Ashley Hutchings – An Hour With Cecil Sharp


Not exactly an hour but who’s counting? Bearing in mind the current debate on the nature of Englishness, this is a timely and welcome re-issue of the 1986 vinyl album that followed up Ashley’s successful show, “An Evening with Cecil Sharp and Ashley Hutchings”.

Part entertainment and part documentary, it is a celebration of the work of Cecil Sharp and an intriguing insight into one of the most influential characters of the folk revival.

There is a great deal of fascination in hearing some of the early cylinder recordings featured here and the whole album should be regarded as essential listening for any one who has an interest in the folk tradition and its development.

Throw in some terrific playing from Richard Thompson, Martin Carthy and Dave Whetstone and you have a CD that’s well worth the price. It fits easily as part of series that includes “Rattlebone and Ploughjack”, “The Complete Dancing Master” and “A Word In Your Ear”.

Review courtesy of Folk on Tap

Originally posted on folking – 17-May-2001