The Watersons - The Definitive Collection (2003)

Drawn from The Watersons' celebrated recordings for the Topic label over the past 40 years, THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION is the first single disc overview of their amazing career and includes tracks as a group, as soloists and in collaboration with others. Now the subject of a new Topic boxed set of 4 CDs and a DVD, interest in The Watersons will be intense in the press and media as well as in folk circles and the general public. THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION is not a sampler for the box but an excellent general introduction to the wealth of The Watersons music catalogue. The Watersons hit the folk scene in the mid 1960s with a sound that is still reverberating. Consisting of two sisters, Norma and Lal, their brother Mike and cousin John Harrison, the four part vocal sound they achieved stood the whole scene on its head. Although their joyous and powerful sound is firmly and unapologetically of the folk tradition their influence has spread far and wide across the world of modern acoustic music. Personnel changes, with Martin Carthy joining the group, never dimmed it's spirit which still lives on in Waterson:Carthy and Blue Murder.

01. God Bless the Master - (3:09)
02. Dido Bendigo - (2:56)
03. The Welcome Sailor - (3:18)
04. Emmanuel - (2:48)
05. Idumea - (2:33)
06. The Still and Silent Ocean - (3:52)
07. Fathom the Bowl - (2:51)
08. Fare Thee Well Cold Winter - (2:26)
09. The Holmfirth Anthem - (2:01)
10. Stormy Winds - (3:14)
11. Rosebuds in June - (3:18)
12. Bellman - (3:58)
13. Sleep on Beloved - (3:08)
14. Swansea Town - (4:36)
15. The Beggar Man - (3:32)
16. Amazing Grace - (4:38)
17. The Old Churchyard - (3:28)
18. Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy - (3:40)
19. Malpas Wassail - (4:11)