The Maritime Suite: We Have Fed Our Sea For A Thousand Years

Peter Bellamy's death in 1991 robbed the folk music world of one of its most creative, influential and controversial figures. His presence is still felt today through being championed by people like Jon Boden of Bellowhead fame and the recent revival of Peter's much lauded folk ballad opera, The Transports.

Peter came to public attention in the mid-1960s as a member of the Young Tradition a dynamic, flamboyant trio firmly rooted in traditional folk songs. The group lasted from 1965 to 1969 and left their mark on the folk scene. The group split leaving Peter free to perform as a solo artist.

Peter had a theory that the poet Rudyard Kipling was influenced by folk songs. In 1982 he recorded one of his albums of Kipling songs, 'Keep On Kipling' for Fellside. Two other events were happening that year, National Maritime Year and the Falklands War. Peter put together a cycle of folk, Kipling and other songs on a maritime theme which he called 'The Maritime Suite'. Peter collaborated with Dolly Collins with whom he had worked on previous albums to provide the musical arrangements. With just Dolly's piano and Ursula Pank's 'cello this was the line-up which was featured on BBC Radio 2 performing the suite. Peter toured the show solo using slides to illustrate the performance. This is its first time on general release.