Released for Record Store Day 2016.

Master guitarist Martin Simpson joins forces with accordion maestro Andy Cutting and drummer Tom A. Wright (who also plays the slashing guitar stabs) on one side of this 7″ vinyl single for a storming version of classic Booker T. instrumental Green Onions.

On the other side Simpson•ŸCuttingŸ•Kerr reconvene for their first recording since the widely-lauded Murmurs album, a thrilling take on the traditional standard Willie Taylor.

Available now from:
TOPIC SHOP and AMAZON

One of a selection of cornerstone Topic recordings being released on vinyl as part of Topic Records’ 75^th anniversary, SHIRLEY COLLINS’ Heroes in Love EP will be released in September 2014 in a front-laminated, flipback sleeve, just like the original, and a new illustrated inner with period reviews from the Topic archives.

Shirley Collins’ uniquely pure and delicate voice means that she is now regarded as one of the quintessential artists of the 1960s folk revival; this record is a highlight of that period, and this reissue comes at a time when Shirley is revitalizing her musical career with new performances and a film in progress documenting her life in music.

Very rare in its original form, this will be the first time this iconic record has been made available as a vinyl EP since its first release half a century ago. We have endeavoured to faithfully match the original Topic EP sleeve with a beautiful gloss-laminated limited edition flip-back sleeve.

Topic’s first ever record was a shellac 78rpm, TRC.1., ‘The Man That Waters The Workers’ Beer’ b/w ‘The Internationale’; now, 75 years and many technological shifts later, the label’s latest releases are a series of vinyl records celebrating that 75^th anniversary and a continuing love affair with a piece of plastic that is still the most exciting format on which to listen to music.

The False Bride / Locks and Bolts b/w Rambleaway / A Blacksmith Courted Me

Available now from:
TOPIC SHOP and AMAZON

To celebrate Record Store Day  – April 19^th 2014 – Topic Records released a 50th anniversary limited edition 7” vinyl facsimile of this historic early recording from Anne Briggs.

One of many jewels in Topic Record’s extensive catalogue, The Hazards Of Love EP has been an important touchstone for myriad singers, songwriters and performers – on a rare visit to London, June Tabor was bought a copy by her older sister: “She took me to Dobell’s and said she’d buy me a record. I got that Anne Briggs EP, Hazards of Love… I was captivated by this woman’s voice and what she did with it…”

The Hazards of Love became the calling card for Anne Briggs – one of the most influential figures in the English folk revival, with Bert Jansch, Jimmy Page, The Watersons and Sandy Denny all acknowledging that influence, and it continues years after its release, with The Decemberists 2009 album title directly taken from the EP which inspired it.

“…a brilliant singer, really brilliant, very natural.”  BERT JANSCH

We have endeavoured to faithfully match the original Topic EP sleeve with a leaflet of song notes by A.L. Lloyd inside a beautiful gloss-laminated limited edition flip-back sleeve.

1  Lowlands Away
2  My Bonny Boy
3  Polly Vaughan
4  Rosemary Lane

Buy The Hazards of Love now from:
PROPERMUSIC.COM and AMAZON

On 19th April we released a beautifully packaged, limited edition 7″ vinyl single for Record Store Day UK – a taster of the forthcoming new album from Martin and Eliza Carthy -  Happiness b/w The Queen of Hearts

‘Happiness’ is a graceful, timeless song written and originally recorded by Molly Drake, Nick Drake’s mother; this is the very first time the song has been officially released by a major recording artist.

 Martin Carthy first recorded ‘The Queen of Hearts’ for his debut album nearly 50 years ago, in 1965, and he revisits the song here with his daughter for a stately rendition that more than equals the quality of that first recording.

The legendary Martin Carthy and his equally legendary daughter Eliza will release their first album together, ‘The Moral of the Elephant’ on 2^nd June 2014.

Available now from:
TOPIC SHOP and AMAZON

Topic will release their first vinyl LP in over 25 years on Monday 18th November when Linda Thompson‘s splendid new album Won’t Be Long Now will be released. The LP is pressed on 180gm audiophile vinyl within a gatefold sleeve.

Won’t Be Long Now is Linda Thompson’s first album in six years and is a return to her folk roots and a bit of a family affair – featuring a duet with former husband Richard Thompson, regular contributions from their children Teddy and Kami, and grandson Zak Hobbs. Won’t Be Long Now also  includes appearances by many alumni of the British folk scene, including John Kirkpatrick, Dave Swarbrick, Martin and Eliza Carthy, as well as American musicians like David Mansfield, Amy Helm, Sam Amidon, Jenni Muldaur and Tony Trischka, among others.

NPR urges “getting to listen to Thompson’s rich voice is well worth the wait.” Recorded mainly in New York City, but also at sessions in Scotland and various London studios including Abbey Road, with longtime producer Ed Haber, the album features nine songs penned by Thompson as well as collaborators, including son Teddy Thompson and Ron Sexsmith.

Track list side A:
1  Love’s For Babies and Fools
2  Never Put To Sea Boys
3  If I Were a Bluebird
4  As Fast As My Feet
5  Father Son Ballad
Side B:
6  Mr. Tams
7  Nursery Rhyme of Innocence and Experience
8  Paddy’s Lamentation
9  Never the Bride
10  Blue Bleezin’ Blind Drunk (recorded live at The Bottom Line)
11  It Won’t Be Long Now

“Longstanding dysphonia problems make any Linda Thompson sighting precious. The fact that, now substantially beyond the full flush of youth, she can still make an album that makes your heart wobble fretfully is extraordinary… Kleenex is a must” Colin Irwin, fRoots

Available now from:
TOPIC SHOP and AMAZON

Our colleagues at Fledg’ling Records also have a facsimile archive SHIRLEY COLLINS EP available.

At the beginning of Shirley Collins’ recording career in 1959 she recorded a series of 7” vinyl EPs. Originally released in short press runs, these rare early recordings have been very hard to find for nearly five decades. This newly re-mastered edition of ‘The Foggy Dew’ EP will be released in September 2014 in a front-laminated, flipback sleeve, just like the original, and an illustrated inner bag with period reviews from the archives.
Very rare in its original form, this will be the first time this iconic record has been made available as a vinyl EP since its first release half a century ago.

“… picking her way back across almost a century,
finding for herself the traditional heart of each song…
What comes through is sincerity, purity of
instinct, and a tremendous depth of feeling.” Alan Lomax

SHIRLEY COLLINS : vocal & banjo
with ROBIN HALL : guitar

1  The Berkshire Tragedy
2  The Foggy Dew
3  Geordie
4  Brigg Fair

We are releasing a double ‘A’-sided limited edition 7″ vinyl single – Dark Honey / Ruben – in advance of the splendid new Simpson∙Cutting∙Kerr album Murmurs.

‘Dark Honey’ is Nancy Kerr’s reflection on the human influence on our fast-changing ecology, informed by a summer of bee swarms in her inner-city garden, and the story she heard of bees collecting the sweetness from discarded cola cans and subsequently producing the dark honey of the title.

‘Ruben’ is an exclusive non-album track, available only on this single.

A spirited and spiritual banjo-led reworking of the American folk standard ‘Reuben’s Train’ (other versions known as ‘500 Miles or ‘900 Miles’), it is the lament of a traveller riding the railroad, penniless, longing for a home far out of reach.

Available now from:
TOPIC SHOP and AMAZON

At the beginning of Shirley Collins’ recording career in 1959 she recorded a series of 7” EPs for the Collector Records label. Originally released in short press runs, these rare early recordings have been very hard to find for nearly five decades.

For Record Store Day 2016, Fledg’ling Records released a newly-remastered vinyl version of ENGLISH SONGS volume 2 (the third of her Collector EPs, recorded with Robin Hall on guitar). Just like the original, this comes in a front-laminated, flipback sleeve, but with a beautiful new inner bag illustrated with rare photographs.

A new remix of the splendid June Tabor & Oysterband reading of Love Will Tear Us Apart was released on a 7″ vinyl single to help celebrate the 5th Annual Record Store Day on 21st April 2012. The ‘b’ side is a live recording of Fountains Flowing recorded at the 2012 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in Salford. An historic release – Topic’s first vinyl single for 32 years!

We have a very limited quantity of the vinyl 7″ available for sale by mail order.

Available now from:
TOPIC SHOP and AMAZON

At the beginning of Shirley Collins’ recording career in 1959 she recorded a series of 7” vinyl EPs. Originally released in short press runs, these rare early recordings have been very hard to find for nearly five decades. Shirley recorded four EPs for the appropriately named Collector label. Fledg’ling Records are very proud to announce a newly re-mastered edition of ‘English Songs’ – the second of those EPs – will be released on April 18th for Record Store 2015 in a front-laminated, flipback sleeve, just like the original, and an illustrated inner bag with period reviews from the archives.

Very rare in its original form, this will be the first time this iconic record has been made available as a vinyl EP since its first release half a century ago.

Shirley Collins vocal and banjo

1 The Unquiet Grave
2 Newcastle
3 The Irish Girl
4 I Drew My Ship

Nic Jones’ Penguin Eggs LP was first released on Topic Records in June 1980 to great critical acclaim.  The album continues to be a mainstay of the Topic Records catalogue, consistently repressed on CD and vinyl, and available digitally, but Nic’s music has never been released on a 7” single, until now.

The perfect combination of guitar, voice and recording technique, ‘Canadee-I-O’ is the first track on Penguin Eggs, showcases Nic’s infectiously rhythmic guitar-style and vocal strength, and his peerless arrangement was used by Bob Dylan when he recorded a version for the 1992 album ‘Good As I Been To You’.

The B-side is a song Nic had been playing and singing as ‘The Flanders Shore’ for some years before this recording; ‘The Flandyke Shore’ is a mysterious and moving tale of love and loss, given poignancy and depth by his unique delivery.

The limited edition single is presented in a new Topic label sleeve with an additional sheet of photographs and period reviews.

Available now from:
TOPIC SHOP and AMAZON

50th anniversay vinyl edition of Martin Carthy‘s debut album. First released in 1965 this record has been an enduring influence, capturing the most creative folksong interpreter of his generation early in his career. His singing and guitar-playing have been imitated wherever the revival has reached, across North America and Europe no less than in Britain.

Martin Carthy vocals, guitar
Dave Swarbrick fiddle, mandolin

1  High Germany
2  The Trees They Do Grow High
3  Sovay
4  Ye Mariners All
5  The Queen of Hearts
6  Broomfield Hill
7  Springhill Mine Disaster
8  Scarborough Fair
9  Lovely Joan
10  The Barley & the Rye
11  The Wind that Shakes the Barley
12  The Two Magicians
13  The Handsome Cabin Boy
14  And a Begging I Will Go

Available now from:
TOPIC SHOP and AMAZON

A beautiful facsimile re-issue of Anne Briggs’ eponymous Topic album of 1971, specially mastered for this 180g vinyl release for Record Store Day 2015.

Anne Briggs vocal, guitar (1 & 4), bouzouki (3 & 9) with Johnny Moynihan bouzouki (3)

1  Blackwater Side
2  The Snow It Melts the Soonest
3  Willie O’Winsbury
4  Go Your Way
5  Thorneymoor Woods
6  The Cuckoo
7  Reynardine
8  Young Tambling
9  Living By the Water
10  Maa Bonny Lad

In 1963 the English Folk Dance and Song Society released an LP of unaccompanied singing that has had a tremendous influence on the folk song revivals of Britain, Ireland and the United States. The album collected together a number of recordings of Bob and Ron Copper of Rottingdean in Sussex, recordings made by the renowned folksong collector Peter Kennedy during the late 1950s.

The Copper Family can trace their roots in traditional song back at least two hundred years. Their rare southern English harmony is presented at its most outstanding in these classic performances from the 1950s and early ’60s.

To celebrate the centenary of Bob Copper’s birth, Fledg’ling Records in collaboration with the Copper Family and Topic Records are releasing a new CD edition of this seminal album. The package recreates all the original artwork and Bob Copper’s complete sleevenotes (the original EFDSS LP only contained a shortened version of the essay).

To celebrate Record Store Day 2015 on 18th April Fledg’ling Records have re-issued this iconic album as a 12″ vinyl LP. The album is packaged in a front-laminated, flipback sleeve, just like the original, and an illustrated inner bag with Bob Copper’s complete sleevenotes.

track list:
1. Two Brethren
2. Month of May
3. Honest Labourer
4. Birds in the Sprin
5. Shepherd in Love
6. Threshing Song
7. Dame Durden
8. Season Round
9. Innocent Hare
10. Lark in the Morning
11. Hard Times of Old England
12. Spencer the Rover
13. Spring Glee
14. Good Ale
15. Babes in the Wood
16. Cupid’s Garden