The prefect introduction to the wonders of Topic Records the worlds oldest surviving independent record label, a 2 CD set featuring 28 specially selected songs from the labels vast back catalogue.
The story of Topic is synonymous with the growth of folk as a musical and social movement in Britain over the last three quarter century and these recordings demonstrate the bridge between modern music and a traditional art form.
On these CD’s you will find some of the most remarkable singers, songs and tunes – either drawn directly from the tradition or inspired by it. The music is totally contemporary yet with its feet firmly rooted in Britain’s own unique culture.
Not all the music is strictly British, as the Folk Revival embraced other folk cultures, so Ramblin’ Jack Elliott’s version of Woody Guthrie’s Talking Dustbowl Blues is here – demonstrating how folk music can deal with social issues of the day as well as harking back to earlier times. This attitude is also reflected in John Tams’ Unity, Steve Ashley’s Ships of Shame, Dick Gaughan’s Both Sides the Tweed and even Ewan MacColl’s Dirty Old Town.
There are reworkings of great traditional story songs – Anne Briggs’ Blackwater Side, Mike Watersons’ Tamlyn, Nic Jones’ Canadee-i-o and majestic performances by Martin Simpson – Never Any Good, Shirley Collins, Davy Graham, Martin Carthy, Eliza Carthy and The Watersons and The Full English’s Man In The Moon.
June Tabor and Oysterband take a quite different approach and make the Joy Division song Love Will Tear Us Apart something completely their own.
Pentangle, Andrew Cronshaw, Brass Monkey, Vin Garbutt, Johnny Handle, Bill Caddick, The Cheviot Ranters, Cilla Fisher and Artie Tresize, Silly Sisters, Tim Van Eyken, Peter Bellamy and Oak – the list goes on – a fulfilling and haunting introduction to the great legacy of the folk tradition and Topic Records