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| Island ILPS 9165 1971 |
The North Star Grassman & The Ravens
Sandy Denny
Island ILPS 9165
Recorded at Sound Techniques, Basing Street and Air studios, May 1971.
Produced by Sandy Denny
- Richard Thompson and John Wood.
Engineer: John Wood.
Sandy Denny (vocals, acoustic guitar, piano) / Richard
Thompson (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars,
accordion) / Trevor Lucas (acoustic, electric & 12-string guitars, background vocals) / Jerry Donahue (electric
guitar) / Buddy Emmons (pedal steel guitar) / Barry Dransfield (violin, background vocals) / Ian Whiteman (piano, flute organ)
/ Pat Donaldson (bass) / Gerry Conway, Roger Powell (drums) / Royston Woods, Robin Dransfield (background vocals).
Following her celebrated first stint with Fairport Convention and the dissolution of the short-lived folk rock super-group Fotheringay,
Denny recorded a run of fine solo albums during the '70s. The Northstar Grassman and the Ravens, the first of those solo
albums, was co-produced and engineered by the ever-reliable John Wood. It's business as usual as far as participating musicians
go. Denny's former Fotheringay companions are present, and ex-Fairport guitar prodigy Richard Thompson is all over the album. Freed
of the compromises of a democratic group, Denny is able to concentrate on her own material. However, she also finds room
for a fine arrangement of the traditional "Blackwaterside," a dip into her beloved rock & roll on "Let's Jump the
Broomstick," and the obligatory Dylan cover, "Down In The Flood." But it is the quality of the original material
that marks this album. Finest are the plaintive "Next Time Around," with a delicate string arrangement by Harry
Robinson, and the moody "Late November." "John the Gun" is vintage folk rock, featuring fiddler Barry Dransfield, who is joined on
stirring backing vocals by brother Robin and by Royston Wood (ex-Young Tradition).
The North Star Grassman and the Ravens
They stood upon the deck
As the ship went out to sea.
The wind it took the sails
And left the land
a memory.
All upon the shore for
To wonder why the sailor goes.
All to close their eyes
And wonder what the sailor
knows.
That is you to them,
That is how they think you are.
Never on the land,
But sailing by the
North Star.
To the tower and to the ravens
And the tale that hopes they'll never leave.
What if they should go?
We
always dread to think of them.
I wonder if they flew one day
And no-one ever knew they'd gone
To circle over ships
at sea,
Claiming yet another son.
That is you to me,
That is where I think you are.
Never on the land,
But gone to find the North
Star.
[Sandy Denny]
(Copyright © 1971 Warlock Music)
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side one
1 . Late November
2. Blackwaterside
3. The Sea Captain
4. Down In The Flood
5. John The Gun
side two
1. Next Time Around
2. The Optimist
3. Let's Jump The Broomstick
4. Wretched Wilbur
5. The North Star Grassman And The Ravens
6. Crazy Lady Blues | |
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