A total unknown to me, has anyone heard of her? Described by Radio Times as forging a link between folk and rock, she sang with Fairport Convention and Fotheringay (not heard of the latter), on solo albums and even with Led Zep. Apparently she was voted Britain's number one female vocalist in Melody Maker's 1970 poll. She died on April 21, 1978 aged 31 after falling into a coma following a brain haemorrhage.

 

Radio 2 has an hour long special this coming Wednesday (22nd April) presented by Bob Harris, titled "Who Knows Where The Time Goes" at 10.30pm.

 

Those in the know, how do you rate her? Radio Times gives her a glowing write-up, I might just listen in to hear how she sounded.

^

 

In all seriousness, I'd rate her as Britain's third greatest ever female vocalist (behind Dusty Springfield & Kate Bush). Think of Alison Krauss but better.

 

She died after falling down the stairs, but left a fantastic legacy of folk vocal performances via performing with Fairport Convention, Fotheringay & then solo. She sung on Led Zeppelin's Battle of Evermore from 1971's "4 Symbols" album.

 

 

Her signature track is:

 

Fairport Convention - Who Knows Where The Time Goes (1968)

 

 

 

thanks for that clip, very melancholic but lovely song and a nice voice. I'll definitely listen in on Wednesday.

Thats a really nice song and i love her voice. She does sound a little like Eva Cassidy.

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In all seriousness, I'd rate her as Britain's third greatest ever female vocalist (behind Dusty Springfield & Kate Bush).

 

actually, thats just about right.

 

i was big into folk rock in the 70's (pre punk) as i didnt like sweet soul, glam or progressive that dominated pretty much back then. although my favs were steeleye span (maddy prior has a superb voice) fairport were a close second. i loved sandy dennys (rightly discribed as ) melencholic voice, fitted the rather morbid folk songs that were popular in history. as i mentioned somewhere else, most folk songs tended to revolve around death in some form or the press gangs, ideal material for the lamentful sandy denny.

 

though id recomend early steeleye span (pre 'all around my hat' wich was c**p) when lead vocals were shared with gaye woods, the album 'hark the village wake' is a marvelous album and gaye woods sounds very 'denny' like.

I remember seeing clips of her Fairport Convention days

 

Songs like:

Si Tu Doi Partir (If You Gotta Go Go Now)

Meet On The Ledge

 

Great singer - RIP Sandy

I really like her stuff including The Fotheringay album and her Fairport stuff. Her solo stuff is also great. Definitely one of this countries great female vocalists.