PORTALBERITA.CO.ID - Global music sensation Ed Sheeran recently shared his excitement over discovering a rare piece of music history while browsing a New York second-hand record shop. The album that caught the superstar’s ear was The Traveller, a 1978 LP by English troubadour Allan Taylor.
Sheeran may have recognized a shared trajectory with Taylor, who began his career decades earlier by playing in small pubs and sleeping on floors before achieving international touring success, albeit without the massive mainstream breakthrough enjoyed by Sheeran. As Allan Taylor put it, "Everything I did wrong, he did right," said Allan Taylor, Singer-Songwriter.
Despite missing out on major commercial success, the 80-year-old Leeds-based artist has cultivated a distinguished career, including performing at the Royal Albert Hall with Fairport Convention and interacting with figures like Bob Marley in New York. According to reports, Taylor had planned a series of farewell concerts this summer, but these were unfortunately cancelled due to health concerns.
The unexpected endorsement from Sheeran arrived just as Taylor was settling into retirement, offering a welcome, late-career boost to his forgotten work. Ed Sheeran explained his recent vinyl finds, stating, "Been buying random vinyl at record stores, coming across some gems," said Ed Sheeran, Singer-Songwriter.
Sheeran further elaborated on his specific find in Williamsburg, noting its rarity, "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," said Ed Sheeran, Singer-Songwriter.
This public endorsement immediately altered the album's trajectory, generating significant digital buzz for a record long relegated to obscurity. Allan Taylor expressed his gratitude for the high-profile recognition, mentioning, "I find it flattering that someone of his stature has seen something in what I do as being interesting," said Allan Taylor, Singer-Songwriter.
Following Sheeran’s shout-out, The Traveller has now been made available on Spotify for the first time, having previously existed only unofficially on platforms like YouTube. The two musicians have since connected via telephone, as reported by Taylor.
"He says he wants to drop by for a cup of tea," confirmed Allan Taylor, Singer-Songwriter, regarding his conversation with the global star. Taylor recounted sharing details of his adventurous life, including leaving his apprenticeship as a telephone engineer in Brighton to travel Europe in 1966 at age 21.
Taylor recounted a critical moment in Stockholm where, stranded one freezing November night without accommodation after a host failed to appear, he relied on his guitar. "If you sleep in the street you're going to die because it's freezing cold in Stockholm in November. So I just went into a bar and started playing," explained Allan Taylor, Singer-Songwriter.
