“The Last Holdout” is a collection of narrative ballads, laments, and seasonal songs, mostly from traditional sources of the British Isles. The stories are magical: tales of transformation, passion and revenge. Several songs are covers that were written in the traditional style; two songs were first published as poems. It is a “bare bones” album, featuring Paddy’s voice, fretted dulcimer, guitar and concertina, with only a few overdubs of vocal harmony. The album was recorded at PAVED Arts in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, recorded, mixed and mastered by Paul Gitlitz. It was produced by Paddy Tutty. Kemp Owyne (Child #34) is a fairy tale - a Scottish saga complete with an evil stepmother, a maiden changed into a dragon and a prince to save the day. Learned from the singing of Brian Peters and Margaret MacArthur. (vocal/dulcimer) Our Ship is Ready, also known as An Emigrant’s Farewell to His Country, is a Northern Irish lament that I learned from the singing of Peta Webb. The lyrics really hit home when I was exploring family history, inspecting passenger lists on the ships that brought us to North America. (vocal & concertina) Llewelyn and Gelert is an ancient Welsh legend made into a ballad by Norm Walker, who recorded it on his first CD T-Time: Time-Tested Tales, Tall and True. (vocal & dulcimer) I learned Bringing in the Sheaves from Englishman Jim Boyes, recorded on “All Through the Year” – not the song I grew up with! (vocals, guitar & dulcimer) The Famous Flower of Serving Men (Child#106) is a ballad that Martin Carthy extensively reworked and made his own, using a tune from Hedy West. I have been singing this ballad for several decades now, and continue to find the story magical, powerful, and vivid in my mind. (vocal & dulcimer) I found the words of The Flower Carol in the Oxford Book of Carols, and set them to my tune. (vocal, dulcimer, concertina) Oak, Ash and Thorn - Rudyard Kipling's "A Tree Song" sets the scene for the stories and poems of Puck of Pook's Hill. Peter Bellamy set the poem to his music, and the song has since become a well-known pagan song celebrating the summer solstice. (vocal & guitar) Another transformation ballad, The Griesly Bride was learned from Harry Tuft. Although this poem was written in Australia, I have always pictured its setting in the boreal forest of northern Saskatchewan. (vocal) Summer Solstice, another seasonal song from the pen of Norm Walker, is a companion piece to his song of spring “The Prairie Pagans”. (vocals & dulcimer). I first heard Time Has Made a Change in Me from the Maine band The Moose Tones and I have been singing it ever since. Good philosophy. (vocals & dulcimer) The Instrumentals: The Last Holdout was written in honour of those beautifully stubborn people who treasure their traditions in the pace of progress, mostly referring to the lone homeowner surrounded by condo development. Alf Browne’s Jig was written to honour the man who planted many of the elm trees in Saskatoon in the early 20th century. Arthur Darley is sometimes simply called The Swedish Jig. I learned the tune from Sara Kemsley many years before arranging it for guitar. I learned Mazurka from a button accordion player in Mendocino, played here on concertina.