MEGAPHONE
Often unable to meet the demands of the business, folk singer Karen Dalton (1937-93) enjoyed little success during her lifetime. Latterly, her reputation has grown deservedly, with name checks from Bob Dylan (a Greenwich folk scene contemporary), Nick Cave and Joanna Newsom. The recordings in this box set - a 1962 live recording, Cotton Eyed Joe, home recordings from 1963 previously released as Green Rocky Road, plus a download card of previously unreleased material - clearly illustrate why. Dalton’s voice rises simultaneously from a deep Americana past recalling both Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith, yet still sounds utterly contemporary, evidence of why her influence is still pervasive. Newcomers should start with In My Own Time (1971), but this is a fascinating collection that comes complete with a 56-page booklet.