The North Star Grassman and the Ravens

by Sandy Denny

Overview

One could argue Sandy Denny left Fairport Convention at just the right time -- her final album with the group, 1969's Liege & Lief, was both a masterpiece and a millstone, a brilliant work they would never top -- but her instincts were not as keen in terms of launching her solo career. Denny not unreasonably wanted a showcase for her own songwriting, but after leaving Fairport she opted to join Fotheringay, a talented folk-rock band but one that was neither as interesting nor as visionary as Fairport. Fotheringay splintered during the recording of their second LP, and Denny seemed to still be finding her footing as she set out to make her first solo album. The North Star Grassman and the Ravens was co-produced by Denny, fellow Fairport alumnus Richard Thompson and John Wood, and the interplay between Denny's vocals and Thompson's understated but striking lead guitar work is one of the best things about the record. With a gifted crew of U.K. folk-rockers backing her up, the sessions confirmed that Denny was still one of the most gifted and thoughtful vocalists to emerge from the British folk community, and she was also a talent to be reckoned with as a songwriter: "John the Gun," "Late November," and the title tune are only a little short of brilliant. But as good as the original songs were, and as compelling as Denny's vocals may have been, The North Star Grassman and the Ravens feels tentative and uneven. While Denny had the strength to do rock-oriented material, the covers of Bob Dylan's "Down in the Flood" and Brenda Lee's "Let's Jump the Broomstick" sound sloppy and meandering, and as sympathetic and expert as the production may be, the deference to Denny's vocals leaves the music a bit pale in comparison, while most of the tracks lack the personality they deserve. By any standards, The North Star Grassman and the Ravens is a fine album full of great songs and inspired vocal performances, but considering the excellence of Denny's music in Fairport Convention, it was a genuine disappointment, and seems pale in comparison to her next two solo efforts, Sandy and Like an Old-Fashioned Waltz. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	09/30/2022
Label:	Proper Records
UPC:	0805520240062
Rank:	66933

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sandy Denny   Primary Artist,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (12 String Acoustic)
Richard Thompson   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Accordion,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String),Guitar (12 String Acoustic)
Trevor Lucas   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Ian Whiteman   Organ,Piano,Keyboards
Barry Dransfield   Violin,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Tim Renwick   Guitar (Electric)
Tony Reeves   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Robin Dransfield   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Jerry Donahue   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Electric)
Roy Wood   Vocals
Buddy Emmons   Guitar (Steel)
Ian Matthews   Vocals
Pat Donaldson   Bass,Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
John Wood   Sound Effects
Gerry Conway   Drums
Royston Wood   Vocals (Background)
Roger Powell   Drums

Technical Credits

Traditional   Composer
Bob Dylan   Composer
Georg Bertl   Composer
Ernest Tubb   Composer
Sandy Denny   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Roy Wood   Engineer,Producer
Richard Thompson   Duet,Producer
Richard Clapton   Composer
Harry Robinson   Arranger,String Arrangements
Ian Matthews   Duet,Composer,Producer
Paul Griffin   Producer
Charles Robins   Composer
John Wood   Engineer,Producer
Charles Robbins   Composer
Andrew Batt   Mixing