steve tilston

The Life and Music of Steve Tilston

Release Date: July 2007 ~ Free Reed Records FRQCD 70

A 5-CD Celebration of the music of Steve Tilston

Available from the ONLINE STORE

A 5-CD celebration of the music of Steve Tilston featuring classic, rare and previously-unreleased & new recordings from his entire career

This deluxe Box-set comprises five full-length themed CDs, over 85 Tracks…….  with previously-unreleased rarities and new recordings from Steve, his friends and musical collaborators - plus: a 100-page full-colour book with detailed discography, image archive, and career overview.

The wealth of Tilston’s finest songs in this much-overdue showcase and celebration will delight his many fans, and introduce his fine work to an even wider audience:  As respected world music authority Andy Kershaw said of Steve recently: “The songwriters’ songwriter…. one of the most consistently outstanding songwriters of his generation”

CD1: Who Made up the Rules?” A first CD that takes us from Steve’s debut album, through his ground-breaking stays in London and Bristol, to his move north – and the album that made him world-famous. It includes tracks from every album he released in that period, as well as some new recordings made especially for this set.  Among the guests playing with Steve are John Renbourn, Lea Nicholson, Chris Parkinson, Dave Pegg, Rick Kemp, Gary Boyle, Rupert Hine, Maartin Allcock, Pete Zorn & Maggie Boyle

CD2: “He Took Most Delight” -  Decades of contrasts… keynote collaborations… classic compositions…definitive solo work – This was the era that established Steve as an international force. Climaxing in tracks from an acclaimed solo album, this CD takes in his two groundbreaking albums with Maggie Boyle, participation in WAZ and the all-star Fairport Supporters band.

CD3: “Staring at the Time” – New routes and old roots. The songs poured out so fast that many were left unreleased – and the pick of those overlooked gems join the established Tilston Classics in this set, which brings the story up to date. Guests include Dave Pegg, Chris Parkinson, Brooks Williams, “The Bedroom Choir”, Pete Zorn, Maartin Allcock, annA rydeR, Maggie Boyle, Andy Shepherd.

CD4:  “Do What You Please” – This unique collection is “The album Steve never made”. Though he often includes cover versions in his live set, they do not normally make it on to recordings, so here, in songs “from other hands”, is a musical autobiography of the wide and wonderful Tilston influences and inspirations.

Bonus CD5:  “Bringing in the Steves” – a unique collection of cover versions of Steve’s songs, many recorded especially for this release, by the many artists and performers around the world who have admired and performed his music:  friends and guests’ tracks by – Ralph McTell, Jez Lowe, Pete Morton, Bob Fox, Fairport Convention, John Kirkpatrick, Chris Parkinson, Martha Tilston, Robin Williamson, Chris Smither – and many more!

This box-set includes… Five full-length themed CDs, a 100-page book and discography, ….and a 10/- note

….over 5 hours of Music….