This was the first album to be released by The Wurzels following Adge Cutler's death the previous year. It was released in July 1975 as a 12" vinyl stereo LP on the EMI 'One-Up' record label with catalogue number OU2087. The album was simultaneously released on cassette tape and 8-track cartridge on the Executive series. It was later released as a CD in 2009. Song Lyrics
At the time of the recording of this single The Wurzels consisted of Tommy Banner (piano, organ and accordion), Tony Baylis (bass, bass guitar and sousaphone) and Pete Budd (guitars and banjo). On this recording they were assisted by drummers Andy White, Dougie Wright and Tony Fennell.
For their first 'solo' album The Wurzels continued with Adge's style of music choosing to record their versions of tracks Adge had already recorded, some of his compositions not yet set on record and a few 'new' songs but of a similar ilk. The album was recorded both 'on location' at Ruda Bay Holiday Park in Devon and at the EMI Abbey Road studios. There was no promotional single release prior to the album going on sale - the planned single Captain Of The Dredger being cancelled. The album, in keeping with all the Adge Cutler albums, was produced by EMI's Bob Barratt. Of the 14 tracks on this album 13 were full songs, track one, Drink Up Thy Zider, being only a play-on. Four of the tracks had already been recorded by Adge Cutler and The Wurzels - Don't Tell I, Tell 'Ee (Crozier- Sheldon ), Twice Daily (Cutler), The Shepton Mallet Matador (Cutler) and Drink Up Thy Zider ( Cutler). Three tracks had been written by Adge Cutler (along with his friend and ex-Wurzel Henry Davis) - I'm The Captain Of A Dredger, The Market Gardener and Look At 'Ee, Lookin' At I. Adge never had the opportunity to record them himself. Two of the tracks were written by the band members - A Drinking Man's Life (Baylis) and Cheddar Cheese (Banner-Budd-Baylis). Finally the four remaining tracks were Who Needs Summer? (Ed Welch), The Verger (Crozier-Sheldon), Speedy Gonzales (Kaye-Hill-Lee) and Gotta Have Tenderness (Torok-Redd).
In common with all The Wurzels' EMI album releases from 1975 to 1980 this album remained 'on catalogue' for many years. Unlike the Adge Cutler / Wurzel albums from 1967 onwards The Wurzel albums have few variations in labels and sleeves. By 1975 all album sleeves were of the wrap-around type and most were laminated. Tax codes on vinyl records had been discarded and the vinyl weights - which were now generally the same on all records - were on the light side when compared to the high-quality heavy vinyl of the 1960s. Matrix, Mother and Stamper codes were still used on the vinyl and the information centred around Adge's 1960's recordings that can be found on the Main Menu under 'Vinyl Collecting Guides' remains relevant with minor changes between different record labels. The inner sleeves changed little over the period. Unlike the 1960s, which saw inner sleeves bearing advertising information, the 1970's to 80's were white company sleeves with minor variations. The 'Dating Record Sleeves' guide (in the Main Menu) indicates which inner sleeves would be expected to be found between 1974 and 1983 (types H,J,K, AND L).
Stereo pressing of OU2087 on the EMI One-Up label. A Side: Matrix OU 2087 A-1 RJL 2 RA B Side: Matrix OU 2087 B-1 RJL 1 RO (RJL was the mastering engineer)
The sleeve, manufactured by Garrod and Lofthouse in July 1975, was of the wrap-around style and not laminated. The artwork shows a photo of the band taken at Dunning Mill, East Grinstead (courtesy of Mr George Spooner). The sleeve notes give comprehensive details about the album itself and an interesting introduction to the band members written by Tony Baylis.
This is a unique collector's item - a 12" double-sided white label record. This is a pre-production test-print of the album. The vinyl itself is the same as the one that went into production with the plain white label stating the album title. The reverse of the disc also has a white label but with no information on it. A Side: Matrix OU 2087 A-1 RJL 1 G B Side: Matrix OU 2087 B-1 RJL 1 G (RJL was the mastering engineer)
Interesting collector's item - sleeve artwork autographed by all three Wurzels. A Side: Matrix OU 2087 A-1 RJL 1 G B Side: Matrix OU 2087 B-1 RJL 1 G
Side 1, Track 1 - Drink Up Thy Zider (play on) [Spoken] Everybody now…. Drink up thee cider, drink up thee cider For tonight we'll merry be [Spoken] Come on ther…. We'll knock the milk churns over, and roll them in the clover The corn's half cut and so be we And so be we Side 1, Track 2 - Don't Tell I, Tell 'Ee Hey hey my babby Well I never been to school, never been to college Sooner be dead than stuff me head with a load of useless knowledge Never couldn't see, no point in history Cos I weren't there, and I don't care, so don't tell I, tell 'ee [Spoken] Come on there (Chorus) Don't tell I, tell 'ee, that's my philosophy When folks do swear and tear their hair, don't tell I tell 'ee [Spoken] Come on my beauties. Yoo hoo. Young Sarah Jones one day, got in the family way Her Father come with a gurt big gun, said “you'll have to pay” Chased I up a tree, I hollered “leave I be Cos I 'appen to know, it were old Fred Snow So, don't blame I blame 'ee” [Spoken] Come on (Repeat Chorus) [Spoken] Woah my babbys…. While cycling out one night, a PC came in sight He were making it hot because I ain’t got no brakes no bell no light “I'll sling the book at 'ee”, it copper said with glee I said “sling all you like, it's thine Dad's bike So, don't tell I tell 'ee” (Repeat Chorus) [Spoken] Yee hoo Ar…. Now I got a lift to town, with good old Farmer Brown On a ten-ton truck with a loada muck, that's when he set us down A drink we did agree, would be good for we The barmaid rose, she held her nose Said “don't smell I smell 'ee” [Spoken] Everybody…. (Repeat Chorus) [Spoken] Here we go again, woo hoo, lovely Old vicar came along, he said “you know t'is wrong” “Cos you gets tight on Friday nights”, I answered 'ee real strong “Now Vicar you'll agree, the Lord created 'ee And I'm afraid t'is how I'm made So, don't tell I, tell 'ee” Yeah…. Side 1, Track 3 - Look At 'Ee, Looking At I I knows a little girlie down in the Dings Who knows a few things, oh ah We often meets in the bus or the street Or Saturday nights up the Spa I wouldn't say she fears I But whenever she gets near I Her face do go glum and as red as a plum And she shouts to her Mum, “yer Ma” (Chorus) Look at 'ee looking at I He's got a face like a pork pie Or maybe t'is more like a wet suet pudding Either way thee's cassent say it's a good 'un He's giving I a look he thinks is flirty But I thinks that he's dirty I'd like to grab that bleeder And chuck him in the feeder Look at 'ee looking at I [Spoken] Come on my cockers…. I seen her once in Victoria Park Just before dark, not late I said “oh my babby, if thee's'll let I grab 'ee Maybe we could fix a date” I asked her why she oodn't face I She said, “what's mean, just have to chase I” And off she'da run like the shock of a gun And they heard her down in Ashton Gate (Repeat Chorus) [Spoken] Yer we go then boys…. Right on there yo…. I thought as I followed her down Shirehampton Way That I'd be ok last week Thinking we'd get merry on the old Pill ferry Sitting ther cheek to cheek But what followed was a pity I might as well as watched the City She squealed fit to kill and the boat took a spill And I finished up in Pill Creek Look at 'ee looking at I 'Er don't look so bad on the sly And as for his face, I could be mistaken Tell me what's wrong with a rasher of bacon Now Ma that he's grabbing 'old I I remember what thee's taught I If a chaps looks this depressing Shut thee eyes and count thee blessings Look at 'ee looking at I, I, I Look at 'ee looking at I [Spoken] What we doing kid? Look at 'ee looking at I [Spoken] All right Side 1, Track 4 - Who Needs Summer Old Jack Frost has done his best To bring our winter world to rest So, Rose and I will build our nest again So, who cares now about the weather I'll think of me and Rose together Rolling in that mountain heather then So, tell me…. Who needs Summer, now Rose is here with me Those long Winter evenings, we're cosy after tea I think by the Springtime, there'll be one more mouth to feed Tell me, who needs Summer? Not me My little Rose is like a sparrow She likes a ride in my old barrow She says, “what's that”, I says “my marrow, see” She says, “it isn't very fat” I says “Jack Frost's to blame for that I'd better give it to the cat for tea” So, tell me…. Who needs Summer, now Rose is here with me Those long Winter evenings, we're cosy after tea I think by the Springtime, there'll be one more mouth to feed Tell me, who needs Summer? Not me Na na na [Spoken] Who needs Summer, now Rose is here with me They long Winter evenings, we'em cosy a'ter tea I think by the Springtime, there'll be one more mouth to feed Tell me, who needs Summer? Not me So, tell me…. Who needs Summer, now Rose is here with me Those long Winter evenings, we're cosy after tea I think by the Springtime there'll be one more mouth to feed Tell me, who needs Summer, who needs Summer, who needs Summer? Not me. Side 1, Track 5 - The Verger Now, I'm the Verger of the church that stands upon the green It's not too big and it's not too small and I keeps it nice and clean It isn't old and it isn't new and it isn't picturesque But take a look at the visitor's book that's chained to this old desk There's Attila The Hun, and Steptoe and Son, came to this church one Monday From way up Leeds in Yorkshire, came the Bishop of Stars on Sunday There's Cassius Clay and John Conte and Henry Cooper too And at the bottom of the page a lad who's called Kung Fu [Spoken] Brother Peter will now pass amongst you with the collection box, please give generously and don't forget, 8% VAT We, get a lot of visitors, especially at weekends I touches me hat and gives them the chat and see what the good Lord sends I don't neglect my duty, I tries to earn me wages But there's many a name from the Hall of Fame appearing on these pages We've a General de Gaulle, and John and Paul, and also George and Ringo Who came and went in early Lent, when I was down the bingo I felt I needed forty winks, that's how I missed Tom Jones And the Reverend Ian Paisley who came with the Rolling Stones [Spoken] I'm telling you, here today, that I don't get, no satisfaction Now, it really is vexatious and fed up with it I've got When anyone important comes I'm never on the spot When I had a cough, took a Sunday off, there must have been a rush With President Nixon, PC Dixon, The Pope and Basil Brush We've a Georgie Best, and all the rest, of Manchester United And I didn't see him, nor Tiny Tim, I must be getting short-sighted I'm nearly certain I saw Richard Burton; I think I saw his car go Well his name's in the book, you can see if you look, between Twiggy and Dr Zhivago [Spoken] Will the choirboy who put the piranha fish in the font please give me a hand in the vestry after this service Now, the Vicar has said, and the Vicar should know that these are fangled names They're just a lot of silly *BEEP* playing silly games So, I lurks behind the Wurzel bush when anybody passes And scrutinise the visitors through the curate's opera glasses I've got six Kilroy's, and one George Brown, and a couple of Elsie Tanners I gives them a frown, a dressing down and I tells them to mind their manners I tells ‘em they should be ashamed, they say “all right we heard ya” But, one and all both great and small they all remember the Verger But one and all both great and small they all remember the Verger Verrrrrgerrrrr Side 1, Track 6 - Speedy Gonzales [Spoken] It was a moonlit night in old Keynsham, and as I strolled along by the banks of the old River Chew, suddenly, I heard the plaintive cry of a young Radstock girl La la laaaa, La la la la la la la laaaa, La la la la la la la laaaa, la la la la la la la laaaa Thee's better come home Speedy Gonzales Away from Timsbury Row Stop all of thy drinking With the floozy named Flo Come on home to your husband An’ Slap some paint on the wall The roof is leaking like a strainer There's loads of roaches in the hall Speedy Gonzales (Speedy Gonzales) Why don't 'ee come home (Speedy Gonzales) Speedy Gonzales (Speedy Gonzales) Oh, don't please leave I all alone [Spoken] Hey Rosie. Gotta go down the pigsty get some perfume for Mother Laaaa, La la la la la la laaaa, La la la la la la la laaaa, La la la la la la la laaaa You know your dog is having puppies And we're running out of scrump No pickled onions in the icebox And your Father's up the clump Now you got dung upon yer t-shirt Yer got no rollers in yer hair And if yer gonna keep on messing Well take your business outta here Speedy Gonzales (Speedy Gonzales) Why don't 'ee come home (Speedy Gonzales) Speedy Gonzales (Speedy Gonzales) Oh, don't please leave I all alone [Spoken] Hey Rosie. Come quick. Down the pub they're giving green stamps with scrumpy Laaaa, La la la la la la la laaaa, La la la la la la la laaaa, La la la la la la la laaaa. (Repeat x 1) [Spoken] That's 'ee my babby. Get on there Side 1, Track 7 - Twice Daily When I were a lad, I were so glad to go out in the daytime With me fork and bottle and a cork, to help out in the haytime Tossing hay upon the mound, met young Lucy Bailey I said “my dear are you often here”, she said “yes sir twice daily” [Spoken] Oooh…. Lovely bit of crumpet she was We had such fun in the summer sun, Lucy were so thrillin’ Sweet and pure, and I weren't sure, if that young maid were willing’ Till one day among the hay, we was working gaily When she upped and slipped, and summat ripped, and I went there twice daily [Spoken] Aw. Nearly killed I She said “my dear, I do feel queer, think I oughta tell 'ee” “It aint new bread” she sadly said, “the swelling of me belly” I ordered her to go to Dr Joe, and she went off quite gaily He gave her a dollop, a gurt thick jollop, said “take that twice daily” [Spoken] That weren't no syrup of figs either I'll tell 'ee Lucy's Dad were very mad, chased I round the hay mound Said “my son, thee's had your fun, the time has come to pay now My girl you'll wed,” the old man said, as he waved his shotgun gaily “If you don't” he said, “I'll put some lead, and you won't go there twice daily” [Spoken] Oooh…. that put some colour in me cheeks I'll tell thee Very next day in month of May, held the ceremony Paid off the vicar with a gallon of liquor and rode to church on a pony Village folks from miles around, waved and shouted gaily Now there's no doubt, thee’s get caught out, if you'm goes there twice daily [Spoken] Wanna take it steady brother, ha ha. Lucy's joy, she had a boy, was a little darlin' Round and fat like a Cheshire cat, perky as a starling Skin were smooth as a cider jar, they called him Buster Bailey Fed him on weeds and charlock weeds and a pint of scrump twice daily [Spoken] See, he couldn't take to that (BEEP), see Now we'em old, our story's been told, forty years together And we often strays among the hay, in the good old Summer weather Kids we've got full ten or more, and I goes on quite gaily Though I'm old and grey…. [Spoken] Jock The Ripper When I gets me way [Spoken] Fred The Fairy I still goes there twice daily Lyrics Kindly transcribed by M.Pelling & E.Bryant, Verified by Professor Wurzel
Side 2, Track 1 - The Shepton Mallet Matador Now Jacko were so happy, working on the farm With the cows and chickens, he couldn't do no harm For years and years he worked and scraped and saved To take one day that holiday he craved Now he'll never be the same again Since he took that holiday in Spain (Chorus) Wo-ho make way for that Timsbury torero Ole for that Somerset senor He's a real west country caballero The Shepton Mallet Matador Now the boys of the village all think it's very queer Oh, the way that Jacko drinks wine instead of beer And they say he's swapped his favourite cider jar For a bottle of sherry and a thirty-bob guitar (Repeat Chorus) Yee-hoo…. Now the cows and chickens are digging up the dirt When Jacko comes waving his old red flannel shirt And he's always chasing round the old red cow Cos, he thinks that he's a real bullfighter now (Repeat Chorus) Now on the farm if you hear hoots and howls It's Jacko playing flamenco with the fowls And every time he clicks his castanets Instead of eggs, the hens lay omelettes (Repeat Chorus) [Instrumental] (Repeat Chorus) Yee-ha… Now the farmer's missis went wild with delight When Jacko serenaded her last night And the farmer stopped him playing Cielito Lindo With a pot of summat he threw from the upstairs window (Repeat chorus) La la la la la la laaaa, Viva Chew Magna La la la la la la laaaa. The Shepton Mallet Matador Ole Side 2, Track 2 - A Drinking Man's Life When I were a young man, I worshipped my Father He were strong as an ox and as tall as a tree I spent eight hours a day stood outside the boozer He'd never ‘ave got home if it wasn't for me When I were seven, he started me drinking He told me that he'd make a man out of me A pint for me breakfast, a pint for me dinner And if I were lucky two pints for me tea (Chorus) Oh, a drinking man's life is not to be envied A drinking man's life is not one that I'd choose A drinking man's life has its fair share of trouble I'd give it all up if it weren't for the booze, for the booze [Spoken] Give it up my cocker Now I am married my wife is enormous She's built like a wrestler with fists made of steel. [Spoken] oh I have to get plastered before I can face her Then when she hits me the pain aint so real [Spoken] Is that right then? God! Ooh arr Last Saturday night I came home quite sober The wife had hysterics from shock it were plain The kids didn't know me, me dog bit my ankle I'm making quite sure it don't happen again (Repeat Chorus) [Spoken] Just try a bit harder then, that's what thee's wanna do The Labour Exchange is a horrible building It's draughty and cold and it lets in the rain When I get me money I run like the devil Down to the pub where I spend it again [Spoken] Wanna save a bit kid They gave me a job, they said it would suit me It's not an experience I'd go through again They told me to be there, dead on nine thirty Ok I said can I knock off at ten (Repeat Chorus) [Spoken] Tha's gotta try real 'ard, that's the trouble, see When I grow old and the kids call me Grandad My life will be peaceful, I'll not travel far I'll not be the one to do lots of walking As long as I get from the gents to the bar [Spoken] Ah I know your game, one of they, Ha If I go to heaven, St Peter will greet me Come inside son, there's a place here for you I won't have me wings, I won't have me halo I won't have a half a pint, tankard 'll do (Repeat Chorus) [Spoken] Thee's cussent give it up if thee's try I'd give it all up if it weren't for the booze, for the booze [Spoken] Ah you just try a bit harder son I'd give it all up if it weren't for the booze, for the booze Side 2, Track 3 - I'm The Captain Of A Dredger Ships all a-line, they look so fine, all white with flags and bunting But we display the rust and grey, like trucks they use for shunting And other craft both fore and aft, fly flags of many nations But at our mast flies proud and fast, last Christmas decorations (Chorus) When the chains go bang and the buckets clang There is no vessel finer From Bristol Docks to the Mumble rocks Proud as an ocean liner Oh, let the farmer till the land and the clerk stick to his ledger Yo ho ho and a cup of griddle-o, I'm the captain of the dredger [Spoken] Take me on Tommy boy, them crocadillo on the noon tide We may not be the Queen's Navy, to scour the mighty ocean We stay instead round Portishead, drink the local potion But once ashore, our ship counts more, than any battle cruiser And at ten past two our gallant crew are smartly down the boozer (Repeat Chorus) – [Mumble becomes Mumbles, and ledger becomes ledgers] [Spoken] Come on me lads, too much cider last night w'on it? Come on there There's many a tale of ships that sail in search of pirate's treasures And film stars yachts of twenty knots, that tour the world for pleasure What joy so rare could e'er compare, or thrill thee to the flannel As when we budge that Avon sludge, we cart it up the Channel (Repeat Chorus) [Mumbles and ledgers] [Spoken] Hoist the main brace there lads! Come on there, down the pub in a minute. Wee-hee The yarns they spin over rum and gin are told by jealous boasters Cos all they swabs and bizarre jobs, tankering and coasters But the Avon mud is in our blood, and when we dump the muck sir We'll set our course for the old Black Horse, till it all clogs up again sir (Repeat Chorus) [Mumbles and ledger] [Spoken] Come on lads, time to knock off now I'm the captain of the dredger Side 2, Track 4 - Cheddar Cheese They put a man way out in space to find a food that could replace That good old tasty English Cheddar cheese Sunday roast with Yorkshire pud, ‘n rhubarb tart is very good But we prefer that good old Cheddar cheese (Chorus) Round the world you'll get exotic foods Wash it down with different kinds of booze But whether you're in London, or north of Kathmandu There is only one thing I'll recommend to you Porridge oats and curried goats, haggises will get my vote They prefer that good old Cheddar cheese A piece of steak carved off the rump, it happens nice as a pint of scrump And a gurt big lump of English Cheddar cheese (Repeat Chorus) Now Bristol City football side down Ashton Gate they are the pride Cos they all train on good old Cheddar cheese Cockles winkles whelks and crab, fish and chips in a paper bag Just don't compare with good old Cheddar cheese (Repeat Chorus) [Instrumental] (Repeat Chrous) If you stay in Somerset on holiday then don't forget To try some good old English Cheddar cheese If you're wondering what to eat, there's one thing you cannot beat That good old tasty English Cheddar cheese Cheddar, oh Cheddar, good old Cheddar cheese [Instrumental] Side 2, Track 5 - Gotta Have Tenderness The sun comes up in the morning Over the neighbouring hill The breeze sings a song in the treetop In tune with Mr. Whip-poor-will Gotta have tenderness, gotta have tenderness We gotta have love Little white clouds go a-hurrying Somewhere along their way Across the highways of the sky They softly seem to say Gotta have tenderness, gotta have tenderness We gotta have love Everybody's worried 'bout a place in the sun Nobody's worried about love But a place in the sun won't be any fun When it's love the world needs much more of The sun comes up in the morning Over the neighbouring hill The breeze sings a song in the treetop In tune with Mr. Whip-poor-will Gotta have tenderness, gotta have tenderness We gotta have love (the sun comes up in the morning) We gotta have love (the sun comes up in the morning) We gotta have love (the sun comes up in the morning) Gotta have, love Side 2, Track 6 - The Market Gardener I am a market gardener; I grow all sorts of things Great big ripe tomatoes, and lovely curly greens I met a fair young maiden, and took her home to tea I walked her round the garden, and this she said to me Oh, I like your aspidistras, I think they're very nice I showed her my forget-me-nots, she let me kiss her twice I grabbed her by the geraniums, she yelled out with delight I'd like to take a sample of your celery home tonight Oh, your celery home tonight, your celery home tonight I'd like to take a sample of your celery home tonight We went into the outhouse, to see her blooms come out And that she knew her onions, I soon was left no doubt But when she grabbed me radishes, she yelled out with delight I'd like to take a sample of your cucumber tonight Oh, your cucumber tonight, your cucumber tonight I'd like to take a sample of your cucumber tonight She said she liked me parsnips, me turnips were a treat But when I wasn't looking, she grabbed me sugar beet But when she felt me gooseberries, so hairy and so light She said if you can spare me one, I'll take it home tonight Oh, I'll take it home tonight, I'll take it home tonight She said if you can spare me one, I'll take it home tonight She said she liked me rhubarb, so nice and long and red And then she thought me walnuts were more her taste instead But when she saw me lupin, so upright bold and bright She said I think I'll have that one in me flowerpot tonight Oh, me flowerpot tonight, me flowerpot tonight She said I think I'll have that one in me flowerpot tonight But now we're going steady, I keep her ground well tilled I find I'm never short of time to keep her furrow filled But when she sees a garden, she remembers with delight The time she took a sample of me celery home that night Oh, me celery home that night, me celery home that night The time she took a sample of me celery home that night Oh, me celery home that night, me celery home that night The time she took a sample of me celery home that night Side 2, Track 7 - Drink Up Thy Zider Drink up thee cider George, pass us round the mug Drink up thee cider George, the garden's ver’ nigh dug Cheeks been getting redder, from Charterhouse to Cheddar And there's still more cider in the jug [Spoken] Come on Drink up thee cider, drink up thee cider For tonight they'll merry be [Spoken] Lovely Job We'll knock the milk churns over and roll them in the clover The corn's half cut and so be we Drink up thee cider George, ther bissent going far Drink up thee cider George, tha's getting quite a star There's dung all over your tater's, and halfway up they gaiters And there's still more cider in the jar Drink up thee cider, drink up thee cider For tonight they'll merry be [Spoken] Lovely job We'll knock the milk churns over and roll them in the clover The corn's half cut and so be we Drink up thee cider George, get up off the mat Drink up thy cider George, put on thy gurt big hat We'em off to Barrow Gurney, to see me brother Ernie There's still more cider in the vat Drink up thee cider, drink up thee cider For tonight they'll merry be [Spoken] Merry be We'll knock the milk churns over, and roll them in the clover The corn's half cut and so be we Drink up thy cider George, thee's time thee's had a rest Drink up thee cider George, the finest ever pressed Nothing like good cider to make thee smile grow wider And there's still more cider way down West Drink up thee cider, drink up thee cider [Spoken] Come on For tonight they'll merry be [Spoken] Come on my beauties We'll knock the milk churns over and roll them in the clover The corn's half cut and so be we [Spoken] Everybody Drink up thee cider, drink up thee cider For tonight they'll merry be [Spoken] We'll show 'em what it's all about now We'll knock the milk churns over and roll them in the clover The corn's half cut and so be we [Spoken] Come on now And so be we….