Isla Cameron & Lou Killen - The Waters of Tyne [Prestige Folk]

Isla Cameron and Lou Killen - The Waters of Tyne; Northumbrian Songs & Ballads - Prestige International INT-13059 - Blue Trident Label, Mono

[update: This side has always been of some fascination for me as it was one of the most elusive Prestige International sides to track down - I ended up ordering it from a record store in Finland and had it shipped to me in  North America. So it was my great pleasure that I managed to speak with Lou (now Louisa, an interesting story itself)  Killen at her home in the UK and  briefly chat about the circumstances of recording this side. 

Fortunately, Killen remembered a bit about recording it - sometime in the late 59 and early 1960 in London. It was a day long session, starting with brandies at 10 am and finishing at night. Lou didn't know Isla Cameron particularly well - she was mostly active as an actor and recorded her contributions in the morning before leaving for an acting commitment in the evening. Killen and producers Ewan Macoll, Kenneth Goldstein stayed for the duration of the session. Looking back after nearly forty years Killen isn't particularly fond of this record and told me she hadn't listened to it since recording it!  She seemed astonished that I spent so much time and effort to track down this side. Most of her dissatisfaction relates to the quality of the vocals - which were a bit strained and horse after this marathon recording session.]

Isla Cameron - Vocals
Lou Killen - Vocals
Peggy Seeger - Banjo & Guitar

Recorded - [dates unknown, UK?]

Produced by Kenneth S Goldstein & Ewan MacColl
Recorded by City of London Studios [Van Gelder in Vinyl Matrix]
Cover Design - Don Schlitten
Cover Photo - Ewan MacColl

Released - 1963?

Here's the second of the two Isla Cameron rare Prestige International UK Folk sides - a collaboration with Lou Killen . Overall, I think it's the more polished and stronger side of the two. The contrast between Cameron playing off against the rather gruff Killen works well. There's a couple of nice duets as well.