SHIRLEY COLLINS/THE SWEET PRIMEROSES 12T170 (-67) UK MONO

Shirley Collins MBE (born 1935) took an early part in the revival of British folk music, starting to perform on stage and records already in the fifties. Back then very traditional using instruments and vocal style faithful to the periods in which the songs were written, far from later genre developments towards rock and prog. It seems her main target wasn't adaption to modern style or big sales, but getting it authentic. Still she couldn't hide her strong personal voice and thus set an exemple for a large number of UK female folk singers through the years - Maddy Prior, June Tabor, Anne Briggs and Frankie Armstrong to mention a few. This was her fourth album and the first of many collaborations with older sister Dolly (1933-95) - schooled in composition and orchestration - who handeled arrangements and accompanied on a medieval type portative pipe organ. The arrangements here are very sparse. Collins vocals in focus all the time, a-capella or backed by one or two instruments only - her playing guitar or mandolin and/or Dolly on pipe organ. Three of the tracks also have (uncredited) male background quires. The audio is excellent - natural, clear and so revealing it's close to intrusive. This vinyl is nothing for the feeble mind or pop fans used to streamlined digital flows. It'll work best for folk anoraks, die-hard admirers of female vocals and audio freaks. I happen to be a little bit of all three so it fits. Favorite tracks - "The Cruel Mother" and "The Sweet Primeroses". To my knowledge this UK was the only original issue. 1995 CD on Topic (TSCD 476) with bonus tracks. Vinyl reissue on Bo'Weavil (weavil 09) limited to 500 copies. First had blue label with larger "TOPIC" fonts as shown here and laminated cover. (BRYF*) (FÄV*) (QÖP*)