Topic Records have given us special permission to add Fay Hield’s version of Yellow Roses for you as a little extra. I mentioned it in the post on 14th of July and it raised considerable interest. I also incorrectly referred to Fay as Jon’s wife – they aren’t married – not that it makes any difference, but let’s get the story straight. Anyway Jon’s partner, Fay, is set to release Looking Glass on September 6th and this is track five on what proves to be a lovely record. I asked Fay for a word about the recording and she wrote, “Jon took me to a Forrest School Camps weekend a coupe of years ago. I heard Little Yellow Roses being sung round the campfire and simply fell in love with it. I had planned to record it unaccompanied, but when I tried singing with Sam Sweeney on the nyckelharpa I felt it created such a desolate, ethereal atmosphere that suited this song so well, it just had to be.”
I think you’ll like this a lot…
Let me be the first to say, yes I did like this. You sing it beautifully Fay and it really pulled at my heartstrings. The accompaniment is in beautiful harmony too. I know a Turkish ballad that itemizes the mother, father + brother/sister in a similar way, and it is oddly moving to hear all the members of a family addressed like this.
Lovely
Oooh that’s lovely. Looking forward to seeing Fay at Cambridge – only a week to go …
beautiful rendition and lovely to hear this as a solo – brings out the meaning so well.
Thanks very much
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FAB. Oddly enough I can almost imagine sitting on a log, round the camp fire in the woods.. funny that! Blue skies x
Beautiful
Stunning…
I did indeed like that a lot. Your powers of prediction are spooky!
Thank you for responding to our interest in hearing something from Fay 🙂
I must say I’ve heard the name quite a few times but not yet heard her sing: really lovely melodic voice with a warm intimate tone. I’ve heard she does a pretty riveting Child Owlet too (one of my current fave’s to sing out).
Fascinated to find out that there is a possible Spanish Civil War connection. I’d be very interested in finding out more information about this connection – though I am sure that if it’s not on mudcat, then it doesn’t exist ……
This is so beautiful – so moving. Thank you for the bonus; nice hardly covers it!
What a nice bonus indeed! I have been a fan of Fay’s voice for a long time (and hearing her sing with Jon is also a privilege), and she makes this song transcendant and timeless. A wonderful, unearthly accompaniment from Sam too.
Can’t wait for the album!
For more info follow the comments on Jon’s version and on Mudcat. It looks as though the Adam Faith version written by Trevor Peacock ( of Vicar of Dibley ) is a key source.
JackieDeShannon did a version with words modified for US and Canadian listeners! Maybe because an anti war war was not too popular a topic (with the poers that be) at the time of Vietnam.
Sam is such a star 🙂
I thought that the repeat of AFSAD was a bonus, but having heard Fay sing this song I now know what a bonus really is. thanks, it’s lovely, Maggie
So delighted to have Fay’s album ‘Looking Glass’ to reprise this track at will. Just waiting on a Fay and Jon duet album now. C’mon, guys! It would be a sell-out!
I have to agree with jane a duet album, bloody marvellous! you know Jon this lady is a serious contender. Her voice sends shivers down my spine.
Say Campfire and I picture a raucous rendition of “Ging-gan-goolie” …….
that’s a campfire song!………..
This one is beautiful and performed beautifully by Fay with the haunting accompaniment of Sam’s harp,
Just Lovely. Thanks Fay.
I have already got this song by Fay – she sings it beautifully. A lovely set of words.
Great little song
Yup….I’d never heard of the Nykel whatsit either….similar to a posh Hurdy Gurdy
https://www.bing.com/search?q=nyckelharpa&aqs=edge.1.69i64i450l8.441555406j0j4&FORM=ANAB01&PC=W011
and you can see Fay singing the song on Youtube followed by a brief interview in which
research suggests that the song is about a prisoner in the Spanish civil war that is due to be executed!
Ok Ok…here’s the Youtube link to Fay singing the song!