DENNY GERRARD/SINISTER MORNING DN 10 (-70) UK MONO

 

 Much needed update of an old favorite, with added songs. Denver Gerrard was a South African guy who following his student years  moved to England and became part of the British music industy.  After working with Jimmy Page and Anrew Loog Oldham among others and taking part in the combos The Fifth Avenue and Warm Sounds he also helped out on the prog/psych group High Tide's LP "Sea Shanties" in the late sixties. They returned the favour by providing instrumental backing on this his one-off album. Even if seemingly made in a haste with rather let-go production, there's something about it that goes directly to my heart. Standing on a solid singer-songwriter ground with simple yet beautiful and very catchy melodies, sung by him and/or female duo Lyn Husband/Sue Young. The High Tide backing gives it a slight psych garage feeling, almost sloppy at times yet balanced by his soft voice. He is a poet for sure and the lyrics can both sadden and bring smiles. All the songs has become personal favorites, then especially two - "Hole In My Shadow" and "Native Sun". This mono is a fold, sounds ok though a little damp in places. The record didn't sell at all back then and quickly disappeared from the shops. It's sad on such great stuff and I would have paid dearly for a follow up and more of the same, but can't find anything to suggest he continued like this. Also issued on vinyl in France (Deram Nova SDN 10). UK 2008 Remastered CD on Esoteric Recordings (ECLEC 2045). Premiere UK had label as shown here in a thin laminated cover with red rim inner and die-cut hole on rear.  His face pic below is not from the sleeve, just a detail from a "Warm Sounds" pic I found on the net.  (UKÖ*) (SYSÖ*) (FÄV*) (YMÖ*)  (DÄN*)