The Cropdusters were an excellent band fom Lymington (England) that released 3 EPs and a couple of albums between 1986 and 1994. "Imagine the sound of an American mid-West bar transported to Eastern Europe by way of Dublin and a furious fiddler with steam rising from his bow"
The vinyl version of their debut album, "If the Sober go to Heaven" was released by Link records in 1988. Six tracks are taken from their second and third EPs from 1988 ("Banjo Hill" and "Just Poppin' Out to Fight a War") and the other 6 tracks are taken from a professionally recorded gig at the Mean Fiddler (London) in March 1989. The CD version was released some years later by DOJO, and it includes the tracks from their first EP from 1986 ("Hard Times")
In 1992 they released their second album, "Home-Grown Agent Orange" with a Dutch label. Unfortunately, they changed their sound and the fiddle was not so important.
The band re-formed a couple of years ago, after the fiddler player Cob had died due to a heart-attack.
"If the Sober go to Heaven" can be bought in mp3 version form the Cherry Red Records website:
Cherry Red Records
Marcus Stott, the banjo player of the band, has uploaded some videos to You Tube. You can also find some videos from the new version of the band there or at myspace, but I feel that it is better to watch the band at their peak:
The vinyl version of their debut album, "If the Sober go to Heaven" was released by Link records in 1988. Six tracks are taken from their second and third EPs from 1988 ("Banjo Hill" and "Just Poppin' Out to Fight a War") and the other 6 tracks are taken from a professionally recorded gig at the Mean Fiddler (London) in March 1989. The CD version was released some years later by DOJO, and it includes the tracks from their first EP from 1986 ("Hard Times")
In 1992 they released their second album, "Home-Grown Agent Orange" with a Dutch label. Unfortunately, they changed their sound and the fiddle was not so important.
The band re-formed a couple of years ago, after the fiddler player Cob had died due to a heart-attack.
"If the Sober go to Heaven" can be bought in mp3 version form the Cherry Red Records website:
Cherry Red Records
Marcus Stott, the banjo player of the band, has uploaded some videos to You Tube. You can also find some videos from the new version of the band there or at myspace, but I feel that it is better to watch the band at their peak:
Songs from "If the Sober Go to Heaven"
5 - Banjo Hill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43PkP66xDmk&feature=channel_page
8 - Just Poppin´Out to Fight a War
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFo2-oLLNvE&feature=channel_page
9 - Oliver Reed goes to Salt Creek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUNYZt6cQjc&feature=channel_page
10 - Jammit O´Reilly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ5Kz1ftqM8&feature=channel_page
13 - Proverb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua8UqqUaDSs&feature=channel_page
Songs from "Home-Grown Agent Orange"
1 - Done For You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcKzFEJH5tg&feature=channel_page
3 - Get Busy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02QYMPOLWTA&feature=channel_page
4 - The Lady Next Door
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_FmDm5dHOE&feature=channel_page
6 - Shimmy Sideways
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAANtvG99V4&feature=channel_page
8 - Song for You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcycwT0gV5I&feature=channel_page
11 - Sheltered Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UEAJFcIeAk&feature=channel_page
Other songs
Song for the Lonesome Boatman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho1i_nXl4E0&feature=channel_page
Force the Pace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4hx61IxRQg&feature=channel_page
Sittin' of the Top of the World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RK0oVjb3hY&feature=channel_page
Straight Back Up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdiy99fN5ME&feature=channel_page
Foggy Mountain Breakdown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ekmw7ws6v8&feature=channel_page
NGSO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oAKN6Pmauw&feature=channel_page
BSC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRyBKsuWgy8&feature=channel_page
I have uploaded to mediafire the line-up, the websites, a long biography, a full discography and some tracks in mp3. Enjoy!
DOWNLOAD:
www.mediafire.com/?1lmzquhhizw
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Was the "Proverb" video filmed at the Irish Centre in Leeds when they were supporting "Goats Don't Shave" in about 1992 or 1993? It all sounded very familiar to me, particularly the talk about Sweden and the Water Margin and the dedication to their mate at the start.
ReplyDeleteI first saw the Cropdusters either late 1986 or early 1987 when I was at college in Bournemouth. I think they opened with Hard Times or something like that and from the very first few notes I was completely hooked on the sound. I remember being tired and sweaty and carrying someone out who had fallen unconscious but just not wanting them to stop. I bought their EP but didn't have a record player to play it on. Every time they came to play after that I was buzzing for days before at the thought of it. I don’t know how many times I saw them in the Bournemouth area. I later saw them in various places - Dorchester (Buzz Inn), Sheffield (Leadmill), Leeds (Duchess and Irish Centre), Nottingham (Rock City), Hull (Adelphi). The Hull show was the final time, probably in about 1994 when Marcus was playing drums and Roger had left. It felt like the end. In Nottingham at the Rock City (supporting New Cranes) I went with a lad called Richard who was the only other bloke in Leeds that I knew had even heard of the Cropdusters never mind liked them. We went backstage beforehand because he was doing an interview with them for the Duchess magazine. Their style had definitely changed from when I first heard them. At one point when asked about their direction Marcus admitted that what they were playing was probably the antithesis of what people wanted them to play. This was really confirmed when the guy who was running the night came in and said that they had been playing Jammit OReilly a lot and wanted to make sure that they would be playing it on the night. They declined to do so. The show was a good one but the pure adrenalin rush wasn't there for me any more.
I did look for the Cropdusters a few years ago on t-internet but only found agricultural sites. Very pleased that there is now a bit of stuff on them. I was very sad to find out that Cobert had died. Until a couple of weeks ago I had always called him Robert because my copy of Hard Times had the first letter missing from his name and I just made an assumption. I never looked at the names on the other records. I have still got my green Psycho Celidh t-shirt but its a bit small now. I have got my turntable fixed after 12 years so now I can play the records again and dance. It’s good that they are back in some form and playing the songs that I loved, particularly Strange Old Song Of The Seas. I couldn’t believe a set list I read recently
Thank you for your comment.
ReplyDeleteYou can leave a comment on YouTube and I feel that Stotty will tell you if the "Proverb" video was filmed in Leeds.
I wore my green Psycho Celidh t-shirt 'til it fell apart. If your's is too small, any chance of passing it on?
ReplyDeleteANARCHO-PUNK.NET
ReplyDeletehave a look on here for some Cropdusters
http://www.anarcho-punk.net/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2979&p=9736&hilit=cropdusters#p9736
I saw them a couple of times at DIHE in 1987, the Acadmy, the Gander? Good times. Bruises!
ReplyDeleteFunny the things you think you've forgotten, then it at comes flooding back. My brother David Ballard was a friend of Bob (Cob) and was always round at their house. I recall Bob marrying Sharon who borrowed my Patty Smith LP and never gave it back. They introduced me to many things including Solid Air by John Martyn. Bob rode a funky CZ Soviet era motorcycle with a sidecar and they had a cottage in Lymington as I recall. I went with my brother to see them play many times, they kicked ass live. Bob & Sharon were the coolest couple I knew back then.
ReplyDeleteI recall Fitz the singer who was tall and skinny, wore trousers that looked like they were made of deckchair material. He sung much better when hammered. He looked a bit like Catweazle!
I think Sharon got pregnant. That's about all I can remember right now.
Cheers Nigel
bowlieweekender@gmail.com
Hi there, they were pretty cool....Cob and Sharon are my Mum and Dad. Loved growing up with the Dusters. Sadly both my dad and mum now have passed away.none of them making it past 60. Lots of good music and memories tho
DeleteIVE BEEN LOOKING FOR PICS OF THE LAST FEW SOUTHAMPTON GIGS I WENT TO, THE JOINERS 2 TIMES AND THE TALKING HEADS . THE CROPDUSTERS AND HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT MY TWO BEST BANDS. LEE G
ReplyDeleteThey still owe me money for recording sessions done at Parkland Studios in Denmead, which I owned at the time (1992), under the watchful eye and using the finely-tuned ears of the wondrous Rob Aubrey, famed engineer and bass-player extraordinaire. Always an interesting time when they turned up in their trusty, rusty Ford Transit...and true professionals when it came to making the best use of studio time.
ReplyDeleteIve still got my tickets for the southampton gig they didnt play . still dont know why it was cancelled.
ReplyDeleteThe gig in Southampton wasn't cancelled - it was never booked or confirmed by the band in the first place! An over-eager promoter booked the venue & tickets were sold but the band had never said they were available for the gig. Hope you got a refund mate.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the band are back on the Hoedown trail once again this summer.
Mr Kyps in Poole on 30th July for starters followed by a set at the Endorse-it In Dorset festival in August.
Then, licence permitting, the bands own festival, CobFest, will hopefully be taking place in Lymington on 2nd & 3rd Sept. Set up in memory of the late, great Cobert Cook, all proceeds will be going to a charity for Oakhaven Hospice. The group are putting the finishing touches to a line up that will hopefully also feature The Men They Couldn't Hang, The Boothill Foot Tappers, MacCavitys Cat, The Killer B's & many more. So that should be a bit of a party!!
Also, there is a date pencilled in for a Xmas Hoedown at Talking Heads in Southampton some time in December.
There will probably be 1 or 2 more dates before that as well so keep your eyes on the skies!!!
Thanks for all that info , back on the hoedown trail is the best news for ages , I was saying to a mate today that apart from half man half biscuit, Billy Bragg,and The Tiger Lillies,now the Cropdusters dont tour theres know one I want to see . you cant slow down the old hoedown .
ReplyDeletelee.
the man on stage at the joiners . sorry
JUST GOT MY TICKETS FOR POOLE .
ReplyDeletewaiting to leave for poole
ReplyDeleteBattered,, bloody good night that was
ReplyDeleteMarcus - what about slimline 79?
ReplyDelete