Shirley Collins has announced details of Lodestar – her first studio album in 38 years.
The album is released on November 4 by Domino.
Lodestar is a collection of English, American and Cajun songs dating from the 16th Century to the 1950s, recorded at Shirley’s home in Lewes by Stephen Thrower and Ossian Brown of Cyclobe and produced and musically directed by Ian Kearey.
The first track to be shared from Lodestar is “Cruel Lincoln“. Collins explains the history of the song: “This is an ancient ballad, found only rarely in England. The theory is that Cruel Lincoln was a mason who was not paid for the work he did for ‘the Lord of the Manor’ and so extracted a terrible revenge”. It also features bird song recorded at the back of Shirley’s cottage.
The tracklisting for Lodestar is:
Awake Awake – The Split Ash Tree – May Carol – Southover
The Banks of Green Willow
Cruel Lincoln
Washed Ashore
Death And the Lady
Pretty Polly
Old Johnny Buckle
Sur le Borde de l’Eau
The Rich Irish Lady/Jeff Sturgeon
The Silver Swan
The album will be available on limited edition deluxe vinyl with a 24 page 12” booklet featuring song notes by Collins and sleeve notes by Stewart Lee and a signed print (signed print is available exclusively via Dom Mart) and a limited edition deluxe CD with 28 page booklet and also standard vinyl.
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