> The Kipper Family > Records > The Crab Wars

The Crab Wars

The Crab Wars

The Crab Wars
A Ballad Opera of the Olden Times, As Remembered By Sid and Henry Kipper
The Kipper Family

Dambuster Records DAM 017 (2 LP, UK, August 1986)
Dambuster Records DAM CD 017 (CD, UK, 19xx)

This is a parody on Peter Bellamy's Ballad Opera The Transports. Note that Chris Sugden sang The Ballad of Norwich Gaol in the role of The Convict on Free Reed's 2004 re-recording of The Transports.

All titles written and composed by Dick Nudds and Chris Sugden, published by Dambuster Music
Recorded at Dambuster Studios
Produced by Richard Digance and Dave Bubb
Except The Mason's a Prune (trad. arr. Sanders), recorded at Woodworm Studios, Barford St. Michael, Oxfordshire
Sleeve design and artwork by Molly Nudds
Sleeve insert by Chris Sugden

The Cast

The Prologue: Ashley Hutchings
The Narrator: John Kirkpatrick
Captain Upspoke: Shep Woolley
Belle Bow: Cathy Lesurf
Admiral Ben Bow: Martin Carthy
Cromeo: Mick Graves
Sheriet: Sarah Graves
The Bosun: Tim Laycock
The Parson: Phil Beer
The Town Crier: Peter Bellamy

Incidental Music

by the Cast,
plus
John Smith
Richard Digance,
Gary Carpenter, and
Fairport Convention

Tracks

Side 1Side 2
  1. Sid and Henry arrive (0:49)
    at the Old Goat
  2. Come All You (Overture) (0:16)
    John Smith: mandolins
  3. The Prologue (2:55)
    Ashley Hutchings
  4. Come All You (3:14)
    John Kirkpatrick: vocals, button accordion, concertina and bass concertina
  5. Sid's round (1:30)
  6. Upspoke's Dream (2:19)
    Shep Wooley: vocals; Dave Bubb, Dick Nudds and Chris Sugden: chorus
  7. Henry and Sid get some out (1:34)
  8. I Wish I Was Plural No More (2:14)
    Martin Carthy: vocals and acoustic guitar; Cathy Lesurf: vocals
  9. Sid shuts up (1:13)
  10. Oh! It's Hard (2:38)
    Mick Graves: vocals and fiddle; Sarah Graves: vocals and concertina
  11. Oh! It's Hard (Reprise) (1:03)
    Mick Graves: fiddle; Sarah Graves: concertina; John Smith: electric guitar; Richard digance: acoustic guitar
  1. Jolly Boasting Weather (3:22)
    Tim Laycock: vocals and concertina; Dave Bubb, Dick Nudds and Chris Sugden: chorus
  2. Henry finds talking thirsty work (2:30)
  3. Lost and Foundered (3:23)
    John Kirkpatrick: vocals and melodeon
  4. Henry doesn't mind if he does (0:34)
  5. The Parson Knows (2:37)
    Phil Beer: vocals; Dave Bubb, Dick Nudds and Chris Sugden: chorus
  6. All Washed Up (2:27)
    Mick Graves: vocals
  7. Sid discusses (1:00)
    a matter of convenience
  8. Brave Old World (3:14)
    Sarah Graves: vocals; Gary Carpenter: Yamaha DX7
Side 3Side 4
  1. Here Is the News (1:37)
    Peter Bellamy: vocals
  2. Henry's a bit short (1:00)
  3. Belle's On Her Toes (3:03)
    Cathy Lesurf: vocals
  4. Sealed With a Curse (4:45)
    Martin Carthy and Shep Woolley: vocals
  5. Sid explains himself (1:55)
  6. Ninety-Eight Not Out (3:24)
    Tim Laycock: vocals and concertina; Phil Beer: mandolins
  7. Henry gets what he deserves (1:21)
  8. Here Is the News (II) (1:33)
    Peter Bellamy: vocals
  9. The Mason's A Prune (1:10)
    Fairport Convention: Dave Pegg: bass; Dave Mattacks: drums; Simon Nicol: guitar; Ric Sanders: fiddle; Martin Allcock: mandoline
  1. The Leaving Of Sheringham (3:26)
    Sarah Graves: vocals; Gary Carpenter: Yamaha DX7; Mick Graves, Dick Nudds and Chris Sugden: chorus
  2. Here Is the News (III) (1:04)
    Peter Bellamy: vocals
  3. Herny confuses the issue (3:18)
    by explaining things
  4. In With the In-Breed (2:00)
    John Kirkpatrick: vocals
  5. In With the In-Breed (Reprise) (1:50)
    John Kirkpatrick: button accordion
  6. Sid loses count (0:43)
  7. Fall Down (3:18)
    Mick Graves: vocals; Sarah Graves: vocals and concertina; Phil Beer, Dick Nudds and Chris Sugden: chorus
  8. A Narrator's Life (2:04)
    John Kirkpatrick: vocals and button accordion
  9. Fall Down (Reprise) (1:25)
    Sarah Graves: concertina; Mick Graves: vocals; Phil Beer and Richard Digance: acoustic guitars
  10. Henry comes clean (1:11)
    in the rain on the way home

Unfortunately the CD reissue misses the tracks 15, 16, and 28 even though the CD sleeve still claims Fairport Convention to perform.

Musikfolk's complete page for The Crab Wars