The British folk revival didn't really get rolling until the mid-'60s, about the same time the American folk revival was morphing into folk-rock. While the British revival owed certain debts to its American counterpart, recording Dylan songs as well as new songs that sounded like Dylan songs, the movement soon found its legs and gave birth to musical styles distinct and myriad. Troubadours of Folk documents this fascinating blossoming between 1963-1969 with 41 tracks spread over two discs. The collection flows in chronological order, starting with Lonnie Donegan's "500 Miles" and ending with Ralph McTell's "Streets of London." This allows the listener to follow the development of folk in both its popular and more pure forms, and to watch artists like Bert Jansch transform from guitarist/singer to a member of the acoustic group the Pentangle. It should be noted that although groups like the Pentangle and the Incredible String Band have been included, this compilation is more concerned with folk proper than folk-rock. The music takes a quantum leap on the second disc as the artists begin to find their voices. There are odd, fun pieces like Roy Harper's "Big Fat Silver Aeroplane," the Incredible String Band's "Frutch," and Hamish Imlach's "Goodbye Booze," and a couple of catchy Gordon Giltrap songs. With its generous running time and helpful liner notes, Troubadours of Folk offers a solid overview of an era and its wonderful music. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide