Kitty Jay

Kitty Jay is a music album by Seth Lakeman published in 2004. It is his second album that he published as a principal performer. It was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize for 2005. "All of these songs have been written and inspired by stories and legends from Dartmoor" where Lakeman was brought up and still resides.

1 Background of each track
2 Track listing
3 Personnel
4 References

[edit] Background of each track

The inspiration for each track (with the exception of track 5) is briefly described in the programme notes.

[edit] "John Lomas"

John Lomas was a servant who fell in love with his mistress, and his passion for her leads him to murder.

[edit] "The Bold Knight"

This piece was inspired by a story that Mr Lakeman heard. It is about a knight lying injured upon a moor, not knowing what fate will befall upon him, until a girl arrives to save him, but she dies herself for that kind act.

[edit] "Fight For Favour"

A song about the battle to claim land when people began to emigrate to America.

[edit] "Kitty Jay"

This piece is about the servant girl, Kitty Jay, who killed herself on the moors. Her grave lies out of Ashburton towards Hound Tor, at a crossroads where fresh flowers lay. This piece was performed at the Mercury Music Prize and is considered one of Mr Lakeman's best works.

See also: Jay's Grave

[edit] "Farewell My Love"

No further information.

[edit] "Blood Upon Copper"

About suffering men who worked for weeks on end at a copper mine.

[edit] "Henry Clark"

Henry Clark was a well loved shipbuider from Plymouth who suffered from a strange fate.

[edit] "The Storm"

One of Mr Lakeman's stories that he was told, about a captain and his crew who sailed out of Plymouth Sound, and as night draws in a storm is brewing.

[edit] "Cape Clear"

A mournful melody performed in a church (St Andrew's) in Buckland Monachorum.

[edit] "The Ballad of Josie"

About a couple who go for a walk one morning. The man returns alone, but the woman is never seen again.

[edit] "The Streamers"

Based on a traditional melody called "The Stream of Lovely Nancy".

[edit] Track listing

"John Lomas" (traditional) – 3:52
"The Bold Knight" (Seth Lakeman) – 3:51
"Fight For Favour" (Seth Lakeman) – 4:03
"Kitty Jay" (Seth Lakeman) – 3:12
"Farewell My Love" (Seth Lakeman) – 2:22
"Blood Upon Copper" (Seth Lakeman) – 3:04
"Henry Clark" (traditional) – 3:02
"The Storm" (Seth Lakeman) – 2:41
"Cape Clear" (traditional) – 4:20
"The Ballad of Josie" (Seth Lakeman) – 3:25
"The Streamers" (traditional) – 2:43

[edit] Personnel

Seth Lakeman: Vocals, tenor guitar, violin, viola
Sean Lakeman: Guitar, electric bass, mandolin
Ben Nicholls: Double bass
Iain Goodall: Drums
Kathryn Roberts: Vocals
Benji Kirkpatrick: Bouzouki, vocals
Audrey Mills: Church organ

[edit] References

This article does not cite any references or sources. (January 2007)
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v • d • e Seth Lakeman
Discography
as principal performer
Albums: The Punch Bowl \| Kitty Jay \| Freedom Fields \| Poor Man's Heaven
Singles: The Bold Knight \| Lady Of The Sea (Hear Her Calling) \| The White Hare \| King & Country \| Poor Man's Heaven
in The Lakeman Brothers
Album: Three Piece Suite
with Equation
Promo: In Session
Albums: Return To Me \| Hazy Daze \| Lucky Few
Albums (as guest musician): The Dark Ages E.P. \| First Name Terms
with Cara Dillon
Album: Cara Dillon \| Sweet Liberty
with Steve Knightley and Jenna Witts
Album: Western Approaches

Categories: Seth Lakeman albums | 2004 albums