Rendezvous (Sandy Denny album)
Encyclopedia
Rendezvous is a 1977 album
by English folk rock
singer-songwriter Sandy Denny
, and was her last release before her death.
Sandy Denny
and Trevor Lucas
left Fairport Convention
at the end of 1975 and Denny embarked on Rendezvous in the spring of 1976. Trevor Lucas
produced the album with a contemporary rock sound designed to turn Denny into a mainstream act. The album is now generally thought to be overproduced with an excess of Strings, backing vocals and instrumental overdubs. Despite this the album is felt to contain some of her finest compositions, and showed someone continuing to widen and deepen their song writing craft, and who was responsive to new influences; Gold Dust with its Caribbean feel, the soulful torch songs Take Me Away and I'm A Dreamer and most ambitious of all, a seven minute orchestral tribute to the English pastoral symphony in the style of Vaughn Williams called All Our Days recorded live at CBS Studios.
The punishing world tour with Fairport Convention
throughout 1974 and 1975 coupled with Denny's heavy drinking and smoking inevitably took a toll on her voice; and by now much of its bell like purity had gone, but the control and power were still there along with her subtle phrasing and characteristic grace notes. For the first time in years Denny recorded portions of the album live including an extraordinary session at Basing Street on April 25 where Full Moon, No More Sad Refrains and I'm A Dreamer were cut live with the band and strings in a single day. A selection of cover versions were recorded for the album notably I Wish I Was a Fool For You (For Shame of Doing Wrong) by Richard Thompson (The only post-Fairport recording she made of a song by her former bandmate) Silver Threads and Golden Needles (which had been attempted years earlier for the first Fotheringay album in 1970) Losing Game by The Flying Burrito Brothers
and Lowell George
's Easy to Slip the latter two being disgarded from the final record. Several Denny originals were also recorded and not used, including Full Moon, By the Time It Gets Dark and Still Waters Run Deep.
The majority of the album was recorded in a week of sessions between 23 April and 7 June at Basing Street and Island Studios; further sessions from the 9th to the 18th of June were largely devoted to extensive mixing and overdubs. The album originally entitled Gold Dust was finished by July and due to come out in October 1976, but Island repeatedly delayed the release and it finally came out in May 1977 when Denny was pregnant and unable to undertake a promotional tour. During this delay Denny returned to the studio to record a cover version of Elton John's Candle in the Wind
, which was added to the album in place of her own composition Still Waters Run Deep: Both tracks were later released on a single One last session took place days before the albums release to record Bryn Haworth
's Moments, which ended up being Denny's final studio recording.
The album was the only solo album of Denny's not to be issued in a gatefold. However there was a black card inner sleeve with the lyrics reproduced in white type. The cover image was a composite of a location shot of Denny waiting on a street and a close up studio portrait of her with heavy eye make up wearing an auburn wig.
Having relocated to the village of Byfield
in Northamptonshire in the mid-seventies, Sandy gave birth to her only child, a daughter called Georgia in July 1977. A UK tour to promote Rendezvous was undertaken in the autumn and marked her final public appearances. The closing night at the Royalty Theatre
in London on 27 November 1977 was recorded for an intended live album, Gold Dust
that was eventually released in 1998. Sandy Denny died the following year in April 1978 following complications after a fall.
' production, saying "use of cumbersome strings, backup singers and bloated lead guitars weigh things down and bury some otherwise fine writing". His summation was that Rendezvous was "a flawed attempt at gaining a wider audience, by an artist who deserved better and was capable of the best". However, he did give the album a three-star rating of a possible five.
Rolling Stone
's 2004 assessment was that having left her folk roots behind, "casting her as pop singer didn't quite work on Rendezvous".
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by English folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
singer-songwriter Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny , born Alexandra Elene Maclean Denny, was an English singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead singer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention...
, and was her last release before her death.
Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny , born Alexandra Elene Maclean Denny, was an English singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead singer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention...
and Trevor Lucas
Trevor Lucas
Trevor George Lucas was an influential folk artist, a member of Fairport Convention and one of the founders of Fotheringay...
left Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
at the end of 1975 and Denny embarked on Rendezvous in the spring of 1976. Trevor Lucas
Trevor Lucas
Trevor George Lucas was an influential folk artist, a member of Fairport Convention and one of the founders of Fotheringay...
produced the album with a contemporary rock sound designed to turn Denny into a mainstream act. The album is now generally thought to be overproduced with an excess of Strings, backing vocals and instrumental overdubs. Despite this the album is felt to contain some of her finest compositions, and showed someone continuing to widen and deepen their song writing craft, and who was responsive to new influences; Gold Dust with its Caribbean feel, the soulful torch songs Take Me Away and I'm A Dreamer and most ambitious of all, a seven minute orchestral tribute to the English pastoral symphony in the style of Vaughn Williams called All Our Days recorded live at CBS Studios.
The punishing world tour with Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
throughout 1974 and 1975 coupled with Denny's heavy drinking and smoking inevitably took a toll on her voice; and by now much of its bell like purity had gone, but the control and power were still there along with her subtle phrasing and characteristic grace notes. For the first time in years Denny recorded portions of the album live including an extraordinary session at Basing Street on April 25 where Full Moon, No More Sad Refrains and I'm A Dreamer were cut live with the band and strings in a single day. A selection of cover versions were recorded for the album notably I Wish I Was a Fool For You (For Shame of Doing Wrong) by Richard Thompson (The only post-Fairport recording she made of a song by her former bandmate) Silver Threads and Golden Needles (which had been attempted years earlier for the first Fotheringay album in 1970) Losing Game by The Flying Burrito Brothers
The Flying Burrito Brothers
The Flying Burrito Brothers was an early country rock band, best known for its influential debut album,The Gilded Palace of Sin . Although the group is most often mentioned in connection with country rock legends Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman, the group underwent many personnel changes.-Original...
and Lowell George
Lowell George
Lowell Thomas George was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, who was the main guitarist and songwriter for the rock band Little Feat.- Early years :...
's Easy to Slip the latter two being disgarded from the final record. Several Denny originals were also recorded and not used, including Full Moon, By the Time It Gets Dark and Still Waters Run Deep.
The majority of the album was recorded in a week of sessions between 23 April and 7 June at Basing Street and Island Studios; further sessions from the 9th to the 18th of June were largely devoted to extensive mixing and overdubs. The album originally entitled Gold Dust was finished by July and due to come out in October 1976, but Island repeatedly delayed the release and it finally came out in May 1977 when Denny was pregnant and unable to undertake a promotional tour. During this delay Denny returned to the studio to record a cover version of Elton John's Candle in the Wind
Candle in the Wind
"Candle in the Wind" is a song with music by Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973, in honour of Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier....
, which was added to the album in place of her own composition Still Waters Run Deep: Both tracks were later released on a single One last session took place days before the albums release to record Bryn Haworth
Bryn Haworth
Bryn Haworth is a British Christian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and pioneer of Jesus music in mainstream rock. Born in Blackburn, Lancashire, UK, he has released some twenty-two albums and several singles since the 1970s as well as guesting as guitarist on many other albums by rock and folk...
's Moments, which ended up being Denny's final studio recording.
The album was the only solo album of Denny's not to be issued in a gatefold. However there was a black card inner sleeve with the lyrics reproduced in white type. The cover image was a composite of a location shot of Denny waiting on a street and a close up studio portrait of her with heavy eye make up wearing an auburn wig.
Having relocated to the village of Byfield
Byfield, Northamptonshire
Byfield is a village and civil parish forming part of the Daventry district in Northamptonshire, England.- History :Byfield, with Westhorp, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. It has been close to many of the important events in history. During the Wars of the Roses, in 1469 the battle of Edgecote...
in Northamptonshire in the mid-seventies, Sandy gave birth to her only child, a daughter called Georgia in July 1977. A UK tour to promote Rendezvous was undertaken in the autumn and marked her final public appearances. The closing night at the Royalty Theatre
Royalty Theatre
The Royalty Theatre was a small London theatre situated at 73 Dean Street, Soho and opened on 25 May 1840 as Miss Kelly's Theatre and Dramatic School and finally closed to the public in 1938. The architect was Samuel Beazley, a resident in Soho Square, who also designed St James's Theatre, among...
in London on 27 November 1977 was recorded for an intended live album, Gold Dust
Gold Dust (album)
Gold Dust is a live album by English folk rock singer Sandy Denny released in 1998. It documents one of Denny's last public performances and was recorded at the Royalty Theatre, Portugal Street, London on 27 November 1977...
that was eventually released in 1998. Sandy Denny died the following year in April 1978 following complications after a fall.
Critical reception
In 2005 Allmusic's reviewer Brett Hartenbach was less than enthusiastic about Trevor LucasTrevor Lucas
Trevor George Lucas was an influential folk artist, a member of Fairport Convention and one of the founders of Fotheringay...
' production, saying "use of cumbersome strings, backup singers and bloated lead guitars weigh things down and bury some otherwise fine writing". His summation was that Rendezvous was "a flawed attempt at gaining a wider audience, by an artist who deserved better and was capable of the best". However, he did give the album a three-star rating of a possible five.
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
's 2004 assessment was that having left her folk roots behind, "casting her as pop singer didn't quite work on Rendezvous".
Side one
- "I Wish I Was a Fool For You (For Shame of Doing Wrong)" (Richard Thompson) – 4:25
- "Gold Dust" – 3:54
- "Candle in the WindCandle in the Wind"Candle in the Wind" is a song with music by Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973, in honour of Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier....
" (Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, Bernie TaupinBernie TaupinBernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
) – 4:08 - "Take Me Away" – 4:23
- "One Way Donkey Ride" – 3:34
Side two
- "I'm a Dreamer" – 4:45
- "All Our Days" – 7:25
- "Silver Threads and Golden NeedlesSilver Threads and Golden Needles"Silver Threads and Golden Needles", a song written by Jack Rhodes and Dick Reynolds, was first recorded by Wanda Jackson in 1956. The original lyrics, as performed by Jackson, contain a verse not usually included in later versions, which also often differed in other minor details.-Other versions:*...
" (Jack RhodesJack RhodesAndrew Jackson Rhodes was an American country music producer and songwriter, penning such hits as "A Satisfied Mind", "Silver Threads and Golden Needles", "Conscience I'm Guilty", "The Waltz of the Angels", "Beautiful Lies", and "Till the Last Leaf Shall Fall"...
, Dick Reynolds) – 3:40 - "No More Sad Refrains" – 2:48
Bonus tracks on 2005 Island Records remastered re-issue
- "Still Waters Run Deep" – 2:54 (B-side of the single "Candle in the Wind")
- "Full Moon" – 4:28
- "I'm a Dreamer" (demo) – 4:14
- "Easy to Slip" (Lowell GeorgeLowell GeorgeLowell Thomas George was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, who was the main guitarist and songwriter for the rock band Little Feat.- Early years :...
/Martin Kibbee) – 3:25 - "Moments" (Bryn HaworthBryn HaworthBryn Haworth is a British Christian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and pioneer of Jesus music in mainstream rock. Born in Blackburn, Lancashire, UK, he has released some twenty-two albums and several singles since the 1970s as well as guesting as guitarist on many other albums by rock and folk...
) – 3:43
Personnel
- Sandy Denny - lead vocals, acoustic guitar (5), piano (6/9)
- Jerry DonahueJerry DonahueJerry Donahue is an American guitarist and producer primarily known for his work in the British folk rock scene as a member of Fotheringay and Fairport Convention as well as being a member of the rock guitar trio The Hellecasters.-Biography:Donahue was born in New York, the son of big band...
- electric guitar (1/6/8-9) - Junior MurvinJunior MurvinJunior Murvin is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is best known for the single "Police and Thieves", produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry in 1976. Murvin's soaring voice and the infectious rhythm made "Police and Thieves" into an international hit during the summer of that year. It peaked at #23 in the...
- electric guitar (2) - Richard Thompson - electric guitar (3)
- Bob WestonBob Weston (guitarist)See Bob Weston for the American bassist and recording engineer.Robert Joseph 'Bob' Weston is a British musician best known for his brief role as guitarist and songwriter with the rock band Fleetwood Mac....
- electric guitar (4) - Trevor Lucas - acoustic guitar (6/9)
- John (Rabbit) BundrickJohn BundrickJohn Douglas "Rabbit" Bundrick is an American rock keyboardist, pianist and organist. He is best known for his work with The Who and associations with others including Eric Burdon, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Roger Waters, Free and Crawler. Bundrick is noted as the principal musician for the cult...
- organ (1), synthesizer (1), piano (8) - Steve WinwoodSteve WinwoodStephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...
- organ (2/4/5), clavinet (2), piano (4), electric piano (5) - John Gillespie - piano (3)
- Pat DonaldsonPat DonaldsonPat Donaldson is a bass guitarist.The 2i's Coffee Bar in Old Compton Street, Soho was a legendary hang-out for early rock artists of Britain. It was here that Tommy Steele, Cliff Richard and Terry Dean played. Albert Lee and Pat Donaldson played here while they were members of Bob Xavier and the...
- bass (1-2/4-6/8-9) - Dave PeggDave PeggDave Pegg is an English multi-instrumentalist and record producer, arguably most visible as a bass guitarist. He is the longest-serving member of the pre-eminent electric folk band Fairport Convention and has been bassist with a number of important folk and rock groups including The Ian Campbell...
- bass (3) - Dave MattacksDave MattacksDave Mattacks is a rock and folk drummer. Best known for his work with Fairport Convention, Mattacks has also worked both as a session musician, and as a performance artist...
- drums (1-4/6/9), tambourine (1) - Timi Donald - drums (5/8)
- Brother James - congas (2)
- Dick CuthellDick CuthellDick Cuthell is a British musician and record producer. He plays flugelhorn, cornet, and trumpet, amongst a range of other brass instruments, including tenor horn and valve trombone. Cuthell is best known for his work with The Specials and Rico Rodriguez. He also collaborated with bands such as...
- flugelhorn (2) - Benny Gallagher & Graham Lyle - backing vocals (3)
- Sue Glover & Sunny Leslie - backing vocals (4/5)
- Kay Garner & Clare Torry - backing vocals (6)
- The Ladybirds - backing vocals (8)
- The Silver Band: John Hudson, Alan Holmes, Ray Grand, Gordon Bland, David White, Robert Richards, Peter Lockett & Philip Goodwin
- Harry Robinson - orchestral arrangements (3/6/7)
- Steve GregorySteve GregorySteve Gregory is an English jazz saxophonist and composer. He plays tenor, alto, soprano and baritone saxophone as well as the flute.Steve Gregory was born in the UK. At St. Paul's School he learned guitar and piano and played clarinet in the school orchestra. He turned down a place at the...
- brass arrangements (4) - Robert KirbyRobert KirbyRobert Kirby was a British born arranger of string sections for rock and folk music. He is best known for his work on the Nick Drake albums, Five Leaves Left and Bryter Layter, but has also worked with Elton John, Ralph McTell, Strawbs, Paul Weller and Elvis Costello.-At Cambridge:Patrick...
- silver band arrangement (8)
Other Credits
- Engineered - John WoodJohn Wood (music producer)John Wood is an English sound engineer and producer, best known for his work with Fairport Convention, John Martyn, Cat Stevens, Sandy Denny, Nick Drake, the Incredible String Band, Pink Floyd, Nico and Squeeze.-Career:...
- Mastering - John Marino, Sterling Sounds
- Sleeve Design - Bloomfield/Travis