Red Shoes “Ring Around The Land”

 

Red Shoes were once a four piece Folk Rock band from Birmingham England, comprising of husband and wife Carolyn Evans Vocals and guitar and Mark Evans vocals and guitar, Derek Eynon bass and vocals, and on drums John Bate, then Mark “Wombat” Mullen, then the great Nick Millward (now a Jazzman for Kenny Ball) and latterly Bert Priest. Great original songs, well chosen covers, lush three and four part harmonies and a thunderous rhythm section forged a band that was a mainstay of Birmingham’s live music scene, between 1983 and 1989. Managed by Dreamstar at one point, then Paul Flower, many A&R doors opened, and a stream of recordings were made, for radio sessions and beta testing of studios. Howie Klein then ran KUSF radio station in San Francisco, and brought to the American airwaves the band’s own-label first single “All Fall Down” in 1985. Howie was later to become the president of Reprise. The band collaborated with Clive Gregson, who produced some tracks, and contributed a monumental guitar solo to the band’s “Jumper Of Love” released on the flipside of the aforementioned single.

 

The next single in 1987 was “By The Time It Gets Dark” was a cover of the Sandy Denny song, and was issued on Mooncrest, the division of Island. The Impulse record plugging house was instrumental in the issue of this record, in an unprecedented move, they believed so strongly in the band and the product. Their efforts brought some airplay on Radio One, though the single unfortunately failed to sell in any number. It was however, admired by Joe Boyd, amongst others, and changes hands on Ebay to this day.

 

The gigs, however, were getting bigger and bigger, including a support to Green On Red, and the opening slot at the 1988 Trowbridge Village Pump Festival. A complete album was recorded at the burgeoning Mad Hat Studios in Wolverhampton, titled “Something Wicked This Way Comes” it included the title track, “Seeds”, “Keep A Hold On Me” “Diamonds She Once Wore” plus a glittering version of Fred Neil’s “Dolphins” .

 

In 1989 the band went on hold pending the birth of Mark and Carolyn’s first child, and resumed in 1990 in the form a new band, The Lorelei. With an additional female vocalist, the late Maddy Mann, and something of a revolving door of players, some superb new material was presented, including “Keep On Loving You” and “Hostile Place”. The new lineup did not find as much favour with audiences and was disbanded in 1991. There was then some sporadic recording , and the odd appearance as “Red Shoes Unplugged” by the then trio of Carolyn and Mark Evans and Derek Eynon (now playing mandolin).

 

In 1994 Mark and Derek went to London to catch the first UK dates of Counting Crows , supported by Roachford, and as the show’s lineup showcased something very close to the two contrasting facets of the Red Shoes sound, and the venue was going wild. Time for a reformation. Within six months Red Shoes were up and running, with new drummer Bert Priest guesting from local rockers Izzy The Push. Bert was adept at bass as well as drums, and even able to play both at once, enabling the band to produce two guitars, mandolin, bass and drums, and three vocals from three people.

 

After the initial furore regarding Red Shoes’ reformation, the band was just another gigging band, and with far less pull than their younger counterparts, and after two years Red Shoes again called it a day. There was a fine band, there was a huge potential audience, though sadly the two were not in the same place at the same time.

 

World Unlimited called in 2000, wanting Red Shoes to play a prestigious local arts centre, in Birmingham. The call was answered, and the acoustic trio line up played an unplugged set at the MAC on November 5^th, 2000. Some long standing fans called it Red Shoes’ finest ever moment.

 

Then there was silence, and when the voice rang out again, it was on the internet, in 2007. As a duo, Mark and Carolyn started to post videos on Youtube. The little problem of same place same time was no longer an issue. The Youtube entries started to attract an ever growing fanbase, and myspace allowed the posting of audio only, in finer quality, and the fanbase grew even more. Not only the man in the street started to listen, it was reaching the ears and eyes of the great and good.

 

The tragic death of Carolyn’s father spawned a eulogy, in the form of “My Father’s Green Beret” which stood out not least for the mournful motif of it’s piano instrumentation but as a tribute to those fallen in war, as well as those most vulnerable people cast aside by modern society. The vocal performance alone, fuelled by the force of truth and righteousness was enough to get eyes moistening and hearts accelerating, and ears listening on both sides of the Atlantic.

 

From this exposure came a contact from Fairport’s own Dave Pegg, and it is here that the important bit of the story starts. A lifelong Fairport and Sandy Denny fan, Carolyn was swooning at the mere contact, let alone the talk of collaboration, production duties and an album.

 

Now it is here, long awaited, either from summer 2008, or from summer 1983, depending how you’re counting, the album “Ring Around The Land” . It’s a labour of love. Having heard the pre and post mastering versions I have to say that Jeremy Carroll’s mastering has taken the whole work to another level. It’s something close to Super Audio, it’s that near to being in the booth.

 

Some of the content has been heard before, but largely only by people who saw the band live. Opening with “Celtic Moon”, which is named for a website that was particularly supportive, but tells a tale of someone triumphing over adversity through the strength of friendship , as I read it, and Chris Leslie’s fiddle propels a fine song mightily. From the 90’s “Keep On Loving You” follows , with an added intro, and an infectious violin/mandolin riff , before Chris breaks out into a breathtaking solo.

“Something Wicked This Way Comes” from the 80’s morphs from a Creedence styled rocker to a honking country stomp with harmonica accompaniment, and features Mark on vocals. Always an excellent song, and if they ever remake the movie, it needs to be played over the credits.

 

“Only a fool” hands the mike back to Carolyn, and a fine folk rocker it is, “Woman In Love” a love song Carolyn makes you feel, and then a polished and produced “My Father’s Green Beret” which builds and builds to a hugely emotive conclusion.

Fairport’s “White Dress” is the only cover on the CD, taking a different look at the Swarbrick classic from “Rising For The Moon”, which fits perfectly in style, and quality into the playlist. Carolyn’s heartfelt desire to meet Sandy Denny is encapsulated into the wistful “Someday We’ll Meet”, and then Mark returns to sing “Keep A Hold On Me” with some excellent lead guitar from The Dylan Project’s P.J. Wright. “Diamonds She Once Wore” works beautifully, slowed down from the band version, “Seeds” , once a stadium rocker receives an intriguing time signature makeover , and after the tragic tale of “Two Sisters” the rousing title track “Ring Around The Land” with it’s infectious refrain, which burrows it’s way into the brain and refuses to come out. Pegg and Leslie are immensely impressive throughout the album, fine and lyrical players with an innate sense of taste.

 

All in all a monumental album, which feels entirely timeless, it could have been made in 1975, or last month. Or next month.

 

Buy it, don’t download or otherwise, other than just as a taster, the detail contained requires proper reproduction, and proper attention. It’s a work of art, and a work of love.

 

Derek Eynon 2009