Swaddling Songs

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
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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, Swaddling Songs has since received critical acclaim and original vinyl copies are highly collectable. It has been re-released multiple times on various labels since 1989, including a 50th anniversary release by Deram in 2023.

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

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

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

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

Personnel

Mellow Candle

Production

Release history

Source for this section:

References

  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. 1 2 Pruett, John. Mellow Candle - Swaddling Songs (1972) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  3. 1 2 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.