Sandy Denny

19 CD Box Set. Press Release

Universal Music is pleased to announce the full track listing and final packaging for the much antici-

pated, strictly limited edition 19 CD box set, simply titled Sandy Denny. 11 of the CDs feature

Sandy's complete commercial recordings with Alex Campbell, Johnny Silvo, Fotheringay, Strawbs,

Fairport Convention and solo with additional content; outtakes, demos and live recordings. There are

8 further CDs of bonus material; unreleased songs, demos, unreleased BBC recordings, alternate

takes, live recordings, acoustic versions, and rare radio interviews. In all, there are over 100 unre-

leased versions of Sandy’s recordings of which 64 are studio takes, 25 demos and 14 live recordings.

Highlights of the new material include;

· Unreleased songs including: the long lost traditional song ‘Lord Bateman‘, pencilled in for

her first solo album, The North Star Grassman and The Ravens.

· An unidentified track ‘Ethusel‘ from her early pre-Fairport Convention solo career, and 13

other home demos including original compositions like Motherless Children, and a cover of

Dylan’s It Ain’t Me Babe.

· 12th of Never, recorded for an unspecified Granada project, this abbreviated version of the

song was never attempted again.

The alternate takes include;

· Acoustic masters of ‘Fotheringay’ and ‘She Moved Through The Fair‘.

· A solo version of ‘Mr Lacey‘.

· ‘Blackwaterside’ with Richard Thompson, working out the arrangement of this traditional

song, performed here without overdubs.

· The original duet of ‘The Way I Feel’ from Fotheringay.

· Unstrung alternate versions of songs from Like An Old Fashioned Waltz.

· Original masters and outtakes from Rendezvous including ‘Gold Dust‘.

· Her very last recording, an acoustic version of 'Moments'.

Unreleased demos include;

· A superb series of studio demos from throughout Denny's solo career with tracks from Foth-

eringay, Northstar Grassman, Like An Old Fashioned Waltz, Rendezvous and the entire

Sandy album.

· A series of recordings made at home between 1966-68, restored in the main from the master

reels including her first version of ‘Who Knows Where The Time Goes?‘, performed in quite

a different manner to previously released versions, and many other self penned, traditional

and contemporary songs not recorded in the studio.

· Demos recorded at Sandy's home in Byfield between 1974-77 restored from the master reels

including her final home demo 'Makes Me Think of You', which was also her last original

composition. The lyrics (reproduced in this set) to the song are the final entry in her note-

book.

Other highlight include;

· The first release of Sandy's live performance with Fairport Convention at the LA Troubadour

in 1974, mixed from the master reels. These dates mark the only time Sandy ever performed

‘Crazy Lady Blues’ and ‘She Moved Through The Fair’ live with the 1974 Fairport line up,

and the only time they performed Dylan’s Knocking on Heavens Door.

· First time on CD for Sandy's tracks from the Swedish Fly Girls soundtrack, produced by

Manfred Mann.

The full track listing and more complete descriptions of the unreleased recordings is available on re-

quest.

The set is lavishly packaged and features all new artwork. Each CD is housed in an individual gate-

fold digipak sleeve and comes in a beautiful box packed full of memorabilia including;

· 72 page hardback book containing rare and unseen photos

· A reproduction of one of her notebooks containing handwritten lyrics of some of her best

know compositions and many unrecorded songs.

· Extensive biography and annotations to key new tracks found in the Island archive

· Reproduction of a rare A2 colour promo poster for Northstar Grassman and the Ravens

· Copy of the receipt for her first piano

· Copy of an original Island press kit containing press release and 4 press shots for Like An

Old Fashioned Waltz

· A collection of bound postcards of never before seen photographs

· Interviews and tributes from artists such as Richard Thompson, Judy Collins, John Ren-

bourn, Bob Harris, Robert Plant, Bill Drummond, Marc Almond, Lee Ranaldo, Rachel Un-

thank and Jon Boden

A second edition, limited to 100 sets, is available only from the Island 50 web store.

It comes with a framed print of the artwork, signed by the artist, Phil Smee, and

individually addressed to each purchaser.

Tributes from friends and admirers;

Richard Thompson: Sandy was an original - she was carving an area of music that was really her own.

Bob Harris: Has there ever a better first song written than Who Knows Where The Time Goes? The insight in that song, it shows a wisdom way beyond her years and she write consistently great songs

throughout her career.

Rachel Unthank: Her voice was so effortless, graceful and commanding. Don't listen to her! You'll realise that the rest of us are wasting your time.

Lee Ranaldo: Sandy always transports me to a unique musical place, and defines a certain time in music history to my ears. Her music and voice have been elevated to the top-most reverential rungs

of all those I hold dear in my musical life.

Marc Almond: When I want to bring up certain emotions I listen to her, and she really is my very favourite female singer.

Bill Drummond: Other generations may have had Ian Curtis or Kurt Cobain, but for me the voice of Sandy Denny is enough for my life time.