Abyssinians (1983)

"From her first recording June Tabor demonstrated a mature command of traditional and contemporary songs alike, singing them, often unaccompanied, with remarkable individuality and expressiveness. The emotions and meanings she uncovers in the old songs give them a new resonance that has caught the imagination of audiences far beyond the folk scene. June Tabors vocal artistry is especially vividly captured in this 1983 album, produced by Andrew Cronshaw. It opens with a song by Lal & Mike Waterson, closes with one by Joni Mitchell and takes in on the way the African-American spiritual Lay This Body Down." (Topic Records)