Listen & tracks
4 of 21 tracks have a preview · 21 works · 71:47
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1 The devil wore a crucifix Sydney Carter 2:24
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2 Down below Sydney Carter 5:50
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3 Eros Sydney Carter 3:23
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4 My mum was a woman Sydney Carter 1:38
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5 Bitter was the night Sydney Carter 4:09
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6 Glass of water Sydney Carter 4:43
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7 Run the film backwards Sydney Carter 1:55
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8 The burden Sydney Carter 3:42
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9 The holy box Sydney Carter 1:06
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10 The mask I wore Sydney Carter 2:44
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11 The vicar is a beatnik Sydney Carter 3:59
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12 Shake and shiver Sydney Carter 3:52
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13 Friday morning Sydney Carter 3:09
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14 Your levity Sydney Carter 2:19
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15 Judas and Mary Sydney Carter 5:40
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16 British Museum waltz Sydney Carter 1:52
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17 Mixed-up old man Sydney Carter 2:03
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18 Plato in a paperback Sydney Carter 3:13
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19 When I needed a neighbour Sydney Carter 4:51
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20 Standing in the rain Sydney Carter 3:29
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21 Travel on Sydney Carter 5:46
This film was made in 1972 for Sydney Carter's Australian tour that year.
Carter performs his own songs – wry, questioning pieces that sit between folk club and church – with Franciscus Henri joining him on three tracks. The booklet reprints essays and song texts from the original concert-tour programme.
In the artist’s words
You write a song and you sing a song and people stick the labels on afterwards saying it’s ‘religious’ or it’s ‘anti-religious’ or it’s a carol or it’s ‘folk’ or ‘pop’ or something. When you write a song and think a song and feel a song, you don't care what it is.
One role I see is that of Devil’s Advocate or God’s Loyal Opposition. Against this demon bowler the parson must defend the Christian wicket. If he doubts his batsmanship, he can settle for a boy or girl with a guitar singing something securely Christian to a folksey melody. Even this may do some good, but he may have missed the greater opportunity.
Sydney Carter, demon bowler. There’s his label.
Artists
Sydney Carter
singer
Sydney Carter (1915–2004) was an English poet, folk singer and songwriter. He is often called a hymn-writer for Lord of the Dance, though his songs range across faith, protest, doubt and ordinary life.
Digital booklet
Digital booklet Notes, texts and credits — read online or download the PDF Download the PDFPerformers
- Sydney Carter · singer · all except tracks 5, 15 and 19
- Franciscus Henri · singer · tracks 5, 15 and 19
Details
- List price
- $20.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 71 minutes 47 seconds
- Release date
- 1972
- Categories
- Spoken word, Vocal
- Genres
- Folk, Vocal & Opera
- Musical work copyright
- © 1972 Move Records
- Sound recording copyright
- ℗ 1972 Move Records
- Catalogue
- MD 3096
- EAN
- 9314574309621
More to explore
The Present Tense: Songs of Sydney Carter
The songs of Sydney Carter are an enigma. Folk, religious, satire and protest never quite fit. They have depth and integrity, and they press us to face and question our innermost thoughts and conflicts.
Words, Love, Music: Sydney Carter
Songs and poems by Sydney Carter from the 1950s to the 1970s, spanning social protest, faith and everyday life, performed by Carter and guest singers including Sheila Hancock, Franciscus Henri and Nadia Cattouse.
Seven Whole Days: Music for the Contemporary Church
Seven Whole Days is Jim Minchin’s second Move album of contemporary church song, recorded across Melbourne and Singapore in 1969 with singers and instrumentalists from both places.
Move Two Mix: Music for the Contemporary Church
Move Two Mix gathers religious songs and hymns with music by Jim Minchin, marrying familiar sacred texts to jazz- and folk-inflected settings. First issued in 1968, this pioneering Melbourne recording brought contemporary idioms into church worship.
The World is a Beautiful Place
The Australian Rosny Children’s Choir presents A Dozen of Dennis, Peter Davies’s settings of twelve poems from C. J. Dennis’s A Book for Kids, with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
Gabriel's Mother's Highway
Franciscus Henri presents songs by Sydney Carter, Elton John and Arlo Guthrie alongside three of his own. Produced by Brian Cadd, the album settles into a gentle folk-rock style with clear acoustic colour.