Cobbler's Shoes by Helen & Dave Howard Click here to order

Cobbler's Shoes / Helen & Dave Howard
A wonderful and refreshingly diverse collection of folk songs, expertly played and beautifully sung.
In 3 words: Acoustic ~ Eclectic ~ Harmonic
Click here to listen to sample track "The January Man."
See below for full track listing.
TRACK LISTING & INFORMATION
They say a "Cobbler's Shoes" always need mending. That is so in our case! Having had a recording studio for the last 25 years, it was really time we took the plunge and recorded our own album. So we gathered together some of our favourite songs from the last 40 years, some of our friends passing by and so here we are, a varied mix of songs old and new.
We have had many influences over the past years together. Our first five we lived in Scotland, then back to Manchester for the next 22, where we were residents at the "White Swan" for 15 years as well as running our own various clubs. Then off to Ireland for 12 years, where for the last four we've been running the Ouncel House Folk Club in Dungarvan, Co Kilkenny."
1. January Man (Dave Goulder) We always loved this song, it is so cleverly constructed. We learned it in Glasgow in the seventies.
2. Broom of the Cowdenknowes (trad) Archie Fisher has always been a big influence on us both. We heard him singing this in the seventies.
3. The Shoemaker’s Kiss (trad) I only ever heard this song in the sixties and found it again in my little old book “Marrow Bones.” It is from around 1840 and full of double meaning. We had to do one song about shoes!
4. The Fish and the Ring (Fisher/trad) Another song from Archie, this tells the story of how Glasgow came to be. It was put together for a TV programme in 1973 and sung by Barbara Dickson. There is a fish with a ring in its mouth on Glasgow’s coat of arms.
5. Farewell to the Gold (Paul Metsers) We have always admired the songwriting talent of our good friend Paul, we have sung many of his songs over the years, as well as Dave being in his band “Cave Canem.”
6. Banks of the Green Willow (trad) A tragic song of good, evil and superstition on board ship. I first heard it sung by the late Tony Rose from Devon. This version, with a verse added by Helen, came from the wonderful singing of Ron Taylor from Cheltenham.
7. Old Bones (Jez Lowe) A huge favourite of ours over the years. Jez has written so many classic songs. This has always been one of the ones we loved singing and is a song with a powerful message.
8. County Down (Tommy Sands) This song won “Best Song” a few years ago in the “UK Folk Awards” and you can see why! We first heard it sung by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh of Danu.
9. Jack Ashton (Keith Marsden) We have probably all met someone who tells tall stories! Dave had the pleasure of playing guitar for Cockersdale, on the album that included this delightful song. We love this song, even though it was written by a Yorkshireman who sadly is no longer with us.
10. Donal Og (trad) A beautiful song of unrequited love. There are many versions of this song, this one was given to me by Dick Miles who now lives in West Cork.
11. Plymouth Farewell (Howarth/Walmisley) I have always loved this song but have never got around to singing it, until we came to live in Ireland. Dave Walmisley is a dear friend of ours, a fine singer and musician as well as being a very talented songwriter.
12. Friar’s Breeches / Father Kelly / Staten Island
13. The Collier Lad (trad) This is a children’s skipping song and was given to me by Harry Boardman in the sixties. He influenced a generation of singers in Lancashire. His memory lives on.
14. Play It All Again (Paul Metsers) Another song from Paul! He wrote this song about Nic Jones. It is a real gem of a song and we have loved performing it for many years.
In 3 words: Acoustic ~ Eclectic ~ Harmonic
Click here to listen to sample track "The January Man."
See below for full track listing.
TRACK LISTING & INFORMATION
They say a "Cobbler's Shoes" always need mending. That is so in our case! Having had a recording studio for the last 25 years, it was really time we took the plunge and recorded our own album. So we gathered together some of our favourite songs from the last 40 years, some of our friends passing by and so here we are, a varied mix of songs old and new.
We have had many influences over the past years together. Our first five we lived in Scotland, then back to Manchester for the next 22, where we were residents at the "White Swan" for 15 years as well as running our own various clubs. Then off to Ireland for 12 years, where for the last four we've been running the Ouncel House Folk Club in Dungarvan, Co Kilkenny."
1. January Man (Dave Goulder) We always loved this song, it is so cleverly constructed. We learned it in Glasgow in the seventies.
2. Broom of the Cowdenknowes (trad) Archie Fisher has always been a big influence on us both. We heard him singing this in the seventies.
3. The Shoemaker’s Kiss (trad) I only ever heard this song in the sixties and found it again in my little old book “Marrow Bones.” It is from around 1840 and full of double meaning. We had to do one song about shoes!
4. The Fish and the Ring (Fisher/trad) Another song from Archie, this tells the story of how Glasgow came to be. It was put together for a TV programme in 1973 and sung by Barbara Dickson. There is a fish with a ring in its mouth on Glasgow’s coat of arms.
5. Farewell to the Gold (Paul Metsers) We have always admired the songwriting talent of our good friend Paul, we have sung many of his songs over the years, as well as Dave being in his band “Cave Canem.”
6. Banks of the Green Willow (trad) A tragic song of good, evil and superstition on board ship. I first heard it sung by the late Tony Rose from Devon. This version, with a verse added by Helen, came from the wonderful singing of Ron Taylor from Cheltenham.
7. Old Bones (Jez Lowe) A huge favourite of ours over the years. Jez has written so many classic songs. This has always been one of the ones we loved singing and is a song with a powerful message.
8. County Down (Tommy Sands) This song won “Best Song” a few years ago in the “UK Folk Awards” and you can see why! We first heard it sung by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh of Danu.
9. Jack Ashton (Keith Marsden) We have probably all met someone who tells tall stories! Dave had the pleasure of playing guitar for Cockersdale, on the album that included this delightful song. We love this song, even though it was written by a Yorkshireman who sadly is no longer with us.
10. Donal Og (trad) A beautiful song of unrequited love. There are many versions of this song, this one was given to me by Dick Miles who now lives in West Cork.
11. Plymouth Farewell (Howarth/Walmisley) I have always loved this song but have never got around to singing it, until we came to live in Ireland. Dave Walmisley is a dear friend of ours, a fine singer and musician as well as being a very talented songwriter.
12. Friar’s Breeches / Father Kelly / Staten Island
13. The Collier Lad (trad) This is a children’s skipping song and was given to me by Harry Boardman in the sixties. He influenced a generation of singers in Lancashire. His memory lives on.
14. Play It All Again (Paul Metsers) Another song from Paul! He wrote this song about Nic Jones. It is a real gem of a song and we have loved performing it for many years.