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

i heard a story about a jane doe ("mountain jane doe") whose body was never claimed the other day and it reminded me of this song. i had not realized the live version with intro was on youtube but here it is <3 <3 <3 to infinity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpGfQ0EUgWk

who knows -- looks like it has been there since 2009? that was sort of past my prime shirley-obsessed years
i love the spare arrangement of this version

forgot to wish Shirley a happy birthday -- happy birthday Shirley! I <3 you always and forever!

Happy Birthday!!

This just snuck up on me at the end of a tough week and god alive it's extraordinary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaJw-ryhBB0

I think the album with Dolly (Anthems in Eden) is my favourite single record she's involved with.

Always scared of reviving this thread, for fear of giving people palpitations, but Lodestar is killing me this evening.

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

Lodestar really is great.
Recently came across this, which is also great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNO836enS-8

I had another delightful time introducing my students to her music and I always play the Death & the Lady from Lodestar. One student declared it “heavy”. I also kept my audience captive for the short version of my Maria Marten spiel and we listened to the song at the end of class one day. 💕

That session is lovely, Tyler!

She is so funny -- right now she is "furious" and posting on facebook because the BBC isn't airing Paddington 2

Paddington 2 is the perfect antidote for this current situation. I really felt that I needed it.

I have never seen Paddington 2 but now I want to watch it because if Shirley loves it, it's gotta be good right?

It is.

I've not bought Lodestar because I worry her voice isn't up to it.

New album:

.@shirleyeCollins announces new album, Heart’s Ease – watch a video for the song, "Wondrous Love"https://t.co/rZSOIr0i9o

— Uncut Magazine (@uncutmagazine) May 27, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwLrUuGT288

Not wild about the video but lovely to hear her in fine fettle.

Yes, she sounds great! Looking forward to hearing her sing Canadee-i-o

love it — i think her voice sounds great now. obviously lower range, but it's still unmistakably Shirley.

So there's at least one song on the new album about Paddington then?

i thought this was fantastic, apparently written in the 60s by her first husband, rediscovered on some ancient tape of her and Davy Graham and rerecorded with Nathan Salsburg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa2oIMUKIPM

interview / favourite albums thing in the quietus:

https://thequietus.com/articles/28545-shirley-collins-interview-favourite-music?page=1

Awesome.

One of the many awesome things about that interview is that a couple of the albums she picks have album covers so awful or generic yet I still want to hear them all right now. Can't judge a book, etc.
http://s3.amazonaws.com/quietus_production/images/articles/28545/i__1594058957_resize_460x400.jpg

lol i have that cd but i never added it to my collection in discogs because my god it's ugly (just like 95% of folk cds tbh). nic jones is super great though

She's a treasure <3

Can vouch for Lankum's Between The Earth And Sky being really great, dark and droney. As for the rest (apart from Vaughn Williams) I've no idea but am ready to be surprised.

her new 2020 song came up recently in Discovery and blew me away, now I forget the name of course

great interview!!! classic shirley <3 <3 <3
https://toneglow.substack.com/p/022-shirley-collins

really nice interview, still so classic. new album is great!

i liked the part about how she and her sister used to sleep in the metal box to protect themselves from air raids
poignant and gnarly, just like a good folk song!!

I was just totally bowled over by Heart's Ease, and I've never really listened to much Collins before. I think I've heard No Roses and maybe one Shirley & Dolly one? -- looking forward to exploring more. I suppose I was poised to be emotionally moved by the fact that on the cover she looks quite a bit like my late grandmother, but there's definitely something special about hearing an octogenarian sing these old songs right now, or any songs maybe (I also like the new Dylan much more than I expected to). Enjoying that interview now, thanks LL!

yes this is really really nice, RIYL other recent "nu-trad-folk" releases like Lankum (unsurprising but cool to learn she's a fan), BLH or some Unthanks. it's been said but she really does sound amazing for her age.

public service announcement - she's doing a concert at the barbican next weekend, which you can watch via a paid livestream:

https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2021/event/shirley-collins-the-lodestar-band-live-from-the-barbican

Ooooooh! Thanks for the alert!

Wowza

been rinsing this one lately

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sn3ZgtIsFw

Usual stab of anxiety whenever this thread gets bumped? CHECK!

But aye, what a glorious album.

sorry Chinaski, but she has a new album coming out in May!

https://shirleycollins.bandcamp.com/album/archangel-hill

One of the most important voices in British folk music Shirley Collins returns with Archangel Hill, her third album for Domino. Due for release on May 26th, it showcases another peerless collection of songs chosen by Collins, some from traditional sources but others from favourite writers of hers.

Produced by Ian Kearey - Shirley Collins’ musical director - the arrangements were shared between Collins, Kearey, Pip Barnes, as well as Dave Arthur and Pete Cooper, players from The Lodestar Band.

All of the songs on Archangel Hill were recorded last year except for “Hand And Heart”, which was taken from a live performance at the Sydney Opera House in 1980 and features an arrangement by Shirley’s beloved and talented sister Dolly Collins.

Hooray! Go Shirley!

yay. had somehow not noticed dave arthur played on the last two albums.

also just learned that there's been a new & updated iteration of the electric muse book/comp including the circa folk roots/new routes track that i think only came as a bonus on the deluxe version of heart's ease.

https://www.discogs.com/release/19452991-Various-The-Electric-Muse-Revisited-The-Story-Of-Folk-Into-Rock-And-Beyond

Yaaaaay get it Shirley!!

https://shirleycollins.bandcamp.com/album/archangel-hill

nobody? very good record imho