| Description | Tracks 1 - 20:
Tracks 1 - 8 contain folk songs and songs from Banner shows.
Tracks 9 - 20 consist of of discussions with union representatives and workers from the fire and health services.
Songs are performed by Charles Parker and other (unidentified) singers, sometimes with musical accompaniment. These are
(Track 1) 'Landed in England just ten years ago'
(Track 2) 'A Black can have brawn but he can't have a brain'
(Track 2) 'Legally Legal'
(Track 3) 'Des Warren' This is a song about one of the Shrewsbury 24 (see MS 1611/B/2)
(Track 4) 'The Great Divide' (see MS 1611/B/8)
(Track 5) 'Three Cheers for Brum's Rotunda'
(Track 6) 'Oakey Evictions' This is a Victorian ballad from Northumberland about colliery evictions.
(Track 7) 'The Frigate La Pique' this is a naval ballad about brutal conditions on this ship.
(Track 8) 'Have you ever paused a moment to wonder ...?'
Tracks 9 - 14 relate to conversations about pay and conditions for fire fighters, and the current (1977) threat of industrial action by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU}. The staffing establishment of West Midlands Fire Service is considered (Track 10).
Tracks 14 - 20 examine proposals to close some of Birmingham's hospitals and pay and conditions for health workers in the NHS. Reference is made to a number of hospitals and clinics, including Sorrento Maternity Hospital (Track 15) and the Taylor Memorial Home (a terminal care unit) (Track 17).
Total: 44:55 minutes
Dubber's reference number: PLA1of2 KF534B0203480 |