The Great Selkie of Sule Skerry
and other legendary folk ballads
Starring three amazing and very distinct versions of The Great Selkie of Sule Skerry song, beginning with Barbara Dickson's version from 1996, the classic cut by Judy Collins from 1962 and concluding with a mighty June Tabor interpretation from 2011. Selkies are mythological shape shifting half seal - half human hybrids from Norse and Celtic traditions. These selkie folk (Scots) who wear seal skin could be benevolent or vengeful in equal measure but could be tricked into marrying humans by the hiding of their precious seal skins. Such unions were usually deemed to have ended in tragedy. Selection of artful & fiddle-heavy folk numbers.
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Barbara Dickson made a return to singing traditional material in the mid-90'. Tracks from her 1996 CD Dark End of the Street feature here, including fresh versions of Fine Horseman and Brother Can You Spare a Dime. The irrepressible June Tabor leaves an indelible print on everything she touches. Featuring tracks from her Ashore (2011) and A Quiet Eye (1999) albums including a striking cover of Richard Thompson song Pharoah. Thompson himself appears in person with an acoustic cut of Guns are the Tongues. Spotlight on the Barry Dransfield Wings Of The Sphinx album from 1996 with interesting self-compositions and a nice version of the Recruited Collier. Peter Knight's Gigspanner Big Band never fail to impress with their supreme musicianship & multi-genre approach. Cuts of two ballad book classics and a stomping reel from their 2020 Natural Invention LP. Staying with Peter Knight, Steeleye Span remind us of their brilliance with three 70's songs. Galtee Farmer absolutely rocks while When I was on Horseback, one of their very greatest recordings, is a take on the Unfortunate Rake/Sailor Cut Down in His Prime lyric. Eliza Carthy did another version in 2005, this time called the Unfortunate Lass, from her Rough Music sessions. The three songs by original American folk legend Judy Collins are taken from her excellent second album Golden Apples Of The Sun (1962). Show of Hands come with two rebel songs; their early hit Cousin Jack and the Australian Streets of Forbes (we featured the Bushwackers version on a previous session). Christy Moore stays in an Aussie groove for a mournful deep cut of Van Diemans before telling the outlaw tale of the Galtee Mountain Boy. Jon Raven & The Halliard represent the Midlands with the tragic broadside ballad Workhouse Boy. Geordie lullabies by Judy Dunlop and Tynedale singer Carolyn Robson. A brass-powered version of John Martyn's Spencer the Rover by Robin Dransfield. Original Fisher Family version of Rigs o' Rye.
Continuous mix 2hrs 30
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