Hedy West was one of the most individual and inspiring folk musicians to grace the North American and European folk scenes. Ace's remastered release of her two solo albums for Vanguard is available for the first time anywhere apart from limited-edition, expensive imports prices or bootlegs. A major restoration to the marketplace, none of this material has ever been released commercially in Europe before. This superlative 32-track Ace release comprises her two ultra-rare solo studio albums for Vanguard in their entirety plus two bonus tracks of illuminating contemporaneous material never heard in public since the original sessions. In addition to the original Vanguard liner notes, folk music historian Ken Hunt (The Independent, fRoots, R2, Sing Out! contributor and consultant to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography and more) contributes an original and extensive CD booklet essay to contextualise her life, art and career. Hedy West is among the best women singers of the American folk-song revival. That among is a pretence of objectivity: my private view is that she's by far the best of the lot, was how singer and folklorist Bert Lloyd described her in 1965. Fellside's anthology of Hedy West's UK recordings for Topic, Ballads & Songs From The Appalachians , topped the 2011 Roots Critics Poll in the Reissues and Compilations of the Year category. This Ace anthology consists entirely of her US Vanguard solo album material and duplicates none of the Topic sessions.
D**H
Hedy West accompanying herself on the 5-string banjo, Hedy West, Vol. 2
Her first two of Hedy West's albums, when she was in her mid-late twenties, which weren't available for over 30 years, have come to life again on one CD. Beauty! Nice to be able to listen to them again. They are an absolute must for any banjoplayer, and ballad singer accompanying him/herself on the 5-string banjo.
A**R
Hedy West accompanying herself on the 5-string banjo CD
I like this CD - it is simple - voice and banjo. Hedy West was a great American folk singer and banjo player and there are some really great songs on this CD - especially 500 miles, which she wrote, and Cotton Mill Girls.
B**.
Four Stars
Great CD, Songs are so well played and recorded.
V**G
Fantastic!
Classic Hedy West. Don't think I need to say more. If you remember her buy it and if you don't you should certainly buy it. An icon of folk music.
M**E
Clean, uncluttered, folk. beautiful
Fabulous, simple songs that come alive from Hedy West's lovely voice and banjo playing. If you like clean, uncluttered, folk music then Hedy West is for you.
D**W
At Last, At Last!
My superlatives about Hedy West can be found on my review of her other recently released CD (the Fellside CD but originally from the Topic label) She was simply the best of the female singers who arrived during the folk song revival of the sixties; she learned the songs and lived the life in the true 'folkie' way! Like the other CD this is folkmusic at its simplest and best: Hedy West sings songs she learned from her family, accompanying herself on the five string banjo. Don't let the apparent title mislead you: this CD is from two long out of print Vanguard LP's, Hedy West and Hedy West Volume 2, which were recorded in the USA before she arrived in the UK and recorded for Topic. Thus there is no duplication of material, that most annoying feature that is occuring more and more, although a couple of different recordings of the same titles occur. Well worth buying them both - highly recommended.
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