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STEVE ASHLEY "SPEEDY RETURN" Release date: August 4th 2003 Cat. No. MSMCD118 Market Square Records "A flourishing confirmation of the imaginative song writing showcased on Stroll On." Colin Irwin - Melody Maker, 1976
The reissue of the catalogue of English singer-songwriter Steve Ashley by the Market Square label continues apace with the August 2003 release of "Speedy Return", the 1975 follow-up to his acclaimed debut, "Stroll On". While the "Stroll On" tracks were cradled within the English folk tradition, "Speedy Return" explores the human condition using a more eclectic range of musical genres. With twelve original songs and an instrumental title track, Speedy Return, which was recorded after a solo tour of the USA, marks a clear change of direction without any loss of musical identity. Modal tunes mix with blues, rock, and Latin rhythms and yet the result remains distinctively English. Observation of English life through poetry set to music is a defining characteristic of much of Ashley's output over the years. And in "Speedy Return" it is at a peak, with an exemplary set of crafted songs, assisted in no small measure by contributing musicians (including many luminaries of the UK folk rock scene who had previously contributed to "Stroll On"), and by the lush arrangements of the album's producer, Robert Kirby. The instrumentation is innovative and remains fresh today, as traditional instruments are held in balance with classical orchestration. Marimba meets the Morris, while mandolin, whistles and concertina are leading the strings, brass and rhythm section. Kirby, a close collaborator of Nick Drake, wrote and conducted orchestral arrangements for a number of artists during the 1970s. These included Richard and Linda Thompson, Sandy Denny, Elton John, Ralph McTell and The Strawbs. More recently he has been working with Linda Thompson, Paul Weller, Martin Carthy and again, The Strawbs. Market Square's reissue of "Speedy Return" comes with its customary attention to detail - an informative 8-page booklet, including previously unpublished photographs, complete lyrics and a perceptive re-appraisal by the folk-rock authority, Karl Dallas. The Songs: The Tale of The None Can Tell - Don't Forget - Well Well Well - Good Enemies - Lazy Lament - Speedy Return - Old John England - Cynical Sam - Travelling Through The Night - Broken Wing - Well At The World's End - Duke Of Cambridge - First Thing The Players: Steve Ashley - vocals, guitar, whistle, harmonica, 12 string, mandolin; Richard Byers - electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, backing vocals; DeLisle Harper - bass; Dennis Lopez - LA percussion; Dave Mattacks - drums; Royston Mitchell - keyboards, marimba; Lea Nicholson - English concertina; Dave Pegg - bass; Simon Phillips - drums; Maddy Prior - spoons
About Steve Ashley: STEVE ASHLEY has long been regarded as one of Britain's finest singer-songwriters. With songs like "Fire and Wine", "The Spirit of Christmas" and "Candlemas Carol", he was in the vanguard of a new approach to song writing, inspired by the traditional repertoire of the sixties' folk song revival. His albums have consistently enjoyed critical acclaim and his 1974 debut, "Stroll On" is now widely regarded as a folk-rock classic. It and "Speedy Return" were both released in the USA on the prestigious MOTOWN label. The eighties saw the release of another classic, "Steve Ashley's Family Album", recorded with members of Fairport, plus two anti-nuclear cassettes under the title "Demo Tapes". In 1990 he made "Mysterious Ways" with his own Steve Ashley Band before a temporary retirement from music in 1992. In 1999, Market Square reissued "Stroll On" with extra tracks from the sessions and re-titled, "Stroll On Revisited". This album was well received and featured in a Mojo Magazine feature entitled "Buried Treasure". A compilation of Steve's work, "The Test of Time" was released in April 1999 - a timely reminder of his contribution to aficionados, and a perfect introduction to new audiences. As a result, he made a return to recording and live performance. In 2001, Topic Records released a new Ashley album, "Everyday Lives" with contributions from Danny Thompson, Robin Williamson and members of Fairport Convention. Stroll On Revisited MSMCD104 Steve Ashley's debut album reissued with 3 extra tracks The Test of Time MSMCD102 A 17-track anthology including rare recordings UK Discography Stroll On LP, Gull 1974 Old Rock 'n' Roll /Fire and Wine single, Gull 1974 Speedy Return LP, MC, Gull 1975 Electric Muse LP Box comp, Island/Transatlantic 1975 Well, Well, Well /Finite Time single, Gull 1976 Demo Tapes MC, CND 1981 Down the Pub /Outside the Pub single, Dovetale 1981 Steve Ashley's Family Album LP, Woodworm 1982 More Demo Tapes MC, PAC 1985 Mysterious Ways CD, MC, Lighthouse/Line 1990 All Through The Year CD comp, Hokey Pokey 1991 The Test of Time CD, Market Square 1999 Stroll On Revisited CD, Market Square 1999 People On The Highway CD Box comp, Market Square 2000 Everyday Lives CD, Topic 2001 The Acoustic Folk Box CD Box comp, Topic 2002 Speedy Return CD, Market Square 2003 Further information on Steve Ashley online at: Contemporary Press Comment … Melody Maker "Speedy Return" might well be the contemporary folk album of the year … every track is a different kind of joy." - Karl Dallas, 1975 Daily Telegraph "Ashley has an extraordinary gift for creating material of true folk quality. In plain words scrubbed clean of poeticism or archaism, he makes the hard winter earth ring underfoot." - 1974 BBC Radio 3 "A singer-songwriter with a fine voice in the folk tradition, with a great feeling for traditional music, but an uncanny ability to translate it into a mixed ancient and modern idiom ... there are modern masters just as fine as Rodgers and Hart and company were in their day." - 1974 Cashbox ,USA "There's an old world cover to the folk/pop ways of Steve Ashley on "Speedy Return" and the mix works to everybody's listening advantage. Ashley's vocals, with their clear stridency add fuel to the decidedly Old English nature of each song." 1976 Variety USA "Steve Ashley of London is a delightful surprise in his New York café debut. His voice is good. His originals are sensitive. Ex of the Albion Country Band, Ashley can hold an audience." - Other End, New York, 1975 The Dallas Morning News, USA "… his shows were pleasant and refreshing...Ashley is a young artist with considerable promise." - 1975 Christchurch Star, NZ "'Stroll On' his debut LP was a lovely piece of work and this new offering even manages to surpass this." - 1976 The Evening Post, Wellington, NZ. "Speedy Return is a very nice folk album." - 1976 Sounds "Steve is quite simply one of the best songwriters in Britain. Go and see for yourself." - Paul Weir at London Collegiate Theatre, 1975
Reissue press comment… "… a lovely little gem … richly imbued with textures, gentle wisdom and a sparkle forever young." Mojo "… more focussed, more balanced, more real … true English roots rock." fRoots "… a very welcome reissue … still fresh, relevant and thought-provoking." Rambles "True English roots rock" Simon Jones, fROOTS "…a potent sense of continuity between the tradition and the present day" - David Kidman, Netrhythms "Utterly charming and enjoyable, and still contemporary… Speedy Return is awaiting your discovery." Michael Hunter, Green Man Review "… a quietly wrought UK folk-rock gem …Speedy Return still sounds majestic after all these years." John O'Regan, Irish Music "It's an intelligent use of the past to stay in time and tune with the present. Highly recommended." Geoff Wall, Folk On Tap "Sounding fresher than ever… this observant, incisive album's return is a welcome one. A gem." Clive Pownceby, BBC Folk and Acoustic Website
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