About this item

During the 1960s and ‘70s Shirley Collins was regarded by many as the first lady of folk music, the subsequent decades have only served to enhance that reputati on. Between 1955 and 1978 she recorded for the Folkways, Argo, Harvest and Topic labels. After the release of ‘For As Many As Will’ in 1978 she withdrew from performing and the music world aft er developing dysphonia. Shirley recently returned to recording after a very long hiatus and is still widely acknowledged as one of the finest singers and ambassadors to have emerged during the Folksong Revival of the 1960s.

Few singers of the English folk revival have attempted as much on record as Collins – an extraordinary combination of fragility and power. “I like music to be fairly straightforward, simply embellished – the performance without histrionics allowing you to think about the song rather than telling you what to think.” Through an impressive series of experimental recordings Shirley established an extraordinarily sympathetic marriage of traditi onal songs handed down through generati ons of rural labouring people with ground breaking contemporary arrangements – recordings that have scarcely been equalled in subsequent decades. This collection draws together some of her most iconic recordings and will serve as an Introducti on to her very special catalogue of music.

“Shirley Collins is without doubt one of England’s greatest cultural treasures.” Billy Bragg

TRACK LISTING

Tracks (CD):
The Foggy Dew
I Drew My Ship
A Blacksmith Courted Me
The False Bride
All Things Are Quite Silent
Polly Vaughan
False True Love

Spencer The Rover
The Sweet Primeroses
Rambleaway
March The Morning Sun
The Cherry Tree Carol
The Moon Shines Bright
One Night
As I Lay In My Bed
Come All You Litt Le Streamers

Tracks (LP):
The Foggy Dew
A Blacksmith Courted Me
The False Bride
All Things Are Quite Silent
Polly Vaughan
False True Love
The Sweet Primeroses
Rambleaway
March The Sun Morning
The Cherry Tree Carol
The Moon Shines Bright
The Rigs Of Time