Swaddling Songs

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Swaddling Songs

| type = studio

| artist = Mellow Candle

| cover = Swaddling songs.jpg

| alt =

| released = {{start date|1972|4}}

| recorded = {{start date|1971|12}}

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Folk rock, progressive folk, psychedelic folk

| length = 42:57

| label = Deram Records

| producer = David Hitchcock

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Swaddling Songs

| type = album

| single1 = Feeling High

| single1date = 1968

| single2 = Dan The Wing

| single2date = 1972

}}

}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = Allmusic

| rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}} [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r233340|pure_url=yes}} link]

| noprose = yes

}}

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,{{Cite web |last=Funge |first=Cathal |date=13 Jun 2022 |title=The Lyric Feature: Swaddling Songs at 50 - the story of an Irish acid folk classic |url=https://www.rte.ie/culture/2022/0608/1303399-swaddling-songs-at-50-the-story-of-an-irish-acid-folk-classic/ |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=RTE}} Swaddling Songs has since received critical acclaim{{Cite journal |last=Young |first=Rob |date=September 2023 |title=Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs (reissue, 1972) |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/mellow-candle-swaddling-songs-143520/ |journal=Uncut |pages=38–41}}{{Cite news |last=Lynch |first=Declan |date=2 February 2023 |title=Mellow Candle lighting up the airwaves again: Radio |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2775350188 |access-date=4 July 2024 |work=Sunday Independent |pages=19 |id={{ProQuest|2775350188}} |via=ProQuest}} and original vinyl copies are highly collectable.{{Cite web |title=Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs |url=https://www.discogs.com/sell/release/1095694?ev=rb |access-date=4 July 2024 |website=Discogs}}{{Cite web |last=Hammond |first=Derek |date=8 May 2008 |title=Swaddling Songs {{!}} Mellow Candle |url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/swaddling-songs}}{{Cite journal |last=Wheeler |first=Lisa |date=29 April 2005 |title=Positive Feedback: Calm, Cool and Collected - Bidder Pays $2,650 for Mellow Candle |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1501482/2EBD281C3EF149B9PQ |journal=Goldmine |volume=31 |issue=9 |pages=9 |via=ProQuest}} It has been re-released multiple times on various labels since 1989, including a 50th anniversary release by Deram in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/27469728-Mellow-Candle-Swaddling-Songs |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Discogs}}

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.