Sandy Denny |
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marktheshark
Forum Senior Member Joined: April 24 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1695 |
Topic: Sandy Denny Posted: July 09 2006 at 19:01 |
Back in 1972 my older sister who was in college at the time and getting into folk music, picked up Fairport Convention's classic Liege and Lief album and played it for me. I was not much into folk at the time being at this time it was the beginning of my prog obession (I could barely stand Bob back then!). But this gal's haunting voice just grabbed the hell out of me.
For years on end I had no clue who was singing with Robert Plant on Battle Of Evermore but it sounded familiar. This was something of a milestone being she was the first and only guest vocalist to appear on a Zep album. Her name appears nowhere on the album cover, if I remember correctly. Unfortunately her career was cut short when she died in '78 at only 31. Too bad, she had a hell of a voice. Here's a link to a tribute site: LINK |
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WaywardSon
Prog Reviewer Joined: April 23 2006 Location: Brazil Status: Offline Points: 2537 |
Posted: July 09 2006 at 19:11 |
I love her vocals on Battle of Evermore how they sort of weave and mingle with Robert Plant. I always wondered what happened to her. Very Informative and Interesting site
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Raff
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 29 2005 Location: None Status: Offline Points: 24392 |
Posted: July 10 2006 at 01:05 |
She was one of the best female singers ever. Crystal-clear and haunting. "Th Battle of Evermore" is a fantastic song on one of the greatest albums ever. What a tragic waste!
She died from the consequences of falling off the stairs. |
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VanderGraafKommandöh
Prog Reviewer Joined: July 04 2005 Location: Malaria Status: Offline Points: 89372 |
Posted: July 10 2006 at 01:44 |
Listen to "Who Knows Where The Time Goes". You'll then realise that the cover versions of this song by other artists have no match on her.
"No More Sad Refrains" is another one of her classics. Actually, "Liege and Liege" is a very good album and Sandy Denny is excellent throughout. I've heard "Battle of Evermore", but it's been so long since I last did, I forget what it sounds like and I don't remember her being on it... hmmm, must investigate! |
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Zac M
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 03 2005 Status: Offline Points: 3577 |
Posted: July 10 2006 at 01:58 |
Truly beautiful, haunting voice
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"Art is not imitation, nor is it something manufactured according to the wishes of instinct or good taste. It is a process of expression."
-Merleau-Ponty |
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pepo
Forum Senior Member Joined: June 21 2006 Status: Offline Points: 192 |
Posted: July 10 2006 at 02:04 |
I have liege and lief and is an excellent folk rock album. The singing in matty groves and tamlin is very passionate and mellow, I think her voice was the strongest part of the album.
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Easy Livin
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: February 21 2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 15585 |
Posted: July 10 2006 at 03:43 |
A hidden Sandy Denny gem, with a real prog flavour, is "One more chance" on the "Rising for the moon album". It was the last track by Fairport with her on it, and stands as a wonderful epitaph.
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Eetu Pellonpaa
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: June 17 2005 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 4828 |
Posted: July 10 2006 at 07:27 |
A great singer, and a tragic death. Not all of her stuff pleases me stylistically, but the better part of her music is wonderful!
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Peter
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 31 2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 9669 |
Posted: July 10 2006 at 13:23 |
I'm a major SD fan.
I have the classic Fairport albums she sings on, a fine compilation disc of her solo work, as well as some downloads of her stuff with Strawbs. (Strawbs did a moving tribute to her, in fact -- what was that track's name again? It has a reference to Sandy being up in heaven, and "teaching the angels to sing.")
She was a major talent, had a truly lovely voice, and her loss was tragic.
Rest in Peace, Sandy Denny.
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"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
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Easy Livin
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: February 21 2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 15585 |
Posted: July 10 2006 at 13:50 |
"Ringing down the years" I think Peter. Edited by Easy Livin - July 10 2006 at 13:51 |
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Peter
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 31 2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 9669 |
Posted: July 10 2006 at 15:54 |
That's right Bob, and thanks.
Here are the lyrics -- a very nice & personal tribute from Cousins, I think:
Ringing Down The Years (Cousins) We met when you were still a girl |
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"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
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Eetu Pellonpaa
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: June 17 2005 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 4828 |
Posted: July 11 2006 at 02:12 |
Though THE STRAWBS album with Sandy "All Our Own Work" has poor rating in the archives, I liked very much some of the classic folk songs it had: "Tell Me What You See In Me", "All I Need Is You", "Sail Away To The Sea" and "Nothing Else Will Do".
There's also an early version of "Who Knows Where The Time Goes" there!
Edited by Eetu Pellonpää - July 11 2006 at 02:12 |
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Easy Livin
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: February 21 2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 15585 |
Posted: July 11 2006 at 03:28 |
I think the rating just reflects the early naivety of the album Eetu, plus perhaps the fact that it is a long way from prog. There's no doubt though that it is a good collection of folk based songs.
Have you heard the re-working the Strawbs did of "Tell me what you see in me" in the 90's? Quite a transformation.
Edited by Easy Livin - July 11 2006 at 03:28 |
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Eetu Pellonpaa
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: June 17 2005 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 4828 |
Posted: July 11 2006 at 03:37 |
You are right Bob, it's not a very proggy album! I just remember I liked it quite a lot when I listened to it along with other mainstream folk bands in my youth. I think I'll rate it three stars, as when I review it some day...
The only other album I have yet heard from the STRAWBS is "From The Witchwood", but I'll try to listen more in the future! Suggesting some albums by them may go a bit off topic, but was Sandy on any other release by them, I quess not?
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Easy Livin
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: February 21 2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 15585 |
Posted: July 11 2006 at 03:49 |
No, she left to join Fairport before anyhting was released by the Strawbs with her on it. "All our own work" was only released some years later, after they had become successful, and then as a budget label release.
Actually, if you have the time and the resources, I'd suggest hearing the Strawbs albums in release order. That way, you'll appreciate how them moved from a folk combo to a prog folk band. Stop at "Ghosts", after that there isn't really any development, and the quality tends to subside a bit, although there's still some good stuff. You'll come across a certain Rick Wakeman along the way too.
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Eetu Pellonpaa
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: June 17 2005 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 4828 |
Posted: July 11 2006 at 03:57 |
Thanks, I'll try to do it in the way you suggested. I have already tried to approach some other bands in this manner, as many of the prog groups were already ceased to exist when I wasn't even born yet!
One pic of Sandy for this thread:
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marktheshark
Forum Senior Member Joined: April 24 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1695 |
Posted: July 11 2006 at 07:28 |
Peter
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 31 2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 9669 |
Posted: July 11 2006 at 10:20 |
Then WHY is it here?
All the more reason NOT to list folk (etc.) albums here -- they don't get a fair shake from hardline prog purists! (See Audience - Lunch. If Audience were a "prog" band, I'll eat my head!)
WTF is Fairport doing here again? Edited by Peter Rideout - July 11 2006 at 10:21 |
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"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
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Easy Livin
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: February 21 2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 15585 |
Posted: July 11 2006 at 11:17 |
Because the site policy is to list complete discographies. It's the old debate about not listing Genesis albums such as "Abacab" and "Invisible touch".
The Strawbs moved into prog territory, so if the complete discography is to be added, that will inevitably include their folk period too.
Fairport are listed as Prog related I believe, which means they were not actually prog but did some progressive stuff (Like "A sailor's life", and "Sloth" I would presume but it wasn't my decision).
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Peter
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 31 2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 9669 |
Posted: July 12 2006 at 00:17 |
Yes, of course Bob. That explains it.
(Sorry, I think I forgot we were talking about Denny in early Strawbs, and not Fairport.)
And I know the FP inclusion wasn't down to you, and it's not the end of the world, in any case.
Still, I hate to see a non-prog (or "not prog enough") album get "punished" in the reviews merely because -- through no fault of its own -- it ended up being listed here (even though its fitness for inclusion was always contentious).
I think reviewers should approach our listed albums as music, first and foremost, especially with regard to "controversial" albums. A great rock and roll (or whatever) album that is nonetheless listed on this "prog" site should still get a great rating & review (again though, the words on the ratings would need to go). You can of course discuss"proggishness" in the review, but still rate an album you find non-proggy quite highly, eg:
"I don't think this is prog in any real way, but it is still a great, timeless rock and roll record, and would be a fine purchase for any fan of classic rock. Four stars!"
(Something like that.) Edited by Peter Rideout - July 12 2006 at 00:20 |
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"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
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