re-formed the group, with Martin Carthy taking over from John Harrison. In the 1980s Lal and George, and Norma and Martin, moved to Robin Hood's Bay and the sea and landscape of the area often became the inspiration for Lal's songs. She left The Watersons in 1990 for health reasons, staying at Robin Hood's Bay, still writing and painting, and recorded her songs at home with her son Oliver Knight, a producer, guitarist and songwriter. When Once in a Blue Moon was released however, she refused to sing the songs live – perhaps the result of a bad experience while singing with the Watersons. According to Martin Carthy: "She was a perfectionist.. she never sang solo after she forgot something on stage.. she couldn't bear the idea of it going wrong." After Freddie Mercury died from AIDS, Daily Mirror columnist Joe Haines made homophobic remarks. Lal Waterson responded to this with her song Reply to Joe Haines. She never recorded it, but it appears on her sister Norma Waterson's album The Very Thought of You. Whilst recording Bed of Roses with Oliver Knight, she died of cancer; the album was released posthumously. Migrating Bird: The Songs of Lal Waterson (2007) is a tribute album, with contributions from James Yorkston, Alasdair Roberts, Willard Grant Conspiracy, Vashti Bunyan, Victoria Williams and others. Jo Freya's album "Lal" (2007) is another tribute to her. Her songs have been covered by a series of singers including June Tabor, Billy Bragg, The Fatima Mansions and The Unthanks. Rachel Unthank: " Her lyrics are so descriptive and evocative,... the melodies twist and turn in ways I wouldn't expect, and yet each line seems to melt into each other.." Bright Phoebus, released in 1972 by Lal and Mike Waterson, was reissued in 2017 by Domino. The reissue included previously-unheard home demo recordings, and was remastered from the original tapes. Discography Lal and Mike Waterson – Bright Phoebus (1972) Lal and Norma Waterson – A True Hearted Girl (1977) Lal Waterson & Oliver Knight – Once in a Blue Moon (1996) Lal Waterson & Oliver Knight – A Bed of Roses (1999) References External links Obituary – Bright Phoebus Dimmed by John Pilgrim 1943 births 1998 deaths Musicians from Kingston upon Hull English folk singers 20th-century English singers 20th-century English musicians The Watersons members Blue Murder (folk group) members The Albion Band members Topic Records artists English people of