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Swaddling Songs
Studio album by
Mellow Candle
ReleasedApril 1972 (1972-04)
RecordedDecember 1971 (1971-12)
Genre
Length42:57
LabelDeram Records
ProducerDavid Hitchcock
Singles from Swaddling Songs
  1. "Feeling High"
    Released: 1968
  2. "Dan The Wing"
    Released: 1972
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllmusicStarStarStarStar[2]

Swaddling Songs is the only studio album by Irish progressive folk rock band Mellow Candle, originally released in 1972 by Deram Records.

Commercially unsuccessful at the time of release,[3] Swaddling Songs has since received critical acclaim[4][5] and original vinyl copies are highly collectable.[6][7][8] It has been re-released multiple times on various labels since 1989, including a 50th anniversary release by Deram in 2023.[9]

In 2022 the album's 50th anniversary was marked by the RTE radio documentary Swaddling Songs at 50.[3]

Swaddling Songs is notable for its multi-layered vocal harmonies and complex arrangements. It has become regarded a classic of the progressive folk genre.

A collection of demos and sessions for the album recorded 1969–1971 was released in 1996 as The Virgin Prophet.

Track listing

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All tracks written by Clodagh Simonds except where noted.

  1. "Heaven Heath" (Alison Williams) – 3:00
  2. "Sheep Season" (Simonds, A. Williams, David Williams) – 5:01
  3. "Silversong" – 4:26
  4. "The Poet and the Witch" – 2:51
  5. "Messenger Birds" (A. Williams) – 3:38
  6. "Dan the Wing" – 2:45
  7. "Reverend Sisters" – 4:21
  8. "Break Your Token" – 2:27
  9. "Buy or Beware" (D. Williams) – 3:04
  10. "Vile Excesses" (D. Williams, William Murray) – 3:14
  11. "Lonely Man" – 4:30
  12. "Boulders on My Grave" – 3:40

Bonus tracks

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The CD re-issue includes the following bonus tracks, originally released as a single in 1968:

  1. "Feeling High" (Simonds) – 2:23
  2. "Tea with the Sun" (Simonds) – 3:18

Singles

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Personnel

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Mellow Candle

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Production

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  • David Hitchcock – producer
  • Derek Varnals – engineer
  • Kevin Fuller – engineer
  • Recorded at Tollington Park Studios

Release history

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Source for this section:[14]

  • 1972 UK, Deram SDL 7
  • 1989 Japan, Decca: Edison European Rock Series ERC-29223/DCI 23190
  • 1989 US, Zen ZN-001
  • 1993 South Korea, Si-Wan SRML 0021
  • 1994 UK, See For Miles SEECD 404
  • 1994 Japan, Decca: British Rock Masterpiece POCD-1903
  • 2000 Japan, Decca: British Rock Legend/Rock Fantasy Series UICY-9033
  • 2003 Australia, Progressive Line PL 545
  • 2004 UK, Acme ADCD1040
  • 2005 South Korea, Universal SRML 0021
  • 2007 Liechtenstein, Tapestry TPT 206
  • 2008 Japan, Decca: Rock Legend Series UICY-93825
  • 2010 Japan, Deram: My Generation My Music UICY-20146
  • 2011 UK, Rise Above Records (boxed set) RARLP007
  • 2020 UK, Deram (Record Store Day white vinyl) 085447–0
  • 2021 UK, Esoteric ECLEC2044
  • 2023 Europe, Deram 487 755–7, 00602448775573

References

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  1. ^ Guardian Staff (20 November 2007). "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die: Artists beginning with M (part 1)". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 November 2025. A touchstone of British folk-rock, this Irish group's sole album [Swaddling Songs] is deeply atmospheric...
  2. ^ a b Pruett, John. Mellow Candle - Swaddling Songs (1972) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Funge, Cathal (13 June 2022). "The Lyric Feature: Swaddling Songs at 50 - the story of an Irish acid folk classic". RTE. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  4. ^ Young, Rob (September 2023). "Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs (reissue, 1972)". Uncut: 38–41.
  5. ^ Lynch, Declan (2 February 2023). "Mellow Candle lighting up the airwaves again: Radio". Sunday Independent. p. 19. ProQuest 2775350188. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs". Discogs. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  7. ^ Hammond, Derek (8 May 2008). "Swaddling Songs | Mellow Candle".
  8. ^ Wheeler, Lisa (29 April 2005). "Positive Feedback: Calm, Cool and Collected - Bidder Pays $2,650 for Mellow Candle". Goldmine. 31 (9): 9. ProQuest 1501482.
  9. ^ "Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs". Discogs. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Mellow Candle – Feeling High / Tea With The Sun". Discogs. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Various – Sunday Sunshine (The World Of SNB Records)". Discogs. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Mellow Candle – Dan The Wing / Silversong". Discogs. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  13. ^ "All About Eve – Farewell Mr. Sorrow". Discogs. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs". Discogs. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
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