Fledg’ling Records is dedicated to releasing the very best folk and folk-rock from the British Isles and beyond. Fledg’ling began as an independent label in 1995 – previously some titles were released under the Hokey Pokey Records imprint. The label has grown quickly to establish a reputation as one of the finest in Britain. Our releases have collected praise worldwide.
The Fledg’ling catalogue contains material drawn from the past sixty years of recording – performances unified by their beauty and honesty. Quality is a trademark of Fledg’ling records – most releases are compact discs featuring careful re-mastering, detailed sleeve notes and previously unpublished photographs.
2015 sees Fledg’ling celebrate our first 21 years as an independent and idiosyncratic record label. The SANDY DENNY and SHIRLEY COLLINS box sets garnered terrific praise around the world, as have our series of CHRIS McGREGOR releases and we are currently preparing our one hundred and fifth release. We never imagined that the label would grow to be one of the leading specialists in folk and folk-rock music from England. Many thanks for all your support.
Latest News
Another previously unreleased HEDY WEST album!
Following the acclaimed release of From Granmaw and Me in April 2018, Fledg’ling Records, in partnership with the Estate of Hedy West, are very proud to present Untitled – another wonderful and important previously unreleased album from the late Hedy West.
Hedy West, one of the finest folk singers of her generation, was born in the hill country of northern Georgia. From an early age, traditional folk music played an integral role in her life. In the mid-‘50s she won first prize at the Asheville Annual Folk Festival for her singing. She recorded 3 albums for the Vanguard label before moving to England. In the late ‘60s Hedy recorded three widely acclaimed albums for Topic records and one for the Fontana label before settling in Germany.
Most of her recordings drew heavily upon the repertoire of songs handed down in her family. Unreleased until now, Untitled was recorded in Germany in the late 1970s with contributions from Eloise and Tracy Schwarz (The New Lost City Ramblers) and remained unreleased at the time of Hedy ‘s untimely death in July 2005.
In 1967 A L Lloyd wrote: “Hedy is among the best women singers of the American folksong revival. That “among” is a pretence of objectivity; my private view is that she’s by far the best of the lot.” A sentiment that Martin Simpson and many contemporary folk musicians would happily concur with.
From Granmaw and Me was voted a Top 10 historical release of 2018 in the Annual fROOTS Critics Poll.
Track list:
1. Bush Whacker, 2. The Plains of Waterloo, 3. Born In North Carolina, 4. Der Graben, 5. I’ll Sing A Song, 6. The Three Friends, 7. Young Edmund, 8. Queen Jane, 9. On The Rim Of The World, 10. Hobo’s Lullaby, 11. There’ll Be No Distinction.
SHIRLEY COLLINS ~ Shirley Sings Irish WING 1005 vinyl EP
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