Topic Records announced that a plaque was unveiled on September 5th at 160 Park Avenue in Hull to mark the former home of the renowned folk singer (and Topic Records artist). Lal Waterson.
One of the famous Waterson families, Lal spent the last part of her life working from her home in Robin Hood & # 39; s Bay, despite being originally from Hull. Together with brother Mike Waterson, sister Norma Waterson and cousin John Harrison, she was at the forefront of the folk revival of the sixties.
Here at 160 Park Avenue, Lal Waterson wrote the groundbreaking book "Bright Phoebus" in 1972.
Lal Waterson died of cancer in September 1998 at the age of only 55. Her uncompromising songs have been described as high poetry, throwing up deep and soulful secrets. Mojo magazine described Lal as "with Nick Drake and Richard Thompson in the front row of English songwriters".
The plaque was paid for by the Avenues and Pearson Park Residents Association at the suggestion of resident Geoff Lawes. That day Lal's two children, Marry and Oliver, sister Norma, niece Eliza Carthy and Martin Carthy were present. Marry Waterson said, “This is a great honor for our mother. We all have great memories of life in Hull, immersed in the grace of the tree-lined avenues. "
I happened to have spent the last week digitizing many of Folk Radio UK's CD archives for future broadcast. When that news got in, I was just starting "L," one of those CDs that was Lal & Norma Waterson's "A True Hearted Girl," which was released in 1977 and reissued by Topic in 1999 along with two additional tracks; one from Waterson's 1966 album A Yorkshire Garland and a 1988 Waterdaughters recording – Lal, Norma, Maria (Marry Waterson) & Liza Carthy (Eliza) with John Ball.
One of the most touching and beautiful tributes to Lal was Marry Waterson's "Teach me to be a summer morning", published on Fledg & # 39; ling, described as an album that "affirms her stature as a songwriter of rare imagination, depth and beauty ". We have reviewed the album here and interviewed Marry Waterson about the project here, who also made this beautiful video for Piper & # 39; s Path:
In celebration of National album day which this year highlights female artists and their enormous contribution to music and culture through the design of the album, Topic Records is offering a 25% discount on their online shop, on all Topic Records titles held by artists from April 16 to 31 October. The offer includes important albums from Eliza Carthy, Anne Briggs, June Tabor, Norma Waterson, Fay Hield, Shirley Collins and many more. You can find the full list here.
Things on the Waterson: Holding Carthy Front; Eliza and Martin Carthy have live dates including London's Roots Festival at King Place:
Tour dates from Eliza & Martin Carthy
23 OCT – The marine theater, LYME REGIS
OCT 24 – Henry Tudor House, SHREWSBURY
OCT 28 – The Globe Inn, GLOSSOP
OCT 30 – Hertford St. Andrew Church, HERTFORD
31 OCT – Hailsham Pavilion, HAILSHAM
03 NOV. – Wiltshire Music Center, BRADFORD ON AVON
04 NOK – Ramsgate Music Hall, RAMSGATE
05 NOV. – Koenigsplatz, LONDON
06 NOV. – Otley Courthouse, OTLEY
07 NOV. – National Forest Folk Club, ASHBY DE LA ZOUCH
09 NOV. – Colchester Arts Center, COLCHESTER
DEC 21 – Union Chapel, LONDON (with Jon Boden)
Also, in case you missed it: Marry Waterson & Oliver Knights album The days that shaped me was reissued in June as a special edition for the 10th anniversary, which we are discussing here. You can order it on digital or vinyl here.
Main photo by Marry Waterson
