America over the Water

By: Shirley Collins

Narrated by: David Tibet, Pip Barnes, Shirley Collins

In America over the Water, celebrated English folksinger Shirley Collins offers an affecting account of her year-long stint as assistant to legendary musical historian and folklorist Alan Lomax. Together, they travelled to Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Georgia, discovering Mississippi Fred McDowell and many others, in their tireless work to uncover the traditional music of America's heartland.

Blending the personal story of Shirley Collins' relationship with Lomax and offering a unique first-hand account of a country on the brink of the civil rights era, America over the Water cuts right to the heart of the blues in a fascinating account of Collins' and Lomax's ground-breaking journey across the Southern states of the USA to record the music that started it all.

Originally published more than 15 years ago, this definitive edition includes a new introduction by Shirley Collins.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Shirley Collins (P)2022 White Rabbit

Critic reviews

"Shirley is a time traveller, a conduit for essential human aches, one of the greatest artists who ever lived." (Stewart Lee)

"Without doubt one of England's greatest cultural treasures." (Billy Bragg)

Essential listening for fans of Collins, Lomax and folk music

An absolutely beautiful book, read by Shirley Collins herself. Her reading is warm, lovingly told and you can see it all coming out of her memory as she laughs at the stories she tells. An incredible experience.