We Know By The Ground That We Are...

Hum.

I debated long and hard about this.

A number of people have contacted me, via comments here and via email, about whether I would post the Shirley Collins 'Within Sound' box set, and I was always non-committal - "I'll think about it". Basically, I paid a fortune for the bloody thing and I'm reluctant to give it away for free - especially when it isn't free (not to me, anyway, I have to pay for my Rapidshare space otherwise the files get deleted after a month).

However, this box set cannot be bought any more. Occasionally it crops up on Amazon or Ebay at a hundred pounds or so (that's what I paid for my copy) but I'm reluctant to support chancers who sell secondhand but otherwise unavailable goods at exorbitant prices.

I have contacted the manufacturers, who told me that the copyright and licensing was for a strictly limited time and quantity and they will *definitely* not be manufacturing any more. Which is a dreadful shame because a) there seem to be a lot of people who want to buy it and b) there is a heck of a lot of excellent music on it. And, while I'm on the subject, I'd suggest you grab the Sandy Denny 'Boxful Of Treasures' set (from the same company) before *that* runs out as well. Oh, and the Watersons one (though that's from Topic, and not likely to go out of print).

However, about half of the tracks on the SCollins box *can* be legally bought on other CDs, and in a way that will (hopefully) continue to benefit the wonderful lady herself - check Amazon or TheBeesKnees.

So what I've decided is that I'll post *some* of the tracks - basically, the ones that aren't on any other legally and currently available CD. Almost by definition these aren't the absolute best of Shirley's work, but they are pretty indispensable if you're a fan and do include some extraordinary gems - for example the beautiful 'Gilderoy', and 'Honour Bright' (a duet with the criminally under-rated Steve Ashley).

Shirley Collins - Within Sound (incomplete)

Part one - Dabbling In The Dew to Whitsun Dance

Part two - The Blacksmith to Never Again

Part three - Gilderoy to Lost In A Wood

Check out the Within Sound page of Reinhard's excellent and indispensible site for more details on the box set.

Oh - and if this is ever reissued you can bet I'll be removing the files pronto.

(Bought Robin Dransfield's reissued Tidewave yet?)

Dreamin' On For You, Baby

First, a bit of a rant (well I haven't done this for a while) about some of the comments that I get for these posts. How would you react if someone said (quote): "Reeeee-Up! Dead link dude. :-)"? Well my reaction is to say "in a pig's ear I will", especially since the album in question (Illegal, Immoral And Fattening) is now available as a twofer from Amazon - as are the other Flo & Eddie albums. And as for "could you post something good by janis lan in lossless format(ape or flac), PLEASE. It is very important for me!!!" - nope. Don't think I will. I only post stuff you can't buy, and I only post MP3s. Don't like it? Go somewhere else.

News? Robin Dransfield's wonderful Tidewave album is now available from Hux records - go buy it and tell them I sent you. Also, Thom Moore (from the wonderful Pumpkinhead and Midnight Well) contacted me to say 1) he doesn't mind my posting his albums (so go get them from here) and 2) he's still producing music - see http://www.thommooremusic.com/home.html.

Now... I have all three of Andy Gibb's albums on vinyl, and also bought them on CD (several years ago now). I think they're great, all three of them. To my mind they encapsulate all that was good about the Bee Gees, without the horrible squeaky voices - in other words, damn good pop songs in-a-disco-stylee. I've been meaning to post these for ages - sorry I've been rather lax recently but I'm working fulltime & so don't get much time to prepare posts.

Hey - I just checked Amazon, and Flowing Rivers is going for £35 used or £68.55 new, Shadow Dancing is £66.35 used or £96.50 used, and After Dark is £101.76 used and £102.97 new. Over a hundred squids? "Five weeks? Blimey!", as you might say. A big pile of poo to that.

They're not available on CD any more, so here they are in all their digital glory - for free. Yar boo sucks to whoever is trying to charge such stupid prices.

BTW Shadow Dancing is a repost - see http://witchseason.blogspot.com/2007/05/all-this-and-nothing-more.html

Andy Gibb - Flowing Rivers (1977)

Andy's first album, more poppy and less BeeGee-influenced than his later ones. Nice.

01 - I Just Want To Be Your Everything
02 - Words And Music
03 - Dance To The Light Of The Morning
04 - Too Many Looks In Your Eyes
05 - Starlight
06 - (Love Is) Thicker Than Water
07 - Flowing Rivers
08 - Come Home For The Winter
09 - Let It Be Me
10 - In The End

Download Flowing Rivers

Andy Gibb - Shadow Dancing (1978)

The second album, a chart success and deservedly so.

01 - Shadow Dancing
02 - Why
03 - Fool For A Night
04 - An Everlasting Love
05 - (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away
06 - One More Look At The Night
07 - Melody
08 - I Go For You
09 - Good Feeling
10 - Waiting For You

Download Shadow Dancing

Andy Gibb - After Dark (1980)

The third and last album. From what I hear he was already in a bad way when he made this, so the brothers' influence is stronger. The final track is a real tear-jerker.

01 - After Dark
02 - Desire
03 - Wherever You Are
04 - Warm Ride
05 - Rest Your Love On Me
06 - I Can't Help It
07 - One Love
08 - Someone I Ain't
10 - Dreamin' On

Download After Dark