Sandy Denny & the Strawbs [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Strawbs, Sandy Denny

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Original Release Date: 1985
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Hannibal
• ASIN: B00000061W
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #89,286 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Indie Music > Folk > Folk Rock

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Sandy Denny was all of 19 when this one-off was recorded in 1967. Recruited at an open-mike night by Strawbs cofounder Dave Cousins, the bellwether of British folk music was just passing through the group; the following year she skipped over to Fairport Convention, with whom she did her most celebrated work. Sandy Denny and the Strawbs' charms are considerably more modest than those of classic Fairport records such as Unhalfbricking and Liege and Lief. Still, this is an engaging portrait of a preternaturally gifted newcomer who'd soon become a pivotal figure in folk-rock circles. The arrangements straddle the border between the courtly folk of the early '60s and the Beatlesque explorations that closed out the decade. And Denny gleams like a new penny, particularly on the closer, "Stay Awhile with Me." --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spirit-lifting early work !, February 26, 1999

By A Customer

Because of the fact that I only had Denny/Strawbs recordings on a tape, I was very eager to buy this album when it appeared in the stores. At home, there was some disillusion, though. The tape I had contained the songs of the original album "All our own work", while this cd differed from the original album in several ways (hence the title change, I suppose).

What had changed ? Some songs that were featured on the original had gone, to be replaced by other songs (like "Poor Jimmy Wilson"). The worst blow to me, though, was the addition of strings to some Denny songs - and I can't tell you how much I dislike the use of strings in her work ! Instead of leaving the gentle, simple version of her best song "Who knows where the time goes" unspoiled, somebody must have felt it was necessary (for commercial reasons) to make it sound like her later solo work. Fortunately, I've been able to find the "All our own work" lp afterwards.

After having grumbled about these changes, I started to enjoy the album anew, because there sure is some uplifting stuff here. In fact, all songs sound really fresh and there are no bad ones to be found.

This album, like many firsts, shows a lot of freshness and enthusiasm and it pays off well. If you start singing along, don't be surprised.

Hans Wigman

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Listening obsessively, November 2, 2000

By	Gregor von Kallahann - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I realize that this release is probably not considered by most to be Sandy Denny's finest work (or Dave Cousins' either), but I love it and have been playing it non-stop for the past several weeks. It has a gentle, mid-60s flavor to it (not surprising since it was recorded in '67), but is never overly coy or whimsical. There are touches of Beatles-style psychedelia at moments and the mostly chanted "Tell Me What You See In Me" is a lovely bit of exotica, but mostly this is music that wears its English folkiness with a wry sense of pride.

Credit goes to the entire band, although Sandy Denny does shine as the lead vocalist on most of the tracks. This release contains the what is doubtless the first recorded version of her signature song, "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" and Denny's unadorned approach to the song is something of a revelation. Judy Collins (God bless 'er) did an absolutely gorgeous version in '69 and brought Sandy to the attention of many American listeners. Her version had a bit more flair, but ultimately Sandy Denny's is more intimate.

Dave Cousins' contributions cannot be overlooked. His wry lyrics and delivery are always engaging. When he gives one his songs to Sandy Denny to sing, which is more often the case, he and the rest of the band provide wonderful back-up and multi-part harmonies. I love just about every track on this album and hope you will too.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Young Sandy Denny stops to make music with David Cousins, February 11, 2003

By	Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

There are those who only know Sandy Denny from her singing of "The Battle of Everymore" with Robert Plant on Led Zeppelin's "Runes" album (a.k.a. "Led Zeppelin IV"). That is there loss, because Denny was the preeminent voice in English folk music for her generation. Denny was a teenager when she recorded this album with the Strawbs before she went on to her first notable success with Fairport Convention. The Strawbs have long been one of my favorite groups and when I was in England for a week I dug up all of their CDs I could get my hands on. The Strawbs would become one of the best B-level progressive rock bands in England, but not surprisingly on "Sandy Denny & The Strawbs" they are a folk-pop group with the emphasis on acoustic guitars. Except for the fact that David Cousins is writing the songs you would come to the conclusion that they were just backing up Sandy Denny on this album while she sings "Nothing Else Will Do," "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" (which was recorded by Judy Collins and also by Denny again with Fairport Convention) and "Tell Me What You See In Me." Both Sandy Denny and the Strawbs went on to bigger and better things on the British music scene, but their paths crossed and this album preserves their unique collaboration. If you are fans of either Sandy Denny or the Strawbs then you will stumble across this album, at which point you should proceed to cross over and listen to what the other one came up with after they parted ways. Unfortunately, Sandy Denny died way too young at the age of 31 from injuries the singer received while falling down a flight of stairs. This album is just one of many reminders of what a great singing talent was lost.