Who's Your Sire? (2004)

The Belles of Bedlam
- Who's Your Sire?
  - Get Up Jack John, Lie Down Time: 2:17
  - Belles of Bedlam Time: 2:08
  - German Clockwinder Time: 2:46
  - Three Drunken Maidens Time: 1:29
  - Lancashire Lads Time: 2:51
  - Prickle Holly Bush Time: 1:40
  - Black Velvet Band Time: 3:56
  - Hedger & Ditcher Time: 1:51
  - All Among the Barley Time: 1:28
  - Flowing Bowl Time: 3:05
  - Pirate's Wife Time: 4:03
  - Strike the Belle Time: 1:58
  - Roll Me Over Time: 3:36
  - Cock & Bulls Time: 3:04
  - Extra Track One Time: 1:23
  - Extra Track Two Time: 1:14

At fast! Four years after their creation, the Belles of Bedlam have a CD to their credit. It has been a longstanding goal for the group, a life dream for many, and a battle every step of the way.

It started out simply enough. They said they wanted a girls singing group, one with naughty songs and fun banter. Amethyst Mariani stepped to the fore, assembled a group of girls, and in August of 2000 the Belles of Bedlam were born. We weren't much of anything then (some would argue that we aren't much of anything now!}, but our will and our aspirations were great indeed.

Four years later, the Belles have grown and matured into something of which we're all quite proud... even if some of us won't let our parents see the show...

In September of 2003, the Belles suffered their greatest blow. It was the middle of the run of northern faire when we lost our Amethyst - our director, our mentor, our friend, our sister - to the ravages of a very rare blood disease.

Continuing has been very hard work, at times even a struggle. But if there has been one great lesson that we have discovered on this journey, it is that beauty never dies, it simply takes another form.

This CD is dedicated to you, dearest Amethyst... Your voice may be silent, but your song lives on.

Special Thanks...to Elliot Dennis, whom we love beyond measure; to Rose Mariani, who brought incredible light and beauty into this world in the form of a voluptuous Italian spitfire; to Stu "Lungy" Venabie, Jerry "Mudge" Wheeler, Johnny "No Nickname" Breen, Steven "Hymen" Schwadron, Phil "Schmeg" Schwadron, Jon "Snowball" Enge and all of our beloved Poxy Boggards; to Heather Greene (what a hottie!), Jenny Lyn "Meg" Wright and all of the Merry Wives for their continued affection, inspiration and encouragement; to Charlie "Oliie" Essers, whose magic made this little disc the amazing thing it has become; to Elana Essers, for allowing us to completely monopolize her husband for the many weekends it took to get this done; to Gerald Zepeda, Riki Kipple, Susan Scot-Fry, Molly Drew, and all those who have given us a chance; to Sarah Hughes, Sandra Cadell, John Bachetler, and a multitude of others who have helped us along the way; to "Mama Linda" Underhill for inspiring so many of us to sing in the first place; to Frieda "Mama Zini" Paras-Jones, our patron, our tireless supporter, and always our friend; to Siren Song, Jolly Beggar,Country Matters, Hard Times and all who have gone before and paved the way; to each of the Belles who have come and gone, each one leaving her impression on the group; to all of our friends and family for their love, support, and patience; and to every last one of our fans, without whom we would be nothing at ail. You guys rock! Er-You FOLK! That's right, folk you all! Now bugger off.

Get Up Jack John, Lie Down (2:39) - Traditional. Lyrics: Amethyst Mariani, Arrangement: Wes Wright & Stu Venable, Music: Wes Wright

Belles of Bedlam (2:27) - Traditional Lyrics: Amethyst Mariani, Arrangement: Wes Wright & Stu Venable, Music: Wes Wright

German Clockwinder (3:16) - Traditional. Arrangement: Wes Wright & Stu Venable, Music: Wes Wright

Three Drunken Maidens (1:38) - Traditional. Arrangement: the Belles of Bedlam, Music: Wes Wright

Lancashire Lads (3:23) - Traditional. Arrangement: Wes Wright, Music: Wes Wright

Prickle Holly Bush (1:52) - Traditional. Arrangement: Belles Of Bedlam, Music: Wes Wright

Black Velvet Band (4:46) - Traditional. Lyrics: Ruth E Daughters, Arrangement: The Belles of Bedlam and The Poxy Boggards, Music: Wes Wright

Hedger & Ditcher (2:06) - Traditional. Lyrics: Belles of Bedlam, Arrangement: Wes Wright, Music: Wes Wright

All Among the Barley (1:37) - Traditional. Arrangement: Belles of Bedlam Music: Wes Wright

Flowing Bowl (3:40) - Traditional. Arrangement: the Belles of Bedlam, Music: Wes Wright

Pirate's Wife (4:53) - Traditional. Lyrics: Amethyst Mariani, Arrangement: Wes Wright & Stu Venable, Music: Wes Wright

Strike the Belle (2:39) - Traditional. Lyrics: Amethyst Mariani & Ruth E Daughters, with Sandi Graham & Sandra Cadell, Arrangement: Wes Wright & the Belles of Bedlam, Music: Wes Wright

Roll Me Over (4:20) - Traditional. Lyrics: The Belles of Bedlam, Arrangement: Wes Wright Music: Wes Wright

Cock & Bulls (3:39) - Traditional. Lyrics: Amethyst Mariani, Arrangement: Wes Wright, Music: Stu Venable

The Belles of Bedlam Are:

Diana "Mathilda" Bacheller
Catherine Mary Scarlett "Mirabelle" Campbell
Ruth E. "Maggie" Daughters
Anita "Minerva" de Roover
Sandi "Mary" Graham
Heather "Marissa" Housman
Kimi "Melanie" Hughes
Rhiannon "Mariah" Mariani
Emily "Mabel" Wild
Wes "Nathaniel Bunghote" Wright

Musicians & Additional Vocals:

John Bacheller: Guitar
John Breen: Bones, Penny Whistle, Bodhran
Sandi Graham: Bodhran
Heather Greene: Recorder, Additional Vocals
Phil Schwadron: Tamborine
Steven Schwadron: Mandolin, Bass Guitar
Stu Venabie: Additional Vocals, Bouzouki
Jerry Wheeler: Sackbut, Additional Vocals
Jenny Lyn Wright: Vocals
Wes Wright: Guitar, Bodhran, Mandolin, Percussion

Produced by: Wesley Wright & Stu Venabie

Recording Engineer: Stu Venabie & Heather Greene

Mixing Engineer: Charlie Essers, August - October 2004

Recorded: May - July 2004 at Angry Folk Studio, La Mirada California

Cover & Liner Notes Designed by: Jon Enge

Liner Notes Content: Ruth E Daughters with Wesley Wright