Track Listing

1. Late November
2. Blackwaterside
3. The Sea Captain
4. Down In The Flood
5. John The Gun
6. Next Time Around
7. The Optimist
8. Let's Jump The Broomstick
9. Wretched Wilbur
10. The North Star Grassman And The Ravens
11. Crazy Lady Blues
12. Late November (Bonus Track)
13. Walking The Floor Over You (Bonus Track)
14. Losing Game (Bonus Track)
15. Next Time Around (Bonus Track)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5991 in Music
• Released on: 2005-05-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .26 pounds
• Running time: 56 minutes

CD Description
Following her celebrated first stint with Fairport Convention and the dissolution of the short-lived folk rock super-group Fotheringay, Denny recorded a run of fine solo albums during the '70s, interrupted by an artistically-if not commercially-successful reunion with Fairport. THE NORTH STAR GRASSMAN, the first of those solo albums, was co-produced and engineered by the ever-reliable John Wood. It's business as usual as far as participating musicians go. Denny's former Fotheringay companions are present, and ex-Fairport guitar prodigy Richard Thompson is all over the album.
Freed of the compromises of a democratic group, Denny is able to concentrate on her own material. However, she also finds room for a fine arrangement of the traditional "Black Waterside", a dip into her beloved rock & roll on "Let's Jump the Broomstick",and the obligatory Dylan cover, "Down In The Flood". But itis the quality of the original material that marks this album. Finest are the plaintive "Next Time Around", with a delicate string arrangement by Harry Robinson, and the moody "Late November". "John the Gun" is vintage folk rock, featuringfiddler Barry Dransfield, who is joined on stirring backingvocals by brother Robin and by Royston Wood (ex-Young Tradition).

Customer Reviews

Sandy's Best Solo Album Superbly Remastered
This is probably Sandy Denny's finest solo effort (though much of the accompaniment was provided by her Fairport and Fotheringay cohorts, with Richard Thompson's guitar and Gerry Conway's drumming particularly outstanding). Now it has been reissued in a beautifully remastered edition which brings out every detail clearly, and features informative new notes (who knew the album's working title was "Slapstick Tragedies"?). Four bonus tracks are added, all worthwhile, though none is a real rarity to Sandy collectors. If you already know this album, this version is worth upgrading to. If not, you are missing out on some fine music from one of the best singer/songwriters to come out of the British folk-rock scene.

Simply beautiful.
While not a big fan of "remastered" albums, I would recommend this one unreservedly to anyone who loves Sandy Denny's work. It has come up all bright and shiny. Her voice is prominent but the accompaniment is warm and crystal clear. It's a beautiful, melancholic album, and the bonus tracks don't spoil the mood as bonus tracks all too often do. The lovely "Blackwaterside" and the chilling "John the Gun" are my picks, but I'd not skip anything on the disc.

Denny's First Solo Album!
Sandy Denny's first solo album was recorded shortly after she had disbanded her group Fotheringay in late 1970. All Fotheringay members were present at the recordings of Sandy's album, so it's no surprise that quite many songs sound like Fotheringay. The opening song "Late November" was actually intended for a second Fotheringay album, that was never finished. Fotheringay did record the song and that version is included among the bonus-tracks. Though only one song , the great "Blackwaterside", is a traditional folk-song, there is a very folkish feel to many of Sandy's own songs. Especially on "John the Gun" and the title track.

Other songs are quite complicated, both musically and lyrically ( her lyrics at times are pretty cryptic ). "Next Time Around", "The Optimist" and "Wretched Wilbur" may be the easiest songs to get into, but eventually they are bound to grow on you.

Two tracks "Down in the Flood" and "Let's Jump the Broomstick" ( and 2 more among the bonus-tracks ) are rockers a little in the same vein as the "Bunch" project recorded in early 1972 with most of the same people, who are backing Sandy on this album. Among them the outstanding guitarist and song-writer Richard Thompson.

Though the album may sound slightly more dated than her other solo-albums, it's still a great album.

My favourites are "Blackwaterside", "Wretched Wilbur", "Crazy Lady Blues" and both versions of "Late November"