Ian & Sylvia – The Lost Tapes

Twenty previously unreleased tracks for you to discover. This is Ian & Sylvia, one of the best loved bands out of the American folk music era. They came onto the scene in the early 1960s in New York performing alongside Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. All this despite the fact that they are Canadian. They went on to sell hundreds of thousands of albums – together and as solo artists.

Recently Sylvia was cleaning up and discovered these songs. Long forgotten. All were recorded in a studio in front of an audience. Some are songs which most have not heard before while others are beloved classics. The sound is their typical mix of country and pop.

The first disc is filled with, and subtitled, Ian & Sylvia classics. Folk music at its best. Over the 13 tracks here you begin to understand what they were about. Folk music. “I’ll Fly Away”, “Nancy Whisky” and “Little Beggarman” have never sounded better. The second disc, called Previously Unreleased, is basically covers. It features a more country sound. Here you get “Come On in My Kitchen” and “Starting All Over Again”.

What comes through in a strong way is how timeless their music is. “Four Strong Winds” will never sound dated. It is a classic. Both Ian and Sylvia’s voices are strong, harmonies are heavenly and the band, the Great Speckled Bird, is tight. Makes you sad over the fact that they broke up in 1975…wondering what else they could have produced if they had remained together.

Track Listings