Several posts over the last few months had news of amazing recordings being unearthed. Not the Alexander Bell ones (though they are amazing), but ones of Molly Drake, mother of amazing English folk singer Nick Drake. Turns out they were released a few years ago - along with "Family Tree", which you can find on Spotify - but they're new to me, and worth some time. If you've heard any stuff from his three LPs, there's plenty for you to recognise in her music and poetry. It was her piano that encouraged him in his first reel-to-reel recordings (such as Poor Mum, below). They're very pretty. What an amazing talent to have had near you, growing up.

Love Isn't a Right [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO9tIVooNa0&w=700] Love isn't a right, it's got to be earned Love isn't a right that's got to be learned Maybe you spent your natural life Loving husband or loving wife Were you loving and was your love returned? Love's nobody's fool and nobody's slave Love won't go to school and learn to behave Ride your love on an easy reign If love can go it comes back again Love will haunt us from cradle to the grave Love's a whisper, love's a shout Love's a flame that could blow out Love's all beauty but make it a duty And love will lie right down and die Love, love is a germ you never resist Love loves the eternal will-o'-the-wisp Follow him through the darkest day Love will glimmer and light your way But grab at him and he flickers away out of sight Love's enchanted don't take it for granted For love isn't a right.

How Wild The Wind Blows [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMv_ZrF8t6U&w=700] The acorn carries an oak tree Sleeping but for a little while Winter lies in the arms of spring As a mother carries her child And never knows How wild the wind blows A thought carries a universe A seed carries a field of grain Love lies in the arms of change As a joy carries a pain And no one knows How wild the wind blows.

Happiness [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd2jvSaEdbo&w=700] Happiness is like a bird with twenty wings Try to catch him as he flies Happiness is like a bird that only sings When his head is in the skies You can try to make him walk beside you You can say the door is open wide If you grab at him, woe betide you I know because I've tried Like a butterfly upon an April morning Very quickly taking fright Happiness is come and gone without a warning Jack-o'-lantern in the night I will follow him across the meadow I will follow him across the hill And if I can catch him I will try to bring you Why yes, happiness If I can catch him I will try to bring you All my love and happiness.

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Poor Mum [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUCPuD_RAZM&w=700]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6yFeKnnTPE] Clifford T. Ward typified the early 70s bedsitter singer-songwriter with a series of albums that were at best delightful and at worst mawkish. After a bit of jobbing with bands while working as a teacher, his debut album appeared on disc jockey John Peel's brave-but-doomed Dandelion Records label in 1972. His second album and his first release for Charisma Records, Home Thoughts, proved to be his finest work and gave him wider recognition. Ward constructed each song as a complete story sometimes with great success.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsJ8iqS-Kio]

The beautiful "Gaye" became a UK Top 10 hit but surprisingly the stronger "Home Thoughts From Abroad" and the infectious and lyrically excellent "Wherewithal" failed to chart. Mantle Pieces and Escalator contained a similar recipe of more harmless tales like the minor hit "Scullery" with affecting lyrics like; "You're my picture by Picasso, you'd brighten up any gallery'.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAQPm6R7qE4]

Ward's refusal to tour and promote his songs did not help endear the singer to his record company, however, and he switched to the Phonogram Records label for 1975"s No More Rock 'N' Roll. In later years although still recording the occasional album and still reluctant to perform live, Ward received kudos as a songwriter with his material being recorded by artists such as Cliff Richard, Art Garfunkel and Justin Hayward.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdjlkK9OS4o]

He was struck down with multiple sclerosis in 1987 and his health rapidly deteriorated. He managed to record 1991's vinyl-only album Laugh It Off, and friends and colleagues pieced together two more albums of new songs, out-takes and demos to give the ailing Ward some financial assistance. He finally succumbed to pneumonia in December 2001.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR_Ircp3kbw]