As mentioned in the Folk recommendations thread, this is Mojo's list (issue 157) of 'beyond folk' albums? Which is your favourite?

See also: 1972–2006 albums

Lots of treasures on this one.
The COB is good as is the Moyshe Mcstiffe lp.
Comus is incredible
The David Crosby is wonderful. I gave my copy away but I want it back now.
I voted Inc String band as this was the album I listened to ...at the same time as i was into the Pop group, Swell Maps, Fall, Slits, Tapper Zukie etc around 79. It was a highlight of that time for me.
Beefheart...Inc String Band, Pop Group, Stooges, Joy div and the Fall. Thats what we were into.

I don't like Vasjti Bunion tho.

Slightly disturbing that the first 25 LPs (i.e. this poll) span a mere 7 years, and that the next 25 albums cover 34 years... I suppose the 1980s were a bad time for folk.

Quite a selection but very hard for me to choose anything other than a Shirley Collins album and "Anthems In Eden" pretty much has to be the one.

She's now Shirley Collins MBE, in case you hadn't spotted it....

vashti or comus.

Any particular reason? I've never heard it but have read rave reviews.

And how is that name pronounced?

So many good ones there, but Shirley Collins gets the vote. The ISB album is a classic of course, as is the Comus, the Roy Harper and the Steeleye Span - all very solid choices.

I'm sure you've heard her off-key cracked piercing wail more than once on the T Mobile ad.
The reason it only sold 200 copies in 1971 or whenver it was, was because it was rubbish and nobody wanted to listen to it. There was many other great things about so it got lost. Then a combination of dealer hype and collector scum antics elevated it to the £150 mark by which time it was ripe for reissue. It sez a lot for the current climate that something like that can be dragged out of obscurity and acclaimed so highly as some sort of forgotten masterpiece.
Her last album ---every track was exactly the same. Bah.

Anthems In Eden. So English.. and yet so weird. Brilliant combination of High Art instrumentation and magical traditional material.

"Folk Roots, New Routes" a very respectable second..

maybe that sort of delicate beauty isn't for everyone but i think 'just another diamond day' is one of the most astonishing records ever made, and it's become a classic for a good reason!

same with the first comus lp and the wicker man soundtrack, those 3 are the best "folk" records ever imho.

Bought a copy of Liege and Lief just before Christmas and it's scarcely been off, but I'm going for the first Steeleye album - the whole thing is great but that sequence from The Blackleg Miner to The Hills of Greenmore is just sublime.

Went for Comus in the end. Great list. Honourable mentions to

Incredible String Band • The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
Shirley & Dolly Collins • Anthems In Eden
Karen Dalton • It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best
Fairport Convention • Liege & Lief
Sweeney's Men • The Tracks Of Sweeney
Linda Perhacs • Parallellograms
Steeleye Span • Hark! The Village Wait
David Crosby • If I Could Only Remember My Name
Roy Harper • Stormcock
Judee Sill • Judee Sill
Trees • On The Shore

Went for First Utterance, too, but the Yank in me wanted to deny it its rightful vote in favor of Linda Perhacs. The title track of that album is incredible.

Voted for Anthems in Eden. Also like the Comus album. I've heard some COB stuff in passing which is also v good.
Could also do without Vashti meself :lol:

Listened to Judee Sill's Judee Sill this morning. Lovely stuff. Obviously a clear Joni Mitchell influence, but in some ways much weirder. There's a great warmth to the voice, too.

For anyone who's curious what she sounds like, these rare track mp3s are highly recommended, especially 1–6.

Is Roy Harper's Stormcock a good place to start with his stuff?

Well it's excellent, four intense and long tracks.
Flat Baroque and Berserk is probably more immediate / accessible.

There's a compilation called Counter Culture which came out recently. Double CD covers all his career.

Another artist who needs a proper box set.

Yes, or possibly Valentine. 'Stormcock', 'Lifemask' and 'Flat baroque ' are my favourites though.

Listening to Shirley & Dolly Collins' Anthems In Eden for the first time right now. This truly is magical stuff that transports you to another time, another place. Never heard anyhing quite like it.

Does anyone here recommend the new Pentangle box-set? It has been getting rave reviews.

Shirley Collins was on Woman's Hour last week.

Here until thursday

Very interesting interview.
Thank you Mr Cat.

It was supposed to be out in January.

Then February.

Now 12 March.

Typical Castle messing with release dates.

:angry:
Someone there should be castrated for such carry-on and misleading of the public.

Have it ordered from Amazon for £17.99.

Toughie...Pentangle ....

Sweeney's Men by a fair distance from Tyranausaurus Rex and Skip Spence.

What a list!
Everyone one a diamond I think, one of the only polls I've seen where I actually own every album listed - I will put some serious thought as to which is best-est.