Surprisingly, no-one on this thread has yet mentioned "The Sweet Primroses", which I believe was the first album featuring Dolly accompanying Shirley on the portative organ. Dolly's contribution to Shirley's later album "As Many as Will" is also well worth a mention. As is "The Holly Bears the Crown", where Dolly - along with Shirley, Peter, Heather and Royston - do wondrous things with Christmas carols.

Dolly was a jewel of a musician,and every record she contributed to is a treasure. Vic Smith's revelation here that a major work of hers still remains unperformed and unrecorded is astonishing. What are the Arts Council and the BBC supposed to be for, if not for preserving and promoting our national cultural heritage?

So, here's an idea. Radio Three's "Composer of the Week" slot has been getting quite adventurous in recent years. As well as their more predictable tributes to greats like Bach or Vaughan Williams, they've also honoured Ellington and Mingus as the major 20th century composers which they were. How about Dolly Collins as composer of the week sometime in '09 - with her Missa Humanis as the centrepiece?

Wassail!