Customer Reviews

Fotheringay

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"Fotheringay" was the album Sandy Denny released after she left Fairport Convention, when that group decided to explore traditional English music more and Denny wanted to continue writing songs (the title comes from one of the first songs she wrote for Fairport). On this 1970 album Denny wrote four of the tracks, with "The Sea" and "Winter Winds" being the best of the quartet. There are also covers of songs by Bob Dylan ("Too Much of Nothing"), Gordon Lightfoot ("The Way I Feel"), and David Cousins ("Two Last Weeks in Summer") of the Strawbs, with whom Denny had recorded an earlier album. Ironically, the best track on the album ends up being the traditional song, "Banks of the Nile," a Napoleonic Wars-era story-song ballad, and very much in the style of "A Sailor's Life" and "Tam Linn" that Denny did with Fairport. In addition to Denny on Guitar and Piano, the group consisted of Trevor Lucas and Jerry Donahue on guitars, Pat Donaldson on bass, and Gerry Conway on drums, with everybody joining in on the vocals. The one serious complaint about the album would be the vocals by Lucas, which does not compliment Denny's sublime vocals, even when he is singing his own song, "The Ballad of Ned Kelly" (and even though the pair married shortly after this album was produced). But the album ends on a strong note, with Denny's expressive vocals on "Two Weeks Last Summer" and "Gypsy Davey," and serves as a potent reminder that she was the pre-eminent British folk singer of her generation. "Fotheringay" is not quiet as good as "Unhalfbricking" and "Liege & Lief," but its best moments match any on those classic Fairport Convention albums. Together, they make a nice Sandy Denny folk-rock group trilogy.

If "Holidays","Unhalfbricking"and "Liege & Lief" happen to be your favourite Fairport Convention albums, chances are you will love Fotheringay. For Sandy it must have been some kind of realisation of a dream to be in a position to lead her own group; having said that, Fotheringay was not just a vehicle for her considerable songwriting and voval skills - husband Trevor Lucas and the other band members (distinguished session musicians all) get the chance to shine on this album. Sandy's own songs are gorgeous, and although opinion is divided about the merits of the Dylan/Lightfoot interpretations, for me they are just fine. "The Way I Feel" in particular rocks along very nicely, and if "Too Much of Nothing" sounds a little loose, well wasn't it meant to sound that way? Sandy's singing, however, is wonderful throughout. Even a much-covered song like "Banks of the Nile" sounds miraculously fresh, and deeply moving in her hands. A delightful album...a real shame that Fotheringay didn't stay together long enough to make another.

The few Sandy Denny compilations draw heavily from this post-Fairport album. The song selection is a wonderful combination of Sandy's strengths and the band's strengths. And what a band it is - after 25 years I have never grown tired of listening to the beauty of Sandy's voice juxtaposed with the intelligent and often powerful folk rock accompaniment found on this album. It is a pity that this project was so short lived is so obscure today.

While Fotheringay exemplifies British folk-rock and the revival of the Olde Musick, a rebounding North American influence is pervasive. For example, the band play one song each by Gordon Lightfoot and Bob Dylan. Less direct is the nonetheless unmistakable presence of Jefferson Airplane, the Band and even the Grateful Dead. If you are not familiar with Sandy Denny, she has been described as one of the finest English vocalists ever. (Note the absence of qualifiers such as female or rock or folk.) There is an undeniable similarity to Grace Slick's best moments though Denny is more talented and restrained than Slick.

Fotheringay is a Fairport Convention branch and although Richard Thompson does not play on this album he is there in spirit. (If you are not familiar with Fairport and Thompson, they will both be subjects of future AOTW.) The guitars are often electric but the whole thing has an acoustic feel. Think Renaissance lutes and flutes, except there aren't any. Beautiful ballads sung by Denny are contrasted with pleasant mid-tempo folk-rock material often with Trevor Lucas, Denny's husband, on lead vocal. His cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "The Way I Feel" is especially nice. Eight of the 11 songs are originals or arrangements of traditional material by Denny, Lucas or both. Denny died in 1978 at the age of 31 as the result of a fall. An inspired composer, she wrote "Who Knows Where the Time Goes", the fine song popularized by Judy Collins.

Fotheringay was released in 1970 - the pivotal mid-point of a remarkable 13 year period that begins with the release of Meet the Beatles in the States in 1964 and ends in 1976 with the release of The Ramones and the beginning of punk. 1970 also saw the release of such albums as Jethro Tull's Benefit, Led Zeppelin's III, the Grateful Dead's Live Dead, Workingman's Dead, and American Beauty (that's right - all three of them), and Neil Young's After the Gold Rush. The first Woodstock anthology also appeared along with Déjà vu from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and the Beatle's Let it Be. This is a rich period in popular music - so much so that many outstanding albums were easily overlooked. Fotheringay provides but one example and many future AOTW selections will be drawn from this period.

J.G. Miller
November 7, 2002

"Fortunately, it is not in the nature of music to hide from those who wish to hear it, nor from those who hope to give it voice. The benevolence of the musical impulse is greater than we can know, and sometimes more than we can bear." (Robert Fripp)

This album 'Fotheringay' features Sandy Denny at her best and especially the song 'Banks of the Nile' which for some reason unlike many of her other songs, is on no other album. It was good on vinyl and I'd like to find it on CD. Maybe I will.

"Fotheringay" is a must for even the most casual fan of Sandy Denny. This self-titled album is also an examplar of the folk/rock/pop trend of the late sixties and early seventies. Fotheringay was formed after Denny's departure from Fairport Convention. Many of the pieces are Denny's creations, showcasing her artistry beautifully.

One highlight of the album is a cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "The Way I Feel." The combination of intricate guitar work and vocal layering are characteristic of this album. Another personal favorite is their version of "The Banks of the Nile." This simply-adorned ballad demonstrates Sandy Denny's greatest gift to folk - her uniquely recognizable and inspiring voice.

I`ve just had another look at that source and apparently there will in fact be three bonus tracks on the Fotheringay reissue, although it doesn`t say what they are.

A reissue(possibly with bonus tracks??)of this album is due this coming summer. I got this information from a UK-based online shop that specialises in folk and folk/rock CDs. Fairport Convention`s Angel Delight, Babbacombe Lee, and Rosie are also due for reissue in the summer. The recently reissued Fairport albums(Liege and Lief, Full House etc.) have bonus tracks, so hopefully these latest ones will too.

This album has been finally reissued. The live tracks are a welcome addition although I am disappointed that the two Hannibal bonus tracks are out! There is no time constraint here (so little available from Fotheringay!). By the way, you should know that Fotheringay made a second album, which they never properly recorded for LP release (they broke up before that), but they did record them for BBC! A few years ago I bought a Japanese CD on Nightlife, which has all these tracks (7 or so). It is a worthwhile purchase if it comes into your way...

The album is magnificent. Unfortunately, the excellence of such works as Ned Kelly and the band's cover of The Way I Feel gets lost in the utter beauty of Sandy Denny's contributions. Nothing More, The Banks of the Nile, and in particular, The Sea would be worth the price of the album alone. The Sea - which also features a wonderful guitar lead - is a vocal tour de force; Sandy Denny never sounded better. If you have never heard Sandy Denny sing, well first of all I'm sorry for you, but start with this song.

As another reviewer has noted, it is simply not possible to overstate the utter beauty and power of Sandy Denny's voice. Her contributions elevate what was merely a fine album to the level of transcendent beauty. At times this album simply overwhelms the listener. Perhaps someday Sandy Denny will receive the acclaim she so richly deserved.