That surprise was followed, early this year, by two brief appearances at Cecil Sharp House: the first (in tandem with Linda Thompson вЂ“ a fellow-sufferer from dysphonia вЂ“ and John Kirkpatrick, at the concert remembering Bob Copper, and the second as part of Wesley StaceвЂ™s Cabinet Of Wonders show. Last year, however, after much persuasion by Current 93вЂ™s David Tibet, Shirley felt able to make a very tentative return to live singing, performing (unbilled, as an opening treat at a Current 93 concert) a couple of songs, accompanied by OysterbandвЂ™s Ian Kearey on guitar. Towards the end of the 70s, though, Shirley suffered from the onset of dysphonia, and the resultant enforced retirement from singing signalled a change in emphasis in that the successive three decades have been spent in an equally ambassadorial role: that of lecturing, writing on, and presenting authoritative talks on, English folk tradition. Imaginative innovation went hand in hand with ShirleyвЂ™s refreshingly unadulterated performing style, and she was involved in some way in a large number of the most influential LPs of the key folk-revival decade that straddled the 60s and the 70s. As a wonderfully pure-toned singer with a truly timeless and honest, direct performing style and a reputation for staying absolutely faithful to the songs, Shirley has tirelessly championed English traditional song, initially via solo work, then via seminal recordings in tandem with guitarist Davy Graham ( Folk Roots, New Routes) or her sister Dolly ( Love, Death And The Lady), and further seminal recordings involving the integration of early-music with folk ( Anthems In Eden, Amaranth) and charting the birth and early progression of folk-rock ( No Roses et al.).

At the tail-end of the вЂ™50s, Shirley accompanied Alan Lomax on field-trips to the southern States, both collecting and documenting, and often making recordings of, a large number of singers and their songs that have since become an integral part of what might be termed the American folk canon. ItвЂ™s unbelievable perhaps, but next month (July) Shirley Collins will reach the grand milestone age of four score years! Her achievements are both legion and widely recognised spanning a good six decades.

Shirley collins no roses rar