« Back to Top Level | Sandy Denny

Sandy Denny - Rendezvous (1977)

Track listing:
  1. I Wish I Was A Fool For You 4:27
  2. Gold Dust 3:55
  3. Candle In The Wind 4:09
  4. Take Me Away 4:23
  5. One Way Donkey Ride 3:35
  6. I'm A Dreamer 4:46
  7. All Our Days 7:26
  8. Silver Threads And Golden Needles 3:41
  9. No More Sad Refrains 2:48
  10. Full Moon 4:31

Notes

Produced by Trevor Lucas
Engineer John Wood, Assistant Dave Jordan
Recorded at Island, Basing Street; Island, Hammersmith; CBS, London; Strawberry Studios, Stockport; Sound Techniques, Chelsea in Summer 1976 and Spring 1977.

Musicians
Musicians:
John (Rabbit) Bundrick, Jerry Donahue, Timmi Donald, Pat Donaldson, Dave Mattacks, Dave Pegg,
Steve Winwood, Junior Murvin, Brother James, Jimmy Haines, Nigel Frank Ricotti, John Gillespie, Dick Cuthell, Richard Thompson, Billie Livesey, Bob Weston

Singers:
Jess Roden, Sue Glover, Sunny Leslie, Kay Garner, Claire Torry, Bennie Gallagher, Graham Lyle, The Ladybirds

Silver Band:
John Hudson, Alan Holmes, Ray Grand, Gordon Bland, David White, Robert Richards, Peter Lockett, Philip Goodwin.

Orchestral arrangements: Harry Robinson
Brass arrangements: Steve Gregory
Silver Band arrangements: Robert Kirby

With a sublime voice and a catalog full of beautiful songs, Sandy Denny left an indelible mark on British folk and popular music in her 31 years. Released in 1977, less than one year before her untimely death, the overwrought Rendezvous unfortunately stands as her final musical statement. Producer Trevor Lucas' use of cumbersome strings, backup singers and bloated lead guitars weigh things down and bury some otherwise fine writing. One of her best, "I'm a Dreamer," is nearly ruined by the chorus of singers and anthemic guitar at the end, while the heartfelt "One Way Donkey Ride" and the poignant "Full Moon," though more successful, never seem to quite reach their potential. Even some choice covers — including Richard Thompson's "I Wish I Was a Fool for You" (aka "For Shame of Doing Wrong"), Elton John's "Candle in the Wind," and a somber working of "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" — lack the impact she brought in the past to works by the likes of Thompson, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Richard Farina and Buddy Holly, as well as the many traditional tunes that she made her own. Few, if any of the exquisite touches that Lucas brought to Denny's superb 1972 release Sandy are evident here. Originally released by Island Records in the U.K., and not available in the U.S. until the mid-'80s, Rendezvous seems to be a flawed attempt at gaining a wider audience, by an artist who deserved better and was capable of the best.