Jack Armstrong and his Northumbrian Barnstormers - North Country Dances

(HMV, 7EG 8455, 1959)

This EP, published under the auspices of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, was used to disseminate the joys of community country dancing. The four tracks are The Cumberland Square; La Russe; the Morpeth Rant; and Soldier’s Joy. Armstrong’s Northumbrian Barnstormers were by 1959 quite well-known due to their performances on the radio and TV Barn Dance programmes and this EP is a marvellous snapshot of the music used for these occasions before every other wedding booked a ceilidh band.