"Original Album Series" by TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS (2014 Rhino/Warners 5CD Mini Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Crimson And Clover..." 

My first real introduction to the mighty 60ts Pop & Rock magic of Tommy James & The Shondells was via Bruce Springsteen vinyl bootlegs in the late 70ts (he will be pleased). I can remember his 1978 encores used to include the incendiary "Mony Mony" to staggering effect – and bluntly his "She's The One" on 1975's "Born To Run" bore an uncanny resemblance to James' signature blaster sound.

I wanted more - but their albums are not common outside of Anthologies and compilations. And that's where this dinky 2014 value-for-money 5CD mini box set reissue comes in. Excluding 2 LPs from 1967 ("It Only Love" and "Getting' Together") – you get their five other albums of the period (1966 to 1969) all in one neat little package. The music moves from Monkees-type pop in 1966 through to the acidic mayhem of 1969 where they come on like a laddish Kinks with killer tunes and a twinkle in their eye. Time to shake a tail feather y'all...

Originally UK and Europe released 20 January 2014 – "Original Album Series" by TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS on Rhino/Warner Brothers 2564636195 (Barcode 825646361953) is a 5CD Mini Box Set with 5" singular card sleeve repro’s and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (30:35 minutes):

1. Hanky Panky

2. I'll Go Crazy

3. I'm So Proud

4. The Lover

5. Love Makes The World Go Round

6. Good Lovin'

7. Say I Am [Side 2]

8. Cleo's Mood

9. Don't Throw Our Love Away

10. Shake A Tail Feather

11. Soul Searchin' Baby

12. Lots Of Pretty Girls

Tracks 1 to 12 are their debut album "Hanky Panky" – released July 1966 in the USA on Roulette R 25336 (Mono) and Roulette SR 25336 (Stereo) – no UK release. The Stereo mix is used.

Disc 2 (29:24 minutes):

1. I Think We're Alone Now

2. Trust Each Other In Love

3. What I'd Give To See Your Face Again

4. Baby Let Me Down

5. Let's Be Lovers

6. Run, Run, Baby, Run

7. Mirage [Side 2]

8. I Like The Way

9. California Sun

10. (Baby, Baby) I Can't Take It

11. Gone, Gone, Gone

12. Shout

Tracks 1 to 12 are their third album "I Think We’re Alone Now" – released April 1967 in the USA on Roulette R 25353 (Mono) and Roulette SR 25353 (Stereo) – no UK release. The Stereo mix is used.

Disc 3 (27:51 minutes):

1. Mony Mony

2. Do Unto Me

3. (I'm) Taken

4. Nightime (I'm A Lover)

5. Run Away With Me

6. Somebody Cares [Side 2]

7. Get Out Now

8. I Can't Go Back To Denver

9. Some Kind Of Love

10. Gingerbread Man

11. One Two Three And I Fell

Tracks 1 to 12 are their fifth album "Mony Mony" – released July 1968 in the USA on Roulette SR 42012 (Stereo-only) and in the UK on Roulette RRLP 1 (Mono) and Roulette SRLP 1 (Stereo). The Stereo mix is used.

Disc 4 (32:31 minutes):

1. Crimson & Clover

2. Kathleen McArthur

3. I Am A Tangerine

4. Do Something For Me

5. Crystal Blue Persuasion [Side 2]

6. Sugar On Sunday

7. Breakaway

8. Smokey Roads

9. I'm Alive

10. Crimson & Clover (Reprise)

Tracks 1 to 10 are their sixth album "Crimson & Clover" – released January 1969 in the USA on Roulette SR 42023 (Stereo-only) and in the UK on Roulette RRLP 2 (Mono) and Roulette SRLP 2 (Stereo). The Stereo mix is used.

Disc 5 (42:24 minutes):

1. Cellophane Symphony

2. Makin' Good Time

3. Evergreen

4. Sweet Cherry Wine

5. Papa Rolled His Own

6. Changes [Side 2]

7. Loved One

8. I Know Who I Am

9. The Love Of A Woman

10. On Behalf Of The Entire Staff & Management

Tracks 1 to 10 are their seventh album "Cellophane Symphony" – released October 1969 in the USA on Roulette SR 42030 (Stereo-only) and in the UK on Roulette RRLP 3 (Mono) and Roulette SRLP 3 (Stereo). The Stereo mix is used.

As with all of these mini box sets there's no booklet but you do get 5 x 5" singular mini album sleeves (no gatefolds anyway) with the original front and rear cover of the American LPs on Roulette Records. The writing is tiny of course but how cool is it to see that original artwork after all these decades. The writer-credits are on the CD labels as are full track lists (no timings) with all 5 CD labels having generic colours that don’t reflect the original LP colours.

SOUND: There's no mention of Remasters but its Rhino/Warner Brothers and to my ears the Audio is wickedly good. I've got the 2009 Revola CD for "Crimson & Clover" and "Cellophane Symphony" and I'd have to say that the Audio on their release is the real deal – much better than what's on offer here. But as I say – what is on offer is excellent and at roughly two quid per album – a bit of a deal. Glitches - there was a mastering error on the "One Two Three And I Fell" track on the "Mony Mony" CD album – mistakes were admitted and Rhino have replaced it (my copy is fine).

The "Hanky Panky" album peaked at No. 46 on the US LP charts and produced two big singles – "Say I Am (What I Am)" b/w "Lots Of Pretty Girls" which hit No. 21 in August 1966 on Roulette R-4695 – and the title track "Hanky Panky" that went all the way to No. 1 in June 1966 on Roulette R-4686. Coming across like a more aggressive version of Roy Orbison and penned by the dynamic songwriting duo of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich - "Hanky Panky" is a total 60ts dancing winner. The boys then show their Soul smarts by covering James Brown's "I'll Go Crazy" as well an almost vocal group take on The Impressions classic "I'm So Proud" (penned by Curtis Mayfield). "The Lover" is the first of three originals on the LP – this one penned by their Tenor Sax man George Magura and Bassist Mike Vale. The other two originals are band numbers - "Don't Throw Our Love Away" and "Soul Searchin' Baby". Soul gent Deon Jackson wouldn't cringe at their cover of his sublime "Love Makes The World Go Round" - while The Rascals might sue for identikit on "Good Lovin'". As I recall the funky Soul-Stroll of "Cleo's Mood" (penned by Junior Walker) would also turn up as an instrumental B-side to Isaac Hayes monster "Shaft" in 1971 on Stax Records. The Shondells Saxophone take on it is the kind of wicked 60ts groover you might hear in a bar and rush to the counter to find who it is. Other happy tunes include the infectious "Shake A Tail Feather" – a frat-party winner originally done by The Five Du-Tones in 1963 and picked up on again in 1967 by James & Bobby Purify.

"I Think We're Alone Now" hit No. 74 in April 1967 – it’s title track represented here in its Mono 7” single variant for some reason (weedy sound). "I Think We're Alone Now" is probably better known as a Tiffany song when the teen sensation covered it 20 years later in 1987. Producer and songwriter Phil Cordell took over the reins for the "I Think We're Alone Now" LP - proffering all the songs except their cover of The Isley Brothers classic "Shout". Winning tunes include "Baby Let Me Down" (a lovely vibe) while "California Sun" is probably the most famous groove on here a regular spin for DJs wanting to lively-up their airwaves. Another emotion-puller on here is "(Baby, Baby) I Can't Take It No More" – a fantastic piece of Sixties pop that will lift the most jaded of hearts.

Considering what a smash "Mony Mony" was as a song – it's surprising to see that the LP barely scraped No.193 in July 1968. But that doesn’t mean its weak. It opens with hand-clapping and you can literally see all those shimmy-shaker girls giving it some go-go – driving all the boys wild in their lame boots and mini-skirts (yeah baby). Taking it down several notches the pretty ballad-melody in "(I'm) Taken" is another hidden album nugget. Phil Spector fans will love the Wall Of Sound production given to "Run Away With Me" complete with speaker-to-speaker panning of the vocals. Other faves include the exit-that-bad-relationship-real-quick "Get Out Now" and the harpsichord pop of "Some Kind Of Love".

Fans will also know that the LP variant of the "Crimson & Clover" track is known as the 'long version' because it runs to 5:26 minutes (5:33 on this CD - the single was an edit at three and half minutes). Luckily Rhino have used the 'long version' complete with the engineer saying "...do a thing...whatever..." at the beginning and that fantastic psych-out extended guitar passage. Released at the beginning of January 1969 – the album "Crimson & Clover" showed maturity in the writing and gave a nod to the druggy culture of the times. The wonderful trippy "I Am A Tangerine" is an obvious homage "I Am The Walrus" by The Beatles. "Don't worry about guys...it's all in the mix..." we’re advised at the beginning of "Sugar On Sunday" by the Producer - a song where we go heavy on the harpsichord and treated vocals – the band sounding not unlike a stoned Bee Gees. But my fave is the garage guitar of "Breakaway" – a fantastic little groover buried on Side 2.

Part concept LP – part drug-addled – "Cellophane Symphony" continued the exploration of its predecessor. It opens on what could be The James Gang or Iron Butterfly or even Zappa. The 9:36 minute guitars of "Cellophane Symphony" signal a Tommy James & The Shondells that has moved away from three-minute power pop so much as to be almost unrecognisable. The music continues on the shorter and more recognisably Tommy James "Made Good Time" - where they already sound like Canned Heat on the road (great organ solo). The ballad "Evergreen" has great Production values and feels bigger and better than its 2:07 minute playing time would suggest. The witty homemade cigarettes song "Papa Rolled His Own" has a circus-carousel vocal that's fun but a tiny bit dated. Better is the Side 2 opener "Changes" – the sort of funk-rock religious song that wouldn't have gone amiss in "Hair" (I used to have some myself in 1969). My other poison here is the deceptively deep "I Know Who I Am" which feels like Warner Brothers Dion or even one of Link Wray's Polydor Records '3-Way Shack' recordings – all languid and knowing. While "The Love Of A Woman" may indeed be their very best song – hidden away on an album that's been lost in the mists of time.

A fantastic ride then through those amazingly creative years – and the best way to rediscover some criminally forgotten 60ts joy...

"I've Always Kept A Unicorn: The Acoustic Sandy Denny" by SANDY DENNY (2016 Universal/Island 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

SANDY DENNY featuring Fairport Convention, The Strawbs, Fotheringay, The Bunch, 

Richard and Linda Thompson, Trevor Lucas and Ralph McTell

"...Wondering if you know how much you mean to me..."

On page 2 of the booklet for 2016's "I've Always Kept A Unicorn: The Acoustic Sandy Denny" is an omen of reissue greatness. Sandy is sat at home on an armchair with her acoustic guitar in hand and a huge plaster-cast on her right leg which is in itself plonked up on a stool (fell off stage at the Toad Hall Folk Club in East Ham, October 1967). She's having a chat with her poodle Lucy who is stood left of her on a nearby table wondering what's that white thing on mummy's leg with her toes sticking out of it. The black and white picture is both laugh-out-loud funny and strangely poignant at one and the same time.

With all the po-faced accolades thrown at this wonderful British vocalist (the only singer to have ever duetted with Led Zeppelin) – I think it's all too easy to forget that Sandy Denny was once funny – had a sense of humour – and engendered enormous affection for precisely that. There's warmth, humanity and even ordinariness in that quirky photo. And I suspect the compilers of this double-dip into her softer Acoustic side know this and want to reclaim her as a 'person' as much as celebrate her musical legacy. There's a lot on this fab 2CD vault's trawl so let's get to the shaggy dog stories...

UK released 22 April 2016 (29 April 2016 in the USA) – "I've Always Kept A Unicorn: The Acoustic Sandy Denny" by SANDY DENNY on Universal/Island 536 735-0 (Barcode 600753673508) is a 40-Track 2CD Anthology of Demos, BBC Recordings and rare album versions with 3 Previously Unreleased Tracks and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (71:58 minutes):

1. Who Knows Where The Time Goes

Track 1 by THE STRAWBS and SANDY DENNY

1967 Recording first released 1973 in the UK on the "All Our Own Work" LP on Hallmark SHM 813

2. You Never Wanted Me (Saga Album Version)

3. Milk And Honey (Re-Recorded Version)

Tracks 2 and 3 by SANDY DENNY – both are Jackson C. Frank covers

Tracks 2 and 3 originally recorded 1967 for the "Sandy & Johnny" album by Sandy Denny and Johnny Silvo on Saga EROS 8041. However, track 3 is the 're-recorded' version that first appeared in 1970 on the "It's Sandy Denny" compilation LP on Saga Eros SAGA 8153

4. Autopsy (Demo)

5. Now And Then (Demo)

6. She Moves Through The Fair (Acoustic Master)

7. Fotheringay (Acoustic Master)

Tracks 4 to 7 by FAIRPORT CONVENTION

8. The Pond And The Stream (Demo)

9. Winter Woods (Demo)

10. Wild Mountain Thyme (BBC 'Sounds Of The Seventies' Recording)

11. The Lowlands Of Holland (BBC 'Folk On One' Recording)

Tracks 8 to 11 by FOTHERINGAY

12. Wretched Wilbur (Demo)

13. The Optimist (Demo)

14. Late November (BBC 'One In Ten' Recording)

15. The North Star Grassman And The Ravens (BBC 'Paris Theatre' Recording)

16. Next Time Around (BBC 'Paris Theatre' Recording)

17. John The Gun (BBC 'Paris Theatre' Recording)

Tracks 12 to 17 by SANDY DENNY

18. Love's Made A Fool Of You (Demo)

19. When Will I Be Loved (Demo)

20. Learning The Game (Demo)

Tracks 18 to 20 by THE BUNCH and are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED - feature Richard Thompson and Trevor Lucas on Guitars.

Tracks 18 and 20 are Buddy Holly covers - Track 19 is by The Everly Brothers - Linda Thompson sings on Track 20

Disc 2 (73:30 minutes):

1. Quiet Joys Of Brotherhood (Demo)

2. After Halloween (Demo)

3. The Lady (Demo No. 2)

4. Bushes & Briars (Live on the BBC 'Bob Harris Show')

5. The Music Weaver (Demo)

6. No End (Demo – Piano Version)

7. Solo (BBC 'John Peel Session' – Acoustic Version)

8. Like An Old Fashioned Waltz (BBC 'John Peel Session' – Acoustic Version)

Tracks 1 to 8 by SANDY DENNY

9. The King And Queen Of England (Demo)

10. Rising For The Moon (Demo)

11. One More Chance (Demo)

12. Sandy’s Song (Take Away The Load) (Demo)

13. What Is True? (Demo)

Tracks 9 to 13 by FAIRPORT CONVENTION

14. Blackwaterside (Live on 'Marc Time')

Track 14 by SANDY DENNY

Author of "I've Always Kept A Unicorn: The Biography Of Sandy Denny" – MICK HOUGHTON knows and loves his subject. The text is full of fan-pleasing and illuminating stories as well as a comprehensive range of black and white photos - Sandy young and pretty in a local park in 1967 to outside of the Island Studios in 1974 looking quite the lady about town in her dapper furs. Having said that - you'd have to say that the track lists on Page 3 and 4 that simply list the titles line-by-line don't give you any info as to what came from where – either on original vinyl (if any) or what posthumous CD compilation they first appeared on. There are very cramped writers credits on Pages 18 and 19 – but outside of that – good luck working it out. For instance only by delving into Houghton's liner notes do you suddenly find out that Ralph McTell plays guitar on the "Moments" Demo or that Linda Thompson duets with Sandy on her cover of The Everly Brothers Classic "When Will I Be Loved" - newly discovered Bunch demos from the vaults. I had thought the three 'Previously Unreleased' tracks bookended Disc 1 would be badly recorded filler – but they're shockingly good and professionally recorded too (no dodgy bootleg feel here). Genuinely good stuff...

PASCHAL BYRNE has done the superlative remastering – a name synonymous with dozens and dozens of quality reissues for Esoteric Recordings and at least five or six of Universal's 3CD Box Set overviews for labels like Deram, Decca, Vertigo, Island, Polydor and more. This is a man who knows his way around a tape or two and given the vintage and sparseness of these 'quiet' recordings – there was a danger of being hit with walls of hiss on every song. But that's just not the case. Only two are particularly bad – "Blackwaterside" and "No More Sad Refrains" from the Marc Ellington's Grampian Radio Show 'Marc Time' and there's some speaker distortion on the beautiful "After Halloween" (another highlight on Disc 2). On a slight downside - it seems a shame that someone didn’t see fit to do a track-by-track proper credit – advising what guest musicians play on what so collectors and fans can work out their bearings. Outside of that – Mick Houghton’s liner notes are properly excellent and include interviews with Linda Peters (as she was back then) that give first hand accounts of the young Denny wowing audiences and pernickety producers like Glyn Johns with her 'one take' wonders.

To the music - by rights this double-CD set should really be called 'The Acoustic and Piano Album' (most on Disc 2 are lone Piano demos) – and it has to be said that truthfully no matter how much you love the woman's voice and music - 40 tracks of this is hard to take all in one sitting. But if I pick say 10 tracks to form one coherent LP (see idea below) – the effect is sublime and actually approximates that 'long lost acoustic album' the liner notes keeps alluding to. There's also a marked jump up in audio quality when you get to Disc 2 (most of the Demos are exclusively on Piano and recorded with real fidelity).

35-seconds into "Who Knows Where The Time Goes" and I'm already tearful. It's been 40 years since I played that Hallmark LP from 1973 with The Strawbs (1967 recordings belatedly released). I know everyone adores the Fairport version – but there's something about this raw acoustic take that brings out the beautiful melody. Speaking of magic Houghton quite rightly name-checks the truly stunning "No End" – 7:34 minutes recorded 3 December 1972 in the beautiful audio vastness of the Walthamstow Assembly Hall in my own London's E17. "No End" hurts - it's atmospheric and powerful and technically the best recording by far across the 2CDs (done on a 12-foot Bechstein Grand Piano). It tantalises a fan - you can only dream of what would have happened had someone recorded a whole album with these fabulous acoustics and that instrumental simplicity.

Other highlights - I'd also cite Bryn Haworth's "Moments" which Sandy had from him before he got to release his own warm version on the "Grand Arrival" LP on A&M Records in February 1978. "Moments" is a beautiful song that seems to suit Sandy's particular longing. Mary Black's 1987 LP/CD "By The Time It Gets Dark" on Ireland's Dara Records was the last time I heard this fantastic song - another genius Denny melody and a happy tale amidst the personal darkness that dominates so much of the music on here. Those who are used to the full band versions of "I'm A Believer" and the "Full Moon" outtake (2005 CD reissue) from the much-maligned "Rendezvous" LP (1977) will have their faith restored by the gorgeous stripped-down piano-only demos presented here - her voice full of passion and love. Damn was she good...

Whatever way you look at it (and that slightly hippy-dip title aside) – "I've Always Kept A Unicorn" by Sandy Denny is surely a shoe in for 2016 'Reissue Of The Year' in any genre. Well done to the team who put it together and its No. 1 Bestseller status is thoroughly deserved.

"...Wondering if you know how much you mean to me..." - Sandy sings on the lovely "Full Moon". We miss you beautiful lady...

PS:

A track list for my mock Acoustic & Piano Sandy Denny LP – "Not Long Before The Dawn"

Title taken from lyrics in the song "No End"

Side 1.

1. By The Time It Gets Dark

2. After Halloween

3. No End

4. Moments

5. I'm A Dreamer

Side 2:

1. Bushes And Briars

2. Full Moon

3. One Way Donkey Ride

4. Sandy's Song (Take Away The Load)

5. Who Knows Where The Time Goes

"Rendezvous" by SANDY DENNY (2005 Universal/island 'Expanded' CD - Denis Blackham Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...I'm A Dreamer..."

"Rendezvous" features Steve Winwood of Track, John “Rabbit” Bundrick of Free, 

Jess Roden of Bronco and members of both Fairport Convention and Fotheringay

Her fifth and final solo LP (six including her stay with "Fotheringay" in 1970) was released in the UK in May 1977 to widespread public indifference and press bewilderment and would unfortunately prove to be her swan-song. Because of its deliberately 'modern' sound and the heavy-on-the-sauce productions on some numbers – "Rendezvous" has been applauded and berated in equal measure. But at least this gorgeous CD remaster gives it another chance. And I'd argue too damn right. Because as alway it's the good stuff with Sandy Denny that stays with you and obliterates all the rest. Here are the details for England's finest Lady Singer...

UK released May 2005 (reissued August 2007) – "Rendezvous" by SANDY DENNY on Universal/Island IMCD316 / 982 802-4 (Barcode 602498280249) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and plays out as follows (58:40 minutes):

1. I Wish I Was A Fool For You (For Shame Of Doing Wrong)

2. Gold Dust

3. Candle In The Wind

4. Take Me Away

5. One Way Donkey Ride

6. I'm A Dreamer [Side 2]

7. All Our Days

8. Silver Threads And Golden Needles

9. No More Sad Refrains

Tracks 1 to 9 are her fifth and final album "Rendezvous" – released May 1977 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9433. Produced by Trevor Lucas – all songs are Sandy Denny originals except "I Wish I Was A Fool For You (For Shame Of Doing Wrong)" by Richard Thompson, "Candle In The Wind" by Elton John and "Silver Threads And Golden Needles" by Jack Rhodes and Dick Reynolds (covered by The Springfields, Linda Ronstadt and Fotheringay).

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Still Waters Run Deep – a Sandy Denny original non-album B-side to "Candle In The Wind" - released May 1977 in the UK on Island WIP 6391 ('DJ Promo' copies only)

11. Full Moon – Previously Unreleased Outtake originally issued on the January 1986 4LP/3CD Box Set "Who Knows Where The Times Goes" on Island SDSP 100

12. I’m A Dreamer (Demo) – recorded at home, Byfield, Northants in March 1976. First issued on the October 2004 5CD Box Set "A Boxful Of Treasures" on Fledg'ling Records NEST 5002

13. Easy To Slip – a Little Feat cover version

14. Moments – a Bryn Haworth cover version

Tracks 13 and 14 first appeared on the 1995 Australian CD compilation "The Attic Tracks 1972-1984" for Sandy Denny and Trevor Lucas on Raven RVCD-46

As with all of these superb Sandy Denny CD reissues on Island's 'mid price' series – the project was researched and co-ordinated by DAVID SUFF and TIM CHACKSFIELD with assistance from JOE BACK at Universal. There’s a very tasteful card slipcase, a Pink Island label on the CD (that should actually be an Orange label to match 1977 and not the 1969 Pink-Eye variant) and hand-written lyrics from "So More Sad Refrains" on the inlay beneath the see-through CD tray. The 12-page booklet features brief but informative liner notes from Fledg'ling Records head honcho and Sandy fan DAVID SUFF - as well as repros of hand-written lyrics and music charts (the lyrics to the songs that were on the vinyl insert are also there too). But the big news is a Remaster by a fave Engineer of mine – DENIS BLACKHAM of Skye Mastering. And what a gorgeous job he's done. This CD sounds superb and is also one of those instances where the BONUS TRACKS tip the purchase into a 'must have'...

From the wind-in-her-hair against a city backdrop artwork and the opening keyboard-rock of Richard Thompson's "I Wish Was A Fool For You..." and the funked-up Miles Davis trumpet of "Gold Dust" – it's clear that this album trying real hard to leave 'Folk' behind – and kind of succeeding. You're also aware of the huge number of instruments and players present. Although it doesn't say who exactly plays on what – the big name luminaries impress - Steve Winwood of Traffic, John 'Rabbit' Bundrick of Free, Jess Roden of Bronco, Jerry Donahue, Richard Thompson, Dave Mattacks and Bob Pegg of Fairport Convention, Billy Lively of Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance, Pat Donaldson of Fotheringay, Bob Weston of Fleetwood Mac and even Reggae artist Junior Murvin. Not to be outdone by these band playing upstarts – the Backing Singers included a neat roll call too - Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle of Gallagher & Lyle, famed session lady Sue Glover, Sunny Wheatman of 6ts female duo act Sue & Sunny, Kay Gardner of The Ladybirds and the wonder-larynx of Claire Torry whose vocals blew everyone away on Pink Floyd's "The Great Gig In The Sky" from 1973's "The Dark Side Of The Moon".

Sandy's dreadful cover of "Candle In The Wind" is an undoubted and much-derided clunker – and one can only wonder what Island was thinking releasing it as a 7" single to represent the album (four years after Elton's original nailed it in 1973). I've only ever seen 'DJ Promo' copies of WIP 6391 (and they're rare) – so I guess it was withdrawn and never made the stock copy stage. Far better is her self-penned non-album B-side "Still Waters Run Deep" (Track 10 in the Bonuses) – a jaunty tune with great female backing vocals that would surely have fitted better on the LP rather than the mawkish "Candle...”. The slow but wonderfully Soulful "Take Me Away" (credited as "Take Me Away The Load" in the booklet for some reason) is one of my poisons – a masterpiece that showcases her warm voice, songwriting talent and yet still manages to modernise her sound (I'd love to know who plays that great lead guitar - doesn’t sound like Richard Thompson). "One Way Donkey Ride" is cited by fans as another nugget and rightly so.

It's not surprising that the lushly-orchestrated "I'm A Dreamer" was chosen as the album's representative track on the 2009 "Meet On The Ledge" 3CD Box Set celebrating the Folk-Rock of Island Records – it's a highlight on here. "All Our Days" has a touch of the Kate Bush in its ambitious orchestration – a forgotten gem. "Silver Threads And Golden Needles" was a minor hit for The Springfields (with Dusty Springfield) way back in September 1962 (No. 20 in the US charts) while Linda Ronstadt covered it too on her April 1969 debut solo LP "Hand Sown...Home Grown". Sandy's own UK folk band Fotheringay would release a version of it on the belated album project "Fotheringay 2" in 2008 – the supposed 2nd LP from 1970 that never was. That 2008 version is similar to the languid feel of the "Rendezvous" take just minus the colliery band backing (some prefer it). The "Rendezvous" LP ends on "No More Sad Refrains" – a sophisticated love song that is perhaps too loaded down with syrupy strings.

When you hear how good both "Still Waters Run Deep" and the gorgeous ballad "Full Moon" are ("...tonight is like the fist night we met...") – it's pretty damn clear that mistakes were made in choosing "Gold Dust" or "Candle In The Wind" as LP tracks instead. It's arguable that had "Full Moon" been released as a UK 7" single – surely radio would have picked up on its beauty? Her 'Demo' of "I'm A Dreamer" is hissy for sure but that's more than wiped away by the delicacy of the performance – her and a piano – gorgeous. The final two bonuses are cover versions – Little Feat's "Easy To Slip" (from 1973's "Sailin Shoes") and Bryn Haworth's "Moments" (from 1978's "Grand Arrival"). The Little Feat cover just doesn't really work (they had such a unique sound) but the beauty of Haworth's "Moments" makes for a more satisfying listen – a sweet little melody with great guitar-work (I wish someone would pair Haworth's A&M albums "Grand Arrival" from 1978 with 1979's "Keep The Ball Rolling" onto 1CD).

After 1975's "Rising For The Moon" and 1977's "Rendezvous" failed commercially – both her former muckers Fairport Convention and Sandy Denny herself were dropped by Island Records – out in the wilderness so to speak. After a freak accident in a friend's home in the spring of the following year (she fell down some stairs) - Sandy went into a coma and horribly - a brain haemorrhage took her not long after.

Alexandra Elene MacLean Denny passed 21 April 1978 – gone too soon – a voice many considered too beautiful for words. This last stab at commerciality might have offended purists at the time with its cod Reggae and overdone productions in places. But over time – the beauty-moments on "Rendezvous" have revealed themselves to be more than the whole. And it's a cheap too as a Remaster.

"...Miss you more than I can say..." - Sandy sang on the beautiful love song "Full Moon". Set up a meeting with this underrated and forgotten album...because I reckon the good bits are going to improve your listening world big time...

PS: see reviews for "Fotheringay" (1970) and her 1972 debut on Island Records "Sandy"

"Morning Glory: The Tim Buckley Anthology" by TIM BUCKLEY (2001 Elektra/Rhino 2CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Song To The Siren..."

Blessed with an angelic ring-them-bells voice that would literally make women swoon and Male Sopranos nervous - Tim Buckley's artistry has nonetheless always been a strange thing in collecting circles. Despite his stunning set of pipes and beautiful song arrangements - I've seen this superlative Rhino 2CD Anthology fall as low as 75p on some online sites – while at the same time his original British sixties vinyl albums easily command fifty, sixty, seventy pounds – especially masterpieces like "Happy Sad" on orange-Elektra and "Starsailor" on Straight Records. Cheap or no - I'd like to argue that this 2CD star-in-a-reasonably-priced-car is genuinely essential listening you need in your man cave. Here are the Hellos and Goodbyes...

UK and Europe released 31 March 2001 (April 2001 in the USA) – "Morning Glory: The Tim Buckley Anthology" by TIM BUCKLEY on Elektra/Rhino 8122-76722-2 (Barcode 081227672225) is a 33-Track 2CD Set in a Card Slipcase and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (77:21 minutes):

1. Wings

2. She Is

3. Song Slowly Song

4. It Happens Every Time

5. Aren’t You The Girl

Tracks 1 to 5 from his debut album "Tim Buckley" – released October 1966 in the USA (December 1966 in the UK) on Elektra Records EK-4040 (Mono) and Elektra EKS-74040 (Stereo) - same LP catalogue numbers for both countries. The STEREO MIX is used.

6. Pleasant Street

7. Hallucinations

8. No Man Can Find The War

9. Once I Was

10. Morning Glory

11. Goodbye And Hello

Tracks 6 to 11 from his 2nd studio album "Goodbye And Hello" – released September 1967 (December 1967 in the UK) in the USA on Elektra EKL-318 (Mono) and Elektra EKS-7318 (Stereo) - same LP catalogue numbers for both countries. Reissue copies (about October/November 1967) have the catalogue number Elektra EKS-74028. The STEREO MIX is used.

12. Buzzin' Fly

13. Strange Feelin'

14. Sing A Song For You

Tracks 12 to 14 are from his 3rd studio LP "Happy Sad" – released March 1969 in the USA and UK on Elektra Records EKS-74045 (Stereo only).

15. Phantasmagoria In Two (Live)

16. I've Been Out Walking (Live)

17. Troubadour (Live)

Tracks 15 to 17 recorded Live in London, England on 7 October 1968 – finally released June 1990 in the UK as "Dream Letter/Live In London 1968" on Demon DFIEND 200 (2LPs) and DFIENDCD 200 (2CDs) and in the USA on Bizarre/Straight/Rhino R2 70361 (Stereo).

Disc 2 (73:27 minutes):

1. Happy Time

2. Chase The Blues Away

3. I Must Have Been

4. The River

5. So Lonely

6. Blue Melody

Tracks 1 to 6 are from his 4th studio album "Blue Afternoon" – released November 1969 in the USA and UK on Straight STS-1060 (Stereo) - reissued January 1970 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS-1842.

7. I Had A Talk With My Woman (Live)

Track 7 from his 5th album "Lorca" – released October 1970 in the USA on Elektra EKS-74074 (Stereo) and in the UK on Elektra 2410 005 (Stereo)

8. Moulin Rouge

9. Song To The Siren

10. Monterey

Tracks 8 to 10 from his 6th album "Starsailor" – released November 1970 in the USA (January 1971 in the UK) on Straight STS 1060 (Stereo) – reissued July 1971 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS-1881.

11. Sweet Surrender

12. Hong Kong Bar

13. Make It Right

Tracks 11 to 13 from his 7th album "Greetings From L.A." – released August 1972 in the USA on Straight/Warner Brothers BS-2631 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46176.

14. Sally Go 'Round The Roses

Track 14 from his 8th album "Sefronia" – released September 1973 in the USA on Discreet MS-2157 and May 1974 in the UK on Discreet K 49201.

15. Who Could Deny You

Track 15 from his 9th and final album "Look At The Fool" – released November 1974 in the USA on Discreet DS 2201 and in the UK on Discreet K 59204.

16. Song To The Siren (From 'The Monkees TV Show' - Introduced by Mickey Dolenz)

Recorded live on set in November 1967 - it features Tim Buckley on Vocals and 12-String Guitar and is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED.

"Morning Glory" is housed in a fetching card slipcase (dig that Velvet Underground & Nico advert on the wall behind him) that houses a three-way foldout card digipak within with a 32-page oversized booklet in one of its flaps. JAMES AUSTIN does the 'foreword' that's followed by comprehensive liner notes from BARRY ALFONSO and Lead Guitarist on Buckley's first few albums LEE UNDERWOOD. There's track-by-track annotation, the 10 LPs from "Tim Buckley" in October 1966 through to the posthumous "Dream Letter/Live In London 1968" 2LP set in June 1990 are pictured too. But the best news is the Audio that after years of crappy 80s CDs is fab across the board. Long-time engineer associates with Rhino DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT have handled the transfers and remasters and done a wonderful job. It's thrilling after all these years to hear gems like "Once I Was" and "Buzzin' Fly" sound this good. Sure there's hiss on some tracks but the music is alive and clear and tracks like "Happy Time" and the ethereally atmospheric "Song To The Siren" make the hairs on the back on my neck stand up.

As you can see from the detailed track list above – Disc 1 concentrates on 1966 to 1968 – his first three albums "Tim Buckley", "Goodbye And Hello" and "Happy Sad" encompassing the fantastic Demon Records 2LP reissue "Dream Letter" (Live 1968 recordings finally released in 1990). You can chart his journey from straight-up Folky on the lovely "Wings" through the Harpsichord 60ts Pop of "Pleasant Street" on to his exploration of vocals and jazz rhythms on "Buzzin' Fly" and "Strange Feelin'". Buckley's 12-String Guitar and Lee Underwood's Lead Electric underpin the mournful "Chase The Blues" (a little hiss on this one) while the duo appear again on the beautiful live cut "I Had A Talk With My Woman" recorded at the Troubadour in West Hollywood in September 1969 for the "Lorca" album. I can only imagine what it must have been like for that audience to hear this extraordinary vocal come out of that microphone – "I Had A Talk With My Woman" is showcase - amazing stuff.

It's a damn shame that only 3 tracks turn up from the ever-elusive "Starsailor" LP - but at least the cod-French "Moulin Rouge", the beautiful "Song To The Siren" and the slightly Zappa-esque "Monterey" all sound great – the remaster really lifting them. Having said that only 1 track from "Lorca" and "Look At The Fool" isn't enough. I would have liked his covers of Fred Neil's "Dolphins" and Tom Waits' "Martha" from 1973's "Sefronia" on here too as well as the Soulful title track "Look At The Fool" – all songs that still showed his magic at a time of drugs and problems. And the "Forever Changing..." 1999 Box Set covering the history of Elektra Records uncovered the magnificent 1967 outtake "Wayfaring Stranger" - the set is a little less by their absences. By way of compensation there's a previously unreleased solo acoustic take of  "Song To The Siren" introduced by Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees. It's pure Buckley magic and at 3:18 minutes – a warm and musically fitting way to end this exceptional retrospective.

As I replay the oh-so-pretty "Morning Glory" and he sings "...tell me stories...I call to the hobo..." – I'm awash with admiration – moved too.

Tim Buckley was a musical genius, a mercurial talent and a songsmith you need in your home. This is the one to buy...