Kansas Hook - Soul Cake (1970) video free download

Psychedelic band from Birmingham, England that formed from the ashes of World of Oz.

Oz singer & guitarist Christopher "Robin" Evans and the UK psychedelic group's drummer Rob Moore teamed up with Dave Bailey (organ & vocals), Julian Burrowes (bass guitar) and Richard Cole (guitar) to form Hook.

Their debut single "Echo Park" / "Manhattan Woman" came out in 1970 and was declared Record of The Week on BBC Radio 1.

Kansas Hook recorded a BBC Radio session around this time from which their majestic and magical version of "Soul Cake" was given birth.

The footage of the band in this video came mostly from Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham in 1970.

The band would later release a number of other revved-up psych/prog rock tunes like "Nervous Shaken" and "Mr. Universe." Curiously, they would also back rock & roll legend Gene Vincent during his final tour and also recorded under the pseudonym of the American Jam Band.

"Soul Cake" is a traditional folk song about the small round cake which was traditionally made for Samhain (October 31st).

When this date later became known as All Hallows' Eve, the cake was continued to be handed out and also on the following All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day to commemorate the dead in both Celtic pagan and Christian traditions.

It is likely that "souling" was the origin of the modern day practise of trick or treating.

In 1891, Rev. M. P. Holme of Tattenhall, Cheshire, collected the song traditionally sung during souling, from a little girl at the local school. Two years later, the text and tune were published by folklorist Lucy Broadwood, who commented that souling was still practised at that time in Cheshire and Shropshire.

Further recordings of the traditional soul-cake song were collected in various parts of England until the 1950s.

Versions collected later may have been influenced by folk revival recordings of the song by such groups as The Watersons.