Folk Britannica
Various Artists
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- The Basics
The fickle eye of pop may look askance at folk from time to time, consigning its finest artists to the margins, where they await rediscovery, but this collection of the greatest British folksters confirms a tradition immune to the vagaries of trend. Start, at the heyday of electric folk, with Fairport Convention, featuring Richard Thompson and the great Sandy Denny.
£20.36 The Basics
Name Artist Time Price 1 Who Knows Where the Time Goes? Fairport Convention 5:10 £0.79 View In iTunes 2 The Band Played Waltzing Matilda June Tabor 6:24 £0.79 View In iTunes 3 Spencer the Rover John Martyn 4:09 £0.99 View In iTunes 4 From Clare to Here Ralph McTell 4:16 £0.79 View In iTunes 5 Rigs of the Time Bellowhead 3:57 £0.79 View In iTunes 6 Planxty Davis Nic Jones 2:51 £0.79 View In iTunes 7 The Banks of Sweet Primroses Shirley Collins & Dolly Collins 3:34 £0.79 View In iTunes 8 Rolling Sea Eliza Carthy 4:49 £0.79 View In iTunes 9 Little Musgrave Martin Simpson 5:56 £0.79 View In iTunes 10 Country Life Show of Hands 3:57 £0.79 View In iTunes 11 Three Drunken Huntsmen A.L. Lloyd 2:06 £0.79 View In iTunes 12 The Light Dragoon Waterson:Carthy 5:11 £0.79 View In iTunes 13 Pink Moon Nick Drake 2:03 £0.99 View In iTunes 14 I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight Linda Thompson & Richard Thompson 3:08 £0.99 View In iTunes 15 Our Town Kate Rusby 4:47 £0.79 View In iTunes 16 Black Jack Davy Steeleye Span 4:15 £0.99 View In iTunes 17 Harry Stone - Hearts of Coal John Tams 5:59 £0.79 View In iTunes 18 Lord Mayo / Lord Inchiquin Davey Graham 4:29 £0.79 View In iTunes 19 The Nightingale Cyril Tawney 2:27 £0.79 View In iTunes 20 Blackbird Rachel Unthank & The Winterset 2:53 £0.99 View In iTunes 21 The Snow It Melts the Soonest Anne Briggs 2:23 £0.79 View In iTunes 22 Banks of the Nile Fotheringay 8:11 £0.79 View In iTunes 23 Needle of Death Bert Jansch 3:24 £0.99 View In iTunes 24 A Small Fruit Song Al Stewart 2:00 £0.99 View In iTunes Total: 24 Songs - Next Steps
The hippies of the '60s looked to folk troubadours as leaders, and they found a hero in guitar virtuoso Bert Jansch: "Needle of Death", from his self-titled 1965 debut, was an especially influential track. Some wanted Jansch to become a British Bob Dylan, but he preferred to let his guitar do the talking. In 1973, Jon Martyn released the exceptional Solid Air, featuring "May You Never".
£18.57 Next Steps
Name Artist Time Price 1 1952 Vincent Black Lightning Richard Thompson 4:42 £0.99 View In iTunes 2 My Father's Mansions Billy Bragg & Eliza Carthy 2:57 £0.79 View In iTunes 3 Rags and Old Iron Norma Waterson 4:18 £0.59 View In iTunes 4 The Good Old Way The Watersons 3:27 £0.79 View In iTunes 5 Close the Coalhouse Door Jon Boden 2:37 £0.79 View In iTunes 6 Shepherd's Hey / Orange In Bloom / the Quaker Ashley Hutchings 5:05 £0.79 View In iTunes 7 The Butcher Boy Lau 4:07 £0.79 View In iTunes 8 Three Black Feathers Jim Moray 4:12 £0.79 View In iTunes 9 The Sailors' Alphabet Sam Larner 3:24 £0.79 View In iTunes 10 Armstrong's Army Jez Lowe and The Bad Pennies 2:20 £0.79 View In iTunes 11 The Prickly Bush Spiers & Boden 4:36 £0.79 View In iTunes 12 Once I Had a Sweetheart Pentangle 4:38 £0.99 View In iTunes 13 Poor Man's Son Kris Drever 4:04 £0.79 View In iTunes 14 Fine Horseman Silly Sisters 4:52 £0.79 View In iTunes 15 Bright Phoebus Blue Murder 2:55 £0.79 View In iTunes 16 The Morning Lies Heavy Allan Taylor 3:25 £0.79 View In iTunes 17 Both Sides the Tweed Capercaillie 5:00 £0.79 View In iTunes 18 Daisy Karine Polwart 3:27 £0.79 View In iTunes 19 Tha 'M Buntata Mor / An Bairille / Boc Liath Nan Gobhar Eamon Doorley, Julie Fowlis, Ross Martin & Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh 3:39 £0.79 View In iTunes 20 Sister Josephine Jake Thackray 3:20 £0.99 View In iTunes 21 Another Day Roy Harper 4:01 £0.79 View In iTunes 22 My Love Is Like a Red Red Rose Eddi Reader 6:23 £0.79 View In iTunes 23 Barleycorn Tim Van Eyken 6:07 £0.79 View In iTunes Total: 23 Songs - Deep Cuts
Left-wing folk hero Ewan MacColl founded the U.K.'s first modern folk joint — the Ballad and Blues Club — and in many ways he's the godfather of this playlist. His influence on folk stretches either side of the Second World War, but his reputation really began to soar at the start of the '50s. "Dirty Old Town", written about Salford, has become a rock-solid standard.
£16.79 Deep Cuts
Name Artist Time Price 1 Lowlands of Holland Martin Carthy with Dave Swarbrick 2:59 £0.79 View In iTunes 2 We Built Fires The Poozies 5:09 £0.79 View In iTunes 3 Still Growing Bob Fox 4:51 £0.79 View In iTunes 4 Together Alone Chris While & Julie Matthews 4:54 £0.79 View In iTunes 5 The Hedgehogs Song Incredible String Band 3:21 £0.79 View In iTunes 6 Shepherd of the Downs (Bob & Ron) The Copper Family 4:42 £0.79 View In iTunes 7 The Young Sailor Cut Down in His Prime Harry Cox 1:57 £0.79 View In iTunes 8 Auntie Aviator Beverley Martyn & John Martyn 5:56 £0.99 View In iTunes 9 Weary Life Linda Thompson 3:41 £0.79 View In iTunes 10 Girl of Dances Barry Dransfield 5:43 £0.79 View In iTunes 11 Memories Lal Waterson & Oliver Knight 2:50 £0.79 View In iTunes 12 Try Too Hard (feat. Kathryn Tickell) Jon Lacey & Kathryn Tickell 3:55 £0.79 View In iTunes 13 Deus Ganin Me D'am Bro Chris Leslie 1:41 £0.79 View In iTunes 14 The Last Trip Home / The Luckenbooth Battlefield Band 5:01 £0.79 View In iTunes 15 Been On the Road So Long Alex Campbell 3:35 £0.79 View In iTunes 16 This Old English Town Steve Ashley 3:41 £0.79 View In iTunes 17 Kitty Jay Seth Lakeman 3:12 £0.79 View In iTunes 18 Hares on the Mountain Chris Wood 5:27 £0.79 View In iTunes 19 The Dance of the Demon Daffodils John Kirkpatrick 3:05 £0.79 View In iTunes 20 Long Time Travelling Peter Bellamy 2:41 £0.79 View In iTunes 21 Matt Groves and Lady Barnard Robin Williamson 6:59 £0.79 View In iTunes Total: 21 Songs - Complete Set
You can't keep good folk down, as our Essentials overview of the genre's British, post-War family tree conclusively proves. All of these artists have in common that desire to re-invigorate tradition to reflect their times, and it's great to see actual bloodlines running between the various shared musical connections. Eliza Carthy ("Rolling Sea") is the daughter of Martin Carthy ("Lord Randall") and Norma Waterson, here heard on "The Old Good Way" by the Watersons. Intimate, yet universal, these tracks provide a link to the past and a mirror to the present.
£55.72 Complete Set
Name Artist Time Price 1 Who Knows Where the Time Goes? Fairport Convention 5:10 £0.79 View In iTunes 2 The Band Played Waltzing Matilda June Tabor 6:24 £0.79 View In iTunes 3 Spencer the Rover John Martyn 4:09 £0.99 View In iTunes 4 From Clare to Here Ralph McTell 4:16 £0.79 View In iTunes 5 Rigs of the Time Bellowhead 3:57 £0.79 View In iTunes 6 Planxty Davis Nic Jones 2:51 £0.79 View In iTunes 7 The Banks of Sweet Primroses Shirley Collins & Dolly Collins 3:34 £0.79 View In iTunes 8 Rolling Sea Eliza Carthy 4:49 £0.79 View In iTunes 9 Little Musgrave Martin Simpson 5:56 £0.79 View In iTunes 10 Country Life Show of Hands 3:57 £0.79 View In iTunes 11 Three Drunken Huntsmen A.L. Lloyd 2:06 £0.79 View In iTunes 12 The Light Dragoon Waterson:Carthy 5:11 £0.79 View In iTunes 13 Pink Moon Nick Drake 2:03 £0.99 View In iTunes 14 I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight Linda Thompson & Richard Thompson 3:08 £0.99 View In iTunes 15 Our Town Kate Rusby 4:47 £0.79 View In iTunes 16 Black Jack Davy Steeleye Span 4:15 £0.99 View In iTunes 17 Harry Stone - Hearts of Coal John Tams 5:59 £0.79 View In iTunes 18 Lord Mayo / Lord Inchiquin Davey Graham 4:29 £0.79 View In iTunes 19 The Nightingale Cyril Tawney 2:27 £0.79 View In iTunes 20 Blackbird Rachel Unthank & The Winterset 2:53 £0.99 View In iTunes 21 The Snow It Melts the Soonest Anne Briggs 2:23 £0.79 View In iTunes 22 Banks of the Nile Fotheringay 8:11 £0.79 View In iTunes 23 Needle of Death Bert Jansch 3:24 £0.99 View In iTunes 24 A Small Fruit Song Al Stewart 2:00 £0.99 View In iTunes 25 1952 Vincent Black Lightning Richard Thompson 4:42 £0.99 View In iTunes 26 My Father's Mansions Billy Bragg & Eliza Carthy 2:57 £0.79 View In iTunes 27 Rags and Old Iron Norma Waterson 4:18 £0.59 View In iTunes 28 The Good Old Way The Watersons 3:27 £0.79 View In iTunes 29 Close the Coalhouse Door Jon Boden 2:37 £0.79 View In iTunes 30 Shepherd's Hey / Orange In Bloom / the Quaker Ashley Hutchings 5:05 £0.79 View In iTunes 31 The Butcher Boy Lau 4:07 £0.79 View In iTunes 32 Three Black Feathers Jim Moray 4:12 £0.79 View In iTunes 33 The Sailors' Alphabet Sam Larner 3:24 £0.79 View In iTunes 34 Armstrong's Army Jez Lowe and The Bad Pennies 2:20 £0.79 View In iTunes 35 The Prickly Bush Spiers & Boden 4:36 £0.79 View In iTunes 36 Once I Had a Sweetheart Pentangle 4:38 £0.99 View In iTunes 37 Poor Man's Son Kris Drever 4:04 £0.79 View In iTunes 38 Fine Horseman Silly Sisters 4:52 £0.79 View In iTunes 39 Bright Phoebus Blue Murder 2:55 £0.79 View In iTunes 40 The Morning Lies Heavy Allan Taylor 3:25 £0.79 View In iTunes 41 Both Sides the Tweed Capercaillie 5:00 £0.79 View In iTunes 42 Daisy Karine Polwart 3:27 £0.79 View In iTunes 43 Tha 'M Buntata Mor / An Bairille / Boc Liath Nan Gobhar Eamon Doorley, Julie Fowlis, Ross Martin & Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh 3:39 £0.79 View In iTunes 44 Sister Josephine Jake Thackray 3:20 £0.99 View In iTunes 45 Another Day Roy Harper 4:01 £0.79 View In iTunes 46 My Love Is Like a Red Red Rose Eddi Reader 6:23 £0.79 View In iTunes 47 Barleycorn Tim Van Eyken 6:07 £0.79 View In iTunes 48 Lowlands of Holland Martin Carthy with Dave Swarbrick 2:59 £0.79 View In iTunes 49 We Built Fires The Poozies 5:09 £0.79 View In iTunes 50 Still Growing Bob Fox 4:51 £0.79 View In iTunes 51 Together Alone Chris While & Julie Matthews 4:54 £0.79 View In iTunes 52 The Hedgehogs Song Incredible String Band 3:21 £0.79 View In iTunes 53 Shepherd of the Downs (Bob & Ron) The Copper Family 4:42 £0.79 View In iTunes 54 The Young Sailor Cut Down in His Prime Harry Cox 1:57 £0.79 View In iTunes 55 Auntie Aviator Beverley Martyn & John Martyn 5:56 £0.99 View In iTunes 56 Weary Life Linda Thompson 3:41 £0.79 View In iTunes 57 Girl of Dances Barry Dransfield 5:43 £0.79 View In iTunes 58 Memories Lal Waterson & Oliver Knight 2:50 £0.79 View In iTunes 59 Try Too Hard (feat. Kathryn Tickell) Jon Lacey & Kathryn Tickell 3:55 £0.79 View In iTunes 60 Deus Ganin Me D'am Bro Chris Leslie 1:41 £0.79 View In iTunes 61 The Last Trip Home / The Luckenbooth Battlefield Band 5:01 £0.79 View In iTunes 62 Been On the Road So Long Alex Campbell 3:35 £0.79 View In iTunes 63 This Old English Town Steve Ashley 3:41 £0.79 View In iTunes 64 Kitty Jay Seth Lakeman 3:12 £0.79 View In iTunes 65 Hares on the Mountain Chris Wood 5:27 £0.79 View In iTunes 66 The Dance of the Demon Daffodils John Kirkpatrick 3:05 £0.79 View In iTunes 67 Long Time Travelling Peter Bellamy 2:41 £0.79 View In iTunes 68 Matt Groves and Lady Barnard Robin Williamson 6:59 £0.79 View In iTunes Total: 68 Songs
Customer Reviews
Great, But...
But for the pretty awful version of "Rigs Of The Time" by Bellowhead (aptly named) everything on this album is brilliant... However, the rest is good enough to make me overlook that in my rating, everything else, as I said before, is pretty much the definitive version of whatever the song is. The perfect album for those who don't already own the originals. Great!
Guy
Great Album apart from John Tams who gives us another of his old socialist rants.Bellowhead were great and the wonderful Anne Brigs sings 'The Snow it Melts the Soonest' in heart breaking fashion.
