Fourpenny Bridge - Etton Alive

the only album by Spriguns of Tolgus-style five-piece folk rock band led by the late guitarist/singer Mike Soar, who recorded a very rare album (Our Side Of The Bridge) for Westwood in 1972 before forming Fourpenny Bridge. When that band broke up in 1975, they recorded this as a souvenir/memorial LP for their local fans. Lovely instrumental mix with recorder, bowed psaltery, mandolin, cymbals as well as guitars, electric bass, drums etc, vocals are mainly male with the female band member contributing strong backing vocals on several songs as well as a stunning lead vocal on the beautiful ‘Ranters Wharf’ that makes you wonder why she didn’t sing lead on the rest of the LP! Spellbinding versions of ‘The Two Musicians’, ‘Poverty Knocks’, ‘Staines Morris’, ‘The Cutty Wren’ etc, often has a general Pentangle/Steeleye/ Fairports feel, beautifully played and sung and with memorable band arrangements. Nice glossy sleeve with odd-sized (12” by 5”) glossy fold-out card insert detailing song lyrics and group credits, would imagine only 99 or so were made to be sold to fans at the local folk club where they played. Sleeve VG+ and insert M-, the vinyl is absolutely perfect!