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Ed Sheeran's second-hand find: Obscure folk album finally gets spotlight
🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Culture & Society

Ed Sheeran's second-hand find: Obscure folk album finally gets spotlight

From BBC News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Ed Sheeran recently praised an obscure 1978 album, "The Traveller" by Allan Taylor, discovered in a New York second-hand store.
  • Taylor, a folk singer with a 60-year career, expressed surprise and flattery at the recognition from the global superstar.
  • Following Sheeran's endorsement, "The Traveller" has been released on Spotify for the first time, bringing long-overdue attention to the artist.

A chance discovery in a New York second-hand record shop has brought unexpected, yet deeply deserved, attention to folk singer Allan Taylor, nearly 50 years after he released his album "The Traveller."

Allan Taylor - The Traveller I found in a record store in Williamsburg, and I love it. Can't find it anywhere online, so feels like a special vinyl in the collection.

— Ed SheeranEd Sheeran's social media post praising Allan Taylor's album.

Global music sensation Ed Sheeran recently shared his admiration for the 1978 LP, calling it a "special vinyl in the collection" after finding it in Williamsburg. This endorsement came as a significant surprise to Taylor, an English singer who spent six decades on the folk scene before retiring earlier this year.

Taylor, now 80, began his career performing in pubs and sleeping on floors, a path that mirrors Sheeran's early days. While Taylor toured internationally and secured major record deals, mainstream success largely eluded him, a stark contrast to Sheeran's global fame. "Everything I did wrong, he did right," Taylor remarked ruefully.

Everything I did wrong, he did right.

— Allan TaylorComparing his career trajectory to Ed Sheeran's, with a touch of rueful humor.

Despite the lack of widespread commercial success, Taylor has had a rich career, performing at the Royal Albert Hall and being covered by numerous artists. He is highly respected within the folk community and has found recognition in Europe. However, his planned farewell concerts were canceled due to health issues.

I find it flattering that someone of his stature has seen something in what I do as being interesting.

— Allan TaylorReacting to Ed Sheeran's endorsement of his music.

Sheeran's public praise, posted out of the blue, has been a significant boost. "I find it flattering that someone of his stature has seen something in what I do as being interesting," Taylor responded. The impact was immediate: "The Traveller," previously only unofficially available on YouTube, has now been released on Spotify for the first time, finally giving the album the wider audience it merits.

I found him remarkably down-to-earth, friendly and very interesting as a songwriter.

— Allan TaylorDescribing his phone conversation with Ed Sheeran.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by BBC News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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