I had never heard anything by Sandy Denny before a few minutes ago. In fact, I don't think I have ever heard her name before now (although I cannot say for sure). Here, in a session that was recorded in 1971, she sings a song entitled, Late November.
She is neither pretentious nor full of herself, as so many "folk singers" seem to be these days. Her representation of the folk-music genre isn't over the top either, as so many neo-folk-music songs seem to be in the 21st century. For Ms. Denny it is TRULY all about the song and the feeling, not herself or some angry agenda. Her minimalist performance is beautiful, mesmerizing and enchanting, at least to a nostalgic, sentimental pushover like me who loves these trips back in time.
[Update 5/20/08: I learned today that I actually have seen Sandy Denny's name in print before and heard her beautiful voice in one particular song (I just had not heard of her before). Hers is the amazing female voice in the Led Zeppelin song, The Battle of Evermore (based on a battle in the Lord of the Rings trilogy). I have always been very impressed by her voice in that song, but I didn't think I would ever learn who she is. I dug out my Stairway to Heaven album today and played the song again for the first time in years. Her name is printed on the album's inside sleeve, but it doesn't say what she does on the album, so I had no idea she is the female singer in The Battle of Evermore. In fact, I had no idea if Sandy, in this particular case, is a man's or a woman's name. Whether you like Led Zeppelin or not, it's worth listening to the song at the link just to hear her voice. I actually like The Battle of Evermore. It has an almost hypnotic rhythm.]
