The Copper Family

Come Write Me Down

The Copper Family of Rottingdean in Sussex has roots in traditional song that are at least two hundred years old. Their rare southern English harmony is presented at its most outstanding in these classic performances from the 1950s and early '60s. Bob and Ron Copper came to prominence outside their immediate local environment when recordings of the duo were released during the early part of the folk revival. These newly remastered recordings are included here in their entirety. In addition, earlier recordings involving Bob and Ron's fathers - Jim and John - are available for the first time. There are three songs which feature the full quartet.

The influence of the English Southern Harmony style of singing of The Copper Family is inestimable. Certainly groups like The Watersons and The Young Tradition are deeply in their debt, but the harmony singing of many English folk groups can be traced back to these roots. The special packaging includes a 60-page booklet of extensive history, biography and social context as well as a 36-page booklet of song texts. Both booklets also contain historic photographs.

  1 Spencer The Rover [Bob & Ron]
  2 Good Ale [Bob & Ron]
  3 Thousands Or More [Jim]
  4 Babes In The Wood [Bob & Ron]
  5 The Banks Of The Sweet Primroses [Bob, John, Jim & Ron]
  6 Sweep! Chimney Sweep! [Bob & Jim]
  7 Two Young Brethren [Bob & Ron]
  8 The Brisk and Bonny Lad [Bob & Jim]
  9 The Month Of May [Bob & Ron]
10 The Honest Labourer [Ron]
11 The Birds In The Spring [Bob & Ron]
12 My Father Had An Acre Of Land [Jim & Bob]
13 Shepherd Of The Downs [Bob & Ron]
14 The Threshing Song [Ron & Bob]
15 The Seasons Round [Bob & Ron]
16 Sportsmen, Arouse! [Jim]
17 Hard Times Of Old England [Ron]
18 The Lark In The Morning [Bob & Ron]
19 Warlike Seamen [Bob, John, Jim & Ron]
20 When Spring Comes In [Bob & Ron]
21 The Brisk Young Ploughboy [Bob & Jim]
22 Cupid's Garden [Bob & Ron]
23 Dame Durden [Bob & Ron]
24 The Claudy Banks [Bob & Jim]
25 General Wolfe [Jim]
26 Adieu, Sweet Lovely Nancy [Bob & Jim]
27 Talking [Jim]
28 Come Write Me Down, Ye Powers Above [Bob, John, Jim & Ron]

"inspirational ... a testament to the strength of songs that have endured so long and the spirit at the heart of their survival ... the whole package (is) a lesson in quality" fRoots Magazine

"Topic Records reputation a the great UK folk label is further enhanced by the release of (this) wonderfully packaged collection of early recordings of the legendary Copper Family. More than just a record…both an historical document and a vital part of the living tradition of English folksong" Get Rhythm magazine

"Resonates with a weird primitivism" Sunday Times

"... keening songs of love, loss and hard work amount to an English blues!" Mojo magazine

"Educational and inspirational" Time Out

"These robust mournful songs of life's travails and treasures have a directness and authenticity that puts most rock music to shame" Mojo magazine What's Hot

"Make sure to buy three copies of this CD: one for yourself to play and play all day; one to give as a present to the person who means most to you; and one to bury in the garden for the Martians when they land, to show them us Human Race were capable of real excellence. …the first booklet contains the lyrics to the songs, but with the added bonus of deeply interesting notes by Steve Roud on every one of the songs. This booklet in itself would put most CD booklets in the shade. But then, even THIS is trumped by the second booklet: a 58 page "beaut" consisting of extensive notes…it is genuinely a compulsive page turner. As for the CD content…it is all sublime." Musical Traditions magazine

"Essential English folksongs! Their versions of songs like Spencer the Rover, Hard Times of Old England, Claudy Banks and the title track, have inspired folk revival singers for fifty years and these great performances set a high standard which many others strive to emulate" Eastern Daily Press

"Unaccompanied song is the most fundamental of all folk forms, and the songs here provide a glimpse into a vanished rural society…early recordings in pristine re-mastered sound". The Scotsman

"This glorious collection goes back to what many regard as the classic line-up…A superb offering, which comes complete with two booklets" What's On

"These extraordinary songs breathe life into a tradition that stretches back to the Napoleonic Wars and beyond. They are the aural equivalent of remote viewing on to a vanished world. There are seafaring ballads, aching laments and songs of farewell, drinking songs alongside more ancient ballads." The Guardian