Hey! Can anyone name the only person to be a guest on a Led Zeppelin album. No cheating, really the person is featured in this blogs photos. I am sure you are looking at the photos and trying to figure one this band and two the answer to the question. Well, the band is Fairport Convention and the artist that was the only guest on a Led Zeppelin album is Sandy Denny. She sang with Robert Plant on "Battle of Evermore."
Here voice was the first thing I noticed when I heard that song. It was draw dropping it stuck out like a sore thumb and it entirely made the song. When hearing her for the first time you get transfixed on what a beautiful voice she had. Sandy Denny transported Fairport Convention to another place. She solidified herself on the first two Fairport albums. Those are worth checking out, but this one to me is the most amazing. I always switch Liege & Lief album and Unhalfbricking on what are the best of the Fairport's, but each is amazing.
The album I chose was Liege & Lief because it left off where Unhalfbricking ended. Her voice was utterly amazing. Richard Thompson was also part of this band. He is one of my top 5 favorite guitar players. What Joe Boyd (their producer) did is make English Folk Rock. He was responsible for so much. That Incredible String Band I mentioned, he is responsible for that too. Basically he has a lot to do wit the British movement of the 1960's. He introduced the world to Nick Drake.
Going Back to Liege & Lief the album has of more traditional English folk songs and songs written by them. It was a totally original kind of music for it's time. To me, it rocked like no other. It gave me a sense that I could make something like this too. I was about 21 when I got introduced to this through a greatest hits album that Fairport Convention put out. Most of the songs on that greatest hits were on this album.
This album does not even sound dated like some 60's albums are. This is something that if it came out today would sound fresh and wonderful. Sadly, this was the last album with Denny and the rest is just history they say. Sandy died in 1978 after she fell down the stairs at her parents house and a month after that fall she collapsed and four days later she died.
If you are looking for an album to turn the heads of all your friends, this may be the one. If you want hear great traditional English folk with an electric back beat this is the one too. Enjoy what was a non traditional album from the 1960's and continues to blow the music minds today.
MosaicImages1.jpg)
Love your site. Great, great music. Sandy and Richard - perfect. Mind if I link to you?
ReplyDeletego ahaid, thanks! Keep on reading!!
ReplyDeleteSandy is great; a bit of back story for you. When Sandy joined Fairport, they were a UK rock band singing west coast American covers, they had actually never sung an english folk song- that was what Sandy brought to them with her career in the folk clubs. She is a pivotal person in the folk rock movement. When she left Fairport, it was to pursue her own songwriting more fully first in her band Fotheringay and then as a solo artist- in a way these solo records are the basis of her legacy, as a singer and songwriter. the albun 'Sandy' is a classic. Also Sandy actually re-joined Fairport in 74 to 75 for an album largely written by her called Rising for the Moon, and a world tour with extensive dates across america.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't know Sandys post Fairport work i recommend the Fotheringay album, and the self titled Sandy. if your after a collection, the best is the 2cd set 'No More Sad Refrains' which has a bit of everything.
Andrew
Andrew, Thanks, Yea I have all her solo stuff. There are 2 bootleg live soundboards floating. I am looking for those! Thanks for reading! Continue and enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteI had heard that she died falling down some stairs. Leading me to believe she fell down the stairs and died. I learned (if this book is correct) she fell down the stairs and then died a month later (she was drunk). Than she gave a concert a week after she fell with a badly bruised face. Terrible. Seems she wasn't properly looked after after she fell. So many head injuries go untreated only for the people to die later on (ie. Berry Oakley died several hours after leaving his crash on his own power, in his house, saying he was OK).
ReplyDeleteRick/AKA