Record Reviews
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  | SANDY DENNY ~ LIKE AN OLD FASHIONED WALTZ (DELUXE EDITION)
ISLAND 602537002887 (Barcode: 602537002887) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock
Recorded: 1973 Released: 2012
This is the third 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 quite different from Denny´s previous work, less Folk-Rock oriented and with some gentle Jazz touches, an influence she absorbed from her father. Most of the material is original, but a few Jazz standards are also included. The overall atmosphere of the album is deeply melancholic and very introvert, nostalgic and somewhat dark, beautifully performed by her and a superb band, which includes many British Folk-Rock heroes, like guitarists Richard ThompsonFind albums by this artist and her husband Trevor LucasFind albums by this artist, keyboardist John BundrickFind albums by this artist, drummer Dave MattacksFind albums by this artist and others. Several notable British Jazz players also take part, like saxophonist Alan SkidmoreFind albums by this artist and bassist Danny ThompsonFind albums by this artist. 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, alternate versions 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 |
  | SANDY DENNY ~ LIVE AT THE BBC
ISLAND 984992 (Barcode: 602498499283) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock
Recorded: 1966 - 1973 Released: 2007
This lavishly and lovingly produced Box Set collects all existing (audio & video) BBC recordings by Folk-Rock heroin Sandy DennyFind albums by this artist, who was not only one of the most distinctive voices of the Golden Age but also a superb songwriter. This collection spans from 1966 to 1973 and covers her solo career, which was before and after her being a member of StrawbsFind albums by this artist, Fairport ConventionFind albums by this artist and FotheringayFind albums by this artist. Most of the material included here presents Sandy as “naked” as a singer can appear – just her hair-raising vocals and acoustic guitar or piano (only a few tracks include other backing musicians), which of course is for the best as she never really needed anything more. Her angelic and deeply penetrating voice and her theatrical ability to express the lyrics are so powerful that the experience is almost unparalleled. Most of the songs are her own (music & lyrics) and just a few are her arrangements of traditional folk material. The DVD includes the only footage in existence of Sandy performing. The set also includes beautiful photographs and excerpts of Sandy’s diaries. Sandy’s tragically premature death in 1978 put an end to her exquisite input to the world of music and she is sadly missed. I don’t think anything more needs to be said here – this is absolutely brilliant stuff, beyond essential for anybody who truly loves music and a must in any decent music collection.
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | 3CD+DVD 4 Box Set Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | SANDY DENNY ~ RENDEZVOUS (DELUXE EDITION)
ISLAND 602527993607 (Barcode: 602527993607) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock
Recorded: 1976 - 1977 Released: 2012
This is the fourth and last 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 was separated by almost three years from its predecessor, which saw Denny rejoining Fairport Convention and recording her fifth album with the group called "Rising For The MoonFind albums with this title" (the group´s tenth album). She also carefully prepared the songs for this album, which are again a change of direction, this time more towards Pop / Rock, emphasized by the inclusion of one of Elton JohnFind albums by this artist´s songs as one of the three non-original songs on this album. As usual she is accompanied by fabulous musicians including many British Folk-Rock heroes, like guitarist Richard ThompsonFind albums by this artist, keyboardist John BundrickFind albums by this artist, bassist Dave PeggFind albums by this artist, drummer Dave MattacksFind albums by this artist and others. Guest star appearances by Steve WinwoodFind albums by this artist and Acker BilkFind albums by this artist are also present. Denny´s angelic voice and her unique vocal style are simply stellar. Several of the songs feature beautiful orchestral arrangements, which were criticized at the time for being a bit overshadowing Denny´s performances, but the certainly don´t make that impression in retrospect and are just right for the occasion.
This new 2CD edition adds a plethora of bonus material, which includes outtakes, demos, alternate versions 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 |
  | 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 |
  | SANDY DENNY ~ THE NORTH STAR GRASSMAN AND THE RAVENS (DELUXE EDITION)
ISLAND 600753340585 (Barcode: 600753340585) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock
Recorded: 1971 Released: 2011
This is the debut 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 considered to be 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 guitarists Richard ThompsonFind albums by this artist and Trevor LucasFind albums by this artist, bassists Pat DonaldsonFind albums by this artist and Tony ReevesFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Ian WhitemanFind albums by this artist, drummer Gerry ConwayFind albums by this artist and others. Denny´s angelic voice and her unique vocal style are simply stellar. A couple of tracks feature string arrangements.
This new 2CD edition adds a plethora of bonus material, which includes demos, BBC recordings 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 |
  | FOTHERINGAY ~ NOTHING MORE: THE COLLECTED FOTHERINGAY
ISLAND 602547184825 (Barcode: 602547184825) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock
Recorded: 1970 - 1971 Released: 2015
This marvelous Box Set collects all the know recordings by the shot-lived Folk-Rock group FotheringayFind albums by this artist, formed by the divine singer / songwriter Sandy DennyFind albums by this artist, after she left Fairport ConventionFind albums by this artist in late 1969 shortly after the group completed the recording of their epic fourth album "Liege & LiefFind albums with this title". Denny joined forces with her partner at the time, vocalist / acoustic guitarist Trevor LucasFind albums by this artist and they drafted into the group American-born lead guitarist Jerry DonahueFind albums by this artist, bassist Pat DonaldsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Gerry ConwayFind albums by this artist, who all sung occasional backing vocals.
Denny´s decision to leave Fairport Convention was primarily prompted by her will to sing her original material and move the traditional material a bit into the background and Fotheringay gave her the opportunity to do exactly that. In addition the group had a more Rock oriented sound, with incredible lead guitar work by Donahue. By mid-1970 the group released their first eponymous album, which met with positive reaction by the critics, but sadly achieved only limited commercial success, probably because it was unjustly compared to Fairport Convention, rather than recognized as a completely new direction.
By late 1970 the group has begun recording their follow up album, but things started to disintegrate rapidly and by early 1971 Fotheringay disbanded, with the second album uncompleted. Shortly afterwards Denny launched her career as a solo artists, briefly rejoining Fairport Convention in 1974-1975 and then continued her solo career until her tragic death in 1978. The "Fotheringay 2Find albums with this title" album was reconstructed from the abandoned studio master tapes and partly re-recorded and was finally released in 2008.
In retrospect this collection is a tribute to the incredible talents of Sandy Denny, who remains to this very day the absolute Empress of British Folk-Rock. Her legacy, all recorded in a span of a single decade, constitute some of the most beautiful singing and songwriting in the history of popular music.
This collection includes both Fotheringay albums, a plethora of bonus tracks, demos, alternate tracks, radio broadcasts and live concerts, all spread over three CDs. BBC TV performances are included on a DVD, which is also included. The accompanying booklet is informative and comprehensive and includes many wonderful photographs of Denny and the band members.
This is a remarkable piece of British music history, which to this day sounds almost too good to be true and constitutes an essential part of any decent music collection. Simply a must!
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: 08/01/2016 | 3CD+DVD 4 Digibook Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | PENTANGLE ~ ONE MORE ROAD / LIVE 1994
HUX 089 (Barcode: 682970000893) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock
Recorded: 1993 - 1994 Released: 2007
PentangleFind albums by this artist, the finest of the many UK Folk-Rock bands, went through two distinct life cycles. The original band, which was active between 1968 and 1972, left us a wonderful legacy of 6 splendid album released originally on the legendary UK folk oriented TransatlanticFind albums on this label label and reissued (and expanded) on CD by CastleFind albums on this label. That period was also documented by the release of the original band’s BBC recordings on the HuxFind albums on this label label in 2004 (The Lost Broadcasts 1968-1972Find albums with this title). In 1984 two of Pentangle’s founding members singer Jacqui McSheeFind albums by this artist and guitarist John RenbournFind albums by this artist reformed the band again. This second incarnation of the band started off with the five original members but later on went through many personnel changes until the final version of the band crystallized around 1989 and kept together till 1994. This last version of the band included Jacqui, Bert JanschFind albums by this artist and three other Folk-Rock veterans: Nigel Portman-SmithFind albums by this artist (bass, piano and vocals – ex Magna CartaFind albums by this artist), Gerry ConwayFind albums by this artist (drums – ex FotheringayFind albums by this artist and Jethro TullFind albums by this artist) and Pete KirtleyFind albums by this artist (guitar - ex Alan Price SetFind albums by this artist, GriffinFind albums by this artist, Riff RaffFind albums by this artist and many other bands). The second Pentangle recorded also 6 albums, three of which were recorded by the last lineup above. Alas these albums are almost completely neglected and have been out of print for many years. This beautiful album brings us splendidly remastered versions of the last two Pentangle albums: One More RoadFind albums with this title – the last studio album and Live 1994Find albums with this title – their swan song. There is hardly any need to recommend these masterpieces to a serious Folk-Rock fan. Let’s just be grateful this material is available again and enjoy every minute of it to the fullest. Brilliant!
| | | CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
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