A FITTING RETROSPECTIVE TO ONE OF THE GREATS
Scott T Mc Nally | ORLANDO, Fl USA | 06/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sandy remains in my mind, nearly as influential as Joni Mitchell. She wrote her own wonderfull material, as well as doing incredible interpretations of traditional folk songs of the British Isles. She could also rock with the best of them, though she rarely did. There are quite a few tracks here that I hadn't heard prior to listening to this. Some are somewhat muddy sounding live recordings and yes, there are a few tracks that seem conspicuously absent, but these are minor qualms. I have to agree that she possessed one of those rare voices that could send shivers up your spine. "Now And Then" is a prime example of the way another reviewer descibed her ability to adorn her vocal phrasing with such difficult ornaments, and yet make it sound as nartual as breathing itself. She had the abilty to convey sadness with an inner strength like nobody ever did before or has been able to do since."
Sandy, Earthangel
J. Farrelly | Hanover, PA USA | 11/05/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"While many will remember her as the soaring voice in Led Zep's "Battle of Evermore" (which was my unexpected introduction to her as well), Sandy Denny's best works were in her self-penned songs. This is the very best compilation of her work and at a very good price. A voice of truly timeless beauty..."
Essential
rogar131 | New York, NY United States | 04/10/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"First, one minor caveat (and the only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars rated). A few of her most popular songs here do not appear in their classic form, most notably the title track, in a live version, not Fairport's studio version. It's especially confusing if you are coming to this set from the rykodisc Best of collection, which has all tracks in studio versions, but seems to be a one-disc condensation of "Who Knows". I don't want to give this too much weight, however. The collection is full of rare and wonderful delights, and any Kate Rusby, Loreena Mckennitt, or even Natalie Merchant fan should check it out, Sandy Denny was the template for all anglo (and anglophile) folk rock women singers who followed. I'm not sure there was even such a category before her. And how many other women have sung with both The Who and Led Zeppelin?"