They may no longer be household names, but once Ian and Sylvia Tyson strummed beside the folk revival's elite. Those familiar with the complete basement recordings of Bob Dylan and the Band can attest to Dylan's affection for their repertoire, both original and traditional. The feeling was mutual. The duo was the first to record the Dylan classic "Tomorrow Is a Long Time" (included here). The title cut has become a standard, and it's fascinating to hear it beside the traditional songs that shaped the melody and lyric. Ian and Sylvia's harmonies may sound a bit dated in a folksy way, but their influence is evident in much of the early '60s folk and early '70s singer/songwriter movements. --Roy Kasten

Ian & Sylvia hit their stride on their second LP, which features the first in a line of talented second guitarists (John Herald) they would use to augment their original guitar-autoharp-bass lineup. The album featured an assortment of largely traditional material that was unsurpassed in its time, encompassing bluegrass, spirituals, gospel, hillbilly, the French-Canadian standard "V'La L'bon Vent," a British prison song, and two tunes from the Cecil Sharp collection of Southern mountain folk songs of British origin. Two of the most impressive cuts, however, were contemporary compositions. One was their version of Bob Dylan's "Tomorrow Is a Long Time," one of the first obscure Dylan tunes to be committed to vinyl. The title cut, an Ian Tyson original, would prove to be the duo's first song to influence rock musicians, as the Searchers covered it shortly afterwards with a reverent version that was quite close to the original; Neil Young revived it in the late '70s. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide