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Review
Philip Ward's analyses of Sandy's songs are original, thorough and insightful. I learned a lot from reading them. --Joe Boyd
Product Description
For all the accolades, Sandy Denny (1947-1978) remains curiously elusive. Yet, with growing media interest and the reissue of her entire back catalogue on CD, the signs are that Denny's talent is burning brighter than ever. She emerged in the mid-Sixties while still a teenager, performing on the folk revival scene where she displayed her mastery of traditional singing before moving onto her own compositions and contemporary material. She was a leader of the folk-rock movement, a sound she was instrumental in creating. Whether in her solo recordings or as a member of bands such as the Strawbs, Fotheringay or - most famously - Fairport Convention, her voice speaks to us still in all its resonant purity. In this book Philip Ward, who has made a close study of the artist, presents a series of personal 'reflections' on her life and work. He fills in details overlooked by her biographers, surveys recent reissues of her recordings and offers the first in-depth analysis of her songwriting. He looks back to the public events marking the thirtieth anniversary of her death and assesses her alongside some of her contemporaries. In the author's words, the book is 'a series of experiments' in how to write about the subject. It concludes with a detailed essay arguing the case that, long before Amy Winehouse or Kate Bush, Denny was the first British female 'singer-songwriter' of international stature. The book is illustrated throughout, including previously unseen photos.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For many years now, the only book we had to read on Sandy Denny was Clinton Heylin's No more sad refrains - The life of Sandy Denny, which was re-published recently. This book scores again and again of Heylin's conceited work by not being nauseously opinionated, and reads in a much more academic way. But, in a good way. It considers different areas of Sandy Denny as a subject, such as her life, her writing, recordings made by her, her contemporaries etc. It reads well and Philip Ward doesn't have this arrogance that Heylin's book unfortunately slips into again and again.
Sandy Denny, as a subject to analyse and discuss, is one that has not caught on in the same way that say, Nick Drake has; this is a shame as her work at it's best is certainly an equal, and her life story, sad though it was, also is interesting and draws us in. This book is to my mind the best (so far), and if you like her music, you will find this a light and balanced read. It also has some wonderful photos, many of which I have not seen before. It has some stills from the 1975 London Weekend performance with Fairport of which only 30 seconds is currently on YouTube; the stills here suggests there is more out there.
I would highly recommend this to anyone with an interest in Sandy Denny.
Sandy Denny, as a subject to analyse and discuss, is one that has not caught on in the same way that say, Nick Drake has; this is a shame as her work at it's best is certainly an equal, and her life story, sad though it was, also is interesting and draws us in. This book is to my mind the best (so far), and if you like her music, you will find this a light and balanced read. It also has some wonderful photos, many of which I have not seen before. It has some stills from the 1975 London Weekend performance with Fairport of which only 30 seconds is currently on YouTube; the stills here suggests there is more out there.
I would highly recommend this to anyone with an interest in Sandy Denny.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
At long last Philip Ward's book of his excellent website blogs. The book reflects that style and, I think, makes it a book to dip into rather than read cover to cover. The articles range from the thought provoking personal reminiscences e.g. "Sites of memory..." to the rather more academic "Digression into Theory". I really like the variety of approaches. I think you already need to know a bit about Sandy's story to really appreciate Philip's reflections and original research he has done over years. Highly recommended.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Alas, no.
But what we do have is a literary collage or mosaic. The author uses different approaches to create a portrait of Sandy and her music in a way that no chronological biography could do. Each approach weaves together like thread linking them all together; this includes the author's personal response and reaction to Sandy Denny the artist which, primarily, is the way we all approach her, by reacting in our own individual ways.
This book is simultaneously thoughtful, accessible, absorbing, and a very fine appreciation of this singer who left us too soon.
I doubt whether the definitive book on Sandy will ever be written. Her contemporaries are aging, memories fading, much has already been lost. But if publisher would like to take the chance on the coffee table book about her that she deserves, Philip Ward is the man to write it.
But what we do have is a literary collage or mosaic. The author uses different approaches to create a portrait of Sandy and her music in a way that no chronological biography could do. Each approach weaves together like thread linking them all together; this includes the author's personal response and reaction to Sandy Denny the artist which, primarily, is the way we all approach her, by reacting in our own individual ways.
This book is simultaneously thoughtful, accessible, absorbing, and a very fine appreciation of this singer who left us too soon.
I doubt whether the definitive book on Sandy will ever be written. Her contemporaries are aging, memories fading, much has already been lost. But if publisher would like to take the chance on the coffee table book about her that she deserves, Philip Ward is the man to write it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Maybe next time around?
I did enjoy this book, almost!
However, the author lost most of my trust toward the back end of the book with his psycho-babble
analysis of selected Denny compositions. Read more
However, the author lost most of my trust toward the back end of the book with his psycho-babble
analysis of selected Denny compositions. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Bloodnock
On reflection...
Well laid out, intriguing facts, but more a reference tool than a book to be read straight through from start to finish. Still investigating it, dipping in every now and then.
Published 4 months ago by J. M. Johnson
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