Known for her time as vocalist in Fairport Convention and respected
globally as Robert Plant’s frst Alison Krauss (duetting with him on Led
Zeppelin’s The Battle Of Evermore), Sandy Denny left a beguiling, everevolving body of work – Kate Bush was to namecheck her in song, and
Denny’s infuence can be heard in generations of singer-songwriters
After leaving Fairport Convention in late 1969, Sandy Denny formed Fotheringay
with husband Trevor Lucas. After one UK Top 20 LP in summer 1970, the band
split while recording a follow up, leaving Denny free to make her frst solo album.
A beguiling mixture of covers and originals, The North Star Grass Man And The
Ravens is one of THE essential British folk-rock albums. From the dreamlike Late
November to the plaintive Next Time Around to her reading of the traditional
standard Blackwaterside, the album is a near perfect capture of the talent on the
scene at that juncture: including Richard Thompson’s unmistakable guitar playing,
John Wood’s production and Harry Robinson’s string arrangements. Released in
September 1971, its reputation has understandably grown exponentially over the
years.
Out of print on LP for a number of years, this re- issue faithfully replicates the
original 1971 Island Records UK release with gatefold sleeve and is pressed onto
high quality 180g vinyl.