The Transports

"The Transports" was a folk-opera written by Peter Bellamy and released on Free Reed Records in 1977. It is often cited as Bellamy's greatest achievement. It featured many artists from the 1970s English folk revival, including The Watersons, Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, A. L. Lloyd, June Tabor, Cyril Tawney and Dave Swarbrick. The orchestral arrangements were by Dolly Collins.

The story is based on an account of two convicts of the First Fleet, Henry Cabell and Susannah Holmes as given by Norfolk historian Eric Fowler. According to Fowler's research, which begins in 1783, young Henry Cabell receives a sentence of transportation for fourteen years for the burglary of a country house. Another youngster, Susannah Holmes, receives a sentence of transportation for an unrelated theft. They are imprisoned for 3 years (because Britain has recognized the United States and can no longer send convicts there) before being sent to New South Wales. While imprisoned they fall in love and produce a son. Refused permission to marry, Susannah (along with all the women) is to be sent alone in the First Fleet to Australia. When Susannah's son is refused passage at quayside a guard (John Simpson) takes pity on her and travels with the infant to London to appeal to the home secretary, Lord Sydney. Sydney, affected by the incident, orders that Cabell and Holmes should be reunited, married on English soil, and transported together with their son (although they were not married until their arrival in Australia). Cabell eventually becomes a constable in the new colony and enjoys commercial success.

The Transports was re-released by Free Reed on the occasion of its 25th anniversary with the original recordings and also re-recordings of many tracks by modern-day folk artists.

Cast (original release)

*Henry Cabell: Mike Waterson
*Susannah Holmes: Norma Waterson
*The Turnkey: Martin Carthy
*The Father: Nic Jones
*The Mother: June Tabor
*Abe Carman: A.L. Lloyd
*The Shantyman: Cyril Tawney
*The Convict: Martin Winsor
*The Coachman: Vic Legg
*The Transport: The Watersons
*Street Singer: Peter Bellamy

Track listing (original release)

# Overture (5:39)
# Ballad of Henry & Susannah, Pt. 1 (1:02)
# Us Poor Fellows (5:14)
# Robber's Song (2:50)
# Ballad of Henry & Susannah, Pt. 2 (2:16)
# Leaves in the Woodland (4:52)
# Ballad of Henry & Susannah, Pt. 3 (2:34)
# I Once Lived in Service (4:50)
# Norwich Gaol (4:45)
# Sweet Loving Friendship (3:43)
# Ballad of Henry & Susannah, Pt. 4 (2:57)
# Black and Bitter Night (7:10)
# Humane Turnkey (1) (1:49)
# Plymouth Mail (4:25)
# Humane Turnkey (2) (1:07)
# Green Fields of England (4:27)
# Roll Down (2:20)
# Still and Silent Ocean (5:32)
# Ballad of Henry & Susannah, Pt. 5 (4:24)
# Convict's Wedding (3:23)

Live performances

Besides the two recorded versions, there have been several concert performances of the opera [http://www.thetransports.com/live.php see here for notes on live performances] :
*Norfolk Castle on February 23, 1978
*Kempton Park Race Course on June 10, 1978
*Chester Folk Club and the Herga Folk Club in Loughborough, 1980
*Bracknell Festival, July 12, 1981
*York University, 1983
*Queen Elizabeth Hall, London (South Bank Summer Folk Festival), 1983
*Norwich Folk Club, 1984
*Norwich School, 1985
*Portsmouth Festival, 1987
*Whitby Festival, 1992

External links

* [http://www.bens.connectfree.co.uk/pb/TRANSP.HTM historical notes and review]
* [http://www.thetransports.com/the-tale.php notes on the making of The Transports]
* [http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/album-previews/album-peter-bellamy-the-transports-free-reed-827297.html Review by The Independent's Andy Gill]