Track Listing

1. Late November - Sandy Denny
2. Blackwaterside - Sandy Denny
3. Next Time Around - Sandy Denny
4. Wretched Wilbur - Sandy Denny
5. The North Star Grassman And The Ravens - Sandy Denny
6. It'll Take A Long Time - Sandy Denny
7. Listen, Listen - Sandy Denny
8. The Lady - Sandy Denny
9. The Music Weaver - Sandy Denny
10. Solo - Sandy Denny, Harry Robinson
11. Like An Old Fashioned Waltz - Harry Robinson, Sandy Denny
12. Dark The Night - Sandy Denny
13. No End - Harry Robinson, Sandy Denny
14. One Way Donkey Ride - Harry Robinson, Sandy Denny
15. I'm A Dreamer - Harry Robinson, Sandy Denny
16. All Our Days - Harry Robinson, Sandy Denny
17. No More Sad Refrains - Harry Robinson, Sandy Denny

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50202 in Music
• Released on: 1999-05-31
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Running time: 74 minutes

Customer Reviews

A superb introduction
As an introduction to the work of Sandy Denny this compilation CD cannot be surpassed. My only complaint would be that although she excelled in singing traditional songs there is only one included here (Blackwaterside). All of the other tracks are her own compositions. Many of her songs are melancholic e.g. "No End", "Like an Old fashioned Waltz", "The Lady" but never are they turgid or depressing. Her silver voice could tear the heart out of a strong man. She was a lady who led a turbulent and sadly short life, experiencing love, loss, success and failure. All these are reflected in the songs on this CD. This compilation should bear a government health warning for those who are new to Sandy's work. She is addictive.

Excellent value introduction to Sandy Denny's solo recording
Don't be deterred by the rather dreary black and white photo of Sandy Denny on the cover - this album is full of top quality, often quite beautiful, music from one of Britain's most distinctive and memorable female singers. Though the album is described as 'an introduction to Sandy Denny', this seems too modest; 'very best of' would not be an inappropriate title. It features around four tracks from each of her four solo albums, which were recorded between 1971 and 1977, in the years after leaving the influential folk-rock group Fairport Convention. Every track is of high quality, with crystal clear remastered sound, and the collection succeeds in picking much of the best material from these solo albums.

Although on some tracks the music is typical of the well-loved Island Records early 70s folk-rock sound (featuring such musicians as Richard Thompson, Pat Donaldson, Trevor Lucas, Jerry Donahue and Gerry Conway), many others are slow piano ballads with lavish orchestrations, and have no discernible 'folk' elements. Throughout them all Sandy's haunting and ethereal voice, together with her frequent lyrical references to nature and the changing seasons, give a touching wistfulness, as though presaging her tragic death at the age of only 31.

Excellent though it is, this collection does not include any material from Denny's various albums with Fairport Convention and Fotheringay, or her other musical ventures, and for the most comprehensive coverage of all her recordings from 1968 to 1978 the double CD 'No more sad refrains' is highly recommended. Sandy's four solo albums are also now available in excellent remastered sound, with bonus tracks. An essential companion collection to 'Listen listen' is also from the Island Records 'introduction to' series - 'The end of the rainbow' by Richard and Linda Thompson, which comprises some of the best material from the early albums of another significant former Fairport member.