Brenda's Discography
This is a complete list of the 34 recordings made by or of Brenda, throughout a musical career spanning 30 years, and since. They are listed in descending order, from the most recent. (Not all will link up yet, as a few albums have still to be loaded)
Clicking on the individual album titles links directly to the Bandcamp shop page for that album. Almost every track has lyrics available on the page.
34. Brenda's Cornwall - (downloads only)
Nineteen previously unheard tracks - all about Cornwall
This collection could more properly be called 'Brenda and Richard's Cornwall', as the majority of tracks are written by Richard Gendall. These are recovered recordings taken from her practice tapes, amateur concert recordings and guitarists' stock tapes - in other words: not all of studio quality. They are, however, unique. None have been released before, and I am particularly keen that these unknown creations should be preserved, for enjoyment, and for posterity, and hopefully for others to learn and enjoy performing. The main impetus is to ensure that as many of Richard Gendall's songs should be made available as possible, and even in this imperfect rendering, will enable others to at least hear the tunes - several of which I've already fallen in love with. Have a listen and see what you think.
33. Brenda Yn Kernewek - 2 CDs
31 tracks in the Cornish language
Released in July 2021, 'Brenda Yn Kernewek' is the first and only songbook of Brenda, singing 31 songs written (or transcribed) for her by Cornish Bard Richard Gendall in the 1970s and 80s. The book contains the music and the lyrics for each song - in Richard's original Cornish, in newly-translated SWF (Standard Written Form) and in English. The book is no longer available, but the CDs can bought as a double album. There are 2 extra, previously unheard, songs contributed by guest artists: Hilary Coleman and Neil Davy performing 'Hedhough E Genough', and the remarkable multi-lingual Welsh performer Gwenno Saunders performing 'Pryas Awen' (courtesy of Heavenly Recordings). The CDs are available from the shop at £18 for the two, including FREE UK shipping - the book is no longer available., but both English and Cornish lyrics are on the Bandcamp shop site.
14 nostalgic, easy-listening tracks from the golden years of the 1930s - 1960s
‘Brenda Sings Ballads’ – a wonderful selection of easy-listening tracks that Brenda – and her mum! – loved to sing, with songs from the shows, from old movies, and from popular recording artists from the 1930s to the 1960s. A different Brenda than you may be used to – no folk songs here, and rarely, nothing from her beloved Cornwall. Just relaxed nostalgic tunes and romantic ballads to take the chill off the cold winter evenings…Most of these songs have been saved from old audio cassettes of concerts or demo tapes recorded 40-50 years ago on domestic equipment, and not in studio conditions, hence we did not have the luxury of multi-tracked studio recordings to adjust the balances between voice and instrument – so I am particularly grateful to Mic McCreadie of Whole-in-One Productions for his skill and tenacity in bringing these old tapes up to a sufficient quality to make for a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience.
Compilation of well-loved seasonal tracks & newly discovered old ones
Get into the seasonal mood with some well-loved tracks of Brenda Wootton together with some never-before-published Christmassy recordings from Pipers Folk Club in the late 1970s.
Brenda had always wanted to produce a Christmas album, but sadly, in later years, her declining health made it impossible. This compilation of previously published tracks, together with additional archive material recently discovered on old private recordings, we hope will give you a flavour of Brenda’s enjoyment of music at Christmas, one of her favourite times of the year. These are vintage recordings, many available for the first time on CD, and Mic McCreadie has done sterling work to bring them up to suitable quality.
16 nostalgic memory hits from the early days of Pipers Folk Club
What you’re listening to here – although an amalgamation of recordings taken over several nights – is a performance by Brenda and John the Fish at a typical Pipers club night at St Buryan Village Hall. Brenda is new to the business, and still to a certain extent learning her trade – but even at this stage the purity and range of her voice is evident. And in the finale – which includes the two best-loved closing numbers over many years at the club – you can hear Henry Bartlett blowing on his jug, Mick Bennett – Whispering Mick – on kazoo, washboard, swannee whistle and skulls, Ralph McTell on guitar, and everyone else joining in, all singing with great gusto and possibly little finesse – but all loving it. You can hear them, and the audience, loving it. That’s what Pipers was all about.
29. All of Me CD (order direct from Knight Designs)
Not one of ours, but a beautiful recording of Brenda in a French concert
Brenda's recording engineer, John Knight, at Brenda's request, recorded her final concert during a week-long stint at the Bobino Theatre in Paris in 1984. It was also the final night of the theatre, famous as the original home of the iconic Parisian burlesque performer, Josephine Baker, in the 1920s. Brenda was accompanied by Camborne Town Band, a jazz combo, and her guitarist Chris Newman - and the concert was a triumph. The tapes were never used, and it was many years before John discovered them in his attic, and lovingly restored the tracks.
"The discovery of the master tapes of this concert, recorded in 1984, has provided the material for the first new album by Brenda in fifteen years (it was released in 2010) and marks a significant time when she was at the peak of her musical career. It's unique, as it was very rare for Brenda to be recorded before a live audience - and confirms that as a singer from Cornwall she has no parallel. This album is a rare combination of material about Cornwall, romantic ballads, jazz and blues, but mostly it's for anyone who loves Cornwall. It's nostalgic to those who remember Brenda singing in local folk clubs and, internationally, at festivals and concerts across the world, and is relevant today to a new audience, as Brenda's voice and repertoire distinctively capture the essence of her 'country'." (Taken from John Knight's website)
28. The Voice of Cornwall 1 & 2 (by Keltia Music)
2 rogue CDs with tracks copied directly from Brenda's Sentinel albums
The Voice of Cornwall volumes 1 and 2 were released by Keltia Music of Quimper in Brittany in 1996, possibly using master tapes owned by Bob Brimley of Brio Music in St Just, Cornwall, after his move to Brittany. It consists of a compilation of tracks from SENS1056, SENS1006, and SENS1021. The CD contained a bilingual booklet - printed on one side, in French with the title 'La Grande Cornouaillaise, and on the other in English with the title 'The Voice of Cornwall'. Not available from us.
27. Berceuses du Monde Entier LP
A collection of lullabies from world music, by a variety of performers
Following on from the Berceuses Celtes des Iles Britanniques, Le Chante du Monde made a full LP of Lullabies of the World, featuring artists from different countries. Three of Brenda's four Celtic lullabies from the British Isles were reprised, and there were also contributions from Colette Magny, Naomi Moody, Talila, and Marina Vlady - singing songs in various different languages. Brenda's guitarist was David King.
The album went through several iterations over a number of years, and can be found with at least 3 different covers, and was also sold as a cassette and a CD. The main one illustrated here has an amazingly colourful pop-up centre gatefold.
Brenda's last studio-recorded LP
'Seagull' was the last record Brenda recorded - and it was never properly released, as Brenda had a stroke before the final mixing was complete. All the tracks were laid down, however, in John Knight's recording studio on the Lizard - but as Brenda was not able to do the full promotion tours that would have been the normal follow-on, her French agent just rushed out the album in its almost finished state. Brenda had planned for it to be named Sailing Gulls, and always went to great trouble to include lyrics, and to design the sleeve to ensure all musicians, photographers, engineers etc were acknowledged. Sadly none of that happened, and the album, produced by French label Vogue, was not properly promoted. However, a few rare copies of the album (lacking all detailed information) and also a CD (with fully annotated insert) can be found, and the tracks are still of sufficiently good quality; I have re-used some on CDs produced subsequently.
25. So Long Audio Cassette 1988?
A 'reunion' charity concert with Brenda and John the Fish
A lovely audio cassette, recorded at a special concert staged to raise funds for the SIDS Charity (Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths - subsequently renamed The Lullaby Trust), and held at the Penventon Hotel, Redruth in the late 1980s. In 1983, John the Fish and his wife Carrie sadly lost their son Merrick John at the age of 4 months in a 'cot death'. Happily they were later to have two beautiful daughters, Hannah and Tabitha, both of whom were present at the Penventon for this memorable reunion concert with Brenda and Fish. The material performed represented a real 'blast from the past' for those who remember the early years of the Count House and Pipers Folk Club. Carrie became a key worker for SIDS and has worked tirelessly for the charity ever since, until her retirement in recent years. The cassette was produced by Chris Blount of Chough Tapes and Radio Cornwall fame. (The quality on these tracks is not brilliant, so these are free to download)
24. Everybody Knows (Maxi Single 45rpm)
A collaboration in songwriting between Brenda and celebrated French composer, Francis Lai
'Everybody Knows' was an unusual venture for Brenda - a Maxi Single, just two 45 rpm tracks on an LP sized album. It was produced by Editions23 in France in 1987 as a special promotion for a global charity initiative called Walk Across the World - the title of the track on Side 2. This song, amazingly, hit the number 1 slot in the Japanese pop charts for weeks! She also sang 'Walk Across the World' at the London launch of the charity event at the World Travel Fair in Olympia, in front of Princess Diana, to whom she was introduced on stage - but apparently in 1985, two years before the date on the record. A mystery! The music for both tracks was written by France's well-known and much-respected composer Francis Lai, but unusually again, the lyrics for the track on Side 1, 'Everybody Knows', were written by Brenda herself - and a fine job she made of it. It's a lovely track, and worth getting for that alone.
A compilation album made from earlier tracks recorded by Sentinel.
Tamar is a compilation album with selected tracks from earlier LPs, produced in 1986 in France by DiskAZ, with producer John Knight from the Lizard (who also took the back sleeve photo). Featured musicians and accompanists are Chris Newman, Dave Penhale, the Ray Roberts Jazz Trio and Four Lanes Male Voice Choir.
A stylish album weighted towards blues and jazz numbers.
'B' Comme Brenda is one of my personal favourites of all Brenda's recordings, I think. Recorded in John Knight's studio on the Lizard, it was produced by DiskAZ in France in 1985, with musicians Chris Newman, John Knight, the Ray Roberts Trio and Camborne Town Band - amongst others; one unusual credit is for The Woottontots, which was a multi-track recording of Brenda, harmonising with herself five times . The title, in French, means '"B" as in Brenda' - as all the tracks have a French themed alternate title beginning with B - Burlesque, Ballade, Boeuf, etc... All the lyrics are printed on the inner sleeve in both English and French; the cover photos were taken by John Knight.
21. Cornish Australian 45rpm Single
Two cheery songs for Cornish friends in South Australia
A great single produced by Brenda for her trip to the Kernewek Lowender Festival and the Cornish communities in South Australia, in 1985. Richard Gendall wrote both tracks at Brenda's request, which focus on the links between the Cornish and their Australian cousins - descendants of those who went to Oz for the mining over 100 years ago and never came back. A harsh life... The tracks are 'Cornish Australian - Just Like Me', (alternatively titled 'The Elm & the Eucalyptus') and 'Moonta, Wallaroo Kadina' - the three towns in the Cornish Triangle on the Yorke Peninsula. Brenda is accompanied by the Perran Harmony Singers and the children of Ludgvan School near Penzance in Cornwall, as well as guitarist Chris Newman. The lyrics are printed on the back, and there is an insert with more information about the songs, the places and the people.
A great selection from Brenda's earlier Sentinel albums
Featuring Robert Bartlett and Richard Gendall, 'Way Down to Lamorna' was a compilation of favourite tracks from Brenda's Cornish Sentinel albums. Produced in 1984, the album includes tracks from SENS 1006, 1016, 1021, 1031 & 1036. This can be found as an audio cassette and CD by New Sentinel.
19. Deux Noels Cornouaillais (Two Cornish Carols) 45 rpm
Two classic Christmas carols sung by Cornishman everywhere
A nostalgic single produced by RCA France for the Christmas market in 1983 - Brenda is accompanied by Mousehole Male Voice Choir and Camborne Town Band. Two beautiful old Cornish carols, one a much-loved Thomas Merritt, the other traditional. Brenda was accompanied by Camborne Town Band and Mousehole Male Voice Choir. This is a 45rpm single with a paper cover - the cover photo, with Brenda and my sons Davy and Jan, taken in the Engine Inn at Nancledra near Penzance.. was taken in mid summer with a hastily erected Christmas tree and a blazing fire - hence the reason my boys are looking a bit pink!
A really lovely mix of Brenda's repertoire at the peak of her career
My Land was produced by RCA Germany in 1983, with a lovely selection of tracks - lots of bluesy numbers, some gentle and lyrical, and the best version of Summertime ever. It is usually seen as an LP, and was also available as a cassette. It features a host of musicians including guitarist Chris Newman, the Phil King Trio, Rog & Gill Butler, John Knight (who produced one of the most recent CDs of Brenda at Bobino in 2010) and Treviscoe Male Voice Choir. The cover photo was taken in Penzance's Morrab Gardens.
Some beautiful tracks on this album that don't appear elsewhere...
Lyonesse, named for Cornwall's legendary lost land between Lands End and the Isles of Scilly, was the first album produced in France by RCA - it has a wonderfully eclectic mix of material, with songs by Richard Gendall, blues numbers, popular standards and a Beatles number. The cover photo is taken at Land's End in Cornwall. The lyrics are printed on a separate sheet inside the cover.
16. Berceuses Celtes des Iles Britanniques 45 rpm EP
Four beautful Celtic lullabies
A special edition 45 rpm EP, produced by Le Chante du Monde in Paris in July 1981. The EP has 2 lullabies on each side, each one taken from a different Celtic country, including Cornwall, Wales, Isle of Man, and Scotland. The guitarist was David King, and the EP was recorded at John Knight's Studio at Coverack in Cornwall.
The EP has a spectacular cover, opening to reveal a 3D pop-up card scene of a mermaid, holding a heart, and resting on a large seashell on the crest of a wave. A small cherub holds up the shell, and 2 seals and a whale rise up in the foreground. This 'tableau en relief' was designed by Rozier-Gauldriault.
The sea and fishing are so important to the Cornish - all aspects are covered here.
So many of the songs written for Brenda by Richard Gendall were about boats, the sea and fishing, and the fishing industry is such an important one in Cornwall, that Brenda decided to produce an album exclusively with 'Cornish Songs of the Sea'. By this time she had sung with many Cornish choirs and bands, and her great friends in Four Lanes Male Voice Choir feature on this album, together with Richard Gendall and Dave Penhale. The cover photo is Newlyn artist, Stanhope Forbes' famous painting, 'Fish Sale on a Cornish Beach'; the lyrics are on the back. cover.
14. La Grande Cornouaillaise LP
A flavour of France, for her fans over the sea.
La Grande Cornouaillaise was recorded by Brenda for the French market in 1980, as her career on the continent was going stellar. It was produced by Burlington Records in Hitchin in Hertfordshire under their Plant Life label - the first of three Brenda albums they released that year. The guitarist was Dave Penhale - still playing and living in Cornwall. The cover photograph was taken on the roof of the Palais de Congress in Paris; the lyrics are on the back cover.
A fabulous album, with some classic Brenda tracks.
Boy Jan... Cornishman, one of Brenda's best albums, in my view. Produced by Burlington Records of Hitchin in Hertfordshire in 1980, with guitarist Dave Penhale and the legendary songwriter Richard Gendall (10 of the 13 songs on the album were written by Richard). The lyrics are on the back of the cover, but you'll need a magnifying glass! The front cover has a photo for every track in a checkerboard: I am bottom left, and my son Davy is bottom right!
Brenda's songwriter friends provided her with some fabulous material.
Brenda's first album with guitarist Dave Penhale, and the first with Transatlantic, Carillon came out in 1979. Produced by Nigel Pegrum for Plant Life Productions, all the songs were written by friends of Brenda's, including Richard Gendall, Ewen Carruthers, John Bidwell and Mike Silver. The cover photo was taken at Newlyn Harbour, and the back cover shot was taken in the 'parlour' of Willy Warren's pub, The Radjel, at Pendeen - Willie is pictured in a photo on the wall behind Brenda. (A promo single is sometimes seen, featuring the tracks 'Apple Wine' and 'Silver Net' - Transatlantic BIG568).
Brenda worked with three different schools on this, and the children loved it.
At the request of Irene Morris, wife of recording engineer Job Morris of Sentinel Records, Brenda recorded an album with groups of children from three different schools: Alverton, Ludgvan and St Mary's in Penzance. Some of the tracks were traditional, some were written by Richard Gendall, two are Charles Causley poems adapted for music by Alex Atterson, and one, Thunder & Lightning, was composed by Brenda - the guitarist was Al Fenn.
Focusing on many of Cornwall's traditional songs, and a Christmas favourite in Mousehole.
Starry Gazey Pie is the traditional dish served in Mousehole on Tom Bawcock's Eve, December 23rd. Most of the songs on this album by Sentinel Records are Cornish traditional, and a few by Richard Gendall - but all are about Cornwall. Brenda sings with Robert Bartlett as the duo 'Crowdy Crawn'. The cover picture is an old sepia photograph of Vine Cottages in Trewarveneth Street in Newlyn, where Brenda lived as a little girl... she remembered the vine growing outside her bedroom window. The cottage was the former home of one of artist Stanhope Forbes' favourite models, the fisherman, Henry Kitchen, who can be seen standing outside in this photo.
A German production of Brenda and Robert Bartlett as the duo Crowdy Crawn.
Recorded by Stockfisch Records in Germany, this album reflects Brenda and Robert's increasing popularity on the continent - major European tours took place several times a year, around France, Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands. .
8. Festival Pop Celtic - Kertalg 74 LP
A marvellous festival line-up, but a bad aftertaste - 2...
Brenda and Robert Bartlett's first big gig in Brittany - unpaid, as it turned out. The final festival at the Chateau Kertalg in Moelan sur Mer in Brittany, with a phenomenal line-up - but once again, a pirated album. Brenda has just the one song on here: 'A Good Man is Hard to Find'. The cover art was done by Katell Le Goarnig, sister to Gwenn, the organiser - the central figure in front of the bonfire is supposed to represent Brenda, I believe.
7. Festival Pop Celtic - Kertalg 73 LP
A marvellous festival line-up, but a bad aftertaste...
Brenda and stand-in guitarist Dik Cadbury, of Decameron fame, have four tracks on this - a pirated album, essentially - produced from a Folk Festival held at the Chateau Kertalg in Brittany, for which Brenda and Dik were not consulted and never paid. Other artists featured included Robin & Barry Dransfield, Planxty, Happy Traum, Rene Wermeer from Brittany, and many others. First held in 1972, for 3 years only.
Some beautiful tracks, but the vinyl has not aged well...
Pamplemousse is French for grapefruit, and Brenda was - ill-advisedly - encouraged to wear a voluminous bright yellow dress for the cover, which - although, as with all her dresses, she made it herself - did her no favours. It was produced in Brittany under the aegis of Gwenn Le Goarnig, Brenda's first French agent, under her Kertalg logo, and was produced by Barclay. Gwenne also released this with a different, bold, red and white cover, probably aimed at the French market.
Brenda and Rob Bartlett's voices work so well together...
Brenda's first album as a professional singer was produced in 1974, with guitarist Robert Bartlett. Performing as a duo, they took their stage name from Brenda's previous album with Richard Gendall, Crowdy Crawn, and began with a tour of France. The lyrics are printed on the inner sleeve.
Brenda's first Cornish language album, with Richard Gendall
Encouraged by Irene Morris, wife of Sentinel record owner Job, Brenda and her mentor, Cornish language expert Richard Gendall, recorded an album exploring the Cornish language. Richard went on to write over 400 songs for Brenda, many in Kernewek - which he later changed to 'Cornoack'. The lyrics in both Cornish and English are on the liner inside. Crowdy Crawn is taken from the Cornish 'croder croghan', a skin sieve that was hung by the fire and held small treasures or keepsakes. Confusingly, it was later adopted by Brenda and guitarist Robert Bartlett as their stage name.
A nostalgia-fest for fans of Brenda and Fish at Pipers Folk Club in the 1960s
The first of Brenda's Sentinel Records albums... Brenda was very particular about the photo on the front... the kitchen belonged to Mrs Hitchens of Trewarveneth Street in Newlyn, who had the necessary Cornish range; the china dog on the mantelpiece, the cut glass pedestal sugar bowl, the teapot and patchwork tea cosy, the little Goss pot - all were carefully selected. A special copy of the Cornishman with the larger, all-text format, had to be found, as it had recently changed to a tabloid form - and, of course, the home-made pasty had to be just right... Other musicians who contributed included Stythians Silver Band, Mike Sagar, Steve Hall, John Sleep.
A joint effort with Pipers Folk audience, who had a great time helping with this recording.
Pipers' Folk was privately produced, and the first album recorded after Brenda took over running the folk club. The recording engineer, Charles Horrell, from the Video Recording Company in Worcestershire, brought all his equipment down and recorded mostly in the club, although 4 tracks were recorded in the Newlyn Meadery. The sleeve art was created by Brenda's brother Peter Ellery, and the Piper logo - used ever after at the club - by Brenda. The photo on the reverse was an amalgamation of two others...
1. More Singing at the Count House LP
Brenda was only a recent recruit to the Count House regulars - her first recording..
Pipers' Folk was privately produced, and the first album recorded after Brenda took over running the folk club. The recording engineer, Charles Horrell, from the Video Recording Company in Worcestershire, brought all his equipment down and recorded mostly in the club, although 4 tracks were recorded in the Newlyn Meadery. The sleeve art was created by Brenda's brother Peter Ellery, and the Piper logo - used ever after at the club - by Brenda. The photo on the reverse was an amalgamation of two others...
Folk Music at the Count House EP
No Brenda on this very first folk record from the Count House...
'Folk Music at the Count House', is included for posterity, although Brenda did not appear on it. The very first of the 'folk revival' recordings from West Cornwall, produced in 1964 , it featured the first resident singers at J Ian Todd's new Count House Folk Music Club at Botallack, Pendeen, Cornwall: John the Fish and Tel Mann, and Mel and Miles... The record was privately produced with the Count House tin mine logo.