[solfatara]

Some difficult choices made already. I don't think I'll ever feel entirely sure about group 3.
Note: I am saving any songs released after Have One On Me, but I have still given some of these a few points seeing as I am reasonably adamant I will come to love them when I do listen. I hope this is a fair judgement and way of point allocation.

ROUND 1
Group 1: 1. Emily – 2. Instrumental 1999
Group 2: 1. Good Intentions Paving Company – 2. Occident
Group 3: 1. Erin – 2. Sadie
Group 4: 1. Autumn – 2. Colleen
Group 5: 1. Inflammatory Writ – 2. Peach, Plum, Pear, 3. Look and Despair
Group 6: 1. On a Good Day – 2. Does not Suffice – 3. The North Star Grassman and the Ravens
Group 7: 1. Have One On Me – 2. Ribbon Bows
Group 8: 1. =1. What We Have Known/Bridges And Balloons
Group 9: 1. In California
Group 10: 1. Only Skin
Group 11: 1. Go Long – 2. The Fray
Group 12: 1. Swansea – 2. Three Little Babes
Group 13: 1. Cosmia – 2. Jackrabbits
Group 14: 1. You and Me, Bess – 2. Sprout and the Bean – 3. new harp song
Group 15: 1. Easy – 2. Yarn and Glue
Group 16: 1. No Provenance – 3. The Book of Right-On
Group 17: 1. Baby Birch –2. The Diver’s Wife
Group 18: 1. Kingfisher – 2. Cassiopeia
Group 19: 1. Esme – 2. “En Gallop”
Group 20: 1. This Side of the Blue – 2. Flying a Kite
Group 21: 1. Little Wing – 2. Monkey & Bear
Group 22: 1. Soft as Chalk – 2. ‘81
Group 23: 1. Sawdust & Diamonds
Group 23: 1. Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie – 2. Ca’ The Yowes to the Knowes

I've been really loving Little Wing lately.

[Alex Ysoltsev]

The choice in the Group 5 was especially tough. Two of my Top 5 Joanna's songs clashed in the first round!

Group 1
1. Emily
2. Instrumental 1999

Group 2
1. Good Intentions Paving Company
2. Occident

Group 3
1. Sadie
2. Erin
3. Sycamore

Group 4
1. Colleen
2. Autumn

Group 5
1. Look And Despair
2. Peach, Plum, Pear
3. Inflammatory Writ

Group 6
1. On A Good Day
2. Does Not Suffice
3. The North Star Grassman And The Ravens

Group 7
1. Have One On Me
2. Ribbon Bows

Group 8
1. Bridges And Balloons
3. (tie) Kindness Be Conceived
3. (tie) What We Have Known

Group 9
1. In California

Group 10
1. Only Skin

Group 11
1. Go Long
2. The Fray

Group 12
1. Swansea
3. Three Little Babes

Group 13
1. Cosmia
2. Jackrabbits

Group 14
1. New Harp Song
2. You And Me, Bess
3. Sprout And The Bean

Group 15
1. Easy
3. Yarn And Glue

Group 16
1. New Piano Song
2. The Book Of Right-On
3. No Provenance

Group 17
1. Baby Birch
2. The Diver's Wife

Group 18
1. Kingfisher
2. Cassiopeia

Group 19
1. Esme
2. "En Gallop"
3. The Man Who Ran The Town

Group 20
1. Another Day
2. This Side Of The Blue
3. Flying A Kite

Group 21
1. Monkey And Bear

Group 22
1. '81
2. Soft as Chalk

Group 23
1. Sawdust & Diamonds

Group 24
1. Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie
2. Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes

[Steve]

Thank you for your votes, Alex.

I'm still on target to close this round of voting at 23:59 BST on Sunday 4th (tomorrow night - 39 hours from now), so if anyone's considering their votes - please don't consider them for too much longer

[LawnsOfDawns]

Had to do this on a tablet, and so I am reply sorry for the shitty formatting

Group 1 — Emily
Group 2 -- Good Intentions Paving Company
Group 3 — Sadie
Group 4 — Colleen
Group 5 — 2. Peach, Plum, Pear 1. Look And Despair
Group 6 — 1. Does Not Suffice — 2. On A Good Day
Group 7 — 2. Ribbon Bows 1. Have One On Me
Group 8 — What We Have Known
Group 9 — In California
Group 10 — Only Skin
Group 11 — 1. Go Long — 2. The Fray
Group 12 —2. Rock Bottom Riser [S] — 1. Swansea
Group 13 — 2. Against The Sky [VB] — 1. Cosmia
Group 14 — 2. Sprout And The Bean — 1. You And Me, Bess
Group 15 — Easy
Group 16 — The Book Of Right-On
Group 17 — 1. Baby Birch — 2. The Diver’s Wife (aka Diver)
Group 18 — 1. Kingfisher 2. Cassiopeia
Group 19 — 1. "En Gallop" (aka En Gallop!) 2. Esme
Group 20 — This Side Of The Blue
Group 21 -- Monkey & Bear
Group 22 — 2. ’81 1.Soft As Chalk
Group 23 — 1. Sawdust & Diamonds —2. If I Were [VB]
Group 24 — Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie

[LawnsOfDawns]

Also ONLY SKIN FTW!!!!!

[mat]

Group 1 —
1. Emily
2. Instrumental 1999
3. --

Group 2 —
1. Good Intentions Paving Company
2. Occident
3. --

Group 3 —
1. Sadie
2. Erin
3. --

Group 4 —
1. Colleen
2. Tom Bombadil
3. Autumn

Group 5 —
=1. Look and Despair
=1. Peach, Plum, Pear
3. Inflammatory Writ
(Tricky group! I copped out with a tie.)

Group 6 —
1. Does Not Suffice
2. On A Good Day
3. The North Star Grassman And The Ravens

Group 7 —
1. Have One On Me
2. Ribbon Bows
3. --

Group 8 —
1. Bridges and Balloons
2. What We Have Known (almost a tie for first)
3. Kindness Be Conceived

Group 9 —
1. In California
2. --
3. --

Group 10 —
1. Only Skin
2. --
3. --

Group 11 —
1. Go Long
2. The Fray
3. --

Group 12 —
1. Three Little Babes
2. Rock Bottom Riser
3. Swansea

Group 13 —
1. Cosmia
2. Jackrabbits
3. --

Group 14 —
1. Sprout And The Bean
2. new harp song ["Hay and a clean stall"]
3. You And Me, Bess

Group 15 —
1. Easy
2. Yarn And Glue
3. --

Group 16 —
1. The Book Of Right-On
2. No Provenance
3.

Group 17 —
1. Baby Birch
2. The Diver's Wife
3. --

Group 18 —
1. Kingfisher
2. Cassiopeia
3.

Group 19 —
1. En Gallop
2. The Man Who Ran The Town
3. Esme

Group 20 —
1. Flying A Kite
2. This Side Of The Blue
3. --

Group 21 —
1. Monkey & Bear
2. --
3. --

Group 22 —
1. '81
2. Soft As Chalk
3. --

Group 23 —
1. Sawdust & Diamonds
2. --
3. --

Group 24 —
1. Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes
2. Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie
3. --

[mat]

After a re-listen maybe I was a bit harsh on Esme... Oh well, maybe it will help En Gallop get further this competition.

[Steve]

And thank you to the last two voters in this round - Lawn Of Dawns (whose idea this all was in the first place), and Mat (whose final comments made me smile knowingly!)

Voting is now closed, and in a few minutes time I will have finished adding up the scores and will post them here ... followed a little later by the draw for the next phase.

[Steve]

Group 1
1Q Emily 72
2 Instrumental 1999 24
3 The Wheel [BC] 2
Group 2
1Q Good Intentions Paving Company 69
2 Occident 36
3 River Guard [BC] 3
Group 3
1Q Sadie 64·5
2 Erin 38·5
3 Sycamore [BC] 6
Group 4
1Q Colleen 54
2q Autumn 46
3 Tom Bombadil 8
Group 5
1Q Look And Despair 54·5
2 Peach, Plum, Pear 35·5
3 Inflammatory Writ 27
Group 6
1Q Does Not Suffice 60
2 On A Good Day 46
3 The North Star Grassman And The Ravens 7
Group 7
1Q Have One On Me 72
2 Ribbon Bows 33
3 Eleven Continents [RF/LM] 1
Group 8
1Q Bridges And Balloons 60
2 What We Have Known 39·5
3 Kindness Be Conceived [TG] 4·5
Group 9
1Q In California 72
2 Ring The Living Bell [JN/S/WW] 7
3 Never Come Home [P] * 1
Group 10
1Q Only Skin 72
2 Man’s Road 7
3 Mountain [GS] * 1
Group 11
1Q Go Long 72
2 The Fray 31
3 Through The Trees [RF/LM] 1
Group 12
1Q Swansea 58
2 Three Little Babes 33
3 Rock Bottom Riser [S] 13
Group 13
1Q Cosmia 72
2 Jackrabbits 33
3 Against The Sky [VB] 4
Group 14
1Q Sprout And The Bean 45
2 You And Me, Bess 37·5
3 new harp song ["Hay and a clean stall"] 31·5
Group 15
1Q Easy 69
2 Yarn And Glue 32
3 The Honey, The Power, The Light [GS] 4
Group 16
1Q The Book Of Right-On 47
2 No Provenance 32·5
3 new piano song ["...space of half a day"] 31·5
Group 17
1Q Baby Birch 69
2 The Diver’s Wife (aka Diver) 39
3 Amour Fou [V] 1
Group 18
1Q Kingfisher 69
2 Cassiopeia 37
3 Bring Me Down [GS] 1
Group 19
1Q "En Gallop" (aka En Gallop!) 58
2 Esme 45
3 The Man Who Ran The Town [HS/JN] 9
Group 20
1Q This Side Of The Blue 46
2 Flying A Kite 38
3 Another Day [RH/JN] 16
Group 21
1Q Monkey & Bear 64
2 Little Wing 13
3 Do You Know Who You Are? [GS] 6
Group 22
1Q Soft As Chalk 54
2q ’81 52
3 Our Anniversary [S] 3
Group 23
1Q Sawdust & Diamonds 72
2 If I Were [VB] 9
3 Shame [DB/V/JN+friends] * 0
Group 24
1Q Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie 52
2q Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes 48
3 Sympathy [GS] 1

I had omitted to specify how the "best runners-up" would be calculated, so I utilised three different measures, and then ranked each song on the basis of these measures, totalled all the ranks, and selected the three with the best sum. As it turned out, the three selected (marked "q" above) would have been the same, if I had used any one of the three measures alone. The three measures were:
1) Actual number of points earned from votes cast
2) The above number, expressed as a proportion of the votes won by the winning song in its group (ie how close it was to winning the group)
3) The above number, expressed as a proportion of the total points earned by songs in its group.

I am happy with this method, and will use it again in the next round. I also intend to use it to rank the songs eliminated in each round, in order to produce a list of the "minor placings".

[Steve]

Group 1 – Monkey & Bear – Easy – Soft As Chalk
Group 2 – Cosmia – Bridges And Balloons – Good Intentions Paving Company
Group 3 – Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes * – Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie – Sawdust & Diamonds
Group 4 – Swansea – Go Long – "En Gallop" (aka En Gallop!)
Group 5 – In California – Sprout And The Bean – Autumn *
Group 6 – This Side Of The Blue – Colleen – Emily
Group 7 – The Book Of Right-On – Only Skin – ’81 *
Group 8 – Kingfisher – Look And Despair – Baby Birch
Group 9 – Sadie – Does Not Suffice – Have One On Me

The same procedure applies ... please vote for your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice within each group, taking into account your favourite version of each song mentioned. Any positions may be marked as ties if desired, or any one or more of the positions may be omitted entirely if you would like. Any song not specifically mentioned in your vote will be regarded as unclassified, and awarded no points, otherwise 1st choice receives 6, second choice receives 3, and 3rd choice receives 1, with any tied positions sharing the available points for those positions.

[madpawn]

Thank you, as always, for doing this, and for your crystal-clear summations and explanations of the results!

Group 1
1. Monkey & Bear
2. Easy
3. Soft As Chalk

Group 2
1. Cosmia
2. Bridges And Balloons
3. Good Intentions Paving Company

Group 3
1. Sawdust & Diamonds
2. Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes

Group 4 (OH MY GOD THIS ONE IS HARD)
1. Swansea
2. (tie) Go Long, "En Gallop" (aka En Gallop!)

Group 5
1. In California
2. Autumn
3. Sprout And The Bean

Group 6
1. Emily
2. Colleen

Group 7
1. Only Skin
2. '81
3. The Book Of Right-On

Group 8
1. Baby Birch
2. Look and Despair
3. Kingfisher

Group 9
1. Have One On Me
2. Sadie
3. Does Not Suffice

[under a CPell]

Group 1 – 3: Monkey & Bear – 1: Easy – 2: Soft As Chalk
Group 2 – 1: Cosmia – 3: Bridges And Balloons – 2: Good Intentions Paving Company
Group 3 – 2: Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes * – 3: Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie – 1: Sawdust & Diamonds
Group 4 – 3: Swansea – 1: Go Long – 2: "En Gallop" (aka En Gallop!)
Group 5 – 2: In California – 1: Sprout And The Bean – 3: Autumn *
Group 6 – 3: This Side Of The Blue – 1: Colleen – 2: Emily
Group 7 – 3: The Book Of Right-On – 1: Only Skin – 2: ’81 *
Group 8 – 1: Kingfisher – 2: Look And Despair – 3: Baby Birch
Group 9 – 2: Sadie – 3: Does Not Suffice – 1: Have One On Me

I thought these choices were a lot simper to make! Or perhaps I was just a little firmer with myself and didn't take the easy option of making ties.

[Jordan~]

Group 1 – 1 . Monkey & Bear - 2. Easy 2. Soft As Chalk
Group 2 – 1. Good Intentions Paving Company – 2. Cosmia – 3. Bridges And Balloons
Group 3 – 1. Sawdust & Diamonds – 2 .Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes
Group 4 – 1. Go Long
Group 5 – 1. In California – 3. Sprout And The Bean
Group 6 – 1. Emily – 2. Colleen – 3. This Side Of The Blue
Group 7 – 1. Only Skin – 3. The Book Of Right-On
Group 8 – 1. Kingfisher – 2. Look And Despair – 3. Baby Birch
Group 9 – 1. Have One On Me – 1. Does Not Suffice

[Ann]

Group 1
1. Monkey & Bear
2. Soft As Chalk
3. Easy

Group 2
1. Cosmia
2. Bridges and Balloons
3. Good Intentions Paving Company

Group 3
1. Sawdust & Diamonds
2. Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie
3. Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes

Group 4
1. Go Long
2. Swansea
3. "En Gallop" (aka En Gallop!)

Group 5
1. In California
2. Sprout And The Bean
3. Autumn

Group 6
1. Colleen
2. Emily
3. This Side of the Blue

Group 7
1. Only Skin
2. The Book Of Right-On
3. ’81

Group 8
1. Look and Despair
2. Baby Birch
3. Kingfisher

Group 9
1. Have One On Me
2. Does Not Suffice
3. Sadie

[solfatara]

I agree with CPell that this round is a bit easier than the previous one!
Although a good handful of my favourites have made it through I am left grieving for You and Me, Bess, No Provenance, Erin and Esme...
No Provenance over Book of Right-On any day every day for me! Oh well, moving on *persevering smile*

Interesting to see the fairly wide range of preferences among voters so far, might be a tight race... Have you made any decisions yet regarding how much time we have for this round, Steve? Also, how many 'best losers' do we get through to the semi-finals?

I'll be posting my votes as soon as I've made my final decision about groups 1 and 2, the toughest ones this time around in my opinion.

[claire]

Group 1
1. Soft As Chalk
2. Monkey & Bear
3. Easy

Group 2
1. Cosmia
2. Bridges And Balloons
3. Good Intentions Paving Company

Group 3
2. Sawdust & Diamonds
2. Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie
3. Ca' the Yowes to the Knowes

Group 4
1. Swansea
2. Go Long
3. "En Gallop" (aka En Gallop!)

Group 5
1. In California
2. Autumn
3. Sprout And The Bean

Group 6
1. Emily
2. Colleen
3. This Side Of The Blue

Group 7
1. Only Skin
2. '81
3. The Book of Right-On

Group 8
1. Baby Birch
2. Look and Despair
3. Kingfisher

Group 9
1. Have One On Me
2. Does Not Suffice
3. Sadie

[Alex Ysoltsev]

Group 1
1. Monkey & Bear
2. Soft As Chalk
3. Easy

Group 2
1. Good Intentions Paving Company
2. Cosmia
3. Bridges & Balloons

Group 3
1. Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie
2. (tie) Sawdust & Diamonds
2. (tie) Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes

Group 4
1. Go Long
2. Swansea
3. "En Gallop"

Group 5
1. In California
2. Autumn
3. Sprout And The Bean

Group 6
1. Emily
2. Colleen
3. This Side Of The Blue

Group 7
1. Only Skin
2. '81
3. The Book Of Right-On

Group 8
1. Look And Despair
2. Kingfisher
3. Baby Birch

Group 9
1. Sadie
2. Have One On Me
3. Does Not Suffice

[solfatara]

Group 1: 1. Soft as Chalk – 2. Easy – 3. Monkey & Bear
Group 2: 1. Cosmia – 2. Good Intentions Paving Company – 3. Bridges and Balloons
Group 3: 1. Sawdust & Diamonds – 2. Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie – 3. Ca’ The Yowes to the Knowes*
Group 4: 1. Go Long – 2. Swansea – 3. “En Gallop”
Group 5: 1. In California – 2. Autumn* – 3. Sprout and the Bean
Group 6: 1. Emily – 2. Colleen – 3. This Side of the Blue
Group 7: 1. Only Skin – 2. ’81*
Group 8: 1. Kingfisher – 2. Baby Birch – 3. Look and Despair
Group 9: 1. Have One On Me – 2. Sadie – 3. Does Not Suffice

I didn't actually properly know the story of Bluebeard (only the jist of it and that he murdered his wives) until I read a summary of it just now. It most certainly makes Good Intentions Paving Company all the more panick-filled and ominous the way it alludes to Go Long (unless I am mistaken, of course, but "I feel I see everything, and am in love with the hook upon which everyone hangs" is easy to read that way..!)

[Steve]

Wow - thank you for your votes to madpawn (and for your kind comments), under a CPell, Jordan~, Ann, Claire, Alex Ysoltsev, and solfatara. All very much appreciated, and it's gratifying that you've set a good pace with seven sets of votes within the first 24 hours.

I think there are some very difficult choices in this round, especially in groups 4 & 8, which each contain two of my very favourite songs. I am considering if I can be as strict with myself as under a CPell, or whether just to submit tied votes.

I hope I'm not too late in answering your questions, solfatara, but I was intending to leave this round open for one week - that is to close it a fraction before midnight, UK time, this coming Sunday 11th August. Also, with there being very little new material, I was worried before the launch that JNST3 might turn out to be me largely talking to myself. I'm really pleased that that isn't the case, but I'd already structured it to avoid prolonging that embarrassment, by having quite a compact tournament. Therefore, the present round is in fact the Semi-Final, and we will have the 9 group winners plus the best (un-asterisked) runner-up progressing to the Final round, which will once again be on a round-robin basis, probably with two rounds of pairings up in each of 4 weeks, and the final (ninth) round in the fifth week. As usual, there will be a small element of 'bonus points' to be carried forward, according to a very complicated formula that I haven't yet started to think about, but which is designed to bring at least a diluted version of votes in Rounds 1 & 2 into the final reckoning.

solfatara, if this does affect your choices - or indeed if anyone ever wants to change their votes while a round is in progress - that's always permissible. A rule of thumb is that I won't have looked in detail at the votes cast, up until I've voted myself, so up to that point you're free to silently go back and edit your previous posting. If you want to do it after I've voted, chances are I've already started to tabulate, so please either make a new posting to re-cast your vote or to explain the changes, or if you go back and edit, make a posting or send a PM to alert me to it. Votes can't be changed by PM alone - they have to be put up here for everyone to see.

Thank you all once again

[Jordan~]

I played around with draws to try and reflect my preferences better - sorry for making it so complicated!