Shirley and Dolly Collins - Adieu To Old England (UK Trad. Folk 1974)

"Shirley Collins is without doubt one of England's greatest cultural treasures"-Billy Bragg

albums. Their style may be a bit dry and rarified for the casual folk fan, but if you're on their wavelength, there's nothing else like it.

Topic Records 12TS238 (LP, UK, 1974) (only track 1-14)

One of the starker and more hyper-traditional folk revival acts, sisters Shirley and Dolly Collins greatly widened the Brit-folk repertoire with their tireless resarch and the inventive arrangements of their odd, otherworldly Review Originally released in 1974, this album continues Shirley Collins' exploration not only of traditional English folk songs, but also English tradition itself, whether on "Coronation Jig," written for the return of King Charles II in 1660, or "Portsmouth," taken from Playford's ancient book, The Dancing Master. While her focus, given her own history there, is on the music and songs of southern England, she does venture further north for a stirring "Horkstow Grange," a song reported to have been written by the name who gave Steeleye Span their name. Some of the arrangements, by sister Dolly Collins, evoke the medieval origins of these songs, while others bring to life the rural past of tales like "Chiner's Song." But Collins is far more than a dry scholar. She loves this music. It's in her blood, and she understands it innately, which is why her performances are so memorable. Her voice might be untrained, and often artless, but she stirs on a rendition of "The Ram of Derbish Town" in a way no "real" singer could. From Morris Men and Mummer's plays, this is a celebration of the real old England, the laborers who preserved the songs of the past, handed down in their families, and who commemorated festivals like Harvest Home, long since lost to urban societies. So, in part, this is a history lesson, but it's also pure pleasure of the past, brought fully alive in the modern days. And to round it all off, a 1972 track -- with electric guitar -- brings old folk into modern folk-rock quite perfectly. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide

SHIRLEY COLLINS
Adieu To Old England
lp
TOPIC 12TS238

Shirley Collins (Banjo Guitar ,Vocals), Bob Stewart (Tuba), Simon Nicol (Guitar ,Vocals), Dolly Collins (Flute ,Arranger ,Vocals), Trevor Crozier, Pat Donaldson (Bass), John Harrington (Vocals), Ian Holder (Accordion), Bill Molan (Percussion ,Vocals ,Melodion), Terry Potter (Harmonica,Mouth Organ), Geoff Singleton (Fiddle ,Percussion ,Violin,Vocals), Roger Swallow (Drums),

Derek Tompkins (Engineer), David Suff (Drawing) John Harrington (Conductor), John Watcham (Conductor), Ashley Hutchings (Producer)
Shirley and Dolly Collins - Adieu To Old England

Re-issue CD - Fledg'ling Recordings FLED 3023 (CD, UK, May 1999)Bonus Track 15
Musical arrangements by Dolly CollinsRecorded by Derek Tomkins at Beck Studios, Wellinborough and Nic Kinsey at Livingstone Studios, London.Track 15 was recorded live at 'The Howff', London, on December 31, 1972.Produced by Ashley Hutchings

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1. Mistress's Health/Lumps Of Plum Pudding

2. Down By The Seaside

3. Chiner's Song

4. Adieu To Old England

5. Ashen Faggot Wassail

6. I Sing Of A Maiden That Is Makeless

7. The Banks Of Sweet Mossom

8. The Ram Of Derbish Town

9. Portsmouth

10. Horkstow Grange

11. Come All You Little Streamers

12. Spaniard's Cry: Sherborne Jig

13. One Night As I Lay On My Bed

14. The Death Of Nelson

15. Coronation Jig

http://www.shirleycollins.co.uk/

enjoy!