Various Artists
Album: You Never Heard So Sweet
Label: Topic
Tracks: 26
Website: http://www.topicrecords.co.uk

This disc is one of four simultaneous new issues which comprise the start of what's been called "the second wave" (after a break of over a decade) of the crucial, and much-admired, Voice Of The People series. Its subtitle, Songs By Southern English Traditional Singers, provides the clue that this CD follows the earlier 20 volumes' thematic or geographical approach; 15 of its tracks are sourced from recordings made by Bob Copper during his collecting trips in the 1950s, and these are topped up with 11 for the most part roughly contemporaneous recordings made by Peter Kennedy.

What better person than Shirley Collins to've been accorded the task of compiling this collection? Certainly she redresses the balance of the original VOTP set by including performances from Copper family members (who'd been strangely absent from the 20 earlier volumes): Birds In The Spring, of course (from which the disc derives its title), is typically mightily sung by Bob and Ron, as is Shepherds Arise!, but the jewel here is undoubtedly the exquisite Lemany, recorded by the 70-year-old Jim barely three years before his death. Shirley's deep love of traditional singers shines through her choice of performers, although she includes only four lady singers, a surprisingly small proportion given her own long-term involvement as a professional singer. But in particular, listening to Gladys Stone's beautiful, simple and graceful singing style on Deep In Love, it's so easy to hear from whence came Shirley's own inspiration as a singer and song interpreter.

Inevitably, some of the songs on this disc are increasingly well-known, and many have appeared on the original VOTP set, but in completely different performances, versions or variants; equally inevitably, these yield illuminating and fascinating comparisons, not least in terms of tune and consequently mood portrayed. Luther Hills' charming take on The Foggy Dew, Harry Upton's Canadee-I-O, Mrs Hewett's Old Johnny Buckle and George Burton's The Pretty Ploughboy - all of these are significant discoveries, while George Maynard's deliberate, elder-statesman-like reading of Cloddy Banks is curiously compelling, even to those of us for whom the Coppers' version will always be regarded as definitive. And The Moon Shines Bright, sung by Albert Beale, is not the poacher's song you'd expect but instead a cautionary carol.

Remastering has been carried out to Topic's usual exemplary standard. The hefty 56-page accompanying booklet contains, as well as Reg Hall's introduction to the VOTP series, the full sung texts, together with pertinent extracts from Bob's collecting notes interleaved within information on the singers - but, uncharacteristically for Topic, very little on the actual songs, which is rather a pity; the latter observation is also a surprising omission considering Shirley's designated responsibility for the selection and editorial presentation of the disc's content. But that small caveat aside, the disc is nevertheless a more than worthy companion to the earlier volumes and represents another real treasure trove; it will be regarded both as required listening for devotees and a desirable and accessible introduction to the often undersung glories of English traditional singing.

David Kidman