Bassist and singer Dave Philips has been active on the British folk scene since the early '60s. He was a member of the extremely popular Ian Campbell Folk Group, appearing on recordings such as the 1964 Across the Hills. Philips' talents as a vocalist are evident on Singing the Fishing, a concept album featuring folk stalwarts Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger that promotes the fishing industry itself as well as the sea shanties that are apparently useful for passing time on deck.

Resurgent interest in British folk has meant regular appearances for this bassist on compilation productions including the expansive Acoustic Folk Box on the important Topic label and the first volume of Rhino's Troubadours of British Folk series. Once considered dated, the music of the Campbell combo has also been polished off for reissue, the Castle label combining the previously mentioned 1964 side with Elektra's introductory This Is the Ian Campbell Folk Group. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi