Anne Briggs

One of three deluxe reissues from Topic as part of its 80th birthday celebrations, Anne Briggs' first album has only had one UK vinyl reissue since its 1971 release, and this is a very welcome arrival on CD as part of the Topic Treasuresseries. Briggs herself pens an introduction, there are some marvellous photographs of a young Briggs with her partner Johnny Moynihan of Sweeney's Men (who contributes bouzouki on a superlative account of ‘Willie O’ Winsbury’) and excellent sleeve notes from Ken Hunt. It's a beautifully packaged reissue, and while there are no additional tracks, it's a pleasure to have this album available again.

There's not a song here that doesn't enjoy its definitive performance. The spine-tingling ‘Young Tambling’ is the highlight; surely the most intense and magical account of this great ballad of the supernatural. This, and the likes of ‘Reynardine’, ‘The Snow it Melts the Soonest’ and ‘The Cuckoo’, are unaccompanied, while opener ‘Blackwater Side’ and ‘Go Your Way (My Love)’ (co-written with Bert Jansch) feature Briggs' guitar accompaniment. There's also bouzouki on the sole self-penned song, ‘Living by the Water’. Make room for it on your shelf, and between your ears.