Freedom and Rain cover

Freedom and Rain

Released

This is not only one of Oysterband’s best albums, it’s also one of June Tabor’s best. Although she started out as a strictly traditional folk singer in the late 1960s, by the end of the 1980s she had expanded her range considerably, and this musical summit meeting with British folk-rockers Oysterband (at the time still billed as The Oyster Band) finds both at the peak of their powers. Their rendition of Shane McGowan’s startlingly tender “Lullaby of London” is perhaps the album’s high point, but their cover of Richard Thompson’s “Night Comes In” is excellent as well, and there’s really not a weak track here.

Rick Anderson

Recommended by

Suggestions
Capernaum cover

Capernaum

The Tannahill Weavers
Monongah cover

Monongah

Kyle Carey
The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter cover

The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter

The Incredible String Band
Glory Bound cover

Glory Bound

The Grahams
Love, Death and the Lady cover

Love, Death and the Lady

Shirley Collins, Dolly Collins
Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno cover

Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno

Riley Calcagno, Vivian Leva
Panchpuran cover

Panchpuran

Bill Jones
H. P. Lovecraft I cover

H. P. Lovecraft I

H.P. Lovecraft
Life Is Fine cover

Life Is Fine

Paul Kelly
Rumor and Sigh cover

Rumor and Sigh

Richard Thompson