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How to buy Martin Carthy

MARTIN CARTHY MARTIN CARTHY FONTANA, 1965

The sparse, perfect debut album, pairing Carthy with Dave Swarbrick on fiddle and mandolin. It begins with “High Germany”, which he still performs, and included his pioneering takes on “Sovay”, “The Queen Of Hearts” and – most importantly – “Scarborough Fair”. 10/10

MARTIN CARTHY PRINCE HEATHEN FONTANA, 1969

Carthy’s fifth with Swarbrick continued the impressive pattern of the previous four: stripped-down, dry and seemingly timeless, all the better to showcase these dramatic stories, from a pensive “Polly On The Shore” and the fiddleand-voice “Reynardine” to the intense, epic title track. 9/10

STEELEYE SPAN PLEASE TO SEE THE KING B&C, 1971

A startlingly unique folk-rock album, with no drums to back the crystalline, fingerpicked Telecasters, overdriven violin, bass and Maddy Prior’s swooping vocals. The Carthyled “Cold Haily, Windy Night”, for instance, is more like The Velvet Underground & Nico than Liege & Lief. 9/10

LAL & MIKE WATERSON BRIGHT PHOEBUS TRAILER, 1972

Carthy plays guitar throughout this most legendary of folk records, consisting of original songs by the two Watersons. He often pairs up with Richard Thompson on dual acoustics, but Norma Waterson and he go it alone on “Red Wine Promises”. 10/10

THE WATERSONS FOR PENCE AND SPICY ALE TOPIC, 1975

Having married Norma Waterson, Carthy is made a member of the reformed singing group. There’s nothing quite like their ragged, angular harmonies on “Swarthfell Rocks” or “Swinton May Song”, while later editions included a stunning “Tam Lin” from Mike Waterson. 8/10

BRASS MONKEY BRASS MONKEY TOPIC, 1983

Initially formed as The Martin Carthy Band, this pioneering group combined brass instruments with Carthy’s guitar and John Kirkpatrick’s accordion. They split after two albums, but have reformed sporadically in the years since. 7/10

MARTIN CARTHY & DAVE SWARBRICK LIFE AND LIMB TOPIC/SPECIAL DELIVERY, 1990

After Swarbrick ended their collaboration by joining Fairport 21 years earlier, the pair reunited for this relaxed, convivial effort. They looked back to the past, understandably, reprising the opener, “Sovay”, from Carthy’s debut, and “Byker Hill”, from his third LP. 8/10

WATERSON: CARTHY WATERSON: CARTHY TOPIC, 1994

A new family band, with Norma Waterson and Carthy joined by their teenage daughter Eliza, a fine singer and fiddler. She provided a diverting vocal on “The Light Dragoon”, while her mother boldly led modal opener “Bold Doherty”. 8/10

MARTIN & ELIZA CARTHY THE MORAL OF THE ELEPHANT TOPIC, 2014

The latest effort from this duo, a beautifully sparse LP featuring guitar, fiddle and vocals; there are traditional numbers and originals, and a yearning cover of Molly Drake’s “Happiness”. 8/10