TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

To clarify, this is what's known so far:

Sandy Denny (Limited Edition 19CD Box Set), due for release 4 October 2010.

"This superb limited edition box set includes 19 CD's, 11 of which feature Sandy's complete studio recordings with Alex Campbell, Johnny Silvo, Fotheringay, Strawbs, Fairport Convention and solo with additional content- outtakes, demos and live recordings. There are 8 CDs of bonus material - unreleased songs, demos, unreleased BBC recordings, alternate takes, live recordings, acoustic versions, and rare radio interviews. This set includes the legendarily 'long lost' Lord Bateman.

Lavishly packed, this unique collection features all new artwork. It comes with a 72 page 11" square hardback book containing over 100 rare and mostly unseen photographs, Sandy's handwritten lyrics (many of which are unrecorded songs) and fascinating memorabilia. Each CD is housed in an individual gatefold digipack sleeve. The box also contains reproductions of a beautiful original Island press pack, an exceptionally rare A3 promo colour poster for Northstar Grassman And The Ravens, a set of Postcards, the receipt for the purchase of her first piano and one of Sandy's handwritten notebooks."

Universal's RRP is £140, I am told. Play.com's price is way over the top. Amazon UK is currently listing at £149.99, which I suspect will come down depending on the level of pre-orders. It's a tidy sum, admitted, but look at what you're getting for your money. Even old hands will be surprised at some of the supposedly lost gems that have come to light after exhaustive new research.

Philip
 :)

Does that mean that the bous material isnt already on the other (3) boxed sets?

£140?........Where's me lottery ticket gone?  :o

I'm excited about the new material, I just wish it didn't make my existing collection redundant.  I hate buying things I already have over again.

Jules

Agreed. Especially as I have only just bought the four studio album remasters! Doh!

Can't help wondering if 19 discs is a little too much of a good thing.

It would be nice to know what & how much is genuinely unreleased. Will this be the definitive article? Has the existing material been re-remastered? How many versions of WKWTTG will it contain? Do I really need a copy of the receipt for her first piano? Why not the tube ticket she used to attend the Fairport audition? So many questions, so little cash.  :-\

I imagine everything will be remastered.  As for the contents, bring on that tracklisting!

Jules

Need more shelves!

Hi Guys,

I have been working on this boxset, and have compiled the tracklisting- which will be released soon!

I think the way to look at it is, if there wasnt substantial high quality unreleased material then this boxset wouldnt be happening. Aside from two new songs - Lord bateman and 12th of Never, there are amongst other things demos for the whole Sandy album and most of Northstar that are exceptional and which fans will love; If you like Sandy in a more stripped down setting then this boxset will delight you! It is amazing that so much unreleased stuff has surfaced over the years, but after going through literally every master reel, this is really it!
i would estimate that there is 15/20% unreleased material, and remastered versions of things like All Our Own Work, Swedish Fly Girls that have never been on cd. All the previous bonus stuff will be included as well- and will also make their digital download debut.

The whole project has been a real labour of love :) and aims to represent Sandys complete legacy.
The prices online do seem to be varying wildly, but they will equal out the nearer to release we get.

best

Andrew

Thanks, Andy.  Looking forward to the 'new' material.

But we may as well throw away all our previous Sandy Denny box sets then?  That's going to be a big landfull site.   ::)

Jules

I'm really pleased that you've been involved in this Andrew, and really appreciate the effort you've gone to. Looking forward to the release... Just in time for my birthday :o)

According to her friends, she always took taxis everywhere in London.  ;)

Then we need a digital soundfile with a recording of a London cabbie saying "'Ere, that Sandy Denny.  Gave 'er a ride in the back of me cab once.  Laaaavely gel!"

Jules

Ah well... In the interview she did with Patrick Humphries in 1977 she recalls conversations with cabbies whose curiosity was aroused (probably not for very long -- they're a phlegmatic bunch) by the sight of her guitar:

- What do you do for a living?
- I'm a singer.
- What's your name?
- Sandy Denny.
- Sandy Denny? Never 'eard of you.

 ;D

Despite the rather steep pricing mentioned above, I must say I'm very tempted to buy this one in the hope that this is the final version, every barrel scraped, no more tape reels to be found etc.
Even though it's the music that counts, and I'm a huge Sandy fan, the thought of a 72-page book with maybe new information and a lot of seldom published photos is for me a bonus. The music is added yet a dimension when knowing the context in which it's been written.

Well, I´d better start saving.  ;)

I know i rather dismissed the idea of buying this when the price was first mentioned and i stil have reservations about the price, but it does seem to be the real deal
and i suppose if i dont feed the kids for a couple of months or so :'( and if easy terms are available :-\............ well you never know O0
ive blown more on less in the past ::)
but i thought i'd put those days behind me 8)

The mentioning of "The Twelfth of Never"  prompted me to do a websearch
First hit Wiki had:
".....is a popular song recorded by Johnny Mathis and later by artists including Cliff Richard and Donny Osmond."

but also:
"The English singer songwriter Sandy Denny also recorded a version of the song for a TV theme, but the recording remains un-available commercially"
I'd forgotten all about this, if I ever knew it. Details anyone?

Might help in the PR:
Sandy Denny covers Donny Osmond!

Sandy recorded it in 1972 while she was finishing the Sandy album.

Best

Jamie

Picture of set now up at Amazon.  Looks lovely!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003N18PI2/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

Jules

*bites knuckles in vain attempt to reduce object lust*

Oh bloody hell, why couldn't they have just made it look cr*p?   ;D

ps can I just say how pleased I am to have been appointed the new Head of Amazon(ian) pricing (see my price prediction above!)

Ha ha ha.  Yes indeed.



I thought the very same thing.   Well done, that man.  :)

Jules

Oops!  Not so fast - the buggers have just put the price up again!   >:(

Jules

Wow...could this be the the boxset to end all boxsets ? Looks incredible !

Lol - from £149.99 to £165.99 in the blink of an eye - I wonder if that happens from the number of clicks on the links, or the number of actual pre-orders already made...?  I should consult myself shouldn't I?   ;)

will we get £32  to spen on downloads as well if we end up paying £165?
might sweeten the pill a little ::)

It was clearly your fault, David!  They don't like being outsmarted like that.   >:(   ;)

Jules

There's now a holding page up for the new "official" Sandy Denny website:

www.sandydenny.org.uk

It encourages us to register for the mailing list to receive updates on the forthcoming box set and special offers.

Registered for updates, was slightly amused (more likely bemused) by the automatically-generated icon for "Tour Calendar" behind which is the legend "No upcoming events listed" !!!
Great that there's a link from the site to your wonderful blog, Mr Ward.

So what label is it on?  I gather it's a Universal distribution but that implies to me an Island label release??

Back to 150 squids on Amazon.   :)

Jules

£148 on Base.com

Yes, it is an Island release.

"There are 100 sets that will be available via the Island 50 store that come with a numbered and framed print of the artwork, signed by the artist (Phil Smee). Each print will be personally addressed to the purchaser." For details see http://www.island50.com/news

Based on the photo at Island's website, the cover art may be controversial.  It plays into the whole fairie queen image, which friends of Sandy have repeatedly said does not accurately reflect the real person.  

I recall an interview with RT on Fresh Air in which he discussed the song "That's All, Amen, Close the Door."  He said something to the effect that it was written in response to the cult of Sandy Denny that sprang up after her death.  He expressed regret that the real person has been replaced by an insipid caricature derived from the music (e.g., Fotheringay, Matty, Tam Lin).  In reality, he said, she swore, drank, smoked and enjoyed sex.  She apparently spent very little time romping in the forest with flowers in her hair.  

I didn't even think the photo was supposed to depict Sandy, I just thought it was a stock image used in a 60's festival promotion photo. I may be wrong.

I think they might have trouble getting past the censors with cover art based on those elements of her personality!   :D

Jules

Mojo has a taster track from the new box set:
http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2010/07/lost_sandy_denny_recordings_un.html

Track details of some of the "key highlights" here:
http://island50.sandbag.uk.com/Store/DII-5658-5-sandy+denny++limited+edition+box+set.html
(follow link to "more info on track details")

Thanks for those links!

Jules

The Mojo "taster" track is just lovely. Voice and piano.  Beautiful in its simplicity.

has the framed print edition sold out?

Don't think so. Try this: http://island50.sandbag.uk.com/Store/DII-5635-5-sandy+denny+premium+limited+edition+box+set.html

Looking at these Island50 pages again, I see they've now put up the provisional track listing ("more info on studio recordings", "more info on bonus recordings").

I am taking the "Unreleased" tag with a pinch of salt as much of this material was either included on the original remasters or has been available elsewhere. I think what they mean is that the tracks were unreleased at the time of original issue, not that they have never previously seen the light of day.

I'm still thinking about this set. It does represent about 80% duplication of stuff I have already.

I very much doubt that, GubGub. The tracks that have previously appeared as bonus tracks on reissues of her albums are nearly all on the first 11 discs. On the 8 other discs, as I understand it, "unissued" means unissued -- newly sourced from the original master reels.

Another unissued track gets its debut on the Radcliffe and Maconie show, Radio 2, Wednesday night. A mystery song. Listeners' help needed to identify it. Read more here:
http://sandydenny.blogspot.com/2010/07/mystery-song.html

Philip

Fair enough. It is not terribly clear from the website/

Despite my initial mutterings & grumblings, I just pre-ordered it, as I always new I would.
I'm calling it a birthday pressie to myself, as it's released just a few days after my birthday.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/gallery/2010/jul/21/sandy-denny

Preview of a few photos from the box. A couple of them previously unpublished, I think.

The Island site has a partial tracklist, looks very interesting.  I wonder, will it include the recently released Fotheringay 2 album?  Or The Bunch album?  It is supposed to have "everything" after all!

I did break down and pre-order it.  Won't be charged until it ships, now I'm just hoping the exchange rate doesn't change for the worse!

The tracks from The Bunch (the five she sings on) are listed as being on 'Studio Recordings' CD6.

I'm so tempted but I've got a lot of this already, I think. Perhaps if I'm feeling well off some time...

I just wanted to preorder, but they want  £ 21.00 postage from England to germany......no way.

Amazon.co.uk are only charging me £ 3.08 to ship it to Los Angeles!  Also the price I was charged was £127.65 not the £149.99 that is listed.

Bargain!  I assume the price must have dropped to that figure at some juncture and that you´re reaping the rewards of their preorder best price policy....?

Jules

I thought it might be that they take off the VAT for a non EU order?

Oh, right!

Jules

Release date has been revised to November 1st, apparently.

There are associated articles in Uncut (October issue - by the dependable Rob Young) and Shindig! (Sep/Oct issue, Andy Morten). Both are already out. More press coverage to come, I confidently predict.  ;)

The Uncut article is substantial - all Sandy fans need to pick up the new issue.

Jules

Latest news on this, pasted from fRoots forum.

Sandy Denny
Universal Music: November 1st 2010
19 CD Box Set.

Universal Music is pleased to announce the full track listing and final packaging for the much anticipated, strictly limited edition 19 CD box set, simply titled Sandy Denny. 11 of the CDs feature Sandy's complete commercial recordings with Alex Campbell, Johnny Silvo, Fotheringay, Strawbs, Fairport Convention and solo with additional content; outtakes, demos and live recordings. There are 8 further CDs of bonus material; unreleased songs, demos, unreleased BBC recordings, alternate takes, live recordings, acoustic versions, and rare radio interviews. In all, there are over 100 unreleased versions of Sandy’s recordings of which 64 are studio takes, 25 demos and 14 live recordings.

Highlights of the new material include;

· Three unreleased songs: the long lost traditional song ‘Lord Bateman‘, pencilled in for her first solo album, The North Star Grassman and The Ravens.
· An unidentified track ‘Ethusel‘ from her early pre-Fairport Convention solo career.
· 12th of Never, recorded for an unspecified Granada project, this abbreviated version of the song was never attempted again.

The alternate takes include;

· Acoustic masters of ‘Fotheringay’ and ‘She Moved Through The Fair‘.
· A solo version of ‘Mr Lacey‘;
· ‘Blackwaterside’ with Richard Thompson, working out the arrangement of this traditional song, performed here without overdubs;
· the original duet of ‘The Way I Feel’ from Fotheringay;
· Unstrung alternate versions of songs from Like An Old Fashioned Waltz,
· Original masters and outtakes from Rendezvous including ‘Gold Dust‘,
· Her very last recording, an acoustic version of 'Moments'.

Unreleased demos include;

· A superb series of studio demos from throughout Denny's solo career with tracks from Fotheringay, Northstar Grassman, Like An Old Fashioned Waltz, Rendezvous and the entire Sandy album.
· A series of recordings made at home between 1966-68, restored in the main from the master reels including her first version of ‘Who Knows Where The Time Goes?‘, performed in quite a different manner to previously released versions, and many other self penned, traditional and contemporary songs not recorded in the studio.

· Demos recorded at Sandy's home in Byfield between 1974-77 restored from the master reels including her final home demo 'Makes Me Think of You', which was also her last original composition. The lyrics (reproduced in this set) to the song are the final entry in her notebook.

Other highlight include;

· The first release of Sandy's live performance with Fairport Convention at the LA Troubadour in 1974, mixed from the master reels. These dates mark the only time Sandy ever performed ‘Crazy Lady Blues’ and ‘She Moved Through The Fair’ live with the 1974 Fairport line up, and the only time they performed Dylan’s Knocking on Heavens Door.
· First time on CD for Sandy's tracks from the Swedish Fly Girls soundtrack, produced by Manfred Mann.

The full track listing and more complete descriptions of the unreleased recordings is available on request.

The set is lavishly packaged and features all new artwork. Each CD is housed in an individual gatefold digipak sleeve and comes in a beautiful box packed full of memorabilia including;

· 72 page hardback book containing rare and unseen photos
· A reproduction of one of her notebooks containing handwritten lyrics of some of her best know compositions and many unrecorded songs.
· Extensive biography and annotations to key new tracks found in the Island archive
· Reproduction of a rare A2 colour promo poster for Northstar Grassman and the Ravens
· Copy of the receipt for her first piano
· Copy of an original Island press kit containing press release and 4 press shots for Like An Old Fashioned Waltz
· A collection of bound postcards of never before seen photographs
· Interviews and tributes from artists such as Richard Thompson, Judy Collins, John Renbourn, Bob Harris, Robert Plant, Bill Drummond, Marc Almond, Lee Ranaldo, Rachel Unthank and Jon Boden

A second edition, limited to 100 sets, is available only from the Island 50 web store.
It comes with a framed print of the artwork, signed by the artist, Phil Smee, and
individually addressed to each purchaser.

I, like a few others here, have it on pre-order, but has anyone gone for the limited edition with the signed print? If I remember rightly, it's about £30 more than the standard edition.

Another thing I'd really like to know is, are there any tracks on the recent 'All Our Own Work' remaster, which are not available on the box set, or elsewhere, because Sandy isn't singing on them?

Yes, plenty: http://www.strawbsweb.co.uk/@f/f_all10.htm
At a quick count, tracks 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 19-24.

B*gg*r. More expense!

 i rather thought that would save you the expense as you wont have to hear Cousin's awful singing

According to what seems to be the final tracklisting -- now up at www.myspace.com/sandydenny --
yes it will (only the tracks with Sandy, of course).

its a very clever way to try to make people buy stuff they've already bought many times before
vinyl, cd's , cd reissues, compilations, small box sets, big box sets and now the  enormobox set with a few officialy unreleased tracks
i'm rapidly going off the idea of getting a remortgage for a couple of songs which no doubt will find their way on to future compilations

Amazon US has it for USD 325 (about 205 pounds), I looked on Amazon UK, it got it for the 145 pounds, plus I think it's 4 or 5 pounds shipping to the US.  So that's a savings of around USD 100 I think.  

The only Sandy I have on CD are "Sandy," "Live at the Gold Dust," the original, 3 CD box set that came out in the early 90's.  I thought about getting the live at the BBC that came out a couple years ago, or the Boxful of Treasures set, but never got around to it.  So, for me, it's worth it.  But, I know I'm in the minority here.

On the Word blog here http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/fotheringay-0#comments Colin Harper says, amongst other things "I have it on pretty good authority that Universal will released a 3 or 4 CD set featuring the box set rarities/unreleaseds only a few months down the line..." so those who are tempted might be better off waiting a while.  He may be wrong of course...

i refer you to my musings a couple of posts above
rearrange the following words into a well known phrase or saying....off, rip. ::)

whats the betting that not all the unreleased tracks make it onto the possible 3-4 cd set?

Ah, fuggit.  I'm getting it.  I might get run over by a bus anyway.   ::)

Jules

Or that a couple of additional tracks not on the box set do make it. See Bruce Springsteen's 'Tracks' set followed by the one disc '18 Tracks' sampler with 3 extra track not on the box set for example. Or am I being too cynical?  :)

I sure as hell hope that doesn't happen!   >:(

Jules

Received from amazon today....

"Unfortunately, the release date for the item(s) listed below was changed by the supplier, and we need to provide you with a new estimated delivery date based on the new release date:

  Sandy Denny "Sandy Denny"
    Estimated arrival date: November 18 2010 - November 20 2010"

I'm starting to think it's going to be delayed & delayed until April 1st, next year, when they reveal it was just one huge practical joke. LOL

Has anyone read the various magazine features on Sandy? Surprised no-one has mentioned it as it's the first time she's appeared in so many publications at once. This month there's Rock and Reel, Record Collector (great piece by Kingsley Abbott), Froots...

I got the same message.  But looking at the Listening To thread, I see that one of our number already has their copy!  So I think we can presume that it's really real......

Jules

I saw Andrew Batt (compiler of the Sandy box) last night at the Kirsty MacColl tribute gig and he told me the target release date is "second week of November". After halloween and before late November. Delays in Italy (printers, I believe). Oh yes, it's going to happen -- be in no doubt.    

Ha ha!  I see what you did there!   ;D

Jules

But of course !  ;)

WHAT??? Where?  Any video or audio?  We'd never hear about this on this side of the Atlantic.

Last night, Shepherd's Bush Empire, London: http://www.kirstymaccoll.com/information/news/index.htm
There were suggestions from the stage that it could become an annual event to mark her birthday. Anyway, better start a separate thread if we want to talk about the incomparable Kirsty! This one is about the incomparable Sandy.

And it's delayed yet another week. At this rate it's going to be my Christmas present to myself. LOL

Unfortunately, the release date for the item(s) listed below was changed by the supplier, and we need to provide you with a new estimated delivery date based on the new release date:

  Sandy Denny "Sandy Denny"
    Estimated arrival date: November 17 2010 - November 19 2010

Interestingly Eddi Reader makes a direct comparison between them in the current issue of Word.

I've had the pleasurable task of reviewing the box set, so in a coals to Newcastle, preaching to the converted, pushing at an open door moment.

Everything about Sandy Denny (Box Set) is huge, it racks up over three hundred tracks over 19 cds and will be retailing for well over a ton. My first thought on going over the figures was, whose actually going to buy that? Most of Sandy’s follower’s will have pretty much everything on the set will they stump up the wodge to get the few tracks they haven’t already got ?
It’s also not like anyone that’s new to Sandy, is going to think, “I’ve got to give Sandy Denny a try, I know I’ll kick off with that 19 CD box set I saw advertised.” Ok there’s quite a few people like me that were just too young to be there at the start and have been drawn to her incredible voice and performances in latter years, but we’re not talking cheap here.
Then it occurred to me that this isn’t so much a box set as a festival  of Sandy Denny and suddenly it all makes sense. Most of the big festivals cost well over a hundred quid, but ignore the cost and look at the value. How many bands do you see at a festival and how much would it cost to see them individually?
This box set may be 19 cds long, but it’s also better value than buying 19 individual records, plus you get a whole host of goodies thrown in, a 72 page booklet, the sleeves are all gatefold specials, previously unseen photos, reproductions of items that were important in the Sandy Denny story. There’s  also a limited edition on top of the regular box, that for 100 people will come with a framed and individually signed print of the artwork by Phil Smee. Suddenly the value’s there.
I found it also helped to view the music as a festival, mentally splitting the box into stages. The band stage featuring, Fairport Convention, The Strawbs and Fotheringay, just think about that as a line up and then remember it’s Sandy’s voice of a generation that is carrying the lyric.
Then there’s the solo stage where the name Sandy Denny is right to the forefront, she takes responsibility for the whole kit and caboodle. Just hearing so much of her music back to back takes you off to a really special place, where once again music has meaning and is no longer just a sound track to your life.
The thing about box sets is that you do listen to them differently, you have invested in them and you set time aside to listen to them properly just like you did when you bought vinyl. Sandy Denny returns that dedication with a devotion that really only a handful of artists can.
In addition there’s also a third stage, which I’m going to call the experimental stage. This is where you’ll find most of the previously unreleased material, the demos of albums, home recordings, it’s a real chance to hear how songs developed, what changed because it might not have worked and what Sandy got up to sat at home with a guitar and a tape recorder.
In all honesty I don’t know how much of the ‘unreleased’ tracks are genuinely unreleased, I’m sure many have found their way onto bootlegs over the years, but to hear so many of them in one place really does give you a connection to the artist, even if there is an occasional quality gap because they were never meant to be heard. In many ways it the unreleased side that really lets you get under her skin.
As well as being a consummate singer, Sandy Denny was a great performer, both in the formal studio sense and live as well. Her live persona had another sparkling facet over her studio work, you get the sense of her living the songs on stage as she performed them.
As you listen to the tracks across this festival of Sandy Denny you really begin to understand what she squeezed into her tragically short life, how that impacted her songs and the way she made her music.
This is partly brought out on some of the interview material contained at the back end of the box, which also gives it a real context, you’ve been through many of the phases of her life in music and have that understanding of where she was when she recorded the interviews and where she went after them.
It’s been thirty three years since Sandy’s untimely death and during that time, I can’t think of an English female vocalist that has and continues to have such an influence as to how a genre of music is approached, heck even influenced and inspired many others that chose to take a different musical path. In some respects Sandy Denny liberated music  and blazed an attitude that made it easier for some of the names that followed.
I’m not going to review the music over the 19 cds, there is very little that I can add that hasn’t already been written, what I will say is that this box set brings together so many magical moments, I lost count of the times it stopped me in my tracks.
The amazing thing is is not just the tracks you haven’t heard before, that do that to you. Sandy Denny can do that with tracks you know to the bottom of your soul. There’s a spirit to her music that can’t help but move you. Maybe this is the place to start if you’ve never heard her before.  My ten year old had his first exposure to Fotheringay whilst I was listening to this box set and he just sat there transfixed.
The Sandy Denny Box Set does cover all aspects of one of the greatest singers of a generation, from her first recordings to her last studio recording and last home recording.  That track was called “Makes Me Think Of You”. I’ll drink to that Sandy.

Thanks for that Neil!  Looking forward to getting mine next month (fingers crossed).

Jules

Can't afford it.   :'( :'( :'(

Great review!

There's actually about 100 unreleased tracks - of those roughly 20 have seen the light of day on various bootlegs such as "Dark The Night" and "Borrowed Thyme", but these have been remastered in way, way superior sound and are from the master reels as well, unlike the bootlegs which were mostly second generation tapes.

Jamie

Beautifully written Neil, will save up now.

C x

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20101026_sandy.shtml

This radio item includes a tiny taster of the lost-and-found 'Lord Bateman' vocal.

Lord Bateman sounds terrific!

Jules

Indeed it does - I can hear a version with Ashley, DM, RT, SN and Swarb playing (in my head!!)

Can I borrow your head?

Are you sure that Stephen likes to give head?   ;D

Jules

I was thinking more in terms of Worzel Gummidge. ;D

I knew that, I'm just a saucy git!

Jules

My sauce doesnt stretch that far. ;D :o ;)

Sigh.  :'(

Sadly the 19 Discs of Sandy will now have to wait until I have gainfull employment.

 :(

Rich

Delayed yet again - November 22nd now.   :(

Jules

It's a little disconcerting the way the release date keeps getting later and later.
I just hope it's released in time for Santa to pick up the bill!

they'll be waiting until the pre-orders reach the point where the box becomes profitable
sorry chaps, but i'm not helping you there with this one >:(

But they've already made them, Jim, so how does that work (you auld cynic)?

Jules

if they've made them, whats the problem with getting them out?
cynical? me? you betcha sweet bippy

Well, it shouldn't slip beyond Christmas, they won't want to lose those sales. But this has happened with other UMG (Universal Music Group) releases, like the 20th Anniversary edition of Disintegration by the Cure, which was delayed so long it became the 21st Anniversary Edition ;-)

The Last Hawkwind album was delayed by a few weeks when they discovered an artwork flaw in the packaging which had to be reprinted.

So who knows. Certainly the week of the 22nd is a huge shopping week in the US here (Thanksgiving, Black Friday and all that) so maybe we'll get lucky and it won't slip any further.

Of course I'll have to wait until next year anyway.....I bought a couple of Owl Service albums to keep me going.

Bill, can you let me have santa's address?   I've got a few bills he can have too!

Fantastic 5 star review in the new edition of Word, and Colin Irwin also gives it a glowing review in Mojo.

I have been wavering on this. There are many things for me to spend my money on at the moment (yes, I am talking about you Mr Springsteen!) but I think it was Colin Irwin's review that said that despite his undying love for Sandy's music, out takes are out takes for a reason. They may be interesting but ultimately the stuff people will listen to repeatedly is the stuff they are already familiar with and there is nothing essential or revealing in the "new" material. Thus he has convinced me that this is probably £150 that I don't need to spend.

I would like the Fairport Troubadour tracks though.  :-\

ok time to fess up
 i would love the box and if anyone has a spare they dont want.... well....... send it here ::)
but and its a big but  ::) ive got the sandy cds , the fotheringay cds the fairport cds the various bootlegs of all 3, cds with sandy on them as guest vocal, the bunch, brian maxine, theres not an awful lot in there i'm missing, so thats why i'm not tempted, that and the price :(
if and when the unreleased tracks make it onto their own discs "the formerly unreleased songs of Sandy Denny and her chums " for £30 or less i'll get them but till then, no thanks

   this also goes for bruce springsteen,the who and madness all of whom are seeing fit to bring out uber expensive box sets for the xmas market. all of which i already have huge chunks of and they want me to buy again
"were not gonna take it" as some old f**t once wrote

I'm happier with the Springsteen one. I agrree it is over priced but I don't have any of the content except the original Darkness album.

But just to really rattle your cage Jim there is also a ludicrously overpriced deluxe edition of Band On The Run out shortly!  ;D

i wouldnt darken my door with wings records

Thought you might say that!  ;)

I'm no Wings apologist, but Band On The Run is truly great.

Jules

Al, that sounds like Jim Irvine’s review in The Word you’re quoting. It’s actually more even-handed than you remember: “Every single one of these performances has something to recommend it, an arresting vocal nuance, a fresh shiver from a tonal shift or some exquisite phrasing you haven’t already committed to memory, but you may decide that, on balance, you prefer the music you already know.” Irvine’s review goes on to say that, with 316 tracks to choose from, you can “shuffle the best work into satisfying new sequences to your heart’s content”, creating the “wholly focused record” that “she never got around to making”.

For another view try Graeme Thomson in Uncut: “Much of what she threw away is at least as good as – and often better than – what was released.” He thinks this box “rewrites the accepted narrative of her career.” Or Colin Irwin in Mojo: “much of the bonus material here adds a fascinating corollary to the Denny legacy.”

Who needs critics anyway?
 ;)

Yes, apologies for the erroneous credit. I wasn't denying that he gave it a very positive review but I think his observation about the relationship of the out takes to the original records is a good one and it convinced me that this is probably something I don't need. It is a little like the Beatles Anthology CDs. They were fascinating to listen to once, as documentary but I don't return to them. When I want to listen to the Beatles I go back to the original catalogue. With a music library as vast as mine, any new acquisition has to be something I will go back to. I would love to hear the unreleased material from this box but when the craving for a bit of Sandy comes along, it will be What We Did On Our Holidays, Fotheringay or Sandy that I will reach for and I already have those.

What, no North Star Grassman?

Well, yes. I was using those three as examples. All the original albums obviously but I marginally prefer Sandy to NSG. I realise this is not the prevailing view.

I'm still surprised at this.  I too always thought Sandy was 'the one' and, maybe out of ignorance filtered through arrogance, thought everyone else agreed with me.   ;)

Jules

Lovely quote from Rachel Unthank in The Word: "Don't bother listening to her [Sandy] - you'll realise the rest of us are just wasting our time!"

Lord Bateman is being played on BBC R3 World on 3 this evening from a Sampler - it says, called DENNYPROMO1.

From the web page on the BBC website it is listed last. As the quality on the iplayer for R3 has improved - up to 20kHz it seems, I won't stay up for it!!

I never realised that Sandy Denny was "world music" ::) ::) ::)

isnt all music world music?

No, some of it's out of this world.   ;D

Jules

Does anyone know if the new box includes lyrics? - as did Who Knows but not Box of Treasures.

Thanks
Clive

Doh!
back to the printers!
release date  put back till easter

Lord Baterman, as she sings, is absolute magic and quite a story :)

But there are 4 missing verses!!

A press promo, not a commercial release. Yes, shame about the final missing verses but that's all there was on the tape, apparently.

Monday 8th, 8pm, Radio 2:
"Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie are live from Manchester with witty badinage and a Listen And Learn feature devoted to the late folk singer, Sandy Denny."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00vlr62
I hope they keep the (so-called) "witty badinage" to a minimum.

Namely, Sandy.   [;-)

There was a very slight drop in key during Lord Bateman - I wonder if this was 2 separate recordings joined??

http://www.youtube.com/user/SandyDennyOfficial?ref=nf

It occurred to me how similar Sarah McLachlan's voice is to Sandy's at times when listening to a show from earlier this week. Her drummer even sounds rather like DM!

Sorry to disagree Stephen, but I can't hear any similarity at all.

That was my thought as well.  I like some of her stuff too...so I'm not being rude...i just can't hear anything resembling a similarity.

Just a heads up to U.S. buyers. It is about a $100 cheaper if you order from amazon.co.uk than it is from amazon.com. Sure,you have to pay shipping but it's still way cheaper.

Review in today's Guardian which is probably good news for those of you who are patiently waiting for this to arrive. The Guardian does not tend to review things until the Friday before they will actually be available.

Amazon have added yet another week onto the release date quite recently, so I think we're talking the Monday after next as being the most optimistic date.

Jules

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/nov/11/sandy-denny-box-set-review

SANDY DENNY Live in Cardiff 1977 CD

On ebay ? Anyone know anything about it ?

new on on me

Yep....eBay are selling Boots again.  Its a proper silver disc though...

It went for 28.87 , i would have bought it myself but the info was a bit sketchy.Not even heard of this concert doing the rounds before ? I thought i had everything that was out there.

I can't see the point of buying bootlegs in this day and age.

Jules

Indeed. The main positive effect of all the free online music trading which takes place now is that it has, at least, made it extremely difficult for bootleggers to make a profit from the work of others.
You do still get, sadly, people who download live shows from DIME & other sources & sell CDR copies for stupid prices on eBay.  >:(
I used to make an effort to report anyone I found selling CDs that cost them maybe 75p in total (blanks & label printing) for upwards of £25 a time, but one soon learns that eBay don't in fact care, unless they get contacted by actual copyright owners. I even tried telling the buyers they were being ripped off, but I got a few nasty replies (from what I strongly suspect were shill bidders) & now eBay have made that impossible anyway.

I think we may be venturing into banned subjects, & it's off-topic anyhow, so we should probably not continue this particular discussion here.

I would like to suggest that we keep this conversation on topic.

Today, while checking my e-mail for anything from Amazon to tell me it had finally shipped, or been delayed yet again, I found myself thinking that perhaps I should have paid just that little bit more to get the version with the signed print.......

No, no, no NO!.... There lies madness!!

Reports on other lists that people are receiving shipping notices....

I got my shipping notice 2 hours ago...



Can't wait now.

Mine's arrived!  It's bloody enormous!   :D

Jules

Just ordered it, I was waiting until I knew it had actually been released.

Got my shipping notification.  Now we'll see how long it takes to get to sunny (yet windy) Los Angeles!  I was beginning to think it'd never come out.  Christmas is coming early this year!

Must agree a work of art and an the quality of the extra's so far are brilliant!

I haven't even started playing mine yet - I'm still sniffing the box!   ;D

Jules

Q: When are you really, really glad it didn't rain?
A: When you get home from work & find the delivery guy has simply dumped your very expensive Sandy Denny box set on the path, outside your back door!

Oh Well, at least I don't have to go collect it.

Ah, so I'm not the only person to find my box set left outside the door? I think Amazon may need to have a rethink of their chosen delivery services!

Well, do what I always do.  Buy a largish opaque plastic box with a lid, and leave outside for postman/delivery man to leave in. Simples!  ;)

I always get Cds, DVDs, etc delivered to my work address. Then they never get left outside, nor do I have to go and collect them.

The thing is, in my case there was actually someone home at the time - and it was STILL just left on the doorstep!

Yes , but were they in bed at the time?   ;D

Nope :)

Looking through the tracklisting, I noticed that the mammoth 19 CD set doesn't duplicate the Fairport or solo Sandy BBC stuff, though there are some previously unreleased BBC recordings.  On the one hand this is good in that it doesn't make my BBC box sets redundant.  On the other hand it's unbelievable that such an enormous set isn't actually complete!  It's also somewhat perverse in at least one instance - Disc 4 (which covers the Liege & Lief material) has only 9 tracks - there would certainly have been room for that same line-up's BBC recordings.

I have started listening though!  I chose Disc 14 to begin with - demos, alternate versions and live recordings from Fotheringay.  And it's all very good, but that almost goes without saying.

Jules

It's arrived ;D
Not allowed to get my mitts on it til Christmas :'(

I just received it this morning from Amazon UK.  I'm in Northern Virginia, outside of DC.  I just spent an hour or so looking through it.  It has some cool extras (poster announcing the release of her first solo album, postcards, press-kit, etc.).  The hardcover book that comes with it is thorough, listing all the tracks, who plays on what, where recorded, how the track is different from the released version, etc.  It also has some great pictures and comments from different people who worked with her (Richard Thompson, Robert Plant, Dave Cousins, and several more).  

My only comment, not really a complaint, is that the individual CD sleeves only list the tracks.  They don't distinguish which are the bonus tracks and which are the original releases, and in the case of the CD's that are just unreleased material, what it is (unreleased material from "Unhalfbricking," unreleased live show at the LA Troubadour, etc.).  Yes, it's all listed in the book, but if you're wanting to grab the CD of the LA Troubadour from '74, it would be convenient to have it listed on the discs.  Some of this might stem from not being as familiar with the material as others.  I mean, most people probably will be able to just look at the CD's of unreleased material and figure out what what sessions they are from.  ;)  Again, not a huge issue...  Though, apparently enough for me to mention...  Anyway, moving along...

Currently listening to the outtakes from "Sandy"; sound quality is amazing.  I had most of her solo stuff on LP and only have "Sandy" and "Gold Dust" on CD, and never picked up any of the other two recent boxes, so for me, there isn't a lot of redundant material.  O.k., yes, the Fairport I had on CD (o.k., except "Rising for the Moon" and for some reason, I never bought "Unhalfbricking" on CD.  I had it on LP back in highschool, but I think because between compilations, live versions, etc., I had the entire album on CD in one form or another.  And now I do!)  I think the set was pricey (though, buying it from Amazon UK saved at least a hundred dollars), but it is perfect for someone who wants to have an "instant" Sandy Denny collection.

I also didn't realize (or had forgotten) that the set included the Fotheringay 2 CD, which is cool.  

Anyway, so far I think it's a well designed, well organized set (doesn't jump around chronologically, etc. - which the "Who Knows..." set does).  

I just bought the 50th anniversary release of "Kind of Blue" by Miles Davis, and there's several false starts, in-studio conversations, etc., which are interesting to listen to, once or twice, but I don't think really necessary.  Though, I suppose for the people who are really interested in that type of thing, it's great.  And for the people who aren't, well, we can skip them and not burn those tracks to iPod.  Anyway, I was a little afraid that there would be a lot of "in process" demos; play for 30 seconds, talk, laugh, joke, play for another 30 seconds, etc.  Which again, interesting, but kind of breaks things up, and kind of feels like barrel scraping in terms of material.  Listening to the demo of "No End," there's some of that; Sandy talking to (I think) Trevor, but it's charming, not distracting.  A couple tracks of that is fine, but not when it is the majority of the CD.        

Only the Sandy vocal tracks of course, not the whole album.  Same is true of Fairport and Strawbs material.
If Sandy doesn't sing it then the track isn't there.  Which makes perfect sense.

Shame they couldn't get clearance for The Battle Of Evermore with Led Zep - weird because it already featured on the single disc The Music Weaver CD.

Jules

You're gonna be a busy boy Jules, you lucky bugger.  Keep us updated on all the hidden gems please.  

I'll try.  I think it's going to be slow progress though.  It's kind of intimidating in a lovely way.  It took me 24 hours to choose the first disc to play!  Heh.

Jules

Just realized that! :P   I was looking at the track-listing of "Fairport Live Convention" and thinking, "Oh, the CD is shorter than I remember it.  Where's 'Sloth?'"  Then realized that it was only tracks Sandy sang on.  Wow, it's like it was a Sandy Denny box set or something...  Brains apparently a little slow today...

Hi,

For nobody to hear (Track 3/CD16) is a fantastic version. The vocals are much better than the doubled ones on the final mix, and the rocking instrumental ending is just great....


Alex

On my Xmas present list. It's nice to have a box set to work through over Xmas - last year we listened to Woodstock box set. It was like being at a festival - just as drunken only drier.

so ,old bean,  just what is track 3/cd16 called?

???

My guess would be track 3 cd16 would be called "For Nobody To hear"

Yeah I too wasn't sure what Alexander meant at first because it was typed in lower case.  I had to re-read it to realise that the title of the song had been given!

Jules

Presumably all the CDs are 78  minutes long ;D

It is reported on the Sandy list that it is also ready close to selling out - so those that can afford it, get in soon!

Nope.  Disc 4, which covers the Liege & Lief period, only has 9 tracks and lasts 50 minutes.  There was clearly room for the same line-up's BBC sessions on this disc, but they're not included.

Jules

Mine arrived today from Amazon but , shock horror, the sleeve to disc 4 is empty (ie sleeve but no disc). Is there any way I can get the one disc sent by the manufacturer to save having to send the whole caboodle back?

I sure hope you can, Nick!   :(

Jules

Rather than go through the automated returns process, I e-mailed Amazon customer services and they replied within half an hour to say a replacement order had been placed at no charge (I checked and it was on the system). I do not need to return the first box until I have checked the replacement.
Pretty efficient especially for a Sunday morning. Well done !

I finally decided to order this morning. Christmas pressies don't come cheap this year.
I've been in touch with a couple of local record shops but their prizes came well over amazons, so I ordered it there.
Like Charlie Brown - and like one or two here - I have been wishy-washy. Wanting it one day, regarding my extensive Sandy Denny collection sufficient the other. My reasons for ordering it now are simple. I m afraid I'll never get hold of a copy. And: it makes it easy for the family concerning Christmas gifts. The box seems to contain a beautiful book with a lot of unpublished photos and for once I can be a little wild & crazy. Apart from Sandy, I would only pay that kind of money on well-known musical tracks for one other artist, The Fairports.
 Thus I can leave all Springsteen, Who, Macca boxes behind knowing that this was the final "we-have-collected-everything"-box. But one?  8)

The box doesn't collect everything out there, just so you know.  Most of the BBC sessions, and several Fairport gigs from 1974/5 that have come out on CD are not included.  So don't throw away your old collections just yet!

Jules

Earlier on I have turned my son into a Sandy Denny - and Fairport Convention - fan by giving him the old CD:s when they have come remastered. This time Iĺl hang on to the different boxes a while longer!  ;D

Have we ascertained for definite that all the Sandy Solo CDs (including the remasters, with the bonus tracks) are now redundant, if one has the box set, or are there a few of the bonus tracks which escaped?

I'm not sure.  The box is so big that you get a sort of blindness as to what is what.  Anybody else work it out yet?

Jules

I think the version of 'It'll Take A Long Time' which is a bonus on the reissue of Sandy is different from the one on CD 17. Remember the tapes were running over several nights at the LA Troubadour, so compilers have more than one version to choose from. Otherwise, I reckon the box collects all the previous bonus tracks. The Troubadour tracks that previously appeared were apparently taken "off the desk". These newly issued ones are mixed from the original tapes.  

On another forum, compiler Andrew Batt has said that the solo albums as they appear on the box have been remastered since the 2005 reissues. I haven't got around to listening to those yet, so can't judge how much difference this makes to the sound.

Basically, if you're nuts about Sandy, you have got to have this box, even if it means remortgaging the house/selling a kidney.

I'd say keep everything.  

I ripped the whole shebang for my iPod today. Interestingly, the freedb recognised the Gold Dust disc & returned all the info for the original CD release. Obviously the tracks didn't check out as exactly the same edition when compared with the accurate rip database.

I find myself wondering if any of the Sandy & Trevor Attic Tracks CD are on there, as it isn't mentioned, although a lot of the stuff from the extras discs are from the same period.

Far as I can see, all the Sandy studio tracks from the Attic CD are on the box. The previously issued Walthamstow solo recording of 'No End' is the last track on CD16, but we also get take 1 of that session, where she decided to swap the order of verses around. What's unique to the Attic CD are the three tracks taken from the original Royalty concert tapes. On the box we have the 1998 Gold Dust release with re-recorded guitars, new overdubs etc.

I say hang on to everything.  :)

What about the Box Of Treasures set though?  Is that one now redundant?

Jules

Well, as you pointed out earlier Jules, the new box does not include the BBC stuff, so the BBC tracks on Boxful are not replicated. You probably get everything else from Boxful on the new box.

"Redundant"? I don't really understand this line of argument and the amount of negative energy swirling around. Every past release will have something unique about it, if it's only the liner notes or the photos. If you're a collector - and especially if you're the kind of crazed Sandy nut who is prepared to shell out 150 quid on her behalf - you'll want to keep everything.

Another point, which I've noticed some satisfied customers making elsewhere, is that even the things you have heard before come up in better sound quality on these remasters. Rather as the photos in the book, transferred where possible from the original negs, are so much better quality than we've seen before.  

But all the BBC things will also be on the BBC box, right?



As much as I like a nice book or some good liner notes, they aren't enough for me to keep a CD or a boxed set if all the tracks are available elsewhere.  They're certainly not enough for me to buy something when I have all the tracks already.

Jules

Nor me usually, though I did fall for the Richard Thompson box last year because of the packaging which I rather regret now. I have absolutely no reason to play it.

...arrived today, and since I 've read reports of a missing disc, just opened it to check everything was there. It was and I was stunned - Swedes stun easily  ;D - when I browsed through the book. Obviously a labour of love, as the whole box, the book turned into a time journey.
Suffice to say, I will spend plenty of time during the Holidays to play all discs.
To the people behind it: thank you!

Just received the following from Amazon UK.

Hello,

We are contacting you regarding your order for the following item:

--------------------------------------------------
B003N18PI2

Sandy Denny (Box Set)
--------------------------------------------------

It has been brought to our attention that some customers have had an issue with the tray part of the box set.

The record label has informed us that customers can order a free replacement tray from sandydenny@sandbag.uk.com should this be required.

Can't say I've had any problems so far. Has anyone else?

Dave

I got that too, Dave.  My tray is just dandy.  Mind you, I must get around to checking all the discs are present and correct, after Nick's wee scare and all.

Jules

In direct contrast to everything else in the box the tray is pretty cheap and shoddy. As my other half so eloquently commented it's of a similar quality to what you'd find separating the custard creams from the bourbons in a selection box of biscuits - not really the standard you'd expect of something that's retailing for just short of £250 in high street shops. The velvet-effect finish attempts to give it the appearance of quality, but it's flimsy and wafer-thin, in fact mine's so thin that the two 'wells' that hold the CDs are holed in a couple of places. I'd heard a few stories about some having split or shattered in transit, so when mine arrived relatively intact I thought that was about as good as it was likely to get and decided against returning it.

Are they pressing any more of the box?

Some lunatic is trying to sell copies fro $1100 on Amazon US.

Article by Rob Young in the Guardian today:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/jan/08/sandy-denny-folk-music-singer

He gives the impression that Sandy left Fairport after Liege & Lief never to return, but I suppose he may have decided not to mention her 2nd tenure with Fairport for the sake of brevity. He also seems to believe, incorrectly, that "The Battle of Evermore" is included in the new box set.

Yes!  Yes!  No bloody excuses.  If he actually wrote this after being sent a review copy I'd be furious.... mumble, grumble (for me not being able to afford it!).  I am joking I suppose but the errors, particularly that clunking great one at the end of Paragraph 2 aren't ok for somebody as supposedly well versed in the subject as him.  If you believe his version, then Sandy is also entirely responsible for turning the group onto English folk song, which is clearly nonsense....

It is a bit bizarre that he makes two such glaring errors - especially when his book is so thorough. I hope no one buys the box set on his recommendation that it includes Evermore.

At least someone's commented on these errors at the bottom of the actual article...

I'm now listening to the alternate take of No End (disc 8 track 15) again and again.  It's a lovely song with fine rhythm work by Pegg and Mattacks.

Funny that  ;)

Ah ! Do I hear the sound of a penny dropping ?  ;)

Anyone know how many copies of the box were produced?

Jules

3,000.

J

Thanks.  I wonder if they stuck to that figure.

Jules

Yours for £499.99 (admittedly only 1 bidder mind - 2 bids but the 2nd is a protective bid from the same bidder).

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sandy-Denny-Complete-Recordings-Edition-19-CD-Box-Set-/300516412112?pt=UK_CDsDVDs_CDs_CDs_GL&hash=item45f82c8ad0

Track 18, Disc 19 of my Sandy box set has a flaw, which is described by a couple of Amazon commentators as follows:

"There appears to be a defect in track 18 of disc 19. There is a 10-second gap from 2:44 to 2:54, then a 2-second gap from 3:18 to 3:20. Does anyone know if this is a gap in the source tape, or a defect in the CD? Has anyone else noticed this in theirs?" 10 Jan 2011
     
Initial post: 12 Jan 2011 02:42:03 GMT
Robert Burns says:  "This was brought up on an earlier review and was found to be a defect in the original tape source. Considering the age of much of this material, and the fact that much of it was never meant to be released, I'm surprised that there aren't more defects."

Did anyone on this board receive a version without the flaw?  Has anyone downloaded Track 18, Disc 19 from iTunes, and, if so, is it flawed?

John, there is no version without the flaw, whatever format you play it in:

"Track 18 on disc 19, Full Moon has 2 drop outs. These were on the original source master so there was nothing that could be done to fix them. The track was left on as it is a rare home demo that, on the whole is a much better version. Unfortunately the problem with the track was not explained in the accompanying book. It is not a production error."
http://www.sandydennyofficial.com/news/boxset-track-18-disc-19-full-moon/

Someone on the Yahoo List suggested you should imagine her singing during the silent passages -- a nice idea.

Muchos gracias

ok, shot in the dark here but, I am after the box set which as we all know is sold out.  Amazon have a new one at £1,500.00 which I can't afford and the cheapest 2nd hand is almost £500k.....which I can't afford so does anyone know of anywhere or anyone looking to sell one?

Like I say, I understand this is highly unlikely but if you don't ask............... ;D

Cheers

Chris

Bloody hell, you could buy a nice little pad for that... :)

oops, 500k would indeed buy you a nice pad.....

or 1000 2nd hand copies of the box set.

I might consider letting mine go for that. :)

Its back up on Amazon at a little over £200. Have some more copies been made?

still not tempted