was started in the 1950s by song collector and of , initially as an outlet for 's group, but the label eventually recorded all manner of traditional artists and musicians, and even issued a few LPs of gathered by . When signed to , the label was sold, and 's catalog has surfaced ever since under countless imprints, including , , and most recently, . This sampler, released by , suggests the wide range of material the original label featured, all of it recorded simply and with few or no embellishments, giving most tracks the feel of . Highlights include the great 's slide guitar instrumental version of 's moody and nuanced the odd ' thin, fragile, and deeply affected tenor on 's striking, slowed-down take on and the shaky, halting, and over-dramatic vocal approach by to There are also guitarists, and on this diverse, scattershot, and intriguing collection. ~ Steve Leggett