(1-CD DigiPac - four panel - with booklet, 24 tracks. Playing time: 81:50)

A long-overdue reissue of the rare folk recordings of Canadian singer Bonnie Dobson. Her 1961 composition 'Morning Dew' continues to draw attention and praise. Her 1960s recordings such as 'Live At Folk City ' reflect the American folk music boom at the height of its creativity and popularity. Her 1964 and 1972 folk albums are combined here, with previously unissued recordings.

Bonnie Dobson is best known as the composer of 'Morning Dew'. Written in 1961, 'Morning Dew' was subsequently recorded by artists including The Grateful Dead, Clannad, Nazareth, Tim Rose, Lulu, Jeff Beck and Robert Plant.

Always a well-respected figure within the folk scene, Dobson was born in Toronto, Canada in 1940. 'I was nurtured on the music of Paul Robeson. I have a memory of standing next to the record player and singing along to 'I Still Suits Me'. I guess I must have been about four years old at the time.'

When she was barely 20 Dobson went from singing at school assemblies to sharing a stage with Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee at a major US folk festival. Although she lacked professional experience, the pristine quality of her voice attracted promoters and producers to her. Her earliest albums, including a live performance at Gerdes Folk City in New York's Greenwich Village, continue to draw praise.

Her final American albums drew Dobson away from the pure folk tradition in the direction of popular music. She recalls, 'The last recordings I made were my RCA albums in 1968/69, both of which were heavily orchestrated.' Despite the change in production style, what strikes listeners most about Dobson is the stellar quality of her voice. Producer Bobby Scott writes, 'It has always seemed to this writer that music is the language of this thing we call love. And nothing can compare with the voice of love speaking through a beautifully pure instrument. The voice of Bonnie Dobson is such an instrument. Her gifts are remarkably natural. There is in this Canadian girl's voice an innate enchantment. For some singers the voice must be a developed mechanism. Not so with Miss Dobson. Her voice........can only be called a gift.'

Bonnie Dobson moved to London, England in 1969 and gave up writing and performing shortly afterwards. She began her second career at the University of London, working and studying in the fields of politics, philosophy and history.

It's been too long since the name Bonnie Dobson has graced a CD release. To folk fans, her name is familiar and her talent is well respected. If this is your first encounter with her you are in for a rare experience. As producer Bobby Scott concludes, 'Bonnie Dobson is an artist. Not just a singer but a bit of Autumn wind and Summer rain and she is as natural. I am sure that Love has had no sweeter or warmer champion than Bonnie Dobson'.