Customer Reviews

The Classic Collection

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
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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.

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.