The Wife of Usher's Well Hedy West (child 79)

[Frailer46]

I met Hedy in the 60s in the UK and her singing and banjo playing on these ballads raised the hair on the back of my head. Our band did a cover of this - see Pitchpole Jack singing 'There was a woman' on YouTube. Thanks for posting this.

[tomasperry]

Hallo Dotty, how often I come across you. I've not heard Pretty Saro, so for me this the pinnacle of Hedy's work. Rest peacefully, you lovely woman and thank you so much for what you gave us.

[DottyWang]

I've been searching YouTube in vain for the wonderful Hedy West and then I stumbled on her from Ewan MacColl. She's so under-rated, hardly known outside the aficionados. "Pretty Saro" must be her best - was it her that said she'd learned it from her grandmother and copied the style to show us all how it used to be done?

The re-making of the ballads in the Appalachians was a small miracle, giving them new life in the best of settings. Then came blue-grass . . .

[ivycompton]

One of her most moving songs. Superbly played, felt, sung. Thanks for posting this example of Hedy West's art.

[leanannsidhe]

@ivycompton Quite welcome! I'm planning to add more of her work, from her Ballads album, til then glad you've enjoyed this. And I do agree, it's very moving. take care :)