Personnel: Peggy Seeger (vocals, spoken vocals, guitar, autoharp, concertina); Peggy Seeger; Irene Scott (vocals, spoons); Irene Pyper-Scott, Kitty MacColl, Kitty MacColl (vocals); Irene Pyper-Scot (spoons); Martin Carthy, Billy Bragg, Calum MacColl (vocals, guitar); Mike Seeger (vocals, banjo, autoharp, shaker); Pete Seeger (vocals, banjo); Eliza Carthy (vocals, fiddle); Norma Waterson (vocals); Neill MacColl (guitar, mandolin); Graham Henderson (accordion); James McNally (bodhran).
Liner Note Author: Peggy Seeger.
Recording information: The Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, England (05/29/2005).
Photographers: Philip Ryall; Irene Young.
Peggy Seeger chooses the occasion of her 70th birthday to release the second live album of her distinguished career--the first predating this one by three decades--and does so with a host of supporting musicians and guest stars such as Billy Bragg, Eliza Carthy, and both Pete and Mike Seeger. The set focuses heavily on the British Isles balladry that Seeger studied for many years ("Hangman," "Fiddling Soldier"), but also includes songs with a more political bite, such as "Different Therefore Equal" and "Che Guevara." Her famous friends and family members contribute many memorable moments, but the most affecting part of the disc is Seeger's tribute to her late husband, Ewan MacColl--remembered here with a poem and a stirring version of "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," a song he wrote for Peggy herself.
Professional Reviews
Dirty Linen (p.49) - "Seeger is a master musician in her own right, switching easily between guitar, banjo, concertina, piano, and autoharp..."
