How do,

As a lot of you may know, there is a Mediaeval Baebes album called 'The Best of..' which contains 9 'Salva Nos' tracks and 11 'Worldes Blysse' tracks.

I remember hearing that the Baebes didn't endorse this album, and after reading a few reviews, come to the conclusion that is was nowt but a cheap knock off, and never thought of it again.

However, I happened across a copy in Gloucester yesterday and having perused it, I noticed that it is infact an official CD released from their original record company Virgin. I'm assuming that as it was released in 1999, that it was after the Baebes had left the company.

So why do the Baebes not associate themselves with the release, did something turn sour between the Baebes and Virgin?

I beleive, and I may be wrong that, the Baebes were tied into a long contract with Virgin that they could not get out of. This contract saw Virgin making most of the money because they were there first record label to sign and distribute a Baebes album. Unfortunatley this gave Virgin license to distribute and sell the first few Baebes albums and also a mixture of them in a 'Best of Baebes' album. But thank god that is over and now the Baebes can make money without Virgin because of there strong fan base.
I have 'the best of' also and still enjoy it although it is not endorsed by the Baebes. I hope that clears things up for you dear sprite. Si.

If there was an official 'Best of' album. I would choose these 17 songs.

1. Salva Nos
2. Miri it is
3. Kinderley
4. Erthe upon Erthe
5. Verbum Caro
6. Pearl
7. Love Me Broughte
8. Ecce Mundi Gaudium
9. Ah Simon Moine
!0. Isabella
11. Return of the Birds
12. L'Amour De Moi
13. Now Welcome Summer
14. The Coventry Carol
15. Miseria Nomine
16. The Sour Grove
17. Besse Bunting

I hope that you agree with some of my selections. I'd love to read some of yours!!!! Si.

I've been trying to create one of my own "best ofs" for quite some time now....as most songs that the Baebes have recorded are quite short I can easily fit 20+ songs on a 80min cd

Still, it has never really taken off. My quirk with creating best of collections is that I need to fit songs together (think last sound of a song needs to 'connect' to the first sounds of the next song) so it'll take quite some time before I do.

There are several songs I'd wish to include though...too many to list probably ! LOL

Love,
Phantas

Start with Adam Lay Iboundedn and Salva Nos. It's near the same melody.

It seems that my 'best of album' would have to be a double or even triple album because there is so much excellence that I hadn't originally included.

Well obviously there was more because "The Snake" wasn't on your list, nor was "So Spricht das Leben".

I made my "best of" some time ago, trouble is I change my mind every day about what I want on it. It will always have Beatrice and E Volentieri though, how beautiful are those? One song not on there which I now regret is This world fareth as a fantasye, having listened to it 743 times andlikedit, on the 744th hearing for no obvious reason it suddenly seemed unbearably gorgeous, does that happen to anybody else? The good thing is that once a song gets into the "cant live without" category it never falls out of it. Maybe my brain is made of toffee after all as my mum always said.
Is that a freudian typo re: no.9 on your list Simon, or just wishful thinking, I get the impression that you aren't actually a monk!

I can never be described as a monk. I'm to hormonal for that!

Lump everything together with the exception of that sodding awful "Blow Northern Wind"!

Dear Pat, I like Blow Northern Wind although it is a little long. I can't stand 'How Death Comes', maybe because I've seen it performed at every gig that I've ever been to. Funny how tastes differ.

Yep, tastes certainly do differ which cannot be but a good thing. I think I shall have a stab at persuading somebody on Radio Two to play "The Sour Grove" complete with an explanation of the lyrics..........

Maybe we should start a thread of least favourite tracks...... personally I'm not a big fan of There is no Rose of Swyth Vertu *runs off to hide*

Umlahiiiiii anyone?. A bit unfair really as it is definitely a case of least favourite rather than most disliked.
Pat, I adore Northern Wind, I love those trance like songs that build very gradually, tho as I said elsewhere it can sometimes take several hundred listens to "click" You're just not trying hard enough!
I wasn't overly keen on "There is no rose" either til I heard the girls perform it in Ely Cathedral last year under a giant statue of the Virgin which made it hit home and, faithful soul that I am, I've loved it ever since.

Dear Lady Sparkles, I think if we had a thread of least liked songs, pretty soon it would look exactly the same as a Baebes 'Best of album'. We all love different things and dislike certain things A paradoxical thought. Si.