A beautiful and remarkably assured debut album from Ian King, Panic Grass & Fever Few mixes English traditional song with a very contemporary sound palate. Working with the acclaimed On-U sound crew - Adrian Sherwood and Skip ‘Little Axe’ McDonald - has enabled King to bring a new and exciting perspective to the songs of Old England.

“It’s been quite a while since I felt this excited and impressed by a singer. Ian King has star-quality and a commanding stage-presence. He is a grown-up singer, straightforward and strong, and his band, which includes the incomparable Skip McDonald, surprises and intrigues with accompaniments that are elegant, witty, daring and powerful. This is English folk music for the 21st century!” Shirley Collins

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A tremendously powerful and important recording from 1972 – MORRIS ON led to a re-examination of the English Morris dance and an upsurge of interest that continues to this day. Lovingly remastered and packaged in a smart new digipac, the classic MORRIS ON makes a welcome return to the catalogue.

In 1972 three former members of Fairport Convention – Ashley Hutchings, Richard Thompson and Dave Mattacks – got together with accordion-maestro John Kirkpatrick and acclaimed folk fiddler Barry Dransfield to record this ground breaking album. The results were quite extraordinary and led to a re-examination of the Morris tradition and the formation of many new dance sides. Thirty seven years later, leader Ashley Hutchings continues to tour with his popular Morris On band.

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Back in print - a tremendously entertaining and ambitious compendium of English traditional dance music played by some of England’s finest folk-rock musicians.

Following the extraordinarily successful ‘Morris On’, Ashley Hutchings and John Kirkpatrick returned to the studio to record this ambitious collection – presenting a complete history of English traditional dance music played with brio and power, interspersed with leading actors reading from Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy and William Shakespeare. Amongst the featured musicians are Simon Nicol, Phil Pickett, Sue Harris, Peter Knight, Ray Warleigh and Roger Swallow. One of the very finest folk-rock records from the early 1970s’ golden age.

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For singer-songwriter Iain Matthews Joy Mining represents a real career highlight. With a recording career as long, illustrious and industrious as that of Mr Matthews that is some claim. A few years he began working in Holland with the acclaimed Searing Quartet led by pianist Egbert Derix, their debut album is a very rare and beautiful collection. The songs are like exquisite jewels - intimate, introspective and deeply personal - set to the finest jazz arrangements and playing of the award-winning quartet. Having followed Iain’s music since What We Did On Our Holidays in 1969, we are very, very proud to have the opportunity to present Joy Mining on Fledg’ling.

“What Egbert, Peter, Norbert, Sjoed and I have created, is for me, beyond words. From a very special musical connection, that happens once, possibly twice in a lifetime, without rhyme, or reason came this disc. Love it, hate it, or show your ambivalence, this is beyond all doubt and discussion the best album of my career and I’m deeply indebted to all involved, for making a long anticipated dream a reality.” Iain Matthews, September 2008.

“Joy Mining strays off of the beaten path and therefore it’s absolutely worthwhile listening.”

“Joy Mining is an album with many layers. You have to peel away those layers like an onion. Everytime you listen to it, the music offers something new.”

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Jesse Fuller, “The Lone Cat” (1896 - 1976) was one of the great blues troubadours. A remarkably expressive singer and fine 12-string guitarist, Fuller developed his unique one-man-band style around his fotdella (foot-operated bass) and harmonica/kazoo-rig. Move On Down The Line collects his earliest recordings, including the original version of his classic San Francisco Bay Blues, together with a splendid session taped in London in 1965 for Topic Records. One track - John Henry - has been unavailable since the early 1960s. The CD package includes extensive historical sleevenotes by Joe Boyd and Val Wilmer and a selection of very rare photographs by Val Wilmer.

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Squeezebox maestro JOHN KIRKPATRICK is one of the giants of the British folk scene. Over the past three decades he has appeared on hundreds of recordings, yet, seldom has he had the opportunity to record a whole album of his original compositions. The Dance of the Demon Daffodils is just that – a splendid collection of his tunes recorded by the master.

“I’ve been making up tunes for almost as long as I’ve been playing them. It’s impossible to explain why that should happen, but it just does. Quite a few of my own compositions have been recorded over the years, not only by me.” At the last count John had composed over 130 tunes, The Dance of the Demon Daffodils showcases 32 of the very best.

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Martin Simpson’s excellent 1985 album Sad Or High Kicking was originally released by Topic Records. The record includes powerful readings of Randy Newman’s ‘Living Without You’, Anne Lister’s ‘Moth’ and ‘Icarus’, alongside a rollicking Cajun ‘The Lakes Of Ponchartrain’. With the release of Sad Or High Kicking Fledg’ling proudly continue their programme of re-issuing MARTIN SIMPSON’s early recordings. Each album is being carefully remastered from the original master tapes and repackaged for compact disc reissue. The compact discs are housed in digifile miniature replicas of the original vinyl LP sleeves.

For the latest Simpson news please visit: www.martinsimpson.com

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MARTIN SIMPSON is justifiably regarded as one of the finest finger-style guitarists in the world. Grinning In Your Face is one of his finest and most complete recordings. Originally released by Topic Records in 1983, now remastered from the original tapes and repackaged for compact disc reissue. The album includes stunning versions of Bob Dylan’s ‘Masters Of War’, Peter Gabriel’s ‘Biko’ and Sonhouse’s ‘Grinning In Your Face’. Grinning In Your Face is an important record from his back pages, with lots of Mr Simpson’s trademark exuberant guitar.

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At the height of the British blues boom in the late 1960s, a handful of musicians came to prominence reinterpreting the acoustic country blues of the 1920s and ’30s. So in the winter of 1968/’69, Ian Anderson assembled a lively country blues band for his debut album Stereo Death Breakdown. The master tapes were thought to be lost forever, but recent detective work by Fledg’ling Records unearthed them in the vault where they’d been carefully stored.

So here, re-mastered from those original tapes, with two bonus tracks from a contemporary session and new notes by Mr. Anderson, is a long-lost British blues collectors’ piece, finally re-issued just in time for its 40th anniversary.

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The Fledg’ling campaign to document Chris McGregor’s Witchseason recordings from the late 1960s early 1970s comes to an end with the release of Our Prayer a magical, previously unreleased  trio set focusing on McGregor’s piano playing. Accompanying Chris McGregor are the Blue Note’s Louis Moholo on drums and Barre Phillips on double bass.

Our Prayer was produced by Joe Boyd and engineered by John Wood at Sound Techniques studio in London during the same sessions that produced the Septet Up To Earth album. Both records were planned for release in 1969 before being shelved as the McGregor group morphed into the spectacular big band - the Brotherhood of Breath – and all energies were transferred to recording the Brotherhood’s debut album.

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Fotheringay remain one of the great might-have-beens of British music. They lasted less than a year, and released just one album, but their disappearance robbed the early-’70s scene of a group of musicians capable of taking folk-rock to new heights of subtlety and musicianship. Now, the nine songs on that debut album; assumed for almost four decades to be their sole testament, are joined by the eleven that would have constituted a follow-up. Sadly the group broke up during the recording sessions for their second album. Incredibly all the tapes survived in various record company archives. 38 years later the surviving members of the group have mixed all the material to finally complete this remarkable album. Jerry Donahue has been working hard for many, many months reviewing all the recordings to finally bring this remarkable project to conclusion.

When originally released the debut album went straight into the Top Twenty in both Melody Maker and NME, and is now an acknowledged classic recording of British folk-rock. It is very, very rare that musicians get the chance to complete a project begun 38 years earlier. The second Fotheringay album has been eagerly awaited by all fans of Sandy Denny, British folk-rock and by fans of great music in general.

“The resulting “Fotheringay 2” is something of a marvel, a properly ‘lost’ album from the golden age of British folk-rock.” ***** Uncut

“Archive release of the year no question.” fRoots

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Invisible Means is the second oddball masterpiece from four of the world’s finest experimental master musicians, was originally released in 1990. Together French, Frith, Kaiser and Thompson conjure up a heady mix, covering a bewildering variety of genres, from folk and R&B to avant-garde and comic opera. Underpinning the whole album is the extraordinary level of their musicianship. Fledg’ling Records are proud to present this newly re-mastered, maximum length CD, including a previously unreleased live cover of the Rolling Stones’ ‘Play With Fire’.

“The ensemble playing is never less than inspired”.

Amongst the many highlights are John French’s hilarious ‘Now That I Am Dead’ - in which a deceased musician discovers death is the career boost he’s being waiting for), and Richard Thompson’s remarkable ‘Begging Bowl’ and the simply stunning ‘Killing Jar’.

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In 1975 as the Incredible String Band dissolved Robin Williamson relocated to Los Angeles. He soon began work recording a tremendous body of new songs and a backlog of material that didn’t fit the repertoire of the late period String Band. These songs hark back to the glory days of the Incredible’s; based around the majestic acoustic ensemble playing of the Merry Band, this long out-of-print album is a highlight of Williamson’s career.

The album marked the beginning of a very creative period for Robin – leading the Merry Band, beginning his interest in the Celtic harp and ancient bardic poetry. Journey’s Edge was released in 1976 on the Flying Fish label in the USA. This deluxe Fledg’ling edition will see the album’s first official European release. With TEN splendid previously unreleased bonus tracks.

“Journey’s Edge is Williamson reaching out to something new, more homespun and more organic and reaching for things older and more philosophical. It looks to the past and it looks to the future.”

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In 1969 the Chris McGregor Group were riding high on the London jazz scene, playing and hanging out with all the rising stars of British free jazz. Sessions for the previously unreleased Up To Earth brought together a dream team of South African exiles and some of the finest young players on the British scene - Chris McGregor piano, Dudu Pukwana alto saxophone, Mongezi Feza trumpet, Louis Moholo drums, John Surman baritone saxophone and bass clarinet, Evan Parker tenor saxophone with Barre Phillips or Danny Thompson on double bass.

Up To Earth was produced by Joe Boyd and engineered by John Wood at Sound Techniques studio in London, during the same months they were also working with several other luminaries of the Witchseason stable - Fairport Convention, Nick Drake and the Incredible String Band. The album was mastered and test pressings produced before the project was shelved. The group morphed into the spectacular big band - the Brotherhood of Breath – and all energies were transferred to recording the Brotherhood’s debut album. Fledg’ling Records are very proud to release this remarkable album as part of our campaign to reissue Chris McGregor’s wonderfully creative recordings from the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.

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The Blue Blokes 3 are old pals Ian Anderson (the English Country Blues Band, Hot Vultures, Ian Anderson’s Country Blues Band, Tiger Moth and more) on vocals, guitar & slide guitar, Lu Edmonds ( Mekons, Billy Bragg’s Blokes, 3 Mustaphas 3, Shriekback, PiL, The Damned, Kirsty MacColl and many more) on vocals, cumbus, saz, guitar and more, and Ben Mandelson (Billy Bragg’s Blokes, 3 Mustaphas 3, Tiger Moth, Orchestre Jazira, Amazorblades and many more) on vocals, mandolin, baritone bouzouki, banjo, tenor guitar, guitar and more.

Past social twanging and banging apart, the Blue Blokes 3 came together one dark and rainy night in the spring of 2007 to pay tribute to English folk sweetheart Shirley Collins on the occasion of a celebratory evening to mark her receipt of the MBE from another queen. Their wonky take on old time nomadicised English country blues and death folk seemed to appeal and one thing led to another - within days the Fledg’ling A&R office were inviting them to make an album. How could they do other than agree?

“Best of all - Me And My Chauffeur Blues, which now sounds like a Memphis Minnie session in Chicago hijacked by east European Gypsies”. Robin Denselow, The Guardian ***

“What an admirable trio of chaps.” Pete Frame

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The album Live, Love, Larf & Loaf was first released in 1987 and is a wonderful and rare collaboration between four experimental world-class master musicians: JOHN FRENCH - original drummer with Captain Beefheart’s Magic Band, FRED FRITH - founder of the art-rock ensemble Henry Cow, HENRY KAISER - innovative experimental guitarist and composer and RICHARD THOMPSON - singer-songwriter par excellence and founding member of Fairport Convention. “A oddball delight from four truly gifted musicians” - Live, Love, Larf & Loaf was judged ‘Rock Album of the Week’ by the New York Times. This carefully re-mastered and packaged edition adds four previously unreleased live tracks.

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The Chris McGregor Group were essentially the Blue Notes - an extraordinary congregation of jazz musicians who had left their native South Africa in the mid-1960s. Very Urgent their eagerly awaited debut recording was a joyful call of intent. The album mixes simple but utterly unstoppable tunes and exhilarating horn charts - immediately establishing a vitality and exuberance that would continue to define the group. Forty years later, Fledg’ling Records are very proud to bring this splendid album back into print. The passing years have not diminished its impact. Re-mastered from the original master tapes.

“A volcanic force on the British scene… it’s great to have the evidence back.” John Fordham, The Guardian ****

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A remarkable companion CD to Joe Boyd’s best selling autobiography ‘White Bicycles’. This collection traces the story of Joe Boyd and his Witchseason production company during London’s swinging ’sixties. The CD includes many rare and previously unreleased tracks, all carefully remastered, with extensive sleeve notes and previously unpublished photographs.

Voted Compilation of the Year at the 2007 MOJO Awards.

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“To make no bones” about something - to say or do something without delay or scruple, regardless of the consequences; to be honest and direct without any risk that the statement may be misunderstood; to come straight to the point.

Make no bones - two CDs of new recordings by John Kirkpatrick – each one representing one half of a typical evening’s performance. No frills, no additives, just how it comes.

Too come straight to the point - John Kirkpatrick is widely acknowledged as a master of the squeezebox. A world class musician who has been at the forefront of the British folk scene for nearly forty years. Fledg’ling Records are very proud to announce this splendid new double CD set capturing Mr K at the top of his game.

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With great honour Fledg’ling Records announce a deluxe reissue of Andy Robert’s splendid 1973 album - and the Great Stampede - originally released on the legendary Elektra label.

One of this country’s under-acknowledged guitarists and song-writers, Andy Roberts was a leading member of the Liverpool Scene, Plainsong, Grimms and the Hank Wangford Band. He has toured with Roy Harper, Pink Floyd and Roger McGough amongst many, many others. On Andy Roberts & the Great Stampede his band are pianist Zoot Money (of Big Roll Band fame), B J Cole - Europe’s finest pedal steel guitarist, electric violinist Mick Kaminski (from the Electric Light Orchestra) and the fabulous Fotheringay rhythm section – Pat Donaldson and Gerry Conway. The legendary Ollie Halsall adds lead guitar on the first track.

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Brotherhood - a classic title from 1972, the second album by CHRIS McGREGOR’s magnificent big band: the BROTHERHOOD OF BREATH.
Mighty music for the head, the heart and the feet. Long out of print, this wonderful album continues the ground-breaking music of their spectacular debut album (now on FLED 3062).
“The Brotherhood of Breath is the kind of band you want to tell people about. It’s not for private enjoyment, or for worship by a elitist cult. The Brotherhood’s music is for sharing with the world, and that’s what makes its name so apt: the musicians and the audience are brothers (and sisters), and they share the same breath, becoming merely parts of the same giant metabolism.

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Fledg’ling Records proudly present the long-overdue release on CD of a classic title from 1971 by CHRIS McGREGOR’s magnificent big band ~ BROTHERHOOD OF BREATH. Arguably one of the most influential albums to emerge from the London jazz scene of the early 1970s.
The Brotherhood of Breath was an exuberant big-band created by South African born pianist and composer Chris McGregor. In South Africa, McGregor had formed the racially mixed Blue Notes in the early 1960’s.By 1964, finding it very difficult to work at home, they left for Europe, finally settling in London in 1966. The Blue Notes - Chris McGregor, Dudu Pukwana, Mongezi Feza, Johnny Dyani and Louis Moholo made a huge impact on London’s jazz scene and befriended many in London’s emerging avant-garde jazz community. The Brotherhood Of Breath was essentially the expatriate Blue Notes augmented by a large number of their friends from the British jazz community.

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A remarkable journey through the English Midwinter in music and song. The customs and traditions of England at Midwinter yield a breathtaking array of dazzling riches. Accordion maestro John Kirkpatrick takes the listener through tunes celebrating Midwinter dance, rhymes of hope and luck-bringing, songs in honour of food and seasonal merriment and an original song all about the Nativity from the on-looking creatures viewpoint.

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A deluxe reissue of Helen Watson’s debut album - Blue Slipper - first released by EMI Records in 1987. The album was produced by Glyn Johns in Los Angeles - among the musicians playing on the recording were Bernie Leadon (the Eagles), Jerry Donahue (Fairport Convention), Steve Lukather (Toto), Paul Barrere, Bill Payne and Richie Hayward (Little Feat). The sessions were the first time the musicians from Little Feat had recorded together since Lowell George’s death in 1979. For this edition we have added two rare tracks from 12” singles and two previously unreleased demo recordings.

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Gathered here are some magical performances of Shirley and Dolly Collins recorded in concert in the late 1970’s and a handful of demo recordings from the 1960s. These recordings all came to light after the release of Within Sound our monumental and widely acclaimed 4CD overview of Shirley’s recording career. As you might imagine we’re very proud to have the opportunity to release this collection on Fledg’ling Records.

“Like an album of old photos, Snapshots is poignant and full of love.” Songlines

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The Sultans of Squeeze is a splendid new collaboration between two of England’s finest squeezebox maestros - masters of all that needs squeezing. JOHN KIRKPATRICK well known from his recordings with Brass Monkey, the Richard Thompson Band and solo has teamed up with the House Band’s acclaimed CHRIS PARKINSON to record a diverse collection of tunes and songs. The duo take on a powerful repertoire drawn from the English tradition, music hall, zydeco and some original compositions.

“Exceptionally fine playing from two of the best in the business. It’s interesting, lively and fun – what more could you possibly want?” The Living Tradition.

Nominated as “duo of the year” 2006 BBC Radio2 Folk Awards

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First released in 1967, Watch The Stars is a remarkable long-lost gem from the mid-’sixties British folk revival. A beautiful collection of folk, blues and haikus, the album melds a folk-boom topicality with a fine “beat” sensibility; uniting the Afro-American West Coast with suburban London. Long out-of-print, the record is an early milestone in the careers of Dorris Henderson and John Renbourn. Contains two songs written by Anne Briggs and an early cover of Arthur Lee’s Message To Pretty.

“A marvelous album - so good to see it re-released after nearly 40 years.”

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First released in 1968 Large As Life And Twice As Natural is a tremendous acoustic-folk-blues-jazz masterpiece. As always with Davy Graham’s music seems to defy any attempt to categorise - perhaps the simplest description would be “great music”. Davy is joined by the legendary Harold McNair on flute, Dick Heckstall-Smith on saxophone, Jon Hiseman on drums (both from Coliseum) and Danny Thompson (from Pentangle) on double bass.

“Davy was returning from Tangier with musical ideas when the rest of us were still thinking in terms of Brighton Beach and Bert Weedon” John Renbourn

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Davy Graham’s 1966 powerful rythmn’n'blues tinged collection Midnight Man finally sees a long-overdue appearance on compact disc. For this very carefully re-mastered edition Fledg’ling have restored all the elements of the original artwork and added new sleeve notes and several previously unpublished photographs.

“To this day Davy Graham is my absolute hero - always has been.” Bert Jansch

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Another classic record from 1965. An experimental recording conceived by Austin John Marshall bringing together Shirley’s haunting traditional song with Davy’s guitar improvisations. Folk Roots, New Routes opened the door for Fairport Convention’s Liege and Lief and Pentangle’s debut. For this carefully remastered edition Fledg’ling have restored the original artwork, added a new sleeve-note essay and previously unpublished photographs.

“An extraordinary album…that opened people’s minds and shaped a few careers along the way.” fROOTS

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First released in 1969, Hat has not previously appeared on compact disc. The album is a rounded portrait of Davy Graham’s remarkable style - drawing together Willie Dixon, Charles Mingus, The Beatles, Henry Purcell and Indian raga on one splendid record. Fledg’ling have carefully remastered this album from the original master tapes, added new sleeve-notes and previously unpublished photographs.

“All of us guitarists - Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Jimmy Page, myself - owe it all to this wonderful musician. Davy never runs out of ideas, and there has not been anyone who has come close.” Ralph McTell

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Folk, Blues & Beyond… was first released in 1965. The recording established Davy Graham’s reputation, influenced a whole generation of acoustic guitarists and was one of the first steps towards British folk-rock. Fledg’ling Records are very proud to reissue one on the most important recordings from the 1960’s Folk Revival. For this carefully remastered edition we have restored all the elements of the original artwork and added five very rare bonus tracks, new sleeve-notes and previously unpublished photographs.

“The incredible, life-affirming sound of books being rewritten: if you only own one British ‘folk’ record from the 1960s, this ought to be a strong candidate.”  fROOTS.

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Sandy Denny was one of Britain’s finest singer songwriters. A Boxful of Treasures is a deluxe 5CD set - the most comprehensive portrait of her recording career yet attempted. The sumptuous booklet contains a biographical essay, reminiscences from many of Sandy’s closest musical friends and colleagues, many rare and previously unpublished photographs and drawings from Sandy’s own lyric notebooks. With many rare and previously unreleased songs A Boxful Of Treasures sets a new standard for box sets.

“The title tells you all need to know about this BRILLIANT box set.”
BBC Radio 2

“The sound mastering here is, almost without exception, a revelation.” MOJO
here are a couple of reviews from fans of Sandy’s music:

“This is indeed a boxfull of treasures.”

“This is a really fantastic compilation, bringing together some of the best and a lot of the rarest of Sandy’s work at last.”

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Richard Thompson’s first solo album after leaving Fairport Convention is a stunning tour de force - an absolute classic of English music. Recently voted by MOJO magazine as one of the top guitar albums of all time, Henry the Human Fly has been out of print for several years. For this sensitively remastered, slipcased edition Fledg’ling have restored all the elements of the original artwork, included song lyrics and added several prevously unpublished photographs.

One of MOJO’s 20 greatest guitar albums ever!

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Fotheringay’s beautiful debut album was recorded in 1970, and has long been regarded as one of the greatest achievements of British folk-rock. Sandy Denny, Trevor Lucas, Jerry Donahue, Pat Donaldson and Gerry Conway created a magical ensemble sound and one of the finest albums of Sandy’s career. It has been out of print for sometime. For this carefully remastered edition Fledg’ling have restored all of the original artwork and added four bonus tracks - performances recorded at the 1970 Rotterdam Festival. * Remastering approved by original producer Joe Boyd.

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A great new solo album from Mr Kirkpatrick - what more can we say. This time out he explores the Morris Dance tunes of Shropshire - tunes from the repertoire of the Shropshire Bedlams and Martha Rhoden’s Tuppenny Dish, the two dance sides he helped form in the mid-1970s. Spectacular virtuoso playing - it’s easy see why John is regarded as a world class squezebox player. All this plus some incredibly informative and amusing sleevenotes from John.

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Taking time-out from the Incredible String Band Smiling Men With Bad Reputations was Mike Heron’s remarkable debut solo album from 1971. A marvelous eclectic masterpiece that blends rock, folk and world music into an atmospheric whole. Guest musicians include Pete Townshend, Elton John, Jimmy Page, Richard Thompson, John Cale, Dudu Pukwana, Keith Moon and Steve Winwood. Thiis remastered edition is fully annotated with two rare bonus tracks and a new sleeve note by legendary producer Joe Boyd.

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A magnificent third solo album from Helen - one of Britain’s finest singer-songwriters - for Fledg’ling. A stunning collection of Helen’s magical understated songs - beguiling songs of hope, intriguing songs of love lost and new love found, and some exquisite pastoral vignettes - all focussed around her glorious acclaimed voice. Lifesize makes the final part of a loose trilogy with Doffing (1999) and Somersault (1997).

“The very best in folk-soul from Britain”.

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A stunning series of duets with some of John’s favourite musicians was the inspiration for this great new album. Recorded by Oliver Knight in Robin Hood’s Bay and then added to at studios as far apart as London, Los Angeles and Sydney! Collaborating musicians include Richard Thompson, Martin Carthy, Dave Swarbrick, Bob Johnson, Ray Fisher, Alistair Anderson, Kevin Dempsey, Ben Mandelson, James Fagan & Nancy Kerr. Mazurka Berserker contains some of the finest (and most complicated) music JK has ever recorded.

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Our campaign to see all of Shirley’s albums reissued on compact disc finally comes to an end with this release of her debut album. Probably her rarest album, False True Lovers was first released in 1959 on the prestigious Folkways label and has never been released outside of North America. With the help of Washington’s Smithsonian Institute we were able to return to the original Alan Lomax produced tapes to produce this sparkling transfer to cd. Recorded when Shirley was just eighteen, ‘False True Lovers’ is a stunning collection of British and American traditional song, capturing a turning moment in the English folk song revival of the 1950’s.

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Classic 1967 recording finally appears on CD. Produced by Joe Boyd with exquisite arrangements by Dolly Collins and contributions from Robin Williamson and Mike Heron of the Incredible String Band, and Bram Martin (cellist on the Beatles’ ‘Eleanor Rigby’). “The songs on this record belong to ladies fair and tender, the ballad-heroines with lily hands, riding through meadows distracted, saving or losing their virtue, getting pregnant, eloping with gypsies, dying of remorse, twined in the True-Lover’s Knot”.

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A beautiful new collection from one of Britain’s most distinctive and acclaimed voices. On Doffing Helen pays tribute to some of her favourite songs and songwriters. From an idiosyncratic reading of Junior Parker’s ‘Mystery Train’, through the exuberant high jinx of the Maddox Brothers’ ‘I Want To Live And Love’ to the deep soul of Paul Kelly’s ‘Personally’. Through a magical series of understated arrangements, focussed around Helen’s remarkable voice, doffing affirms all that is best in British folk-soul. Doffing is a particular favourite album here in the Fledg’ling cupboard.

doff dof, vt to take off, to put off, to lift (one’s hat) in greeting someone

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Another classic Shirley Collins recording, this time from 1974 and long out of print. Beautiful interpretations of Southern English songs and toasts with some fine arrangements by her sister - Dolly Collins. Contributing musicians include Dolly Collins, Simon Nicol, Terry Potter, Ian Holder, Geoff Singleton and John Watcham.

Released by arrangement with our pals at Topic Records.

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A wonderful historical collection of previously unreleased demos and rare tracks from Linda Thompson - one of Britain’s finest interpretive singers. Remarkable demos from 1970 recorded with Martin Carthy. Linda’s contributions to a very rare album of Brian Patten’s poems. Long-lost demos written by Richard Thompson for a proposed stage musical from the mid-1970’s and some powerful demos written by Linda with Betsy Cook from the mid-eighties. All in all a marvelous collection which “joins-up the dots” of Linda’s acclaimed career.

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One of the very finest British folk/roots albums of all time finally reappears on compact disc. Majestic music for the heart, head and feet. Alright Jack has been acknowledged as a classic of the English folk-rock genre and the Home Service as “Britain’s finest folk big band.” The album has been carefully remastered to bring out all the sonic detail.
“An absolutely essential purchase.” fROOTS

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The long-awaited appearance on compact disc of this fine soundtrack from the Royal National Theatre cycle of Mystery Plays, with special guest appearance from Linda Thompson. Originally released by Coda Records in 1985, now carefully remastered from the original tapes. Captured on this disc are some remarkable performances from John Tams and Bill Caddick - two leading lights of the British folk scene.

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A fantastic collaborative album from five divas of folk, blues and soul. Recorded in 1995 on the Isle of Man, this album stands “a benchmark of British folk singing.”
The very cream of British women singers - CHRISTINE COLLISTER, MELANIE HARROLD, JULIE MATTHEWS, HELEN WATSON & CHRIS WHILE - in a unique collaboration, producing a sound that is both inspired & breathtaking.

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Recorded back in 1972 but never previously released - ‘Sing A Song For You’ captures Anne Briggs at her glorious best. Ten songs - five originals by Anne along with beautiful traditional material like ‘Sovay’, ‘The Bird In The Bush’ and ‘Sullivan’s John’. Backing by Barry Dransfield and Steve Ashley’s Ragged Robin band.

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A collection of seasonal songs from some of the finest voices of the 1960’s English folk revival. The majestic, uplifting vocals of the YOUNG TRADITION - Heather Wood, Peter Bellamy and Royston Wood - are joined by Shirley and Dolly Collins.

Legendary, long lost recordings from 1969. A collection of seasonal songs from some of the finest voices of the 1960’s English folk revival.

Voted a Folk Roots top ten reissue of 1995.

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The greatest British rock’n'folk band of them all - captured in all their live glory - with brass blazing, lead guitar screaming and a rock solid rhythm section. ‘WILD LIFE’ was recorded direct to DAT at the Sidmouth Festival. and London’s Purcell Room and Half Moon during August 1992 with Bill Caddick on lead vocals.

A glorious aural souvenir of “Britain’s finest folk big band.”

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