SANDY DENNY AND THE STRAWBS/ALL OUR OWN WORK SHM 813 (-67/-73) UK

One of those items that, in spite of having great musical and historical values, you still with a little luck can find at a very affordable price. Recordings made by an early Strawbs setting, fronted by Sandy Denny, summer -67 in Copenhagen, Denmark (label and cover have 1968, but as I understand that's an error). For fun facts on the event please check Dave Cousins liner notes below. Hinted that it was a stressed out morning session made with help of hard liquor on a simple two-track equipment make you expect some kind of disaster one way or another. But what I hear is a very good early folk-rock album. All tracks self-penned and well performed with surprisingly good audio. For some of the cuts hard to decide if it's true stereo or enhanced mono, but since it all comes through wide and natural it's enjoyable whatever you call it. Seven tracks sung by Sandy Denny, four with male vocals and one instrumental. Most intriguing is the very first recording of "Who Knows Where The Time Goes" here performed with her vocals and one acoustic guitar only. So sensitive and intriguing it grabs immediately and never let go. In fact everything she does here has that same beautiful blend of vulnerability and skill that would make her legendary with Fairport Convention, Fortheringay and as solo artist. Listening to the album over and over I can't help thinking it may well be the first British of its kind, as it has a set-up later frequently used by successful folk-rock bands as Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span. Catchy folky tunes mostly backed by a rock setting, sung by male or female and with at least one traditional instrumental. I guess if it'd been released back then on some fancy label it may today have been considered a true historical gem and sold for big bucks. However this 1973 UK was the first release, also originally issued in Australia (Summit Records SRA 088) and Canada (Pickwick SPI 7019). 1991 CD reissue on Hannibal in US (HNCD 1361) as a 13-track with differing track list and string arrangements to four of the cuts, also released that way on vinyl in UK (Hannibal HNBL 1361). Japan 2013 CD (Air Mail Archive AIRAC-1702) came with twelve out-takes and demos as bonus tracks. Premiere UK had label as shown here and laminated cover. (FÄHZ*) (FÄV*) (BRYF*)