On this 1995 retrospective from one of Britain's foremost folk divas, the 18 tracks are drawn mostly from 6 albums representing her solo career, although Doffin' Mistress and Grey Funnel Line are from her collaboration with June Tabor on Silly Sisters. Fans will be pleased to know that the latter track served as the theme song to Sirens, a 1994 film. Also includes some rare and previously unreleased material: Mater Dolorosa and a new version of Deep in the Darkest Night. Maddy comments that she chose not to include material from Steeleye Span and Carnival Band, preferring to represent a seam of work less familiar and largely unavailable. Our fave: Accappella Stella from Changing Winds -- worth the price of the album!

Prior,Maddy