Library Rock's Backpages

Sandy Denny: Sandy

Barney Hoskyns, Rock's Backpages, March 2005

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.

Total word count of piece: 131

Subscribe

Becoming a member is easy. Membership gives you access to all the thousands of articles in the library.

Click here to go to Subscribe page.

Click here for academic and other group subscriptions.