Monday 16 October 2017

Anne Briggs


Our mutual chum Charity Chic is without equal when it comes to sniffing out quality CDs from the piles of dross usually found in the darkest corners of the nation's charity shops. We've got no fewer than 9 such establishments in the nearby small market town and I can't remember finding a decent CD in any of them in the 6 years since we moved here. Car-boot sales though...they're quite a different matter. In the wee small hours of every Sunday morning, Mrs S and I step out into the pre-dawn twilight and drive off to the two largest car-boot sales in the local area, just over 20 miles away. Once there, we poke about in, pore over and rummage through all manner of old tosh and usually come home with a heap of dusty bits and bobs that, in all truth, we probably don't need. Over the past couple of Sunday's I've had an particularly high strike rate on the quality CD front. Take the 2007 remastered reissue of Anne Briggs' 1971 LP 'The Time Has Come' for example, picked up for a quid the week before last - a real gem. Here are two cuts from the album. Note how similar Anne's phrasing is at times, to that of her one time partner in music and life Bert Jansch - it's quite uncanny.

Anne Briggs - Sandman's Song 

Anne Briggs - Tangled Man

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting these two, Mr. S. I haven't heard either and thoroughly enjoyed both.

I understand that Ms. Briggs lives somewhere in the Hebrides these days.

Ramone666 said...

One of my fave Britfolk albums. Did you know she quit singing as she couldn't stand the sound of her own voice?

Charity Chic said...

I'm putting that down as a find Swede

The Swede said...

Marie. Glad you enjoyed the tunes, Anne's a fascinating figure on the 60s/70s British folk scene.

Ramone666. Yes I read that somewhere - ridiculous isn't it?

Charity Chic. I was very chuffed to unearth it.

Brian said...

This might make you laugh in bewilderment, but I had to confirm my guess as to what a car boot sale was. A car boot has a different meaning in this part of the world. Anyway, a very fine find, Swede. Never heard this one before. Nothing better than the thrill of the find in a place like a car boot sale.

Swiss Adam said...

Great find and post too.

drew said...

Good one Swede. I was introduced to Anne Briggs via a rather lovely version of The Time Has Come by Rose Melberg from her album Cast Away The Clouds which is well worth seeking out.

The Swede said...

Brian. Lost in translation, almost!

SA. Cheers.

Drew. I checked out Rose's cover and it is indeed rather lovely. She's a new name to me, thanks for the tip.

Old Pa's Corner said...

This is a gem and BJ connection is so clear to hear. love this.

Rickety Rackety said...

Simply wonderful. Who the hell gets rid of Anne Briggs CDs? In a car boot?? Hats off.

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