Track Listing

1. John The Gun
2. Eppie Moray
3. Wild Mountain Thyme
4. Knights Of The Road
5. Late November
6. Restless
7. Gypsy Davey
8. I Don't Believe You
9. Silver Threads And Golden Needles
10. Bold Jack Donahue
11. Two Weeks Last Summer

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #383 in Music
• Released on: 2008-09-29
• Number of discs: 1

CD Description
Fotheringay remain one of the great might-have-beens of British music. They lasted less than a year, and released just one album, but their disappearance robbed the early ’70s scene of a group of musicians capable of taking folk-rock to new heights of subtlety and musicianship. Now the nine songs on that debut album; assumed for almost four decades to be their sole testament, are joined by the eleven that would have constituted a follow-up. Sadly they broke up during the recording sessions for their second album. Incredibly all the tapes survived in various record company archives. Thirty eight years later the surviving members of the group have mixed all the material to finally complete this remarkable album. When originally released the debut album went straight into the Top Twenty in both Melody Maker and NME, and is now an acknowledged classic recording of British folk-rock. The second Fotheringay album has been eagerly awaited by all fans of Sandy Denny, British folk-rock and by fans of great music in general.

Customer Reviews

Better late than never
Spotted in a bookshop in Bakewell, Derbyshire. There wasn't a "2" was there? So I bought it. And it's hardly been off in the car since. I agree with other reviewers that not every song here is a gem, but the Lucas numbers do have something that stirs the sentiments. (You who said he wasn't a great songwriter, I present exhibit A - "Bring 'em Down" on Fairport 9). It's true though that it's the Denny tracks that really stir the soul. Her remarkable ability to interpret a song never disappoints on this disc.

With all the emotion in the vocals, and all the Telecaster Pyrotechnics of the genius Donahue, it's easy to ignore the superb foundation on which this edifice is built. British folk-rock music has provided some of the best rhythm sections in the world. Conway and Donaldson excel on this album, always supporting, always enhancing, always driving, and never overwhelming. And as to the production values, the three remaining members deserve a medal for obtaining a purity of sound that 21st century ears won't baulk at, while retaining the essential feel and style of a '70's recording.

I doubt you'll be disappointed if you buy it. For me, it's a minor masterpiece.

flawed but still a must-buy
The unexpected release of this CD is undoubtedly the folk event of 2008. It's a throwback to an idyllic time when folk music was inventive and exciting unlike the sterile unimaginative stuff of the last 30 years - Eliza Carthy and the sadly defunct 18th Day of May being honourable exceptions.Buy it? Of course buy it.
There are negatives. Some of the tracks will be already familiar to us all - "John the Gun" and "Late November" feature on Sandy's magical "Northstar Grassman" album. The Strawbs "Two Weeks" also can be found as a bonus track on Fotheringay 1. But the greatest fault is the inclusion of two very poor tracks. For me "Wild Mountain Thyme" is an insipid thing , even if Sandy sings it.As an Irishman I loved how Sandy interpreted our old ballad "She Moved through the Fair" with the Fairports. Compare that with this piece of Scottish "late night too many drams" drowsiness.
But far worse is the truly dire "Silver Threads". How could such a gifted songwriter bring herself to sing such pap. Compare the bland lyrics and juvenile imagery here to her own high poetry in "Late November". The band might have saved this but they appear to quickly lose interest. The backing is listless , at best dutiful.Except Donahue's final notes of joyous relief.
But there is brilliance too. The best track I've heard for years is the minor epic "Bold Jack Donahue". Trevor Lucas is the villian of the piece for many Sandy/Fairport fans - the Oz who plucked the English rose , broke up the Fairports and later Sandy's career and heart etc. Joe Boyd is no fan.In his book "White Bicycles" (pp228-229) Boyd sees Lucas as a talentless, exploitative guy who turned Sandy into "a nervous wreck". Boyd was a superb producer but I think he's unfair , at least on the issue of talent. Trevor is a great singer. His delivery of "Polly on the Shore" on FC's "Nine" album was superb. "Bold Jack" is similar - Lucas owns the ballad from first to last and his interpretation is blindingly good.The band really get into it too , with some superb riffs and grace notes from the sublime Jerry Donahue. I also felt Lucas stole the show on Fotheringay 1 with his interpretation of "The Way I Feel" (described by Boyd as "filler" !!).Anyway if Sandy loved him - that must count for something.
Finally there is the best Black Jack Davey version you'll ever hear. Mind you ,the You Tube clip of "Gypsy Davey" is even better than this studio version. The live performance is incredibly good and Jerry's solo before the final verse is outstanding. See this clip and realise just how good this band was - you'll definitely want this CD in your collection.

Tyme to move the mountains back where they belong
Sandy Denny's demo of 'Wild Mountain Tyme' that I heard on Youtube recently is one of the most beautiful renditions of a traditional folk ballad I have ever heard. I could not wait to hear it in pristine condition on 'Fotheringay 2'. Jerry Donahue and the guys have done a fine job of adding some beautiful instrumentation to the track but..shock horror...it is ruined when a deep male voice harmonises under Sandy's voice. I could not believe it, as a track that had a sound conjuring beautiful Gaelic imagery is suddenly turned into Aslan the Lion (the deep voice,) bounding out of the hedgerows turning the piece into a christian singalong. The deep voice singer can sing but it was so disappointing for me to hear an outside voice on top of Sandy's performance that I am so used to hearing her sing 'solo'.
Personal preferences aside, Jerry Donahue and the rest of the group have done a top notch job in delicately adding eloquent instrumentation to both 'John The Gun' and 'Silver Threads and Golden Needles' which is a very strong piece of work. Although at first the many clicks that can be heard and Denny's vocal on Verse Two of 'John The Gun' that is chopped up, (probably because of the age of the master tape,) is slightly distracting, on second onwards listening they are scarcely noticeable.
As majestic as the bands playing is, revamping the old master tapes, I do not feel that this is a five star album, although I do think it is a very fine and admirable one nonetheless.