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Sandy Denny: The North Star Grassman and the Ravens

The North Star Grassman and the Ravens (ILPS 9165)

The North Star Grassman and the Ravens
Sandy Denny
Island ILPS 9165 (LP, UK, September 1971)
A&M Records SP 4317 (LP, USA, 1971)
King Records AML 1011 (LP, Japan, January 1972)
Island ILPM 9165 ('25 Years Collection' reissue) (LP, UK, November 1986)
Island IMCD 133 (CD, UK, July 1991)
Island IMCD 313 (CD, UK, May 2005)
Island 533 405-8 (2 CD, UK, June 2011)

 The North Star Grassman and the Ravens (Island IMCD 313)

Recorded at Sound Techniques, Basing Street and Air Studios, May 1971.
Produced by Sandy Denny, Richard Thompson and John Wood.
Engineer: John Wood.

The 2011 re-issue is, as so many in the last years, intended to fleece the serious collector who already has nearly everything on it and who is willing to pay another 20€ for the one new track, the instrumental backing of Lord Bateman.

Musicians

Sandy Denny Sandy Denny, vocals, piano, acoustic guitar;
Jerry Donahue, electric guitar;
Richard Thompson, 12-string, electric and acoustic guitar, bass, accordion, vocals;
Trevor Lucas, acoustic guitar, backing vocals;
Buddy Emmons, pedal steel guitar;
Pat Donaldson, Tony Reeves, bass;
Gerry Conway, Roger Powell, drums;
Ian Whiteman, piano, flute organ;
Barry Dransfield, violin, backing vocals;
Royston Wood, Robin Dransfield, backing vocals;
Strings arranged by Harry Robinson

Tracks

Side 1Side 2
  1. Late November (4.28)
  2. Blackwaterside (Roud 312; Laws O1) (4.12)
  3. The Sea Captain (3.09)
  4. Down in the Flood (3.20)
  5. John the Gun (4.38)
  1. Next Time Around (4.26)
  2. The Optimist (3.24)
  3. Let's Jump the Broomstick (2.42)
  4. Wretched Wilbur (2.38)
  5. The North Star Grassman and the Ravens (3.27)
  6. Crazy Lady Blues (3.22)

All tracks Sandy Denny except
Track 2 trad.
Track 4 Bob Dylan
Track 8 Charles Robins

Bonus tracks of the 2005 CD reissue:

  1. Late November (alternate mix) (4.28)
    previously released on El Pea
  2. Walking the Floor Over You [Ernest Tubb] (studio session out-take) (4.18)
    previously released on Who Knows Where the Time Goes
  3. Losing Game [James Carr, Denny Weaver] (studio session out-take) (3.25)
    previously released on The Attic Tracks 1972-1984
  4. Next Time Around (alternate version without strings) (4.45)
    previously released on A Boxful of Treasures

Bonus tracks of the 2011 CD reissue:

CD 1CD 2
  1. Next Time Around (demo) (4.26)
  2. Walking the Floor Over You [Ernest Tubb] (duet with Richard Thompson) (5.09)
  3. Lord Bateman (Roud 40; Child 53L) (instrumental backing) (4.25)
  4. If You Saw Thro' My Eyes [Ian Matthews] (duet with Ian Matthews) (2.37)
  1. The Sea Captain (demo) (3.14)
  2. The Optimist (demo) (4.31)
  3. Wretched Wilbur (demo) (2.37)
  4. Crazy Lady Blues (demo) (3.32)
  5. Lord Bateman (Roud 40; Child 53L) (demo) (6.13)
  6. Late November (4.31)
  7. The Lowlands of Holland (Roud 484) (3.18)
  8. Blackwaterside (Roud 312; Laws O1) (3.38)
  9. The North Star Grassman and the Ravens (3.42)
  10. Bruton Town (Roud 18; Laws M32) (4.45)
  11. Next Time Around (4.46)
  12. John the Gun (3.13)

CD 2 Tracks 1-5: demos, previously released on the Sandy Denny Box;
CD 2 Tracks 6-7: BBC Radio 1 “Sounds of the Seventies”, host Bob Harris, rec. August 24, 1971, bc. September 6, 1971;
CD 2 Track 8: BBC Radio 1 “Sounds on Sunday”, host Johnny Moran, rec. November 14, 1972, bc. December 3, 1972;
CD 2 Track 9-12: BBC Radio 1 “In Concert”, Paris Theatre, London, host Bob Harris, rec. March 16, 1972, bc. March 25, 1972;
All BBC track were previously releases on The BBC Sessions 1971-73