Sandy Denny - North Star Grassman And The Ravens 1971

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, interrupted by an artistically-if not commercially-successful reunion with Fairport. THE NORTH STAR GRASSMAN, 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 "Black Waterside," 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).

CD Universe


1 Late November (4:28)
2 Blackwaterside (4:12)
3 The Sea Captain (3:09)
4 Down In The Flood (3:19)
5 John The Gun (4:37)
6 Next Time Around (4:26)
7 The Optimist (3:24)
8 Let's Jump The Broomstick (2:42)
9 Wretched Wilbur (2:37)
10 The North Star Grassman (3:27)
11 Crazy Lady Blues (3:21)


Richard Thompson - guitar
Gerry Conway - drums
Buddy Emmons - pedal steel guitar
Sandy Denny - vocals, acoustic guitar, piano
Roger Powell - drums
Jerry Donahue - electric guitar
Pat Donaldson - bass
Trevor Lucas - acoustic, electric & 12-string guitars, background vocals
Ian Whiteman - piano, flute organ
Robin Dransfield - background vocals
Barry Dransfield - violin, background vocals
Royston Woods- background vocals