Dyl Mei.

Derek Boote - Amser. 

Every music scene has it’s forgotten heroes. The Welsh music scene has many, but for me, one stands out more than any other, Derek Boote. Pick up a pile of Welsh singles from the late 60’s and early 70’s and I guarantee you that Derek’s name will be on at least half. I’m not going to pretend that I know much about Derek and his history, only that he moved to Cardiff in the mid 60’s with his best friend Hywel Gwynfryn, that he played on countless sessions for the BBC on shows such as Disc a Dawn and Can i Gymru, and that tragically, he was killed on set in 1974 whilst filming a TV show. This song “Amser” was written by Alwyn Humphreys and was entered into the Can disc a dawn competition of 1971.

Y Brithyll - Tincars 

Trawsfynydd answer to the Jackson 5! Y Brithyll ( The Trout) compromised of two brothers, Glyn and Gareth and their school friends William, David and Garfield. The group formed in Ysgol y Moelwyn, Bleanau Ffestiniog and performed locally as well as on Welsh TV. The song “Tincars” is a tribute to the life of a traveler. 

Hogia Trawsfynydd, Glyn, Gareth, David, William a Garfield! Ffurfiodd y grŵp yn ysgol y Moelwyn, Blaena, tua 1968 a rhyddhawyd un EP, ar label Tŷ ar y graig. Mae’n debyg y mai yn gapel y traws rhoesant eu perfformiad cyhoeddus gyntaf. Mae’r clawr yn disgrifio’r grŵp fel yma.. “Arddull naturiol gartrefol sydd ganddynt a’r caneuon yn mynegi’r sioncrwydd a’r gwreiddioldeb sy’n nodweddiadol ohonynt fel grŵp”. Da. Fel y Jackson 5 Cymraeg! 

Ffiona Bennet - Can S4C.

Mae’r hen sianel yn 30 heddiw. Felly dyma gan a rhyddhawyd yn 1982 i ddathlu genedigaeth s4c. Cerddorfa, Wil cwac cwac a Superted! Beth arall sydd angen ynde?

Plant Gwent - Plant y wlad 

Welsh single released by local kids for the 1988 Newport Eisteddfod. Written by Rhys Harris of Catsgam. This is irritatingly catchy and has some lovely harmonies. Cheesy, but good cheese. 

The art has nothing to do with the song, but I’ll post it anyway, see more at http://www.flickr.com/photos/newphysics/ 

Gorffenwyd - Various. 

Four tracks from the choir rock psychedelic opera “Gorffenwyd”. Written in 1976 by Edward H Dafis member and super producer Hefin Ellis, the rock opera tell the story of the crucifixion, Although it’s less known than “Nia Ben Aur” and “Melltith ar y nyth” it still has a few tunes worth giving time too. The four tracks here are..

Mynediad i Jerusalem (Entry to Jerusalem) : Cantorion Clwyd

Mair Magdalen (Mother Mary) : Caryl Parry Jones

Ty fy Nhad (My fathers house) : Mynediad am ddim

Pedr (Peter) : Cleif Harpwood 

Hebogiaid y nos - Unknown. (1962)

All i know is his track was broadcast around 1962 on a Welsh language Radio show. I take that it’s a cover version but can’t be sure, so if any one has anymore info, please, let me know.  (Also can’t be too sure of the group, but I have been informed that it’s probably them)

Eleri Llwyd - Nwy yn y nen. 

For 40 years this version of Nwy yn y nen was thrown away like a piece of rubbish into an old dark storeroom, then from out of space a spotty man, brought it to life with his cosmic dust, or something. Two versions of the song (written by Dewi Pws of Y Tebot piws for Can Disc a Dawn 1972), have been released, one folk version by Eleri Llwyd herself and the other by Tebot pwis in a more psychedelic form. This version, recorded for Can disc a dawn with the Benny Litchfield orchestra actually won the contest and helped launch a successful career in music for Eleri, not quite sure why this version was never released! Anyway, hope you enjoy. 

Heather Jones - Tua’r gorllewin (To the west) 

Another track from the forgotten compilation “Cofio”. The compilation was produced by Eurof Williams from whats credited as a original idea by Geraint Jarman, from what i gather it’s a gang of musicians covering each others songs, this is a cover of a Ac eraill song, the group who featured Tecwyn Ifan, Cleif Harpwood, Phil Bach, Iestyn Garlick and Alun Sbardur Hughes. 

*Photo is the view from my local cafe in Caernarfon. 

Siwsan Broderick - Dail yn disgyn.

After many a week asking around I was lucky enough to be given a transfer today by an old family friend of this recording from 1969 by Siwsan Broderick, she hails from my home town of Porthmadog, sang in a duet called Treflyn and Siwsan and went on to become Sue Roderick, star of Twin town and pobol y cwm. As far as i know, the song, written by Sue herself, was recorded but never released, although some reports tell me it was published by a major london record label. I’m not usually surprised by the old Welsh stuff that turns up, but i have to say this Nico-esque folk gem has me think about going out on a journey around Wales knocking on random doors and asking they have any old reel to reels hidden in the attic, any one else fancy it?

*Artwork is one of my brothers recent creations*

Cleif Prendelyn - I’r gad.

A less famous version of the Hefin Elis (Edward H Dafis, Sidan, Y Chwyldro) penned “I’r gad” It’s a tad more heavy than the more well known Dafydd Iwan version. The track is taken from a little know comp on Sain called “Cofio”. Cleif Prendelyn is more commonly known as Clive Harpwood, singer of Welsh Pop kings, Edward H Dafis. 

*Image is a vintage poster by Welsh Language Protest group Cymdeithas yr Iaith. 

Geraint Jarman - Pan ddaw’r dydd. (When the day comes)

Do you have all day? Well, i don’t, so i can’t even begin to think about writing a biog on Geraint Jarman, Possibly the most influential of all welsh musicians, Geraint Jarman blazed a trail of creativity from late 60’s folk trio Bara Menyn, Through 70’s roc, 80’s Reggae right through to modern day hip hop tunes. 

Out of all his back catalogue i’ve chosen to upload this gem, a version of a song that his then wife, Heather Jones, won A song for Wales with (she sings backing on this). Obviously the lyrics will be alien to non welsh speakers, but i think the emotion and feeling is there for all to hear. A beautiful song about love and loss by a true Genius. 

*The photo is a rare sighting of the famous Bangor haunted traffic light Ghost. (There is no ghost).

Edward H Dafis - Gwrandewch.

This is the nine minute long, epic first single from legendary Welsh band, Edward H Dafis. Starting with some dirty Wah Wah rock before giving away to a beautiful looping torch song for the dawn. Releasing five LP’s and numerous singles in a short seven year career, Edward H was the first welsh Super group, a band that people cared for, made and effort to go out and see and bought the t-shirt. To write a decent biog for them on here would take much much to long…so I’ll just let you listen to the tune. And look at this photo i took on a ferry. 

Hergest - Wrth edrych yn ol.

I’m posting this as a tribute to Huw Ceredig who passed away yesterday, known across Wales as Reg Harris from Pobol y Cwm or more widely as “Fatty” from Twin Town. This song and the intro by Huw Ceredig are taken from the record “Tafodau Tan”, a live recording from August the 8th, 1973 at the Ruthun Eisteddfod, the gig featured Ac Eraill, Sidan, Dafydd Iwan, Leah Owen and Edward H Dafis.

Griff Lynch on Tiwtter

“Nath Huw Caredig gael ail-forgais ar ei dy er mwyn prynnu offerynau i fand newydd o’r enw Edward H Dafis. #diolchhuw”

“Huw Ceredig Re-mortgaged his house in order to buy instruments for a new young band, called Edward H Dafis #thankshuw”

Parch.