Shirley Collins
|
|
Shirley Collins (born 1935, Sussex UK)
A blues and folk singer who,from 1959 to 1960,accompanied Alan Lomax through the Southern United States, recording blues and folk songs using portable recording equipment. This was at a time when racial segregation was still practiced in the Southern States. The experience was described in Shirley's book America Over the Water (published 2004). Alan Lomax had also recorded a traditional song from Grace Winborn of Hastings, "Just As The Tide Was Turning". Grace was Shirley's mother's sister. Accompanying herself on the banjo, Shirley was one of the earliest singers to make a living from touring the folk clubs of the UK. After several solo records she teamed up with Scottish guitarist Davy Graham to produce Folk Roots, New Routes (1964). It was a daring mixture of folk, blues and guitar tunings that borrowed from India. In 1969 there was another collaboration, this time with the Young Tradition (featuring Peter Bellamy) and Dolly Collins (her sister), The Holly Bears a Crown. At about this time Shirley and Dolly enlisted David Munrow, a scholar of medieval music made a recording for Radio One, Anthems in Eden. This extraordinary suite of traditional songs used several medieval instruments as well as a large chorus of voices including Home Brew and Steve Ashley. Dolly Collins played the portative organ, a hand-pumped medieval keyboard - surely the first and last time it was heard on Radio One. Equally innovative, though more acclaimed, was No Roses (1971) recorded with Ashley Hutchings (soon to be her husband), Richard Thompson, Maddy Prior, The Watersons and many other guests. It often vies with Liege and Lief as being the greatest British folk-rock album.
In 1976 Shirley appeared on Ashley Hutchings' album Son of Morris On as Shirley Hutchings, and most of Anthem in Eden was finally issued on record. The second side contained new material - two medieval songs and several folk-rock tracks. The sleeve had the announcement that Shirley wanted to retire from singing. By this time she was looking after a child, and was in the throes of splitting up with Ashley.
For only a minute of so, she was in the stage show Lark Rise to Candleford at the Royal National Theatre, singing an eerie song. Shirley's voice has a breathy, unearthly quality which alienates some people but draws in fans from unexpected quarters. The American folk-rock band 10,000 Maniacs did a cover of "Just as the Tide was Turning", closely modelled on Shirley's recorded version. The folk-goth-rock band Current 93 funded a reissue of a collection of her recordings, entitled Fountains of Snow. Shirley makes no attempt to conceal her Sussex accent. Appearances are now rare.
| Contents |
Discography
- Sweet England (1959)
- True False Lovers (1960)
- Heroes in Love (1963)
- The Sweet Primeroses (1970)
- A Favourite Garland (1973)
- Adieu to Olde England (1974)
- Anthems in Eden (1976)
- For As Many As Will (1978)
- Harking Back (1979)
- A Favourite Garland
- Fountains of Snow
- The Classic Collection
- Within Sound (2003) (Box Set)
Shirley and Dolly Collins
- Love Death and The Lady (1974)
- Harking Back (1979)
Shirley Collins and Albion Band
- No Roses (1971)
Shirley Collins and Davy Graham
- Folk Roots, New Routes (1964)
Etchingham Steam Band (includes Shirley Collins)
- Etchingham Steam Band (1975)