I've just come to the part of All In The Downs where she says she loathes jazz. God, I guess everybody can't be perfect but did hope she might enjoy some of the decent stuff.Oh well, she did look amazing in the 60s.Sounded quite good too, but would have loved to hear some more jazz in her sound.BUt I guess that goes against her singing style.
― Stevolende, Monday, 9 July 2018 11:22 (five years ago) link
I finally decided it was time to start reading All in the Downs (I was saving it) and it is such a gigantic treat to hear/read/spend time with Shirley's voice again. I am loving every single minute of reading it. Her writing style reminds me so much of her singing style -- straightforward, unembellished, yet still very distinctively hers. I love her so much!!!
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Monday, 28 January 2019 19:26 (five years ago) link
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 infinityhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpGfQ0EUgWk
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Tuesday, 29 January 2019 16:40 (five years ago) link
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
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Tuesday, 29 January 2019 16:49 (five years ago) link
forgot to wish Shirley a happy birthday -- happy birthday Shirley! I <3 you always and forever!
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Saturday, 6 July 2019 05:59 (four years ago) link
Happy Birthday!!
― Carly Jae Vespen (Capitaine Jay Vee), Saturday, 6 July 2019 10:02 (four years ago) link
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
― Life is a meaningless nightmare of suffering...save string (Chinaski), Friday, 29 November 2019 15:21 (four years ago) link
I think the album with Dolly (Anthems in Eden) is my favourite single record she's involved with.
― Life is a meaningless nightmare of suffering...save string (Chinaski), Friday, 29 November 2019 15:22 (four years ago) link
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
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Sunday, 8 March 2020 19:44 (four years ago) link
Lodestar really is great. Recently came across this, which is also great. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNO836enS-8
― tylerw, Sunday, 8 March 2020 21:39 (four years ago) link
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. 💕
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 8 March 2020 21:45 (four years ago) link
That session is lovely, Tyler!
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Monday, 9 March 2020 19:39 (four years ago) link
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?
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Monday, 25 May 2020 20:06 (four years ago) link
It is.
― Is Lou Reed a Good Singer? (Tom D.), Monday, 25 May 2020 20:25 (four years ago) link
I've not bought Lodestar because I worry her voice isn't up to it.
― Duke, Monday, 25 May 2020 22:23 (four years ago) link
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
― Boris the Spreader (NickB), Wednesday, 27 May 2020 10:09 (four years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwLrUuGT288
― Boris the Spreader (NickB), Wednesday, 27 May 2020 10:11 (four years ago) link
Not wild about the video but lovely to hear her in fine fettle.
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Wednesday, 27 May 2020 10:17 (four years ago) link
Yes, she sounds great! Looking forward to hearing her sing Canadee-i-o
― Boris the Spreader (NickB), Wednesday, 27 May 2020 10:18 (four years ago) link
love it — i think her voice sounds great now. obviously lower range, but it's still unmistakably Shirley.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 27 May 2020 14:57 (four years ago) link
So there's at least one song on the new album about Paddington then?
― avellano medio inglés (f. hazel), Wednesday, 27 May 2020 15:53 (four years ago) link
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
― JoeStork, Friday, 3 July 2020 15:56 (three years ago) link
interview / favourite albums thing in the quietus:
https://thequietus.com/articles/28545-shirley-collins-interview-favourite-music?page=1
― Boris the Spreader (NickB), Wednesday, 8 July 2020 12:35 (three years ago) link
Awesome.
― The Fields o' Fat Henry (Tom D.), Wednesday, 8 July 2020 12:49 (three years ago) link
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
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 8 July 2020 13:12 (three years ago) link
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
― Boris the Spreader (NickB), Wednesday, 8 July 2020 13:17 (three years ago) link
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.
― Scampidocio (Le Bateau Ivre), Wednesday, 8 July 2020 13:18 (three years ago) link
her new 2020 song came up recently in Discovery and blew me away, now I forget the name of course
― sleeve, Wednesday, 8 July 2020 14:17 (three years ago) link
great interview!!! classic shirley <3 <3 <3 https://toneglow.substack.com/p/022-shirley-collins
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Monday, 13 July 2020 16:06 (three years ago) link
really nice interview, still so classic. new album is great!
― tylerw, Monday, 13 July 2020 16:57 (three years ago) link
i liked the part about how she and her sister used to sleep in the metal box to protect themselves from air raidspoignant and gnarly, just like a good folk song!!
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Monday, 13 July 2020 18:12 (three years ago) link
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!
― rob, Sunday, 26 July 2020 15:24 (three years ago) link
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.
― the quar on drugs (Simon H.), Monday, 27 July 2020 15:38 (three years ago) link
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
― building a hole (NickB), Friday, 14 May 2021 09:54 (three years ago) link
Ooooooh! Thanks for the alert!
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Friday, 14 May 2021 12:51 (three years ago) link
Wowza
― tylerw, Friday, 14 May 2021 13:58 (three years ago) link
been rinsing this one lately
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sn3ZgtIsFw
― rob, Sunday, 13 March 2022 15:10 (two years ago) link
Usual stab of anxiety whenever this thread gets bumped? CHECK!
But aye, what a glorious album.
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Sunday, 13 March 2022 15:29 (two years ago) link
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.
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.
― rob, Tuesday, 4 April 2023 12:41 (one year ago) link
Hooray! Go Shirley!
― SQUIRREL MEAT!! (Capitaine Jay Vee), Tuesday, 4 April 2023 13:19 (one year ago) link
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.
― no lime tangier, Tuesday, 4 April 2023 14:00 (one year ago) link
https://www.discogs.com/release/19452991-Various-The-Electric-Muse-Revisited-The-Story-Of-Folk-Into-Rock-And-Beyond
― no lime tangier, Tuesday, 4 April 2023 14:01 (one year ago) link
Yaaaaay get it Shirley!!
― Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Tuesday, 4 April 2023 14:07 (one year ago) link
― broken breakbeat (sleeve), Friday, 26 May 2023 17:48 (one year ago) link
nobody? very good record imho
― out-of-print LaserDisc edition (sleeve), Sunday, 30 July 2023 19:59 (ten months ago) link