Search - A.L. Lloyd :: English Drinking Songs

One of the most important figures in the English folk-music scene was A.L. Lloyd, a learned collector but also a veteran folk singer, and here we get the fruits of both careers in this collection of songs not so much in praise of alcohol as in cahoots with it. These 14 songs were collected by Lloyd at a small pub called the Eels Foot (whose exact location he refused to reveal for fear of it becoming overrun by hipsters in search of songs and singers). "The Derby Ram" is an apparition said to be common to the late-night drinker; "The Drunken Maidens," a pub man's stupor-induced dream. Since these songs were put to vinyl in 1961, many of them have become about as famous as folk songs can be, retold by singers and folk-rock bands of every generation since. Among the most familiar are "All for Me Grog," "Maggie May," and "John Barleycorn," and it's wonderful to hear these tunes without the trappings of revival, sung simply, with banjo or accordion for minimal accompaniment. --Louis Gibson