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"…The Prospect Before
Us…"
This August 2008 EMI 2CD
compilation is a long overdue reissue of all the recordings the highly revered
English Folk duo SHIRLEY and DOLLY COLLINS made for EMI's Harvest Label in the
UK (most of it in the Seventies).
As their albums are
extraordinarily rare and hugely valuable on original vinyl - this remastered
and specially priced 2CD overhaul "The Harvest Years" by SHIRLEY and DOLLY
COLLINS is to be welcomed.
Here's a bonny wee breakdown for EMI 50999 2 28404 2
4 (Barcode 5099922840424)…
Disc 1 (67:52 minutes):
1. A Beginning
2. A Meeting - Searching For
Lambs
3. A Courtship - The Wedding
Song
4. A Denying - The Blacksmith
5. A Forsaking - Our Captain
Cried
6. A Dream - Lowlands
7. A Leave-Taking - Pleasant
And Delightful
8. An Awakening - A Whitsun
Dance
9. New Beginning - The
Staines Morris
10. Rambleaway [Side 2]
11. Ca' The Bowes
12. God Dog
13. Bonny Cuckoo
14. Nellie The Milkmaid
15. Gathering Rushes In The
Month Of May
16. The Gower Wassail
Tracks 1 to 16 is their debut
album "Anthems In Eden" issued July 1969 in the UK on Harvest SHVL
754. Side 1 (Tracks 1 to 9) is collectively called "A Song-Story".
17. The Sailor From Dover
18. Young John
19. Short Jacket And White
Trousers
20. The Bold Fisherman
Tracks 17 to 20 are four
outtakes from the "Love, Death & The Lady" sessions in 1970 (see
Tracks 1 to 13 on Disc 2)
Disc 2 (73:31 minutes):
1. Death And The Lady
2. Glenlogie
3. The Oxford Girl
4. Are You Looking To Leave
Me
5. The Outlandish Knight
6. Go From My Window
7. Young Girl Cut Down In Her
Prime
8. Geordie [Side 2]
9. Salisbury Plain
10. Fair Maid Of Islington
11. Six Dukes
12. Polly On The Shore
13. Plains Of Waterloo
Tracks 1 to 13 is their 2nd
album "Love, Death & The Lady" issued May 1970 in the UK on
Harvest SHVL 771
14. Fare Thee Well My Dearest
Dear
15. C’est La Fin/Pour Mon
Cuer
16. Bonny Kate
17. Adieu To All Judges And
Juries
18. Edo Beo Thu Hevene Quene
19. Black Joker/Black, White,
Yellow And Green
Tracks 14 to 19 are from the
"Amaranth" LP issued August 1976 in the UK on Harvest SHSM 2008
20. The Gallant
Hussar (from the album "Son Of Morris On" by ASHLEY HUTCHINGS and
Friends issued December 1976 in the UK on Harvest SHSM 2012)
21. Hopping Down In
Kent (from the album "The Prospect Before Us" by THE ALBION DANCE
BAND issued March 1977 in the UK on Harvest SHSP 4059)
The 8-page booklet has an
informed and enthusiastic essay on the Sussex sisters by DAVID SUFF - and along
with TIMOTHY CHACKSFIELD - they organized and coordinated the compilation.
KATHY BRYAN at EMI did the tape transfers/remasters and the sound quality is
gorgeous - really clear, warm and full.
Shirley Collins held the lead
vocals with Dolly playing flute-organ and occasional piano. The later
recordings feature members of FAIRPORT CONVENTION.
It's worth noting that while
some will describe this music as 'beautiful', I know others who pathologically
hate it - simply can't listen to it at all. Without being the least bit
flippant here, this is 'hardcore' Traditional English Folk and it's not going
to be everyone's cup of Darjeeling. But, if they're prepared to give it a
chance, even the uninitiated will find so much warmth and genuine heart here,
because the songs are born of the real world. Most of the tunes have roots
going back hundreds of years and tell of maids, family, weddings, struggle,
ship life, poverty and war (one whole side of "Anthems In Eden"
focuses on the women left behind as thousands of their men were slaughtered in
pointless horror on the fields of France in World War I). Special mention should go to the four
outtakes on Disc 1 - they're superb and fans of the sisters will eat them up -
fully formed and beautifully produced - many will wonder why they've languished
in vaults.
Dolly Collins died in
September 1995; her sister Shirley received the MBE in 2007 and in 2008 was
awarded the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for her contributions to English Folk music.
A typically excellent
re-issue by EMI of important musical lights from England's wonderful
traditional music scene – recommended for those who like their Folk straight up
with no chaser…
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