I don't really know the work of Kate Rusby though know she is highly regarded as a folk singer. This album celebrates her 20 years in the music business as she re-presents songs previously and familiarly performed/recorded in that time. That makes it a good introduction to her. For me, the particular attraction is with the follow-performers on these revised songs, people like Richard Thompson, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nic Jones, Dick Gaughan and Paul Weller, amongst others.
Chris Thile offers his signature bluegrass mandolin on cd1 opener Awkward Annie, and Paul Weller provides a powerful vocal on third track Sun Gazers. Richard Thompson sings and plays on seventh Who Will Sing Me Lullabies - which is quite sweet if you are in that kind of mood - and Dick Gaughan is as distinctive as ever on eighth Jolly Plough Boys. My clear favourite, however, and the standout track, is fourth on this cd The Lark with beautiful guitar and even more beautiful harmony vocal from the great Nic Jones who joins wonderfully from the second verse.
On cd2, Sara Watkins contributes sweet fiddle and tight harmony on third track Mocking Bird, and Mary Chapin Carpenter also harmonises closely on ninth Home, a Christmas song alert as I write this in early November. The Grimethorpe Colliery Band provides a hornful of folk authenticity on tenth Underneath the Stars, and Declan O'Rouke is another able harmony guest on the last song Bring Me a Boat.
These are essentially mellow, lyrically thoughtful songs rather than the pub rabble-rousing type so it's cocoa and home fire rather than beer and hog roasting on a spit.
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