Scrumpy & Western EP

Last updated
Scrumpy & Western EP
Adge Cutler, EP, Scrumpy and Western.jpg
Adge Cutler (seated) with the Wurzels
EP by
Released1967
Recorded2 November 1966
VenueRoyal Oak Inn, Nailsea, England
Genre Scrumpy and Western
Label Columbia SEG8525
Producer Bob Barratt

Scrumpy & Western EP was the second record released by Adge Cutler and The Wurzels, containing the two tracks from their original 1966 hit single, "Drink Up Thy Zider" and "Twice Daily", with two further tracks "Pill, Pill" and "Hark At 'Ee Jacko". The band's first single had reached number 45 in the UK Singles Chart, despite the B-side, "Twice Daily" being banned by the BBC for being too raunchy.[ citation needed ] The subsequent Scrumpy & Western EP, released the following year, did not achieve a chart placing, however it gave its name to whole new genre of music: Scrumpy and Western. [1] [2] All the tracks were recorded live by Bob Barratt at The Royal Oak Inn, Nailsea, on 2 November 1966.

Contents

The front cover of the EP has a photo of Adge Cutler (seated) with the band, against the background of a typical farm building. All are wearing "yokel" outfits, which include corduroy trousers, waistcoats, red kerchiefs and hats. Cutler is holding the ubiquitous "Zider Jar".

"Drink Up Thy Zider" - Bristol City F.C. and Bath City F.C.

Bristol City

Although The Wurzels song "One For The Bristol City" [3] is the official club song for Bristol City F.C., most fans recognise "Drink Up Thy Zider" as their anthem. It is played at the final whistle at Ashton Gate if the home club win, and it is sung by fans along with another Wurzel song, "I am a Cider Drinker".

Bath City

Bath City F.C. supporters are also known for singing "Drink Up Thy Cider" by The Wurzels, a tribute to the Somerset's famous cider brewing industry, [4] with the Wurzels being formed in Somerset [5] and Bath being the county's largest city by population. [6] Like at Ashton Gate, the song is often played at Twerton Park after the home club wins, particularly a big game. [7]

Scrumpy and Western Genre

The Scrumpy and Western genre refers to mainly humorous music from England's West Country [8] that fuses comical folk-style songs, often full of double entendre, with affectionate parodies of more mainstream musical genres, all delivered in the local accent/dialect. Scrumpy is a name given to traditional Somerset cider, and is frequently referred to in The Wurzels' songs.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bristol City F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Bristol City Football Club is a professional football club based in Bristol, England. The team compete in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English football league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Wedlock</span> English folk singer

Peter Frederick Wedlock was an English folk singer best known for his UK hit single "The Oldest Swinger in Town", which was covered by German comedian Karl Dall as "Der älteste Popper der Stadt". He performed at many venues in Britain and Europe, presented programmes for West Country TV and acted with the Bristol Old Vic, as well as undertaking after-dinner speaking engagements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Country</span> Southwestern area of England

The West Country is a loosely defined area within southwest England, usually taken to include the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Bristol, with some considering it to extend to all or parts of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. The West Country has a distinctive regional English dialect and accent, and is also home to the Cornish language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wurzels</span> English Scrumpy and Western band

The Wurzels are an English Scrumpy and Western band from Somerset, England, best known for their number one hit "The Combine Harvester" and number three hit "I Am a Cider Drinker" in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nailsea</span> Town in North Somerset, England

Nailsea is a town in North Somerset, England, 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Bristol, and 11 miles (18 km) northeast of Weston-super-Mare. The nearest village is Backwell, which lies south of Nailsea on the opposite side of the Bristol to Exeter railway line. Nailsea had a population of 15,917 in the 2021 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Country English</span> Variety of the English language

West Country English is a group of English language varieties and accents used by much of the native population of the West Country, an area found in the southwest of England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scrumpy and Western</span> Musical genre

Scrumpy and Western refers humorously to music from England's West Country that fuses comical folk-style songs, often full of double entendre, with affectionate parodies of more mainstream musical genres, all delivered in the local accent/dialect. The name, taken from the title of the 1967 Scrumpy & Western EP by Adge Cutler and the Wurzels, refers to scrumpy, strongly alcoholic cider produced in the West Country; it is a play on the American genre of country and western music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midsomer Norton</span> Town in Somerset, England

Midsomer Norton is a town near the Mendip Hills in Bath and North East Somerset, England, 10 miles (16 km) south-west of Bath, 10 miles (16 km) north-east of Wells, 10 miles (16 km) north-west of Frome, 12 miles (19 km) west of Trowbridge and 16 miles (26 km) south-east of Bristol. It has a population of around 13,000. Along with Radstock and Westfield it used to be part of the conurbation and large civil parish of Norton Radstock, but is now a town council in its own right. It is also part of the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scrumpy</span> Type of cider produced in the West of England

Scrumpy is a type of cider originating in the West of England, particularly the West Country. Traditionally, the dialect term "scrumpy" was used to refer to what was otherwise called "rough", a harsh cider made from unselected apples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bath City F.C.</span> Football club

Bath City Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset, England. The club is affiliated to the Somerset FA and currently competes in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football. Nicknamed the "Romans", the club was founded in 1889 and have played their home matches at Twerton Park since 1932.

Somerset is a county in the south-west of England. It is home to many types of music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Easton in Gordano</span> Village in Somerset, England

Easton in Gordano is a village in Somerset, England, about 4+12 miles (7 km) northwest of Bristol city centre. It is part of the civil parish of Pill and Easton-in-Gordano and within the unitary authority of North Somerset. In 2011 the population of the parish was 4,828.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pill, Somerset</span> Human settlement in England

Pill is a village in North Somerset, England, situated on the southern bank of the Avon, about 4 miles (6 km) north-west of Bristol city centre. The village is the largest settlement in the civil parish of Pill and Easton-in-Gordano. The former hamlets of Lodway and Ham Green are now contiguous with Pill, and the village of Easton in Gordano is nearby. The parish extends northwest beyond the M5 motorway to include the Royal Portbury Dock.

"Remember Me"/"I Am a Cider Drinker" was a split single released by British Sea Power and The Wurzels. The 7" single features The Wurzels covering BSP's "Remember Me" and BSP covering The Wurzels' 1976 hit "I Am a Cider Drinker". The release was limited to 1,966 and only available on BSP's November 2005 tour or through their official website.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adge Cutler</span> English singer

Alan John "Adge" Cutler was an English singer best known as the frontman of the comic folk band the Wurzels. Cutler was known for his songs, but also his dry, West Country humour, and gained the unofficial title of "The Bard of Avonmouth".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Somerset</span> Overview of the culture of Somerset, England

Somerset is a county in the south west of England. It has a varied cultural tradition ranging from the Arthurian legends to The Wurzels, a band specialising in Scrumpy and Western music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Banner</span> British musician

Tommy Banner is a British musician, known for being the longest-serving member of The Wurzels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Budd</span> English lead singer of The Wurzels

Peter Budd is an English singer who has fronted the Scrumpy and Western band The Wurzels since 1974. He was the vocalist on the number-one hit "The Combine Harvester" and number three hit "I Am a Cider Drinker" in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Combine Harvester</span> 1975 novelty song

"The Combine Harvester" is a novelty song which was a number one hit for Brendan Grace in Ireland in 1975 and then also for The Wurzels in the UK in 1976. Written by Brendan O'Shaughnessy, the song is a parody of Melanie Safka's 1971 hit, "Brand New Key", with rustic lyrics replacing the original theme of roller-skating.

References

  1. "AllMusic | Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands". AllMusic . Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  2. "Wurzelmania: The Adge Cutler & the Wurzels Encyclopaedia. Made in Somerset! Scrumpy & Western EP". www.somersetmade.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  3. "The 3 Lions and A Robin guide to Ashton Gate and the Wurzels". Bristol City Fan Club. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  4. "A closer look at Somerset's cider-making scene". Big House Experience. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  5. "Wurzel World - History". www.thewurzels.com. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  6. "Population of Somerset 2021/2022 – UK Population Data" . Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  7. "The Wurzels at Bath City « Sean's Stories" . Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  8. "Scrumpy & Western". Scrumpyandwestern.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-08-18.