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Jamie73
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« on: February 10, 2009, 04:41:06 PM » |
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Hi all
I'm interested to know if any of you saw Sandy live, and if so where? Also which was the best gig if more than one?
Cheers!
Jamie
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Woodpecker
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« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2009, 09:52:32 PM » |
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Hi Jamie! At my age memories blur a bit but: 1) '69 Liege & Lief at Fairfield Hall. My first live (indoor) gig. Expecting Unhalfbricking style Fairport, hoping for Sailors Life etc. Absolutely stunned by the whole unexpected experience. Couldn't wait for Christmas and the release of the LP to see if Matty Groves was on it. If only I had known how many times I would hear it subsequently. Couldn't get my friends to understand how Jigs and Reels could be worth listening to. I could fill a page of posting, - I think I might be turning into my grandfather! Fell head over heels for Sandy's stage persona.   2) Fotheringhay, QE Hall? (Who supported? Nick Drake or John Martyn - I saw them there but was it that gig?)  Can't hear 'Banks of the Nile' without hearing that venue's acoustic and feeling young again. 3) Early 70's Aston University with RT I think. Aston was 95% male and mostly 'Sponner men' who only wanted hard rock. (I had to stand in the street to listen to the 'Quo, don't think my ears ever recovered!) So although Sandy was brilliant there was a small crowd and a lot of heckling that made me so ashamed. 40 years of gigs of all sorts and L&L one of the top 5 (which would include Segovia and Paul Tortelier) but I refuse to actually rank them. I do feel very privileged. |
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davidmjs
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« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2009, 10:02:54 PM » |
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I do feel very privileged.
And I am more than a little jealous. Thanks for the memories... |
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Barry
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« Reply #3 on: February 10, 2009, 10:11:43 PM » |
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I first saw Sandy Denny just after she had rejoined Fairport. Greenwich Borough Hall just after Live Convention was released. Tickets 50p. I remember her sitting regally at the piano playing (I think) "Like An Old Fashioned Waltz" when a baby in the audience started crying. Cue sandy dissolving into helpless laughter with a cry of "it's not that bad"
Saw them again at Drury Lane on the "Rising For The Moon" tour, when there was much excitement about "Tam Lin" and "Who Knows Where The Time Goes?" being abck inthe set.
Last saw her at what sadly became her final concert at The Royalty. I wish I could remember more about it other that us coming out thinking that it had been a great night.
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Edthefolkie
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« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2009, 11:32:48 PM » |
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Oh God Jamie, I've bored for England on this one, to the extent that I won a Fotheringay 2 CD for one posting.
Saw Sandy twice solo in 1973, once at Merlins and once at the Howff. The latter is reckoned to be her best gig ever by lots of people eg Karl Dallas who know better than me, but for what it's worth I agree. She was among friends, it was a small venue and she had some really good new material. The other one at Merlins was magic too. Steve Ashley got Richard Thompson to ask her to do it and she agreed - good call Steve....
Also saw her with Fairport ("Nine" era) on several occasions - in particular I think she came on at the end of a Drury Lane gig but can't be sure, we were all "refreshed" and it's a long time ago. I do remember the gig was excellent though. Also after she rejoined Fairport a couple of times.
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Jim
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« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2009, 12:44:04 AM » |
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loads with fairport and solo, band and solo solo
always excellent
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The Dude abides
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Jamie73
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« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2009, 06:49:57 AM » |
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Thanks all - great to hear these stories. To say I'm envious is an understatement!!!
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Nick Reg
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« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2009, 08:30:08 AM » |
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I saw her once around '72 at Hanley Victoria Hall. Very nervous but memorable performance.
John Martyn was the support.
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Jamie73
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« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2009, 08:50:08 AM » |
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If only I hadn't been born in the '70's. I've only just forgiven my parents for leaving me with a babysitter in '76 while they went to see Steeleye play Georgetown University in Washington D.C. on the Rocket Cottage tour. They informed me that it was brilliant and ear-splittingly loud. Jamie |
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ColinB
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« Reply #9 on: February 11, 2009, 11:55:22 AM » |
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A friend of mine told me the story of how when he was living in Brighton (must've been early 70s) he happened to see a poster advertising a Sandy Denny gig that very night so went along to find her with a backing band consisting of RT and various other Fairporters. He said the place was half empty due to poor advertising but it was an excellent gig.
I think that made up for his decision not to go to the Isle of Wight Festival to see Hendrix thinking he's see him on his next UK tour... so he never got to see Hendrix.
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davidmjs
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« Reply #10 on: February 11, 2009, 12:03:34 PM » |
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Also saw her with Fairport ("Nine" era) on several occasions - in particular I think she came on at the end of a Drury Lane gig but can't be sure, we were all "refreshed" and it's a long time ago. I do remember the gig was excellent though. Also after she rejoined Fairport a couple of times.
That sounds like fun I think she also guested at the end of a Richard and Linda show at the Drury around 75 as well (singing some rock and roll number a la The Bunch), didn't she (there's a recording around somewhere but I can't put my hands on it)? She must have liked it there... |
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Jamie73
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« Reply #11 on: February 11, 2009, 12:07:30 PM » |
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According to Heylin's book she also turned up in April '75 at the end of a R & LT gig at the Queen Elizabeth Hall where she did "When Will I Be Loved?" The story is she requested "Meet On the Ledge" as a joke from the audience and then R & L got her up to sing...
J
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davidmjs
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« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2009, 12:52:18 PM » |
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According to Heylin's book she also turned up in April '75 at the end of a R & LT gig at the Queen Elizabeth Hall where she did "When Will I Be Loved?" The story is she requested "Meet On the Ledge" as a joke from the audience and then R & L got her up to sing...
J
Well done Jamie...that's the one I'm thinking of - so not Drury Lane after all. No suprise there!! Here's the details...it's a fairly ropey (in parts) recording but nice to have nonetheless... RICHARD & LINDA THOMPSON featuring Sandy Denny Queen Elizabeth Hall 1975 Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, April 25, 1975 CD 1: 1. Dark End Of The Street 2. Beat The Retreat 3. The Sun Never Shines On The Poor 4. A Heart Needs A Home 5. The Great Valerio 6. I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight 7. The Poor Ditching Boy 8. Nobody's Wedding 9. The Wild Side Of Life 10. Withered & Died 11. Shaky Nancy 12. Jet Plane In A Rocking Chair 13. Calvary Cross CD 2: 1. Smiffy's Glass Eye 2. Love Hurts 3. Hokey Pokey 4. Mole In A Hole 5. It'll Be Me 6. When Will I Be Loved - with Sandy Denny |
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Jamie73
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« Reply #13 on: February 11, 2009, 02:02:54 PM » |
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Fab - thank you!
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quodlibet (Ian)
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« Reply #14 on: February 11, 2009, 02:16:38 PM » |
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I had the great good fortune of seeing Sandy on several occasions, the two that stand out in particular are a free outdoor Fairport show in Harlow Town Park, Essex, in early summer 1974, where Sandy & the whole band seemed to be having a whale of a time & previously, upstairs at the Red Lion, Leytonstone, London, on my birthday in April 1972. Being a small venue, it was crowded & very intimate. Sandy was in great voice & Richard was his usual blistering self (he initiated a sub voce conversation with me from the stage, between numbers, regarding the stifling atmosphere & how unseasonably warm it was). I remember a few North Star songs, inc John The Gun, Blackwaterside, etc & a bit of Bunch type R&R, but little else. Think the rhythm section was Pat & Timi, but I may be mistaken. |
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Edthefolkie
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« Reply #15 on: February 12, 2009, 09:41:55 AM » |
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David, thank you for confirming that Sandy came on at the end of that Queen Elizabeth Hall concert in 1975. I too was there and was sure I remembered all that. The trouble is that it's nearly 34 years ago and these memories get mixed up in some vast morass, not helped by the alcohol consumed at the time.
Anyway, I DEFINITELY remember something else about that gig! I'd passed a couple of spare tickets to my Sarf Landon mate Steve and he turned up late with his partner Susie. She was wearing a very revealing top and Steve was wearing white clogs with metal bits on the front (does this have anything to do with him being a Genesis fan?). The hall had wooden flooring. They rushed up the stairs grinning apologetically, Steve making a noise like the Britannia Coco-Nut Dancers amplified by a Marshall stack. Ohmigard. Richard and Linda did notice unfortunately - I tried to hide under the seat with no success.
One ought to start a new thread about "embarrassing moments at Fairport related gigs" but I'll leave that for now as I gotta go out!
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« Last Edit: February 12, 2009, 09:56:27 AM by Edthefolkie »
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Jamie73
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« Reply #16 on: February 12, 2009, 10:33:09 AM » |
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I have no embarrassing moments at Fairport related gigs, but I did once knock a glass of wine over Jane Birkin (honest!). Can that count???
Jamie
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Jules Gray
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« Reply #17 on: February 12, 2009, 12:06:56 PM » |
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I have no embarrassing moments at Fairport related gigs, but I did once knock a glass of wine over Jane Birkin (honest!). Can that count???
Jamie
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh, Jane Birkin!! How much did I fancy that woman?! I'm envious that you were even in the same room as her!  Jules |
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Now be thankful for good things below
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Jamie73
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« Reply #18 on: February 12, 2009, 01:16:15 PM » |
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It was actually her own glass of wine I knocked over her, but she was very nice and stopped my stuttering apology with "Oh well, it saves me from getting smashed! Don't worry..."
J
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Jules Gray
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« Reply #19 on: February 12, 2009, 02:40:24 PM » |
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It was actually her own glass of wine I knocked over her, but she was very nice and stopped my stuttering apology with "Oh well, it saves me from getting smashed! Don't worry..."
J
If knocking a glass of wine over her was the only way I had of meeting Ms Birkin, then I'd gladly take it. I'm so incredibly envious! Jules |
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