Quiet Riot: Martin Carthy’s Hushed Debut Gets Welcome Reissue

Among Albion’s greatest, most-beloved folk innovators, Martin Carthy has recorded over 40 studio albums across an illustrious career spanning more than half-a-century. During that time he has influenced disparate artists ranging from Bob Dylan and Paul Simon to Anaïs Mitchell, Amps For Christ and Shovel Dance Collective.

Now Topic Records, who are celebrating their 85th birthday this year, are dialling it back to where it all began, with a welcome vinyl re-release of Carthy’s stunning eponymous, and serenely revolutionary, solo debut.

Originally issued in 1965 by Fontana Records, this spare, but remarkably potent full-length features tender acoustic arrangements of traditionals, including ‘Scarborough Fair’ and ‘The Wind That Shakes The Barley’, along with a deeply affecting reading of Peggy Seeger and Ewan MacColl’s ‘Springhill Mine Disaster’. It also introduces the inauguration of Carthy’s enduring musical partnership with Dave Swarbrick, who here lends accompanying fiddle and mandolin to intimate takes on time-honoured tunes, such as ‘Sovay’, ‘Lovely Joan’ and ‘Broomfield Hill’.

The collection remains Carthy’s personal favourite among his canon. “I love it,” he says. “There was a clarity of purpose.” Props to Topic Records for providing yet another excuse, as if one were really needed, to get reacquainted with this abiding folk classic.

Martin Carthy is reissued via Topic Records on February 23, as part of the label’s ongoing Topic Treasures series. Click here to pre-order