Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Beginning
2. Meeting Searching For Lambs
3. Courtship The Wedding Song
4. Denying The Blacksmth
5. Forsaking Our Captain Cried
6. Dream Lowlands
7. Leavetaking
8. Awakening Whitsun Dance
9. New Beginning The Staines Morris
10. Rambleway
11. Ca' The Yowes
12. God Dog
13. Bonny Cuckoo
14. Nellie The Milkmaid
15. Gathering Rushes In The Month Of May
16. Gower Wassail
17. Sailor From Dover
18. Young John
19. Short Jacket And White Trousers
20. Bold Fisherman

Disc 2:

1. Death And The Lady
2. Glenlogie
3. Oxford Girl
4. Are You Going To Leave Me
5. Outlandish Knight
6. Go From My Window
7. Young Girl Cut Down In Her Prime
8. Geordie
9. Salisbury Plain
10. Fair Maid Of Islington
11. Six Dukes
12. Polly On The Shore
13. Plains Of Waterloo
14. Fare Thee Well My Dearest Dear
15. C'est La Fin/Pour Mon Coe
16. Bonny Kate
17. Adieu To All Judges And Juries
18. Edi Beo Thu Hevene Quene
19. Black Joker/Black White Yellow And Green
20. Gallant Hussar
21. Hopping Down In Kent

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9537 in Music
• Released on: 2008-08-04
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds

Customer Reviews

Traditional English Music Giants Get A Superb 2CD Remastered Set
This August 2008 EMI compilation is a long overdue reissue of all the recordings this highly revered English Folk duo made for EMI's Harvest Label in the UK (most of it in the Seventies). As their albums are extraordinary rare and valuable on original vinyl, this remastered and specially priced 2CD overhaul is to be welcomed.

Here's the breakdown:

Disc 1 (67:52 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 16 are their debut album "Anthems In Eden" issued in 1969 on Harvest SHVL 754
Tracks 17 to 20 are four outtakes from the "Love, Death & The Lady" sessions

Disc 2 (73:31 minutes)
Tracks 1 to 13 are their 2nd album "Love, Death & The Lady" issued in 1970 on Harvest SHVL 771
Tracks 14 to 19 are from the "Amaranth" LP issued in 1976 on Harvest SHSM 2008
Track 20 is from the album "Son Of Morris On" by ASHLEY HUTCHINGS and Friends issued in 1976 on Harvest SHSM 2012
Track 21 is from the album "The Prospect Before Us" by THE ALBION DANCE BAND issued in 1977 on Harvest SHSP 4059

The 8-page booklet has an informed and enthusiastic essay on the Sussex sisters by DAVID SUFF - and along with TIMOTHY CHACKSFIELD - they organized and coordinated the compilation. KATHY BRYAN at EMI did the tape transfers and the sound quality is GORGEOUS - really clear, warm and full.

Shirley Collins held the lead vocals with Dolly playing flute-organ and occasional piano. The later recordings feature members of FAIRPORT CONVENTION.

It's worth noting that while some will describe this music as 'beautiful', I know others who pathologically hate it - simply can't listen to it at all. Without being the least bit flippant here, this is 'hardcore' Traditional English Folk and it's not going to be everyone's cup of Darjeeling. But, if they're prepared to give it a chance, even the uninitiated will find so much warmth and genuine heart here, because the songs are born of the real world. Most of the tunes have roots going back hundreds of years and tell of maids, family, weddings, struggle, ship life, poverty and war (one whole side of "Anthems In Eden" focuses on the women left behind as thousands of their men were slaughtered in pointless horror on the fields of France in World War I). Special mention should go to the four outtakes on Disc 1 - they're superb and fans of the sisters will eat them up - fully formed and beautifully produced - many will wonder why they've languished in vaults.

Dolly Collins died in September 1995; her sister Shirley received the MBE in 2007 and in 2008 was awarded the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for her contributions to English Folk music.

A typically excellent re-issue by EMI of important musical lights from England's wonderful traditional music scene. Recommended.

Superlative, sublime English music
This is without doubt some of the most beautiful music ever made. Shirley's voice was always unique and, in tandem with Dolly's playing and arrangements, they made music the like of which has never been re-created. A welcome long overdue re-issue. Tragic that fate has deprived the world of a wonderful duo.

Like nothing else ... a great collection.
I bought this CD based on a review in Mojo magazine and boy was I surprised. I have never heard anything quite like this before and it is so good both in terms of the instrumentation and the vocals. EMI have done a great job with this collection which is great value for money and includes 41 great tracks. My particular favourite is the 'Anthems of Eden' album from 1969 which is featured in full on CD1 but to be honest there is not a dud track on this Harvest Years collection. Highly recommended.