Hear Tracks From Famous Fans' Shirley Collins Tribute

IF BRITISH FOLK queen Shirley Collins doesn’t want to find out what she’s getting for her birthday this year, she needs to look away now. With the singer-songwriter and musical historian celebrating her 80th year in July, a special tribute album featuring a host of acts covering her songs is set to be released this summer.

However, not only is there an early sneak preview of Shirley Inspired available next week (April 18) in the form of a limited edition Record Store Day vinyl edition, but there's an even earlier preview available on MOJO now, as you can hear the whole of the first disc from the triple LP set below.

Included are new versions of Collins songs by the likes of Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo, Bonnie Prince Billie (under the name Bitchin Bonnie Billy Bajas) and comedian Stewart Lee (pictured with Collins above), who collaborates with Stuart Estell on Polly On The Shore.

Also included is one of this month's MOJO cover stars, Graham Coxon, who has recorded Cruel Mother, with the Blur guitarist explaining that Collins’ “music did kick off for me a whole sort of renewed passion or interest or love of my own country's music.”

Listen to the first disc of Shirley Inspired now. The full track list can be found at www.shirleyinspired.com.

The limited edition vinyl version of the album will be available via independent record shops on Record Store Day, April 18, while the full release of the album will come in June with proceeds from the release going to help fund the making of a documentary, set to be titled The Ballad Of Shirley Collins.

Meanwhile, for more on Graham Coxon and his revived day job, get the latest issue of MOJO (May 2015/ #258) for an exclusive Blur interview.