Sandy Denny: Sandy

DENNY'S SECOND solo set, produced by boyfriend and Fotheringay graduate Trevor Lucas, was a decided improvement on her great but scattered debut. Evenly balanced between trad-folk ('Sweet Rosemary', the stunning a capella 'Quiet Joys of Brotherhood') and impassioned Denny originals ('It'll Take a Long Time', 'The Lady', the majestic 'Listen, Listen', one of her many sea-inspired songs), the album also takes a more than creditable shot at country rock (Dylan's 'Tomorrow is a Long Time', with Sneaky Pete Kleinow on pedal steel). Bonus tracks include a French version of 'Listen, Listen' ('Ecoute, Ecoute', naturally) and a live 1974 'Take a Long Time' from LA's Troubadour, originally on last year's Boxful of Treasures. The mystery of how this suburban ladess made music of such tragic gravity may never be satisfactorily solved.