Shirley Collins. Classic. Dud is not an option here, I'm afraid.

of course, if this music is meaningful/sustaining/beautiful to collins and/or to her fans then more power to all.

i guess i'm just skeptical of the journalistic cliché of old folks' destroyed voices being indicative of some kind of accumulated wisdom. sometimes the withering of the voice either calls up or reveals greatly expressive phrasing, as on some of bob dylan's stuff from the last 20 years (although he is often just way too phlegmy for me). but there's also plenty of cases where the voice is just shot, tout court (e.g. roger daltrey).

sorry i guess i'm just a habitual naysayer.

oh you didn't did you!

i'm not going to make any grand claims about her voice but i'm not really too fussed about what notes she hits, a knackered old voice can still carry personality - always found a charm and mischievousness in shirley's voice and i hear it here too. and there's that feeling of connection to the past - it's an embodiment of the historical sense of the song - so it works where younger contemporary voices might fail to convince

^^^ otm

Older voices do carry/convey wisdom & experience imo

Esp in the folk idiom!

yeah, and there's definitely something wonderful about hearing a voice change over the years -- it's different, perhaps less powerful, but it's still very much her. and I like that.

I loooove that

I think it comes down to how much is 'loaded' onto the singer in question. Like Rubin seems to fetishise old age, somehow, as if it's always already wise. Arguably it worked with Cash because of who he was and what he did (and his old testament bearing), but not so much with Neil Diamond.

Maybe it comes down to 'having something to say'. I saw Shirley in a tiny upstairs space, giving a sort of performance lecture on her Lomax years, and by christ did she 'have something to say' - with her voice, obviously, but in her whole damn being and demeanour. It was a hot night and at one point she had to leave the stage to throw up, but she was back inside five minutes and continued to answer questions. What a lady.

Everyone who sings has something to say. Whether we want to hear it/are interested in it is another story but singing is self-expression regardless. imo

it's moving to hear a whole life in someone's voice

preordered!! i can't believe Death and the Lady is on it!! i feel dizzy with anticipation.

Several page article on her in the new Uncut thanks to this new lp.
Haven't read it yet, just looked through the mag in the shop today.

Shirley's cover star of the new Wire too.

I was at an SC instore tonight, with an interview followed by three and a half songs (the half was a reprise of "Death and the Lady" in full Mississippi blues style, picking up on the slide guitar on the new LP's arrangement (and complete with a sideswipe at Donald Trump). First time I've seen her, it was tremendous; she's amazing.

i am so envious!! i don't normally say that because i generally don't envy that much but to be able to see her perform in a casual setting? what a dream. i love so much about the new album -- the arrangements and instrumentation/general sound, song choices, the familiarity of a shirley collins record, her voice, i love it all. it's so intimate and it hits me right in my heart-area. i don't expect it to convert anyone unfamiliar with this type of folk music, but if you already like (or love) her stuff, you will not be disappointed.

I don't love Old Johnny Buckle as much as the rest, but it's short and there's always one or two goofy songs like that on any SC recording. I appreciate that the whole record isn't super serious to the point of seeming dire or gloomy.

http://thequietus.com/articles/21377-shirley-collins-interview-radio-podcast-favourite-songs-lodestar

so excited to see her at this: https://safeasmilkfestival.com/sam17

after that i think its just bill fay to tick off my list of 'people i will never see'

I'm looking forward to this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/mastertapes_26nov16

The programmes from the above are out:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b088f9zq

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b088fg44

It was a real pleasure to see these recorded. I had a question accepted but they ran out of time before my question came round. The good news was that I got an absolute plum seat in the front row as a result AND I didn't have to embarrass myself by asking my dumb question.

The question was: "Where do you get your ideas from?"

http://pitchfork.com/features/5-10-15-20/10020-british-folk-icon-shirley-collins-on-the-music-of-her-life/

The Band: “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”

Although this song by the Band was released in 1969, I hadn’t heard it then. But once I had, it became a lifelong favorite—it’s so powerful. This was well into my wilderness years and somehow this song and the Band gave me strength and comfort.

At this point I’d got this variety of jobs, from working in the bookshop at the British Museum to becoming public relations person at Cecil Sharp House, which I regretted within a week. I managed an Oxfam [charity] shop for three or four years, and then took a job at the job centre for the next five or six. And then, thank god, I got to be 60 and could retire and take my state pension.

Alan sent me a copy of the wonderful book he’d written, The Land Where the Blues Began, and I got one mention in it. He wrote, “Shirley Collins, the lovely young English singer who was along for the trip.” I won’t say “fuck,” but I was so angry! I thought, No, I’ve got to sort this out, this is disgraceful.

At the same time my mother said to me, “Would you like your letters from America back, Shirley?” She’d kept all the letters I’d written home, so I was able to start writing my own book. I did point out my role and that I deserved a bit more than “being along for the trip,” because it was really hard work and I think he did better with having me there. I had put a fairly harsh ending on the first edition of the book where I mention his quote and said, “We’ll see about that.” And then he died a couple of years later. For the second edition, I just couldn’t keep that line in. I had to make it a requiem about Alan. You can’t deny the man his absolute worth. I was just so cross that first time. It’s what blokes do, though—they just dismiss women’s roles in the work that’s done. I just couldn’t put up with it that time.

has anyone in London seen the movie? i wanna see it!!

also shirley collins otm
It’s what blokes do, though—they just dismiss women’s roles in the work that’s done. I just couldn’t put up with it that time.

She was involved with Alan Lomax and Ashley Hutchings, which calls into question her taste in men tbh.

would love to see that movie, hopefully it'll be accessible soon in some way!

i like this poster

https://media.vam.ac.uk/media/thira/collection_images/2006BC/2006BC7332_jpg_l.jpg

zip it Tom D! we all make mistakes

alan lomax was an artsy interesting sexist who flattered her and she was 19

love that poster
it looks a lot like the one i have right down to the huge illustrated shirley face surrounded by smaller illustrations of others

sorry for snapping at you Tom D :(

No worries but I didn't think you had!

anyone got this late 70s Dolly / Shirley live album?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpGfQ0EUgWk

out of print / pricey on discogs

I DO!!!

nm
i thought i had it but turns out i have just looked at that image a bunch because i think i have a file from that album on my computer :(

are some of the tunes from harking back on the within sound box set?

yeah i think at least a couple tunes from that set are from harking back ...

gah those Fledgling releases are so expensive!

that Harking Back disc was released on Current 93's Durtro label which explains why it's out of print and expensive, don't think any of that stuff has ever been repressed

yeah would love to get it — haven't ever tracked down the whole thing.

I recently splurged on one of those early 7" EP reissues, it was like ten bucks

For a recently digitized 1992 interview with Shirl, scroll down to April 1992 (vol 3 #2) -- http://terrascope.online/Archives/Archives.htm

Also it's a good time to listen to the Cherry Tree Carol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_EU1Tq9qEg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2qFXIvxb-Q

^^^wow i had never heard about this album until i just decided to seek out other Shirley Collins Xmas deep cuts

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holly_Bears_the_Crown

finally heard a couple of pieces from that on the new "introduction to..." comp topic have put out which i'd picked up for the sweet primeroses tracks (also as i discovered featuring yt!) also <3 the d&s/isb poster up there^

having a Lodestar type of morning
she always chooses interesting musicians to work with, it's never boring and always totally shirley <3

don't know if people saw the news of a new memoir:

We’ll soon be announcing details of Shirley Collins’ long-awaited memoir ‘All in the Downs: Reflections on Life, Landscape and Song’.
In the meantime please do see the wonderful 'The Ballad of Shirley Collins', which is on UK release this month. https://t.co/gSyVE0J5AT pic.twitter.com/aZvPH3GCJi

— Strange Attractor (@strangepress) January 5, 2018

also on the npr website today:

https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2018/01/09/575979719/hear-an-unreleased-shirley-collins-song-from-a-new-documentary

I did see it!!!

Cannot wait to read

yeah that'll be great ...
some info

‘The Ballad Of Shirley Collins’ film continues to screen across cinemas in the UK early next year and the film will be free-to stream on the Lush Player in the UK for 20 days only from January 20th 2018.

We will also shortly be announcing the official DVD release. This will come as a deluxe bookback that will feature a range of extras including deleted scenes, audio commentary, behind the scenes footage and an unreleased short film by the filmmakers along with CD of the soundtrack that will include bonus tracks.

Track list
Side A
1. “All I Ever Wanted”
2. Shirley Collins – Cavalry Hill
3. Ishman Williams & The Williams Singers – Got On My Travelling Shoes
4. “Do You Want Me To Start Again, Alan”
5. Texas Gladden – I Never Will Marry
6. Sid Hemphill and Lucius Smith – Come On Boys, Let’s Go To The Ball
7. Horton Barker – A Rich Irish Lady
8. Ian Kearey – The Poor Drowned Sailor
9. Sidney Hemphill Carter – Pharaoh
10. “I Used To Could Sing”
11. Outtake (London, 1959)

Side B
1. “There’s Never Been A Merry England”
2. Andy Hemsley and Hastings Jack In The Green – Seeds Of Love
3. N.J Brothers & The United Sacred Harp Musical Association – Cavalry
4. Lucius Smith – Make Lulu Behave Herself
5. Ruby Vass – Single Girl, Married Girl
6. “I Can’t Really Forget Them”
7. George Stoneman – Sally Anne
8. Michael J York & Ossian Brown – The Cloud House / Cyclobe – Sons Of Sons Of Light / George Collins - Dolly
9. Dolly Collins – Missa Humana (excerpt)
10. Shirley Collins – Wondrous Love

Pre-order link:
https://earthrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/the-ballad-of-shirley-collins

it's UK-only? :(

I think they mean the DVD is in PAL format, not that they won't let people in the US buy the DVD/CD set. Easy enough to rip a PAL DVD and watch it on a computer.

i've heard they're working on getting it to the states sometime soon-ish.

The documentary looks to be streaming on the Lush website: http://player.lush.com/channels/lush/tv/ballad-shirley-collins-film-tim-plester-rob-curry

Not a sentence I ever imagined typing.

Lush like the beauty products store?

I preordered her book!

This video is restricted from playing in your current geographic region
:(

I am giving a short presentation about Shirley to my music appreciation class tonight. In addition to general excitement at talking about her music with a captive audience, I can't wait to show them the connection between the Lomax recordings and her recordings and listen to the two different versions of "Death and the Lady"

I feel like she is with me! <3

http://www.thebeesknees.com/wp-content/uploads/sc-3080-web.jpg