VA - Electric Muse, The Story of Folk into Rock Series.

FOLK INTO ROCK...

VA - Electric Muse, The Story of Folk into Rock Series.

The evolution of music, particularly the transformation of folk into rock, is a fascinating journey that has been beautifully encapsulated in a series of box sets. Each set, released at different points in time, offers a unique perspective on this musical metamorphosis.

The first set, "Electric Muse, The Story of Folk into Rock " released in 1975, serves as an enjoyable and informative introduction to the genre. It is a testament to the enduring vitality of the genre, presenting a collection of folk songs that are as captivating today as they were at the time of their creation. This compilation; offers a persuasive argument for the continued relevance and development of the genre.

"New Electric Muse II, The Continuing Story of Folk Into Rock" was released in1997, a new three-CD collection, taking advantage of the expanded runtime to broaden the scope of the narrative. This set sought to update the story, incorporating elements of punk and new folk artists from the 90s. It was a bold move that demonstrated the genre’s adaptability and its ability to evolve with the times.

A decade later, "The All New Electric Muse: The Story of Folk Into Rock" was released in 2008. While it was a solid collection, it lacked some of the elements that made the previous sets so compelling, such as extensive booklets, rare tracks, clever sequencing, and more obscure artists. Despite these omissions, it still offered a valuable insight into the genre’s progression.

The most recent set, "The Electric Muse Revisited: The Story of Folk Into Rock and Beyond" a four-CD opus released in 2021, is a must-have for any lover of British folk-rock. It not only celebrates the survivors of the folk scene but also acknowledges those who continue to make innovative music today. This  4 CD, 61-track collection, based on the original book and album from 1975 is now brought up to date by one of the original authors, Robin Denselow. The release aims to explore the experimental side of the British folk scene, from the folk-rock era to the present day. Reviewing such a treasure trove is a challenge and the music on display is so varied that neat summaries are not easy to come by. It’s guaranteed there’s something to love for everyone. With over 4.5 hours pf music, It pays tribute to the enduring influence of talents whose lives were tragically cut short, demonstrating their lasting impact on the scene.

In conclusion, these box sets provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution of folk into rock and beyond. They showcase the genre’s richness and diversity over the years, making them an essential addition to the collection of any folk and rock music enthusiast. These are not only a collection of hot-shot guitarists (step forward Davy Graham, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn and John Martyn – all present and correct), the usual suspects when it comes to the folk-rock frame-up (Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and Traffic), or tragic troubadours such as Sandy Denny or Nick Drake. (B)

Included in the post are the following:

• VA - Electric Muse, The Story of Folk into Rock [1975]
• VA - New Electric Muse II, The Continuing Story of Folk into Rock [1997]
• VA - The All-New Electric Muse, The Story of Folk into Rock [2008]
• VA - The Electric Muse Revisited, The Story of Folk into Rock and Beyond [2021] 

Also included is the book "The Electric Muse, The Story of Folk into Rock" by Dave Laing, Karl Dallas, Robin Denselow and Robert Shelton [1975]

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Track list

Vol. 01 Electric Muse, The Story of Folk into Rock [1975]

CD01

01 Steeleye Span - Robbery With Violins 1:43

02 Ian Campbell Folk Group - Tail Toddle (Extract) 0:37

03 Fairport Convention - Sir B. Mckenzie (Extract) 1:33

04 Lead Belly - The Gallows Pole 2:50

05 Ramblin’ Jack Elliott - Pretty Boy Floyd 3:04

06 Margaret Barry - She Moves Through The Fair 3:51

07 Alan Lomax & The Ramblers - Hard Case 2:38

08 Jim Copper, John Copper, Bob Copper & Ron Copper - The Banks Of Sweet Primeroses 2:07

09 Archie Fisher & Ray Fisher - The Twa Corbies 2:05

10 A. L. Lloyd - The Shoals Of Herring (Extract) 2:11

11 Ian Campbell Folk Group - Rocky Road To Dublin / Drops Of Brandy 2:14

12 Dubliners - The Mason's Apron 3:41

13 Chieftains - Carolan's Concerto 2:48

14 Gryphon - Kemp's Jig 3:09

15 Fairport Convention - Medley: The Lark In The Morning / Rakish Paddy / Foxhunter's Jig / Toss The Feathers 4:08

16 Ashley Hutchings - Greensleeves 1:45

17 Hedgehog Pie - Drops Of Brandy 1:12

18 John Martyn - Eibhlí Ghail Chiúin Ni Chearbhaill 3:07

CD02

01 Davey Graham - Angi 2:26

02 Davey Graham - She Moves Through The Fair 3:14

03 Davey Graham - Better Git It In Your Soul 2:28

04 Bert Jansch - Veronica 1:32

05 John Renbourn - Waltz 2:01

06 Ralph Mctell - Willoughby's Farm 2:05

07 Marc Brierley - Dragonfly 2:19

08 Jackson C. Frank - Blues Run The Game 3:35

09 Roy Harper - Forever 3:30

10 Pentangle - Waltz 5:06

11 Martin Carthy - Scarborough Fair 3:28

12 Al Stewart - Soho, Needless To Say 3:54

13 John Martyn & Beverley Martyn - John The Baptist 3:16

14 Humblebums - Please Sing A Song For Us 2:48

15 Fairport Convention - Chelsea Morning 3:05

CD03

01 Shirley Collins & Davey Graham - Pretty Saro 4:19

02 Bert Jansch - Blackwaterside 3:46

03 Young Tradition - Lyke-Wake Dirge 2:47

04 John Renbourn - Bransle Gay 1:15

05 Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick - Our Captain Cried All Hands 2:07

06 Pentangle - Let No Man Steal Your Thyme 2:47

07 Shirley Collins - The Wedding Song 4:07

08 Fairport Convention - Nottamun Town 3:11

09 Fairport Convention - Tam Lin 7:11

10 Traffic - John Barleycorn 6:25

11 Fairport Convention - Lord Marlborough 3:26

12 Steeleye Span - The Weaver And The Factory Maid 5:19

CD4

01 Bob Pegg & Carole Pegg - Rise Up Jock 4:01

02 Mr. Fox - The Gay Goshawk 3:13

03 Fairport Convention - Poor Will And The Jolly Hangman 5:29

04 Lindisfarne - Turn A Deaf Ear 3:51

05 Jack The Lad - The Third Millenium 1:53

06 Richard Thompson - Nobody's Wedding 3:10

07 Albion Band - Albion Sunrise 2:14

08 Albion Morris - Upton-Upon-Severn Stick Dance 5:59

09 Fairport Convention - Furs And Feathers 4:30

10 Steve Ashley - The Spirit Of Christmas 2:38

11 Mike Waterson & Lal Waterson - The Magical Man 2:42

12 Fairport Convention - Stranger To Himself 2:48

13 Albion Band - The The New St. George / La Rotta 4:13

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Vol. 02 New Electric Muse II, The Continuing Story Of Folk Into Rock [1997]

CD01

01 Watersons - King Arthur's Servants 1:12

02 Young Tradition - The Agincourt Carol 4:33

03 Young Tradition With Shirley Collins - Bring Us Good Ale 2:31

04 John Renbourn - Trotto- Saltarello 2:31

05 Steeleye Span - The King 1:31

06 Steeleye Span - Gower Wassail 5:24

07 Shirley Collins & The Albion Country Band - Hal-An-Tow 2:49

08 Morris On - Staines Morris 3:11

09 Gryphon - Pastime With Good Company 1:29

10 John Kirkpatrick & Ashley Hutchings - The Beginning Of The World 1:44

11 City Waites - England Be Glad 2:04

12 Bob Pegg - The One-Eyed Merchant 3:44

13 Dave Swarbrick - Carthy's March 2:35

14 Albion Band - Four Tunes From Terpsichore, 1612 4:15

15 Dave Swarbrick - Boadicea 2:09

16 Brass Monkey - Jolly Bold Robber 2:50

17 Albion Band - Personent Hodie 2:15

18 John Kirkpatrick Band - Medley Of 4 Morris Tunes 5:56

19 Jacqui Mcshee - Lovely Joan 5:52

20 Steeleye Span - Corbies 3:38

21 Kate Rusby - Annan Water 5:24

CD02

01 Watersons - The North Country Maid 2:30

02 Johnstons - The Lark In The Morning 2:38

03 Pentagle - I Loved A Lass 2:40

04 Steeleye Span - Lovely On The Water 5:16

05 Anne Briggs - Sullivan's John 4:06

06 June Tabor - Bonny May 4:54

07 Nic Jones - The Handyke Shore 2:50

08 Dave Swarbrick - Wishing-The Victor's Return-The Gravel Walk 5:13

09 Brass Monkey - Old Grenadier 3:29

10 Cock & Bull Band - The Wonder- Ridotta Rock 3:32

11 Home Service - Radstock Jig 3:04

12 Oyster Band - Galopede 3:00

13 Barley Works - Byker Hill 5:04

14 Mouth Music & Mairi Macinnes - 's Muladach Mi, Sad Am I & Lonely 5:06

15 Shooglenifty - The Tammienorrie 5:11

16 Oige - The Flower Of Magherallyo 4:39

17 Burach - Three Reels 3:51

18 Fairport Convention - The Card Song-Shuffle The Pack 4:26

CD03

01 Watersons - The Thirty Foot Trailer 3:29

02 Ian Campbell Folk Group - Dirty Old Town 2:39

03 Johnstons - The Tunnel Tigers 2:13

04 Sweeney's Men - Go By Brooks 2:03

05 Humblebums - Look Over The Hill And Far Away 3:40

06 Fairport Convention - Who Knows Where The Time Goes 5:06

07 Fotheringay - The Pond & The Stream 3:16

08 Anne Briggs - Go Your Way 4:05

09 Cyril Tawney - Sally Free And Easy 5:43

10 Richard And Linda Thompson - When I Get To The Border 3:23

11 Richard & Linda Thompson - Dimming Of The Day 3:48

12 Dransfield - It's Dark In Here 4:09

13 Linda Thompson - I'm A Dreamer 4:07

14 Richard Thompson - Devonside 4:43

15 June Tabor & Oyster Band - Pain Or Paradise 3:11

16 Billy Bragg - Moving The Goal Posts 2:31

17 Oyster Band - Granite Years 4:18

18 Jes Lowe & The Bad Pennies - Bede Weeps 3:11

19 Ralph Mctell - Sand In Your Shoes 3:42

20 Norma Waterson - Hard Times Heart 3:16

21 Bob Pegg - A Dram For The Singer 4:32

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Vol. 03 All New Electric Muse The Story of Folk into Rock [2008]

CD01

01 Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group The - Rock Island Line 2:29

02 Davy Graham - She Moved Through The Fair 3:13

03 Ian Campbell Folk Group The - Across The Hills 1:53

04 Shirley Collins & Davy Graham - Pretty Saro 4:17

05 Bert Jansch - Angi 3:10

06 Davy Graham - Better Git In Your Soul 2:28

07 Bert Jansch - Needle Of Death 3:18

08 Donovan - Colours 2:45

09 Three City Four - History Lesson 2:55

10 Martin Carthy - Scarborough Fair 3:27

11 John Renbourn - Waltz 1:59

12 Young Tradition - Lyke Wake Dirge 2:45

13 Jackson C Frank - Blues Run The Game 3:32

14 Dubliners - The Mason's Apron 3:39

15 Incredible String Band - First Girl I Loved 4:58

16 Sandy Denny - You Never Wanted Me 3:22

17 Sweeney's Men - Rattlin' Roarin' Willy 2:25

18 John Martyn - Seven Black Roses 4:02

19 Fairport Convention - Autopsy 4:22

20 Pentangle - Let No Man Steal Your Thyme 2:45

21 Ralph Mctell - Michael In The Garden 4:25

22 Nick Drake - Time Has Told Me 4:25

23 Dr. Strangely Strange - Dark Haired Lady 2:59

CD02

01 Humblebums - Please Sing A Song For Us 2:47

02 John And Beverley Martyn - John The Baptist 3:12

03 Fairport Convention - Crazy Man Michael 4:39

04 Fairport Convention - Sir Patrick Spens 3:31

05 Traffic - John Barleycorn (Must Die) 6:23

06 Fotheringay - Banks Of The Nile 8:05

07 Mike Heron - Feast Of Stephen 4:38

08 Mr. Fox - The Gay Goshawk 3:17

09 Steeleye Span - The Blackleg Miner 2:45

10 Pentangle - Sally Go Round The Roses 3:37

11 Shirley Collins & The Albion Country Band - Murder Of Maria Marten 7:25

12 Steeleye Span - Lovely On The Water 5:19

13 Martin Carthy - Famous Flower Of Serving Men 9:21

14 Pentangle - Rain And Snow 3:50

15 Richard Thompson - Nobody's Wedding 3:14

16 Finbar And Eddie Furey - Her Father Didn't Like Me Anyway 3:45

17 Amazing Blondel - The Siege Of Yaddlethorpe 2:35

CD03

01 Ashley Hutchings & Chums - Staines Morris 3:14

02 Incredible String Band - Black Jack David 2:43

03 Tim Hart & Maddy Prior - Dancing At Whitsun 3:37

04 Robin Williamson - Strings In The Earth And Air 3:09

05 Sandy Denny - Blackwaterside 4:12

06 Shelagh Mcdonald - Dowie Dens Of Yarrow 6:52

07 John James & Pete Berryman - Sky In My Pie 2:36

08 John Martyn - Eibhli Ghail Chiuin Ni Chearbhail 3:08

09 Albion Country Band The - New St. George / La Rotta 4:15

10 Ashley Hutchings & Chums - Bonny Breastknot / Double Lead Through 2:39

11 Bryn Haworth - Grappenhall Rag 2:58

12 Gryphon - Kemp's Jig 3:09

13 Mick Moloney - An Gaoth Andheas 3:47

14 Andrew Cronshaw - The Cuckoo / The Blacksmith 3:39

15 Richard & Linda Thompson - Mole In A Hole 3:23

16 Traffic - The Eagle Flies 4:22

17 Fairport Convention - Stranger To Himself 2:52

18 Dransfield - It's Dark In Here 4:11

19 John Renbourne Group The - A Maid In Bedlam 3:57

20 Dave Swarbrick - Wat Ye Wha / I Met The Streen / The Ribbons Of The Redheaded Girl / Ril Gan Ainm 4:49

21 John Renbourne - Circle Dance 4:25

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Vol. 04 The Electric Muse Revisited, The Story Of Folk Into Rock And Beyond [2021]

CD01

01 Shirley Collins & Davy Graham - Sweet Greens And Blues 3:19

02 Shirley & Dolly Collins - Gilderoy 4:46

03 Shirley Collins - Crowlink 4:27

04 Fairport Convention - Sir Patrick Spens 3:28

05 Fairport Convention - The Festival Bell 2:59

06 Richard & Linda Thompson - The World Is A Wonderful Place 3:30

07 Sandy Denny - Who Knows Where The Time Goes? 4:32

08 Imagined Village - The Quiet Joys Of Brotherhood 5:35

09 Lavinia Blackwall - A Sailor's Life 7:33

10 Maddy Prior - John The Gun 4:51

11 Steeleye Span - Dark Morris Song 4:03

12 Steeleye Span - Harvest 7:28

13 John Kirkpatrick - What Do You Do In The Day? 4:46

14 Albion Dance Band - I Got New Shoes 2:50

15 Ashley Hutchings - My Dearest (To Ireland I Made My Way) 3:30

16 Justin Adams - She Moved Through The Fair 3:02

CD02

01 Andrew Cronshaw - The Ship In Distress 7:55

02 Brass Monkey - The Maid And The Palmer 5:31

03 Home Service - Alright Jack 5:36

04 Battlefield Band - I Am The Common Man 2:58

05 Billy Bragg - Between The Wars 2:29

06 Oysterband - Hal - An - Tow 4:24

07 June Tabor & Oysterband - Susie Clelland 5:13

08 The Levellers - The Recruiting Sergeant 3:48

09 Edward Ii - Plough The Speed 3:39

10 Capercaillie - Inexile 4:26

11 Eliza Carthy - Greenwood Laddie / Mrs Capons Reel / Tune 5:57

12 Eliza Carthy - Worcester City 4:47

13 Martyn Bennett - Ale House 3:58

14 Jim Moray - Early One Morning 4:31

15 Jim Moray - Lucy Wan 5:01

16 Billy Bragg & The Blokes - England, Half English 2:25

CD03

01 Imagined Village - Cold Haily Rainy Night 6:12

02 Imagined Village - My Son John 6:08

03 Ian King - Four Loom Weaver 3:44

04 June Tabor & Oysterband - Bonny Bunch Of Roses 5:00

05 June Tabor & Oysterband - I'll Show You Wonders 4:41

06 Lau - Saint Monday 5:22

07 Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita - Les Bras De Mer 8:00

08 Rails - Send Her To Holloway 4:38

09 False Lights - Far In Distant Lands 5:11

10 Carole Pegg & Radik Tiuliush - A Gay Goshawk 4:14

11 Rab Noakes - Believing Is Seeing 4:21

12 Olivia Chaney - False Bride 4:02

13 Offa Rex - Willie O"Winsbury 7:29

14 Olivia Chaney - House On A Hill 3:56

CD04

01 Peter Knight's Gigspanner Big Band - Searching For Lambs 8:31

02 Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band - You Know Me 4:23

03 Spiro - The Copper Suite 8:36

04 Jon Boden & The Remnant Kings - Sweet Thames Flow Softly 3:06

05 Sharon Shannon - Sacred Earth 5:04

06 Shooglenifty & Dhun Dhora - Hichki 5:02

07 Yorkston; Thorne; Khan - The Shearing's Not For You 7:42

08 Lizabett Russo - The Water Is Wide 3:29

09 Show Of Hands - Bristol Slaver 4:25

10 Lunatraktors - Rigs Of The Times 3:29

11 Stick In The Wheel - Villon Song 2:26

12 Stick In The Wheel - Top Knot 2:06

13 Stick In The Wheel - 100,000 Years / Brisk Lad 3:56

14 Sam Lee - Spencer The Rover 4:50

15 Sam Lee, Lisa Knapp - The Tan Yard Side 6:33

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