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Item of the Month
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God Bless the Unemployed , Lea Nicholson & Stan Ellison, 1972
The folk rock genre of the late 1960s and early 1970s combined elements of folk music: traditional songs, traditional arrangements and acoustic instruments with elements of rock music: mainly electrification. The British version of folk rock, referred to as electric folk, is best known by the performances of Fairport Convention and Pentangle. However, there were a number of bands and performers that played in the style. Scarborough Fair: the Best of English Folk, a box set released by the Castle Music label, is a compilation of the music of the place and period.
In 1972, Lea Nicholson and Stan Ellison recorded the album God Bless the Unemployed in the electric folk style. The album, produced by Sam Charters for Transatlantic Records an independent record label which regularly published folk rock during the time period, includes performances of traditional and contemporary songs played on guitar, concertina and bouzouki as well as electric guitar, electric bass and organ.
Inside of the album are some pleasant pastimes for unemployed persons, games to while away the hours for those who shirk.
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The album is part of a new addition to the Samuel and Ann Charters Archives which comprises all of the records produced by Sam Charters during his career. For additional context, listen to the Smithsonian Folkways recording Sounds of London released in 1961, also available in the archives. For more information about the archives review the collection guide.