The Classic Collection

Shirley Collins | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 17, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Highpoint UK
• ASIN: B000260QUG
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #273,584 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Sweet Primeroses

2. Bonnie Boy

3. Adieu To Old England

4. The Moon Shines Bright

5. March The Morning Sun

6. A Blacksmith Courted Me

7. Just As The Tide Flows

8. Down By The Seaside

9. Never Again

10. I Drew My Ship

11. The Foggy Dew

12. False True Love

13. All Things Are Quite Silent

14. One Night As I Lay On My Bed

15. Polly Vaughan

16. The Cherry Tree Carol

17. Come All You Little Streamers

18. Greenwood Laddie

19. Guilderoy

20. The False Bride

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars British traditional folk singer of the sixties and seventies, May 23, 2005

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Classic Collection (Audio CD)

While Joan Baez emerged in America at the start of the sixties singing traditional folk music Shirley Collins did much the same in Britain. Shirley never achieved the level of success that Joan achieved but is widely respected within the folk music community. Shirley accompanied Alan Lomax on a tour of the southern states of the USA before embarking on a recording career of her own in 1959. Shirley recorded several albums of folk music during the sixties and seventies, sometimes with her sister Dolly.

This compilation is assembled from The sweet prime-roses (five tracks), The power of the true love knot (four tracks), Adieu to old England (three tracks), For as many as will (three tracks), The holly bears the crown (two tracks - this album was recorded with the Young Tradition, a British folk trio), False true lovers (two tracks) and one live track with the Etchingham steam band. All but two of the tracks are traditional in origin, the exceptions being March the morning sun (written by a member of the Young Tradition) and Never again (written by Richard Thompson). Of the other tracks, The cherry tree carol (an old Christmas carol) and Just as the tide was flowing (recorded by many folk singers, most notably Eliza Carthy on her album, Anglicana) are possibly the best-known.

This collection provides a wonderful introduction to the music of Shirley Collins, one of Britain's finest traditional folk singers.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction to Shirley Collins, February 14, 2005

By 

Amanda (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Classic Collection (Audio CD)

I heard one song by Shirley Collins and was so totally mesmerized, I instantly wanted more -- and while I'm not usually fond of anthologies, this is a unified collection of Shirley's work and will provide the neophyte with sufficient material to decide if s/he wants more or has had enough. Also, being in the States, it's the least expensive option for the more exploratory listener. I wouldn't normally award five stars to a collection, but because this doesn't make drastic stylistic shifts between songs, it sounds more cohesive and less like a high school collage.

That said, Shirley Collins sings like a dream, like she rose directly from the Earth as a melody instead of as a human like the rest of us mortals. Listen for yourself.