Shirley Collins (born 1935)

English singer, singing mainly traditional songs.

(Shirley Elizabeth Collins has also recorded with the Albion Band, The Young Tradition, Davy Graham, The Etchingham Steam Band and as a duo with Dolly Collins)
(Shirley Collins has written a book "America Over The Water"(2004) about her experience collecting folk songs with Alan Lomax)

Albums.

(*) The CD of "The Sweet Primeroses" contains extra tracks - the
whole of "Heroes In Love".
(**) The 1976 "Amaranth" contains some of the tracks from the 1969 "Amaranth"
plus new recordings made in 1976 with the Albion Band.
(***) Anthems in Eden contains all the tracks of the 1969 "Amaranth"
plus the additional tracks from 1976 version.
(****) Recorded live in Dublin 1978-79

Collaboration: Alax Lomax and the Ramblers (including Shirley Collins).

(* with Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger, Shirley Collins, Sandy Brown, John Cole,
Bryan Daley, Jim Bray and Alan Sutton)

Collaboration: Davy Graham and Shirley Collins.

(* recorded 1964, released 1965)

Collaboration - Young Tradition and Shirley and Dolly Collins.

Compilations.

(* Shirley and Dolly Collins. Recorded 1966 and 1979)

Best albums(*)

(*)Based on my opinion.

Anthology - Harry Cox, Bob Roberts, Shirley Collins, Frank McPeake, Fred Lawson, Davy Stewart, Bob and Ron Copper etc.

(*) 10 inch album.

Anthologies.

(* with Cyril Tawney, Steve Benbow and Seamus Ennis)
(** with Martin Carthy, Isla St Clair, and Percy Edwards)

Anthology - Maddy Prior, John Kirkpatrick, Frankie Armstrong, Nic Jones, Gordeanna McCulloch, John Wright, Shirley Collins et al.

Anthology - Steeleye Span, Ian Matthews, Sandy Denny, Shirley Collins, Ian Matthews, Tim Moore et al.

Anthology - Frankie Armstrong, Maddy Prior, Cyril Tawney, The Watersons, Peta Webb, A.L. Lloyd, Roy Bailey, Linda Adams, Peter Bellamy, Patti Reid, John Kirkpatrick, Martin Carthy, Shirley Collins, Swan Arcade, June Tabor et al.

Anthology - Various artists including Shirley Collins and Martin Wynham-Read.

Anthology - Various artists including Devil's Interval, James Raynard, Julie Murphy, Lisa Knapp, Barry Dransfield, James Yorkston & The Athletes, Circulus, Tom Paxton, Jacqui McShee's Pentangle, Shirley Collins et al.

Anthology - Various artists including Shirley Collins, Mr Fox, Anne Briggs, Steeleye Span, Shelagh McDonald, Pentangle, Loudest Whisper et al.

Anthology - Nic Jones, William Kimber, Harry Cox, Shirley Collins, A.L. Lloyd, Sam Larner, The Watersons, Margaret Barry, The Boys of the Lough, Dick Gaughan, Kentigern et al.

Popular downloads.

DVD - Isla St Clair, Martin Carthy, Shirley Collins, Floella Benjamin et al.

DVD - Isla St Clair, Martin Carthy, Shirley Collins, Floella Benjamin et al.

(* Reissue of "70 Golden Nursery Rhymes")

"False True Lovers". Recorded 1960.

Shirley Collins (vocal, banjo), John Hasted, Ralph Rinzler, Guy Carawan. Notes by Alan Lomax.

"The Power of the True Love Knot". Recorded 1968. Running time 42 minutes 39 seconds.

Shirley Collins (vocal, 5-string dulcimer), Dolly Collins (pipe-organ), Bram Taylor (cello on tracks 1 and 9), Mike Heron (finger cymbals, African drum, clapping), Robin Williamson (Japanese sticks, tin whistle, chanter (on track 11) from Indian Shahanhai, clapping)

The Classic Collection. Recorded 1966 - 1978. Released on CD in 2004. Running time 57 minutes 24 seconds. 
Track 1 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal), Dolly Collins (pipe organ). 
Track 2 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal, 5-string dulcuimer), Dolly Collins (pipe organ), Bram Martin (cello). 
Track 3 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal). 
Track 4 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal), Dolly Collins (pipe organ), Phil Pickett (recorders). 
Track 5 (Royston Wood) Shirley Collins (vocal), Dolly Collins (pipe organ). 
Track 6 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal, banjo). 
Track 7 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal), Dolly Collins (pipe organ). 
Track 8 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal), Dolly Collins (pipe organ). 
Track 9 (Richard Thompson) Shirley Collins (vocal), Dolly Collins (piano). 
Track 10 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal, banjo). 
Track 11 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal, banjo). 
Track 12 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal, banjo). 
Track 13 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal), Dolly Collins (pipe organ).
Track 14 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal), Dolly Collins (pipe organ), Bob Stewart (plucked psaltry). 
Track 15 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal, banjo). 
Track 16 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal), Dolly Collins (pipe organ). 
Track 17 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal), Etchingham Steam Band. 
Track 18 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal), Dolly Collins (pipe organ). 
Track 19 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal), Dolly Collins (piano, vocal), Phil Pickett (tenor curtal, cornett).
Track 20 (Traditional) Shirley Collins (vocal, banjo). 

Title.	Album.	Date
1. The Sweet Primeroses	The Sweet Primeroses	1967
2. Bonnie Boy	The Power of the True Love Knot	1968
3. Adieu to Old England	Adieu to Old England	1974
4. The Moon shines Bright	For As Many As Will	1978
5. March the Morning Sun	The Holly Bears The Crown	1969
6. A Blacksmith Courted Me	The Sweet Primeroses	1967
7. Just As The Tide Was Flowing	The Power of the True Love Knot	1968
8. Down by the Seaside	Adieu to Old England	1974
9. Never Again	For As Many As Will	1978
10. I Drew My Ship	False True Lovers	1960
11. The Foggy Dew	False True Lovers	1960
12. False True Love	The Sweet Primeroses	1967
13. All Things are Quite Silent	The Sweet Primeroses	1967
14. One Night As I Lay On My Bed	Adieu to Old England	1974
15. Polly Vaughan	The Power of the True Love Knot	1968
16. The Cherry Tree Carol	The Holly Bears the Crown	1969
17. Come All You Little Streamers	The Etchingham Steam Band	1975
18. Greenwood Laddie	The Power of the True Love Knot	1968
19. Guilderoy	For As Many As Will	1978
20. The False Bride	The Sweet Primeroses	1967

"The Holly Bears the Crown". Recorded 1969. Running time 32 minutes 50 seconds.

The Young Tradition (Peter Bellamy (vocal), Heather Wood (vocals), Royston Wood (vocals)), Shirley Collins (vocals), Dolly Collins (pipe-organ),  Adam Skeaping (bass viol), Roderick Skeaping (recorder). Narrations by Gary Watson. Instrumental arrangements by Dolly Collins. Produced by John Gilbert. Photography by Brian Shuel. Cover artwork by David Suff.

Website

www.goldilox.co.uk/engfolk/shirley_collins.htm

Interview

http://www.furious.com/perfect/collinsgraham.html

Last updated on 11/08/2012