The Part’s You Don’t Hear were invited to visit the wonderful Shirley Collins for tea and pastries at her home in Lewes, East Sussex to chat about her fascinating career and recording at Sound Techniques, Chelsea. Shirley started her recording career in 1955 after she met the American folk collector Alan Lomax and she released her first full length album in 1959, entitled Sweet England. She first worked with Sound Techniques regulars Joe Boyd (as producer) and John Wood (as engineer) on The Power of The True Love Knot (1968) but it wasn’t until she married Ashley Hutchings in 1971 that she first set foot in the now legendary Sound Techniques studio on Old Church Street in Chelsea.
As we talk to Shirley, it is clear that she is very proud of No Roses (1971), produced by another Sound Techniques regular Sandy Roberton along with her then new husband and ex Fairport Convention founder Ashley Hutchings. Ashley had just left Steeleye Span which he also founded, so in order to record No Roses, a massive ensemble of friends and ex-bandmates including Richard Thompson were called in to back Shirley in what she describes as the most fun she ever had in a studio. Many cite this under appreciated gem of an album to be at least on par with Fairport Convention‘s Liege & Lief (1969). Listen to a favourite track of Shirley’s from the album, The Poor Murdered Woman here.
Shirley returned to Sound Techniques to help with Ashley’s next project Morris On, (1972) and then again for her own album Amaranth (1976). After a staggering 38 years since her last recording, Shirley now 81 years of age has released a superb new album Lodestar, released on Domino Recording Co. Watch Death And The Lady here. She is also the subject of an excellent feature documentary called The Ballad of Shirley Collins. Many thanks again to Shirley for a wonderful morning and to Marco Windham, our fantastic Lighting Cameraman.
