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Release Date: 18 September 2026
Label: Steam Pie Records
Packaging Type: Digipak
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 5060124840109
Description
Under cover of darkness, six figures slipped through an unlocked back door into a soundproofed Cardiff University recording studio, played through the night, then let themselves out before sunrise. Now, in a remarkable twist of fate, the music they created in secret could provide the soundtrack to new Prime Minister Andy Burnham's first full Parliamentary session.
The band is The Chartists, whose iconic self-titled folk-rock album celebrates Newport's Chartist uprising of 1839. The original Chartists, ruthlessly suppressed, campaigned for reforms now woven into British life, including votes for all and paid MPs. In Newport, protesters from Gwent and Monmouthshire gathered at the Westgate Hotel, where at least 22 were killed and 50 injured when troops opened fire.
For decades, the fabled album -- a self-funded recording based on those original tapes -- has been a treasured collectors' item, long out of print. This month brings the long-awaited release of a remastered and expanded version, and one of the first copies has already landed on Andy Burnham's desk. The PM has long supported the Chartist cause and has written regular flagship essays for Chartist Magazine.
"We knew he'd appreciate a reminder of what first inspired him -- and us," says original band member Geoff Cripps.
Following that midnight recording session, the band quickly built a cult following with acclaimed concerts. "Because the songs were interconnected, we asked the audience to hold any applause until the end," adds Geoff. "As the last note died away, the hall erupted. It was hard not to cry with pride -- and relief."
Those concerts led to a series of BBC Radio broadcasts. Keen to retain artistic control over the concept, the band later returned to the studio -- by daylight -- to record a polished version of the song cycle. It sold out, and the remastered version of that album, together with extra tracks from two Radio 4 programmes, is now available again.
Its lyrical power remains undimmed, standing alongside Alexander Cordell's Rape Of The Fair Country as one of the defining artistic commemorations of the Chartist uprising in Wales.
Wynford Jones, who wrote most of the original album's song cycle, adds: "When we first recorded the album, we had no money -- but we did know someone who could sneak us into Cardiff University's studio. How we got away with it is beyond me! We began this remastering project because the technology had become far more accessible. But there's never been a more important time to focus what it means to strive for a fairer society against vested interests -- which is what these songs are about."
The timing could hardly be more fitting. Alongside Burnham's success, Newport's annual November Rising torchlight march, commemorating the Chartist uprising, is being considered for inclusion in a UNESCO inventory of Wales's living heritage.
Remastering improves the clarity and balance of an original recording so it sounds stronger on modern equipment, high-end headphones and digital downloads.
"Most of all," adds Geoff, "it confirms the sheer excellence of the rest of The Chartists -- Laurence Eddy, Geri Thomas, Russell Jones and the late Remo Lusardi. Wynford and I still play live together, but not a moment goes by when we don't feel blessed to have worked with such towering talent."
Tracklisting
The Chartists
Allan Yn Y Fan
The Chartists
Lauford Cripps
Allan Yn Y Fan
Delyth Jenkins
Delyth Jenkins
Allan Yn Y Fan
The Chartists
