Sandy Denny died on this day in 1978 of a brain hemorrhage. She was only 31.
I was a huge fan and have kept the albums she put out with Fairport Convention and Fotheringay as well as her second solo album. I still remember the lyrics to all the songs.
Oh, well done Nag, I didn't realise it was an anniversary, but Sandy Denny has always been my favourite female singer, I saw her with Fairport, and then when she toured with her own band, she had a wonderful personality, on stage, which came over as warmth, and depth, and sadness too. She could spark a laugh, but her songs so often seem more likely to spark a tear. In this last week or so, I've been listening to her, as I listen to other great voices of the same era. The most direct comparisons in her genre must of course be Maddy Prior of Steeleye Span, and Jacqui Mc'Shee of Pentangle. To me, Sandy Denny stands head and shoulders above them, in terms of her ability to fill a song with feeling, to draw the listener in.
Every year, at Fairport's annual Cropredy-Convention festival, in the green fields of Oxfordshire, one song is always sung, 'Meet on the Ledge', which has come to symbolise a remembrance of lost friends.
"Meet On The Ledge"
We used to say that come the day We'd all be making songs Or finding better words These ideas never lasted long
The way is up along the road The air is growing thin Too many friends who tried Blown off this mountain with the wind
Meet on the ledge, we're gonna meet on the ledge When my time is up I'm gonna see all my friends Meet on the ledge, we're gonna meet on the ledge If you really mean it, it all comes round again Yet now I see I'm all alone But that's the only way to be You'll have your chance again Then you can do the work for me
Meet on the ledge, we're gonna meet on the ledge When my time is up I'm gonna see all my friends Meet on the ledge, we're gonna meet on the ledge If you really mean it, it all comes round again Yet now I see I'm all alone But that's the only way to be You'll have your chance again Then you can do the work for me
Meet on the ledge, we're gonna meet on the ledge When my time is up I'm gonna see all my friends Meet on the ledge, we're gonna meet on the ledge If you really mean it, it all comes round again Yet now I see I'm all alone But that's the only way to be You'll have your chance again Then you can do the work for me
[Richard Thompson]
The sad truth about Sandy is that toward the end, she was an ongoing disaster, cocaine and alcohol took her away from family and friends, and her newborn baby. Nobody could pull her back from the edge.
Her life was a disaster at the end but she had the voice of an angel. I was also inordinately fond of Maddy Prior and Jacqui McShee and have been holding on to these albums for so many years although I never listen to them - don't even have a turntable anymore. My sons have raided my record collection over the years but have avoided these ones like the plague.
Oh, well done Nag, I didn't realise it was an anniversary, but Sandy Denny has always been my favourite female singer, I saw her with Fairport, and then when she toured with her own band, she had a wonderful personality, on stage, which came over as warmth, and depth, and sadness too. She could spark a laugh, but her songs so often seem more likely to spark a tear.
ReplyDeleteIn this last week or so, I've been listening to her, as I listen to other great voices of the same era. The most direct comparisons in her genre must of course be Maddy Prior of Steeleye Span, and Jacqui Mc'Shee of Pentangle. To me, Sandy Denny stands head and shoulders above them, in terms of her ability to fill a song with feeling, to draw the listener in.
Every year, at Fairport's annual Cropredy-Convention festival, in the green fields of Oxfordshire, one song is always sung, 'Meet on the Ledge', which has come to symbolise a remembrance of lost friends.
"Meet On The Ledge"
We used to say that come the day
We'd all be making songs
Or finding better words
These ideas never lasted long
The way is up along the road
The air is growing thin
Too many friends who tried
Blown off this mountain with the wind
Meet on the ledge, we're gonna meet on the ledge
When my time is up I'm gonna see all my friends
Meet on the ledge, we're gonna meet on the ledge
If you really mean it, it all comes round again
Yet now I see I'm all alone
But that's the only way to be
You'll have your chance again
Then you can do the work for me
Meet on the ledge, we're gonna meet on the ledge
When my time is up I'm gonna see all my friends
Meet on the ledge, we're gonna meet on the ledge
If you really mean it, it all comes round again
Yet now I see I'm all alone
But that's the only way to be
You'll have your chance again
Then you can do the work for me
Meet on the ledge, we're gonna meet on the ledge
When my time is up I'm gonna see all my friends
Meet on the ledge, we're gonna meet on the ledge
If you really mean it, it all comes round again
Yet now I see I'm all alone
But that's the only way to be
You'll have your chance again
Then you can do the work for me
[Richard Thompson]
The sad truth about Sandy is that toward the end, she was an ongoing disaster, cocaine and alcohol took her away from family and friends, and her newborn baby. Nobody could pull her back from the edge.
Her life was a disaster at the end but she had the voice of an angel. I was also inordinately fond of Maddy Prior and Jacqui McShee and have been holding on to these albums for so many years although I never listen to them - don't even have a turntable anymore. My sons have raided my record collection over the years but have avoided these ones like the plague.
ReplyDeleteYou know, if you like Fairport Convention, you might also like Imagined Village.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I've never heard of them.
ReplyDeleteOh - Eliza Carthy is part of the group - I have a CD of hers that I haven't listened to for a long time. I'll pull it out. Thanks again.
ReplyDelete