Bill Malkin

The Chocolate Charlie CD has been compiled for the Easter 2010 Ellesmere Port British Waterways Boat Festival.

The title track tells the true story of Charlie Atkins, one of the great characters of the narrowboat era. Charlie’s boat, Mendip, is moored at the Ellesmere Port Boat Museum.

There is one new track (co written with Graham Bellinger) on the album. ‘The Birkenhead Drill’ tells the story of the fate of a naval frigate built by John Laird’s shipyard in Liverpool, an event which gave rise to the enduring naval tradition of the ‘Birkenhead Drill’ whereby when ships sink it is a given that women and children will be allowed to leave the ship before the Captain and crew. The other tracks are all original folk songs drawn from the last four albums.

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Hunting with the Hounds, which was recorded and produced in 2009 at Shamwari Studio, is a collaborative project with John Sylvester, aided by musical contributions from Chris Lee, Dave Russell, Ian Jones and Alistair Coakley.

Besides the title track, songs include Cropredy Musical Fair, Florida Sky, The Ballad of Robert Cadman, Chocolate Charlie, Jenny Wren, Song for Dad, Christleton Mill, No Place Like Home and Hamba Gahle.

Available to purchase for £6 including postage & packaging.

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‘Making Waves’, released in May 2008, features 12 originals and probably best captures Bill’s live sound … especially on the tracks where he is backed by his good friends, the members of Full House (who host the Raven Folk Club). Bill plays acoustic guitar and bass, and does all vocals. Chris Lee plays mandolin and bass; Nick Mitchell features on mandola; Dave Russell plays fiddle and banjo; Ian Jones is on melodeon and flute and Mark Woolley plays all percussion.

John Sylvester, the Aberystwyth-based keyboard player features strongly, adding  piano and organ accompaniment. Other contributions are made by Graham Bellinger (Root Chords) on acoustic guitar and harmonica, Bill Gordon on acoustic guitar, Jamie Matthews (of the Time Bandits) plays the hurdy gurdy, and old school friend, John Nielsen adds bass to two tracks.

The songs describe social inequity; daring to be different; a country girl who follows her dreams of being a dancer but falls foul of the big city; seasonal change; railway stations; missed opportunities; gypsy lovers; the environment; political and social change in Africa; memorabilia; the native American Indians who toured England with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show at the end of the nineteenth century and the waste of wars.

The album was once again recorded, engineered and mixed by Bill at Shamwari Studios in Chester.

Available to purchase for £6 including postage & packaging.

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Released early in 2007, Part Time Rebel features 10 original songs, four of which (including the title track) were co-written with Graham Bellinger. As usual a host of Cheshire’s finest musicians have been featured, adding diversity to the recordings.

To quote Nick Mitchell of Full House, “This is a new collection of tales to fascinate, atmospheres to savour and ideas to think about. His writing is crisp, spare and straight to the point, like good songs ought to be. What more could you want? Only more of the same! Cheers Bill!”

Available to purchase for £6 including postage & packaging.

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Released in 2005, ‘Now & Then’ included several new songs, as well as new recordings of old ones and a few of old ones that have been slightly modified.

Recorded at  ’Shamwari Studio’ during 2004/5, with the help of some of Chester’s finest musicians.

They include Chris Lee (Family Mahone and Full House), Graham Bellinger and Phil Bradley (Root Chords), Dave Manley, Mick Horton, Mark Dennis, Phil Gregory (DearGregory)… as well as old South African friend, Alistair Coakley (Hotline, Stimela and Waldorf String Band).

Available to purchase for £6 including postage & packaging

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The third album ‘The Distance’ was again recorded on  BR8 digital equipment. Local musician friends who made contributions included Graham Bellinger (guitar, dobro & harmonica), Chris Lee (mandolin), Mick Horton (keyboards) and Dave Manley (flute & whistle).

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Calico Road , the second album, was recorded on a Roland Boss BR8 digital machine. Contributing musicians included Chris Lee (mandolin & pedal steel guitar), Dave Manley (flute & whistle), Mick Horton (keyboards) and Graham Bellinger (guitar, dobro, harmonica).

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The first album, recorded with the help of Chris Lee  at Pete Massey’s ‘Little Room Studio’, provided demo tracks for future recordings and good experience.