This was the second compilation album to be released by The Wurzels. It was released in November 1979 as a 12" vinyl stereo LP on the EMI NOTES record label with catalogue number NTS190. The album was simultaneously released on cassette tape. Song Lyrics
At the time of the recording of all tracks on this compilation the Wurzels consisted of Tommy Banner (piano, organ, accordion, vocals), Tony Baylis (bass, bass guitar, sousaphone and vocals) and Pete Budd (banjo, guitar and vocals). Also credited on the sleeve are Drums: Dougie Wright, Alan White and Tony Fennell.
This first 'Greatest Hits' compilation album is notable for the inclusion of a previously unreleased version of Drink Up Thy Zider - the "disco" version. It also included for the first time on an album The Wurzels' tribute to Bristol City FC - One For The Bristol City, as well as the original version of the song Morning Glory. Naturally, the album also included all the band's chart hits. As with the previous compilation album I Am A Cider Drinker the first side of the album consists of studio tracks and the second is made up of 'live' tracks - these are edited together with chat between songs.
In common with all The Wurzels' EMI album releases from 1975 to 1980 this album remained 'on catalogue' for many years. Unlike the Adge Cutler / Wurzel albums from 1967 onwards The Wurzel albums have few variations in labels and sleeves. By 1975 all album sleeves were of the wrap-around type and most were laminated. Tax codes on vinyl records had been discarded and the vinyl weights - which were now generally the same on all records - were on the light side when compared to the high-quality heavy vinyl of the 1960s. Matrix, Mother and Stamper codes were still used on the vinyl and the information centred around Adge's 1960's recordings that can be found on the Main Menu under 'Vinyl Collecting Guides' remains relevant with minor changes between different record labels. The inner sleeves changed little over the period. Unlike the 1960s, which saw inner sleeves bearing advertising information, the 1970's to 80's were white company sleeves with minor variations. The 'Dating Record Sleeves' guide (in the Main Menu) indicates which inner sleeves would be expected to be found between 1974 and 1983 (types H,J,K, AND L).
Stereo pressing of NTS190 on the EMI Notes label. A Side: Matrix NTS190 A-1 HTM 1 M B Side: Matrix NTS190 B-1 HTM 1 M (HTM - Harry Moss, EMI's most respected mastering engineer) Interesting and rather odd that on the label (only) side one tracks are are numerically identified but on side two they are identified from 'a' to 'h'.
Stereo pressing of NTS190 on the short-lived cream-coloured EMI label. A Side: Matrix NTS190 A-1 HTM 2 B Side: Matrix NTS190 B-1 HTM 2 (HTM - Harry Moss, EMI's most respected mastering engineer) Interesting and rather odd that on the label (only) side one tracks are are numerically identified but on side two they are identified from 'a' to 'h'.
The album sleeve, which was of the wrap round style and laminated, had rather sparse information on it - the track listing and credits is only added to with information on the recording location and engineers:
A nice collector's item - a copy autographed by all three band members - Tommy Banner, Pete Budd and Tony Baylis. Interestingly on this example Tommy signed the front of the sleeve, the others on the back as shown. A Side: Matrix ONCR523 A-1 HTM 1 O B Side: Matrix ONCR523 B-1 1 M
This next example is a quite unique collector's item - a 12" double-sided white label record. This is a pre-production test-print of the album. The vinyl itself is the same as the one that went into production. Additionally the sleeve is also a 'test' item being an unlaminated and 'unfolded' example. Interestingly the back of the 'sleeve' has yet to have the written information, such as a track listing, added.
A Side: Matrix ONCR523 A-1 HTM 1 C B Side: Matrix ONCR523 B-1 1 C'
An unusual collector's item - a factory sample of this album. Factory samples were taken from the production lines for a quality check A Side: Matrix ONCR523 A-1 HTM 1 M B Side: Matrix ONCR523 B-1 1 M
(Chorus) One for the Bristol City Two for the boys in red Three for the fans down Ashton Gate We'll follow till we're dead me boys Follow till we're dead Down at Ashton Gate there's Alan Dicks And the red red robins too If they win of if they lose We'll follow them through and through I spend a little time on a Saturday I'm ready for anything Spend an hour or two in a bloody gurt queue To get in the ground and sing (Repeat Chorus) They are the best from way down West And we think that they are grand Now they're in the groove, pretty soon they'll prove The finest in the land They come on combine harvesters By bus by train and car And on every ground, you will hear this sound As we shout ooh arr, ooh arr (Repeat Chorus) [Shout] Everybody (Repeat Chorus) [Shout] Everybody now (Repeat Chorus x 2) [Fade out]
Drink up thee cider George, thee bissent going far Drink up thee cider George, bist getting quite a star Your cheeks been getting redder, from Charterhouse to Cheddar And there's still more cider in the jar Drink up thee cider, drink up thee cider For tonight we'll merry be We'll knock the milk churns over, and roll ‘em in the clover The corn's half cut and so be we Drink up thee cider George, and pass us round the mug Drink up thee cider George, the garden's ver nigh dug There's nothing like good cider to make your smile grow wider And there's still more cider in the jug Drink up thee cider, drink up thee cider For tonight we'll merry be We'll knock the milk churns over, and roll ‘em in the clover The corn's half cut and so be we Drink up thee cider, drink up thee cider For tonight we'll merry be We'll knock the milk churns over, and roll ‘em in the clover The corn's half cut and so be we Drink up thee cider, drink up thee cider For tonight we'll merry be We'll knock the milk churns over, and roll ‘em in the clover The corn's half cut and so be we Drink up thee cider, drink up thee cider For tonight we'll merry be We'll knock the milk churns over, and roll ‘em in the clover The corn's half cut and so be we [Fade out] Lyrics Kindly transcribed by M.Pelling & E.Bryant, Verified by Professor Wurzel