An Introduction to...

Specially selected 15 track compilation / Tracks from the rare Hazards Of Love Topic E.P. and Topic solo LP / 3 Tracks from the long lost Sing A Song For You LP / Track by track information.

Anne Briggs began singing in local folk clubs in her teens. In 1962 she became part of the Centre 42 tour which was a leftist group of artists, writers, actors and musicians whose aim was to make arts and culture accessible to the masses. Ewan MacColl first heard Briggs' remarkable voice and persuaded her to join the group and tour. There Briggs met MacColl's comrade A.L. 'Bert' Lloyd who became her mentor.

Briggs debut EP, The Hazards Of Love, was produced by Lloyd. Lloyd also recorded Briggs for Topic released albums The Iron Muse and The Bird In The Bush. In 1971 Anne Briggs recorded her debut full length album simply named Anne Briggs.

Famously, Briggs taught Bert Jansch the song 'Blackwater Side', which he recorded on his classic 1965 debut album; the next year his pivotal traditional album Jack Orion largely comprised songs he learnt from Briggs who helped him understand the structure of folk song. Briggs and Jansch also wrote a handful of songs together. One of these, 'Go Your Way (My Love)', was eventually recorded by Briggs for her Topic album, as was her definitive treatment of the track 'Blackwater Side'. Both tracks feature on this release.

Briggs recorded a follow up album The Time Has Come later that same year for CBS, but it sold poorly and was rapidly deleted. Two years later she recorded again but blocked the album's release because she was so disheartened by her singing. The album Sing A Song For You finally emerged some 23 years later and three songs are featured on this release and feature the group Ragged Robin (with Steve Ashley) and fiddler Barry Dransfield.