"I won't linger over any tragedies that were."
September 29, 2007 8:10 PM   Subscribe

With a powerful, breathtakingly adorned voice that bore considerable influence on contemporary vocal icons such as Liz Fraser, Jeff Buckley, and Antony Hegarty, the late Sandy Denny packed a considerable body of work (and a seemingly equal number of untoward stories) into a decade-long career before her death at age 31 in 1978.

Perhaps best known for penning the folk staple "Who Knows Where The Time Goes?" (if not her cameo with Led Zeppelin), Denny rose to prominence during her brief but brilliant tenure with Fairport Convention, with whom she recorded what many still consider the quintessential English folk-rock album, Liege and Lief. Denny left Fairport Convention shortly thereafter to pursue her own writing, at first with the short-lived Fotheringay and then solo (although she rejoined Fairport for 1975's Rising for the Moon). Her somewhat over-produced 1970s solo records tend to undermine the sterling quality of her songwriting, which is best heard through her stripped-down, piano-and-guitar demos and alternate takes. An embarrassment of reissues continues to keep Denny's reputation alive; indeed, the media seems to "rediscover" her anew every few years through such efforts.

Nonetheless, after a decade of legal wrangling, Denny has resurfaced once again with the fresh release of a comprehensive collection of her BBC sessions, affording yet another opportunity to celebrate her singular, gorgeous, and melancholic canon.
posted by mykescipark (7 comments total) 12 users marked this as a favorite
 
she had a beautiful voice - just the kind of pure voice that joan baez was always going for, but with feeling, and when she wanted it, grit, too
posted by pyramid termite at 8:25 PM on September 29, 2007 [1 favorite]


Yes she had a wonderful voice. Don't forget Richard Thompson's song about her death.
posted by Eekacat at 8:54 PM on September 29, 2007


I remember seeing Fairport Convention once, around about 1970 or 1971, at a live gig on Ainsdale or Formby Beach. It was peculiar because it was free, it wasn't advertised anywhere, and it took place during the working day. I remember being told at the time that it was being filmed for the BBC, but I don't recall the session ever being screened anywhere.

A quick search on Google tells me that I didn't imagine it. Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span.

That's me on the left.

Apparently it was filmed, for Granada rather than the BBC, but I don't recall ever seeing the film. That explains why we had to play truant to go see it though.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 9:41 PM on September 29, 2007


Wow, that "Who Know's Where the Time Goes" is just wow.

Thanks msp:)
posted by vronsky at 10:49 PM on September 29, 2007


mykescipark, the critical essay in your first link is wonderful. Thanks for the post.

And vronsky, you're in for a treat; the whole album that song comes from, Unhalfbricking, is magnificent, as is the first album Denny did with Fairport, What We Did on our Holidays. Just filled with gems like that.
posted by mediareport at 6:34 AM on September 30, 2007 [1 favorite]


Excellent. Can't get enough Sandy Denny.
posted by parki at 7:06 AM on September 30, 2007


Those uTube fan video slide shows have really grown on me.

This Veronica Lake one for instance.

But this one that I stumbled across looking for some B-Tribe is just too awesome. The epitome of internet mediocrity, which pushes it into the realm of high art.
posted by vronsky at 12:19 PM on September 30, 2007


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