Meanwood Valley Tanneries
by Henry Parker
distant planet
distant planet
The legendary Henry Parker returns with more wonderful folksy minstrelsy.
Harri
philps
Gary Bouch
David Freshman
Daniel Coleman
bewilderbeeste
backless
notesmatter
Mark Whitehead
S G Clarke
halfa65
Grey Malkin
Nigel Spencer
Gregg Hermetech
Baldvin Jonsson
Simon Harper
midoyle61
trevorowenmusic
walczynski55
stephen coyle
Philip Hill
Picnic Boy
robkb2
mikehowlettbc
hammondrs
hester52
erin gordon
EmAr
tom_exorcisto
michael moloney
badlyshavedmonkey
cherade9
martinatbandcamp
Tilli72
ginsberg69
jcherr
roypope
John Beha
Jeff Gilbert
hsmith60
seansexton
wigdavbar
-
Streaming + DownloadIncludes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.Purchasable with gift card
£2 GBP or more
-
Limited Edition Clear Lathe Cut Single
Record/Vinyl + Digital AlbumPlease order here: www.reverbworship.com/future-grave. and contact Roger at roger.linney(at)btinternet.com
Please send him your address when making payment.
Released by Reverb Worship /Future Grave. www.reverbworship.com/future-grave.
Limited to 50 copies.
Includes unlimited streaming of Meanwood Valley Tanneries via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.Sold Out
-
1. |
||||
|
In Meanwood Valley
By the old tannery
Smell the leather
See the dye stain your hands
Cruel hours and hard labour
The air is acrid
The sun is weak behind the cloud
The fell-monger
Will strip the wool from the hide
While we tanners
Will soak the skin in oak and lime
Please listen
When we say the work is hard
But there’s pride here
The Meanwood Valley knows it’s part
There’s cries heard in the night when you walk home
The morning heralds rain
We’ll see you at the quarry face
Or the leather works again
The common trees are long since felled
We can hardly bear the name
The wood shipped in from Ireland or France
For the tanning and the flames
The turning of the century has passed
The work moved overseas
A hundred thousand boots a week we made
From the factory floors of Leeds
At our height
Now it’s quiet
In the trees
|
||||
2. |
Sweet Spring (COB)
03:23
|
|||
|
A wind from the sea
Cross the hills rolling down green
Deep in the wood but your through
Winters black cloak is unclasped
Sweet Spring
Weaving a crown of leaves
Watch the grass grow green
The rain of the winter feeds the earth
And sun kissed flowers breathe the sweet air
Sweet Spring
This flesh humbly impressed
Bear witness thou art my lord
You hold me green and dying
Though I’ll sing in my chains like the sea
Sweet Spring
|
||||
about
7" Lathe record cut available from Future Grave / Reverb Worship: www.reverbworship.com/future-grave
Side A
Meanwood Valley Tanneries
(Henry Parker)
A song written for the tanning industry of Leeds, which grew up in the Meanwood Valley, to the north of the city, in the mid 17th century. The song tries to conjure atmosphere and describe the process of the work, of fell-mongers stripping the hide, before soaking the skins in lime and oak-tannin. In the 19th century Leeds was the second largest leather producing city in the UK, throwing out 100,000 pairs of boots a week. Due in part to it’s foul smelling industry, the Meanwood valley was known for being a particularly rough place to live, with drunkenness and crime being rife. Eventually the local woods were completely stripped of the necessary bark used for the processing of the raw leather and in the early 20th century foreign competition drove the mills and tanneries out of business. The son of the owner of Meanwood Tannery, Samuel Smith, went on to run the family’s famous brewery in nearby Tadcaster.
Inspiration for the song and information for sleeve notes comes from The West Yorkshire Woods – Part II: The Aire Valley by Chris Goddard, 2021.
Side B
Sweet Spring
(COB / Clive’s Original Band)
Appearing as a bonus track on the Sunbeam Records CD re-issue of COB’s 2nd album: Moyshee McStiff and the Tartan Lancers of the Sacred Heart, originally released by Polydor in 1972, this song, possibly written by Mick Bennet or Clive Palmer never made it onto the LP at the time but remains an enchanting glimpse into the period. The band were immersed in philosophy, Buddhism and poetry; and Sweet Spring’s yearning lyrics draw from Dylan Thomas’s Fern Hill, “Time held me green and dying, though I sang in my chains like the sea”.
Side A
Meanwood Valley Tanneries
(Henry Parker)
A song written for the tanning industry of Leeds, which grew up in the Meanwood Valley, to the north of the city, in the mid 17th century. The song tries to conjure atmosphere and describe the process of the work, of fell-mongers stripping the hide, before soaking the skins in lime and oak-tannin. In the 19th century Leeds was the second largest leather producing city in the UK, throwing out 100,000 pairs of boots a week. Due in part to it’s foul smelling industry, the Meanwood valley was known for being a particularly rough place to live, with drunkenness and crime being rife. Eventually the local woods were completely stripped of the necessary bark used for the processing of the raw leather and in the early 20th century foreign competition drove the mills and tanneries out of business. The son of the owner of Meanwood Tannery, Samuel Smith, went on to run the family’s famous brewery in nearby Tadcaster.
Inspiration for the song and information for sleeve notes comes from The West Yorkshire Woods – Part II: The Aire Valley by Chris Goddard, 2021.
Side B
Sweet Spring
(COB / Clive’s Original Band)
Appearing as a bonus track on the Sunbeam Records CD re-issue of COB’s 2nd album: Moyshee McStiff and the Tartan Lancers of the Sacred Heart, originally released by Polydor in 1972, this song, possibly written by Mick Bennet or Clive Palmer never made it onto the LP at the time but remains an enchanting glimpse into the period. The band were immersed in philosophy, Buddhism and poetry; and Sweet Spring’s yearning lyrics draw from Dylan Thomas’s Fern Hill, “Time held me green and dying, though I sang in my chains like the sea”.
credits
released February 9, 2024
Side A recorded in 2023.
Side B recorded in 2021. Originally released October 2022 as a digital-only track for the compilation tribute album - ‘Spirit of Clive: A Tribute to the Music of Clive Palmer & COB.
Both tracks recorded at Corner House Recording Studio, Keighley
Engineered, Mixed & Mastered by Kurt Wood
Side A features Rob McNicholas on electric bass and Louis Berthoud on drums.
All vocals and guitars on Side A & B by Henry Parker.
Physical artwork for 7" by Roger Linney.
Digital artwork by Henry Parker
Side A recorded in 2023.
Side B recorded in 2021. Originally released October 2022 as a digital-only track for the compilation tribute album - ‘Spirit of Clive: A Tribute to the Music of Clive Palmer & COB.
Both tracks recorded at Corner House Recording Studio, Keighley
Engineered, Mixed & Mastered by Kurt Wood
Side A features Rob McNicholas on electric bass and Louis Berthoud on drums.
All vocals and guitars on Side A & B by Henry Parker.
Physical artwork for 7" by Roger Linney.
Digital artwork by Henry Parker
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
Henry Parker Leeds, UK
Henry Parker's contemporary take on folk, which he explores via thoughtful yet deeply accomplished guitar playing, unfurls
and moves much like the landscape itself - mirroring the unpredictable, yet beautifully flowing, rolling hills and valleys of his hometown, the Aire Valley in West Yorkshire.
RnR Magazine - ★★★★★
Shindig! Magazine -★★★★
"guitar virtuosity and confident song-craft"
... more
shows
-
Jul 11London, UK
-
Nov 24Leeds, UK
discography
-
Feb 2024 -
Oct 2023 -
Nov 2022 -
Nov 2021 -
Jul 2019 -
Nov 2018
contact / help
Henry Parker recommends:
-
The Edge of the Land
by Katie SpencerMuch anticipated 2nd album from Katie Spencer - I've heard the whole thing and it's incredible!
go to album -
Desert soundscapes for worn denim and mescaline.
go to album -
Leeds's most spectacular folk songwriter - stoked to hear the full debut album from Iona!
go to album
If you like Henry Parker, you may also like:
-
Stirling Ash / Shuffleboat River Farewell
by Katie Spencersupported by 13 fans who also own “Meanwood Valley Tanneries”
An inspiring singer and guitarist I would urge you to have this recording in your collection , truly wonderful.
go to album -
Weather Beaten
by Katie Spencersupported by 12 fans who also own “Meanwood Valley Tanneries”
I'm not sure where to begin. This is the second album I have bought from Katie. Hello Sun speaks to me because I also long for it to return to the blue skies and the warmth it brings in the spring and summer months. Honestly though, every track is special. It is not often I find myself so captivated by a musician these days, but Katie has truly done that for me. Heart warming beautiful music that should be heard by all who love acoustic guitar and vocals. Real and genuine.
go to album -
Phototherapy EP
by Fahim RahmanA collection of twinkling bedroom folk-pop demos from Fahim Rahman that arcs from hushed intimacy to sweeping cinematic emotionality.
go to album
