of "sin." Are they not like the fair damsels of today?
The songs have a Baroque-like flavor; staid and uniform in their presentation with a measure of the whimsical that mocks and pleases. The recorder, banjo and guitar accompaniments contrast nicely against the resounding voice of Ed McCurdy. The flavor of the songs gives the impression of tongue-in-cheek seriousness; they are risqué, often ribald, but always boast great grandeur. Their lustiness is cleansed by the purity and devotion of their deliverance. Nevertheless, even twentieth-century urbanity does not lessen their impact or the perfect joy experienced when hearing them.
These songs are, one might say, the forthright telling of what all of us think but dare not speak in open conversation. Never are they precious; they come to us in a man's language—simple, clear and precise.
And through it all, they are somewhat ironic. They say, in fact, that vulgarity is not vulgar at all when spoken sweetly and with beautiful intent.
—NINA MERRICK
AN ELEKTRA / EVEREST PRODUCTION
WRITE FOR FREE CATALOG / EVEREST RECORDS,
10920 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE
410,
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90024