SHAWN PHILLIPS Contribution / Second Contribution (2009 issue UK 20-track digitally remastered 2-on-1 CD album - Shawn Phillips is one of most fascinating and enigmatic artists to come out of the early '70s singer-songwriter boom. The fact that he was a musician as much as a singer / songwriter made him stand out, and his refusal to shape his music – which crosses between folk-rock, jazz, progressive, pop and classical – to anyone else's expectations has allowed him to hold onto a large and dedicated following. 'Contribution' [1970] mixes progressive rock and folk sounds in a manner unique to its time. Recorded with help from members of Traffic [Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Caleb Quayle] among others, this is a condensation of a far more ambitious studio original that was intended to fill three LPs; whilst on 1971's 'Second Contribution', Phillips carries us across folk ['The Ballad Of Casey Deiss'] and rock styles, with a heavy R&B feel at times ['Song For Mr. C'], accompanied by a band and arranger Paul Buckminster's [Elton John, Stones, Bowie, Bee Gees] most restrained orchestrations. Presented in a picture slipcase complete with extensive sleeevenotes)