Record Reviews
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  | SANDY DENNY ~ SANDY (DELUXE EDITION)
ISLAND 600753384299 (Barcode: 600753384299) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock
Recorded: 1972 - 1973 Released: 2012
This is the second solo album by the British singer / songwriter Sandy DennyFind albums by this artist, the undeniable Queen of the British Folk-Rock movement, which flourished from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s. Danny fronted the best Folk-Rock groups of the day, such as StrawbsFind albums by this artist, Fairport ConventionFind albums by this artist and FotheringayFind albums by this artist and later concentrated on her splendid solo career, recording four excellent solo albums for IslandFind albums on this label Records. Her life and career was abruptly cut short by her tragic and untimely death at the age of 31.
This album is often considered to be Denny´s best and in retrospect it stands out as one of the greatest Folk-Rock recordings of all times. The vast majority of the material comprises of original songs written by Denny, beautifully performed by her and a superb band, which includes many British Folk-Rock heroes, like guitarist Richard ThompsonFind albums by this artist, violinist Dave SwarbrickFind albums by this artist, keyboardist John BundrickFind albums by this artist and others. Denny´s angelic voice and her unique vocal style are simply stellar. Several of the songs feature beautiful orchestral arrangements.
This new 2CD edition adds a plethora of bonus material, which includes outtakes, demos and previously unreleased live material, which is all worth its weight in gold. It’s a proper tribute to Denny´s remarkable talents and wonderful output she left us to enjoy forever. It is an absolute must to every Folk-Rock fan anywhere on this planet!
| | Updated: 26/08/2020Posted: | CD 2 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | FAIRPORT CONVENTION ~ LIVE AT ROCKPALAST
REPERTOIRE 1437 (Barcode: 4009910143728) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock
Recorded: 1976 Released: 2022
This is an archival live CD / DVD album by the legendary British Folk-Rock group Fairport ConventionFind albums by this artist, captured live in Germany on March 23, 1976 for the TV program Rockpalast. The group included at the time vocalist / violinist Dave SwarbrickFind albums by this artist, bassist / mandolinist Dave PeggFind albums by this artist, drummer Bruce RowlandFind albums by this artist, Breton guitarist Dan ar BrazFind albums by this artist, fiddler Roger BurridgeFind albums by this artist and pianist Bob BradyFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, mostly written by Swarbrick or traditional songs arranged by him. The CD and DVD present the same material.
The group was supporting their 11th studio album “Gottle O`GeerFind albums with this title”, where most of the songs on this album come from, but some older favorites are also included. The band is in its usual top form and brilliant Folk-Rock feel prevails, mixed with some typical British sense of humor. All these musicians are absolute masters of their respective instruments and listening to them performing brings some mighty fine memories of the times long gone. The great sound quality of this recording add to the overall pleasure.
Overall, this is an excellent time capsule of the British Folk-Rock movement, which ruled the British Isles music scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s, to be later largely forgotten. Any previously unreleased material by Fairport Convention is always a pleasant surprise, so just grab a copy!
| | Updated: 04/04/2024Posted: 04/04/2024 | CD+DVD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FAIRPORT CONVENTION ~ RISING FOR THE MOON (DELUXE EDITION)
ISLAND 602537492527 (Barcode: 602537492527) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock
Recorded: 1974 - 1975 Released: 2013
This is the 10th studio album by British Folk-Rock legends Fairport ConventionFind albums by this artist, the band that basically established Folk-Rock as a genre on the British Isles. It is also one of the two albums (together with "Live ConventionFind albums with this title", which preceded it) to feature the diva of the genre Sandy DannyFind albums by this artist in her second stint with the group. Sandy left the group after recording three groundbreaking albums with them in 1969 (their second to fourth albums: "What We Did On Our HolidaysFind albums with this title", "UnhalfbrickingFind albums with this title" and "Liege & LiefFind albums with this title") to follow her solo career and rejoined them in 1974 after she married Trevor LucasFind albums by this artist, the band´s guitarist at the time. The band also included violinist Dave SwarbrickFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jerry DonahueFind albums by this artist, bassist Dave PeggFind albums by this artist and drummer Dave MattacksFind albums by this artist (who was replaced by Bruce RowlandsFind albums by this artist during the recording session). This was also the first album featuring only original material written by the band´s members and no arrangements of traditional tunes were used.
Danny was obviously quite dominant on this album, both as a writer, contributing seven of the eleven songs on the album, and of course as the lead singer, an area she had absolutely no competition in from any other female vocalist at the time. As a result this is one of the strongest albums Fairport Convention recorded during their illustrious career. This deluxe edition of the album includes some bonus tracks and a second CD with the legendary live concert recorded at the LA Troubadour in 1974 released here in its entirety for the first time.
In retrospect this is a classic album of the British Folk-Rock legacy and with the added value of Sandy Danny´s presence an extraordinary piece of music history, worthy of an honorable place in any serious record collection.
| | Updated: 04/04/2024Posted: | CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
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