Search - Sandy Denny :: Like an Old Fashioned Waltz

Her Most Enduring!

Morten Vindberg | Denmark | 08/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was Sandy Denny's third solo-album. On her second album, the much acclaimed "Sandy", she had begun a slow departure from her folk-music roots. On this album you probably would not have thought of there being any folk-roots at all, if it had not been for her backing band consisting of people with strong roots in Britsih folk-rock - people like Richard Thompson, Dave Pegg, Dave Mattacks, Jerry Donahue, Gerry Conway, Pat Donaldson and several more.



Sandy and her husband/producer Trevor Lucas were seeking a broader approach with a wider range of styles, using heavier production; often with use of strings; which some people thought a progress, and other people hated.



The opener, the gorgeous "Solo" is one of Sandy's very best songs ( I would buy the album for that song alone ). The nostalgic title-track is almost as strong, in spite of a quite unrestrained use of strings. The bonus-track version proves the use strings quite unnecessary.



Her covers of two old romantic jazz-ballads, "Whispering Grass" and "Until the Real Things Comes Along" are actually quite good, though some people find them out of place on a Sandy Denny album.



"Friends" is another highlight on the album - a classic Sandy Denny song; according to the liner notes on the "No More Sad Refrains" anthology, the lyrics were written about Pete Townshend; not a very flattering picture drawn of him there.



"Carnival" is a tune in the same vein as "Friends" - though darker and not quite as melodic.



"Dark the Night" is a light tune, but with dark lyrics. "I'm not good at singing happy songs", I believe Sandy stated at a certain point.



"At the End of the Day" has such a beautiful melody line, and possibly her ultimate love song. The bonus-track version with no strings is my favourite.



The closing track "No End" with its strange, but thought-provoking lyrics, gives the album the perfect end.



"King and Queen of England" is an outtake from the sessions, but was probably thought not strong enough when the final track-listing was to be made. I think I'll agree to that, though some might have preferred it to one of her jazz-covers.



In spite of some flaws ( too much strings ) the album as a whole is her most consistent and enduring, with Denny on top in her song-writing."

Sandy's most beautiful work

C. E. A. Esq | London | 06/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A wonderful, romantic, joyous, sad album that Sandy made at the point where her songwriting was at its strongest. But why is Amazon advertising all her reissues as featuring EXPLICIT LYRICS? None of Sandy's albums features so much as one swear-word? Amazon - why are you deliberately dissuading people from discovering Sandy by this dishonest and blatant misrepresentation of her music. She's no Lil' Kim. What are you doing, and why?"

Classic, Beautiful and Timeless

Coltbear - A Music Fan | NY/NJ Metro Area | 03/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought and loved Bonnie Raitt's initial release in 1970, with a cover of Sippie Wallace's "Women Be Wise," and Bonnie's gorgeous, definitive version (IMHO) of "Since I Fell For You," to name a few classic tracks. Bonnie remains every bit as good today as she was then.



Three years later, Sandy Denny released this recording, and I fell in love with it immediately (and love it every bit as much today.) These songs (as well as all of her vocals), remain as mentioned above - classic, beautiful and timeless (this one in particular being 33 years ago!) There are different styles on this record to be sure, but Sandy had the rare gift of taking you on the same journeys she was on within her songs - just try imagining you're not in a jazz club, holding the one you love close when you hear or dance to "Whispering Grass" and "Until The Real Thing Comes Along," with Sandy's being THE definitive version (once again, IMHO), of this very fine, often-recorded gem.



"Solo," "No End," "Dark The Night," and "At The End Of The Day" are only a few very moving, classic songs from this outstanding album from one who left us much too soon. "Like An Old-Fashioned Waltz" remains a beautiful legacy of Sandy Denny, replete with ballads and stories that sound as great today as they did over 30 years ago, and that you will treasure over and over again."