Sandy Denny was only 31 when she died in 1978, but the finest and most versatile British female singer of her generation is still a major influence on many musicians today. Next week she will be honoured at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, but first comes this intriguing compilation, titled after the excellent new biography by Mick Houghton.
Denny loved working with other musicians, but I remember her sounding at her most intense and emotional playing a solo show in a tiny London venue. This 40-track set traces her history through solo and acoustic recordings, many of them demos or radio sessions, ranging from an exquisite treatment of the traditional Wild Mountain Thyme, to Quiet Joys of Brotherhood, accompanied only by a drone effect, and a pained and powerful No End, backed by her own piano. There is also a delightful previously unreleased duet with Linda Thompson on When Will I Be Loved.
