Album of the Week – Martin Carthy ‘Transform Me Then Into A Fish’

Written by celtic music radio on July 5, 2025

When Martin Carthy released his first solo album in 21 years, he had just returned from a two-week tour of the United States and was celebrating his 84th birthday.

‘Transform Me Then Into a Fish’ looks back at his eponymous debut from sixty years ago, re-imagining eight tracks from it and adding three from his current repertoire.

Hugh Taylor visited him at his home in Robin Hood’s Bay, shortly after the launch, to talk about the album and his long and successful career.

As Hugh said: “Here was someone who was there before the birth of the Folk Revival. I just turned my recorder on, and it was like standing under Niagara Falls with a bucket.”

There are stories of conversations with Lonnie Donegan and the realisation that he had no idea of the massive impact his recording of Rock Island Line had on the Folk Revival and the sales of guitars.

Martin reveals that the oldest song in his repertoire, The Trees They Do Grow High, he found, not in the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs, but a much older, Penguin publication, the Weekend Book, issued as two volumes in 1924.

Then there’s his obvious dissatisfaction with the recording of Lovely Joan, which was included at the request of Dave Swarbrick, who told him to just play any chords and folk would love it. Swarb was right. But Martin’s much happier with his new arrangement.

One of the finest songs on his debut album, A Begging I Will Go, has been updated with contemporary words, reflecting life for street beggars in the 21st century.

Martin tells these tales and many more on the Album of the Week Show hosted by Hugh Taylor today at midday.