Reflection ‎- The Present Tense (Songs Of Sydney Carter) (UK) 1968 Xian Folk Psych

Reflection is a band out of England that were active in the late 60s and early 70s.
Tracklist
The Present Tense
Standing In The Rain
George Fox
When They Shouted Hosanna
Lord Of The Dance
Crow On The Cradle
Every Star Shall Sing A Carol
I Want To Have A Little Bomb Like You
Bird Of Heaven
Travel On
Judas And Mary
Friday Morning
Bitter Was The Night
The Vicar Is A Beatnik
The Mask I Wore
Wikipedia says: Sydney Bertram Carter (6 May 1915 - 13 March 2004) was an English poet, songwriter, folk musician, born in Camden Town, London. He is best known for the song "Lord of the Dance" (1967), set to the tune of the American Shaker song "Simple Gifts", and the song "The Crow on the Cradle". Other notable songs include "Julian of Norwich" (sometimes called "The Bells of Norwich"), based on words of Julian of Norwich, "One More Step Along the World I Go", "When I Needed a Neighbour", "Friday Morning", "Every Star Shall Sing a Carol", "The Youth of the Heart", "Down Below" and "Sing John Ball".
Carter studied at Montem Street Primary School in Finsbury Park, Christ's Hospital school in Horsham, West Sussex and Balliol College, Oxford, graduating in history in 1936. A committed pacifist, he registered as a conscientious objector in World War II and joined the Friends' Ambulance Unit, serving in Egypt, Palestine and Greece.
Carter worked as a lyricist for Donald Swann's revues and musicals in the 1950s and in 1962 produced an album, Putting out the Dustbin, with Sheila Hancock. "Last Cigarette", a song from the album about failing to give up smoking became a minor hit.
In 1972, a collection of his poems, Love More or Less, was described in a review by Michael Grosvenor Myer in the EFDSS magazine English Dance and Song as the work of "an impressive spokesman for the believer in an age of general unbelief".
Later life
In 1964 he married his second wife Leela Nair, with whom he had a son Michael, later a neurosurgeon. He continued to work with Donald Swann, writing six songs for the 1964 Donald Swann EP, Songs of Faith and Doubt. In the 1960s he also worked as a critic for Gramophone magazine. In 1965 Carter wrote the six-song EP album Lord of the Dance with Martin Carthy on guitar, the Johnny Scott Trio and the Mike Sammes singers. He also worked with Nadia Cattouse and Jeremy Taylor.
In 1972 Carter presented a series of concerts in Australia.[citation needed] Franciscus Henri who accompanied him recorded an anthology of Carter's songs and poems (Nothing Fixed or Final) in 2005. Also in 1972, Bob and Carole Pegg recorded a collection of his songs with him, And Now It Is So Early.
In 1981, an all-star collection of English folk musicians released Lovely in the Dances, a compilation of his songs. Performers included Shusha, Maddy Prior, and John Kirkpatrick.
Carter went to Perth, Western Australia, in 1985 to present a series of lectures and workshops. During his visit he attended a Quaker meeting, at which a woman stood up and sang "When I Needed a Neighbour, Were You There?" She was unaware that Carter was present; he was deeply touched and greatly delighted.
After retirement Carter lived in Herne Hill, London, where he died, aged 88, and was cremated at nearby West Norwood Cemetery. Sydney Carter spoke regularly with Lesslie Newbigin when the latter preached at his parish church, St Paul's Church, Herne Hill.
end quote

[@carolinestaplestrom5090]

Love Sydney Carter!
I saw him in London 1965, during the height of the folk craze. He sang his songs in a quavering unaccompanied tenor, often while holding a pint glass of beer at waist level.

[@RobertPearson777]

That's amazing! That was only 58 years ago. Is there much written about him?.

[@pjacklin1968]

My mum still has this vinyl - remember liking it as a kid alongside my more usual taste in hard rock

[@lalalepus]

When They Shouted Hosanna......wow..... a hymn that crosses over into the psych folk exquisitely.....echoes of the wicker man here..beautiful tune

[@keithlightminder3005]

Crow on the cradle and so many awesome songs.

[@craignl]

A kind of alt-Gospel the world still needs to hear, perhaps now more than ever.

[@RobertPearson777]

Have you heard of the Xian Psych genre? I'm a fan of prog, classical and various more arty types of rock. I think some of the best Christian music was the most obscure. If you type "Xian Psych" you will see Christian rock was very active in the 1960 and 70s. There is a great playlist on the magmasunburst account which should come up early. Sometimes up to $1000 is paid by even non-Christians for Christian artists that just put out one lp on private press labels.

[@paulstanley518]

Great album

[@nordavinda2920]

Thanks for sharing. One of my favorite records.

[@yohaneuano4]

thanks for posting this

[@user-jr7vc9dp7u]

When they shouted hosanna
When they took me to prison
When the crosses crooked
When the crosses were burning
When I needed a neighbour
x,
Were you there, were you there?
x, were you there?
And the creed and the colour
And the name won't matter,
Were you there?

[@djdanathe701]

EVERY STAR SHALL SING A CAROL
Reflection (UK), from The Present Tense: Songs of Sydney Carter
Written by Sydney Carter. In Robert Pearson's video file, it comes in at 13’40”.
Every star shall sing a carol
Every creature high or low
Come and praise the King of Heaven
Eye whatever Name you know
God of earth and below
Glory is the Name I know
Who can tell what’s at the cradle?
I applaud the Milky Way
Still may walk the King of Heaven
On the rock of Christmas Day
God of earth and below
Glory is the Name I know
Who can count how many crosses
Still to come on all the road
Crucified the King of Heaven?
Glory is the Name I know
God of earth and below
Glory is the Name I know
Who can tell what’s at the courting
In His hand upon His throne
I will praise the Son of Leading
I’ll withdraw my present road
God of earth and below
Glory is the Name I know
Every star and every planet
Every creature high and low
Come and praise the King of Heaven
Eye whatever Name you know
God of earth and below
Glory is the Name I know

[@neiltolliday8741]

A remarkable, inclusive, Christmas song for all faiths. I well remember promoting a concert by Sydney at Norwood High School auditorium, North Ringwood, Melbourne Victoria Australia when he toured in 1972. His tour was organized by Jim Minchin of Move Records. I still treasure the songs of Sydney - poetry for agnostics!

[@magmasunburst9331]

One day they may analyze and see how objectively progressive this was for 1968. It seems to me that some of the innovations in this album were not commonly done until the mid-1970s.

[@Lairdodunces]

4:30 bangers

[@richardbradshaw4567]

When this record came out, Scripture Union would not display it on open sale in their shops. The song "I want to have a little bomb like you do" contains the line "who will be the first say I'll throw the bloody thing away", which was a very naughty word wot Christians should not use. I ask you. I got to know some of these guys a bit later and have performed with them. Just saying.

[@RobertPearson777]

Hi Richard. Nice to meet you. I very much respect this ensemble. Looking for a copy of the one they did with the priest.

[@hooplehead4385]

intro ...