Jeannie Robertson: Queen Among the Heather

( Rounder Records )
Part of the Portraits Series

Recorded in 1953 by Alan Lomax Notes by Matthew Barton 

Spell-binding balladeer of Scotland’s traveling clans, Jeannie Robertson was, according to Alan Lomax, “one of the elect — one of the angels of folk songs that have kept the tradition alive and burning across all time.” This recording documents her legendary 1953 sessions at Alan Lomax’s apartment in London that produced her earliest known recording of “The Battle of Harlow” and “Andrew Lammie.” It includes nine songs never before available commercially and interviews about her life. With a repertoire that encompassed classic ballads, and lyric songs from the tender to the risqué, Jeannie Robertson was one of the British folk revivals most beloved personalities. She was awarded an MBE in 1968. She died in 1975.