"If I Had a Ribbon Bow" is

Fairport Convention Fairport Convention are an English British folk rock, folk rock band, formed in 1967 by guitarists Richard Thompson (musician), Richard Thompson and Simon Nicol, bassist Ashley Hutchings and drummer Shaun Frater (with Frater replaced by Marti ...

's debut single. The song written by Hughie Prince and Lou Singer had been recorded previously by

Maxine Sullivan Maxine Sullivan (May 13, 1911 – April 7, 1987), born Marietta Williams in Homestead, Pennsylvania, United States, was an American jazz vocalist and performer. As a vocalist, Sullivan was active for half a century, from the mid-1930s to just b ...

(a.k.a. Marietta Williams) in 1936,

Odetta Odetta Holmes (December 31, 1930 – December 2, 2008), known as Odetta, was an American singer, often referred to as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement". Her musical repertoire consisted largely of American folk music, blues, jazz, and s ...

(1956),

Carolyn Hester Carolyn Sue Hester (born January 28, 1937) is an American folk singer and songwriter. She was a figure in the early 1960s American folk music revival. Biography Hester's first album was produced by Norman Petty in 1957. She made her second a ...

(1961),

Karen Dalton Karen J. Dalton (born Jean Karen Cariker; July 19, 1937 – March 19, 1993) was an American country blues singer, guitarist, and banjo player. She was associated with the early 1960s Greenwich Village folk music scene, particularly with F ...

, The Simon Sisters and

Mildred Bailey Mildred Bailey (born Mildred Rinker; February 27, 1907 – December 12, 1951) was a Native American jazz singer during the 1930s, known as "The Queen of Swing", "The Rockin' Chair Lady", and "Mrs. Swing". She recorded the songs " For Sentime ...

. Fairport Convention recorded their first album for Track Records in 1968. Their American producer Joe Boyd suggested they release a single. He suggested the old 1930s dance song "If I Had a Ribbon Bow." The band cut the song with singer Judy Dyble playing the harmonium. Her legs were not long enough to reach the pedals/bellows so two other members of the group had to pump them. Tristan Fry, a friend of the group, played the vibes at the beginning and end of the song.

Iain Matthews Iain Matthews (born Ian Matthews MacDonald, 16 June 1946) is an English musician and singer-songwriter. He was an original member of the British folk rock band Fairport Convention from 1967 to 1969 before leaving to form his own band, Matthew ...

, who was then a new member of the group, added a few spoken words. "If I had a Ribbon Bow" was released as a 45 with "If (Stomp)", a track from their first album, as the B-side. It was a minor hit on the BBC.The Accidental Musician: The Story of Judy Dyble

Personnel

* Judy Dyble – vocals,

harmonium The pump organ or reed organ is a type of organ that uses free reeds to generate sound, with air passing over vibrating thin metal strips mounted in a frame. Types include the pressure-based harmonium, the suction reed organ (which employs a va ...

Ian MacDonald Ian MacCormick (known by the pseudonym Ian MacDonald; 3 October 1948 – 20 August 2003) was an English music critic, journalist and author, best known for both '' Revolution in the Head'', his critical history of the Beatles which borrowed te ...

– spoken word * Richard Thompson – electric guitar * Simon Nicol – electric guitar *

Ashley Hutchings Ashley Stephen Hutchings (born 26 January 1945), MBE, sometimes known in early years as "Tyger" Hutchings, is an English bassist, songwriter, arranger, band leader, writer and record producer. He was a founding member of three noteworthy Engli ...

– bass guitar * Martin Lamble – drums with * Tristan Fry – vibes

References

Fairport Convention songs 1968 debut singles Songs with music by Lou Singer 1936 songs Track Records singles Song recordings produced by Joe Boyd Songs written by Hughie Prince {{1960s-single-stub