The Wurzels and Adge Cutler Discography

Sleeve Notes

'The finest voice since Caruso", "the greatest singing discovery since Sinatra"; "a paragon of teetotalism" - these are just a few of the things were never said of Adge Cutler. But when it came to entertaining, whew!

And 2nd November, 1966, was a night of entertainment to remember in Nailsea. For a studio recording you can reckon on allowing thirty minutes or more until the audience warms up and you begin to feel atmosphere. For a Somerset pub recording it took thirty seconds. The audience were a cross-section of cider-quaffing Wurzel-lovers from every corner of Somerset; from Weston Zoyland to Monkton Combe. Nailsea's oldest inhabitant, wearing a top-hat for such a special occasion, was flanked by long-haired youths and mini-skirted girls.

At first the broadcasting men and journalists from rival stations and newspapers eyed each other somewhat coldly: the locals wondered if they should be on their Sunday-best behaviour with 'them thar record men from Lunnon in town'. By nine o'clock the journalists and television-men were clinking glasses like old friends as the TV cameras whirred; by 9:30 the locals were proving that not all the best voices are t'other side of the new Severn Bridge. At ten o'clock we sent out for fresh supplies of cider and beer and the landlord's wife was dancing a Highland fling with Adge; the cameramen complained that the room was too smokey for photographs - then lit up fresh cigarettes. At 10:30 the Wurzels did a third encore of "Drink U Thy Zider" and the Nailsea Mixed Voice Choir raised the rafters on the chorus.

Then, sadly, it was all over...

The recording team enjoyed their safari deep into Wurzel territory. Adge took us on a tour of the cider factory (where he once worked on the presses) which ended in the tasting room.

All the songs are Adge's own work. Who else could nave dreamed up such unforgettable lines as

'Some say they seen a tank
Of Portuguese vin blanc
Jammed Pensford High Street t'other night'?

Some of the dialect words are peculiar to Somerset (others are just peculiar). but the songs are still intelligible to foreigners. (That is, those living south and east of a line drawn from Weston-Super-Mare to Limpley Stoke via Shepton Mallet.)

It is impossible to define Wurzel-music. It’s not really pop – it’s not really comedy. It has been disowned by the West of England Folk-Song Society and Adge was blackballed from the Long Ashton Jazz Appreciation Group on account of it. So lend an ear to this album and decide for yourself!

P.S. There aren't many horses left now, even in the heart of Wurzel country. The horse in our cover picture is managed by Mr. Isaac Hardwick and is called Duke. He lives happily at Happerton Farm, Easton-in-Gordano (delicious cream teas); his favourite singer is Adge Cutler and his favourite food is Wurzels. What an intelligent animal!

BOB BARRATT