Anne Briggs draws almost exclusively from the classic repertoire of British folk, her performances are both pure and unusual. Briggs was one of the few singers who could hold audiences’ attention recalls Linda Thompson who first met her in 1965. ‘She was an intense singer with the ability to transfix an audience, it was almost hypnotic.

Ewan MacColl first heard Briggs’ remarkable voice and persuaded her to join the Centre 42 tour of 1962. There Briggs met MacColl’s broader minded comrade A.L. ‘Bert’ Lloyd who became her mentor. Briggs debut EP, The Hazards Of Love, was produced by Lloyd although Briggs never enjoyed recording and it was only though Lloyd’s coaxing that she contributed to his pioneering conceptual albums The Iron Muse and The Bird In The Bush. The first six, traditional, unaccompanied songs presented here are taken from these outstanding recordings made between 1963 and 1966 which display all the hallmarks of Anne Briggs artistry pure, fluid and with lawless timing.