The North Star Grassman and the Ravens is a 1971 album by English folk rock singer-songwriter Sandy Denny. Built mostly around her own compositions, The North Star Grassman and the Ravens is distinguished by its elusive lyrics and unexpected harmonies.

Chronology Denny became a solo artist when her previous group Fotheringay dissolved. Half way through recording the group's second album, producer Joe Boyd left to take up a job with Warner Bros. in California, leaving the album unfinished. (The album was eventually released in 2008 as Fotheringay 2.) Denny then launched the sequence of solo albums that underlie the claim that she is one of Britain's finest recent singer-songwriters.Patrick Humphries (20/04 2003) The singing Madonna with an angel’s voice Sunday Express, pp 54–55. Nigel Williamson (Nov 2004) Glittering Prize Uncut, p 134. Cliff Jones (Sept 1995) Forensic dissection of the human heart Mojo, p 110.

Production Two original compositions from the Fotheringay 2 sessions, "Late November", inspired by a dream and the death of Fairport Convention band member Martin Lamble, and "John the Gun" were re-worked for the album and supplemented by a further six self-penned songs and two cover versions, Bob Dylan's "Down in the Flood" and "Let's Jump the Broomstick", recorded by Brenda Lee. Sessions began with Andy Johns producing but in the end the album was produced by Denny herself, former Fairport Convention bandmate Richard Thompson and John Wood, who recommended to Denny the film-score arranger Harry Robinson,Clinton Heylin. No More Sad Refrains - The Life and Times of Sandy Denny. London, Helter Skelter, 2002. p140. who added strings to "Next Time Around", a cryptogram about former boyfriend Jackson C. Frank (one of her many portraits in song)See 'The lady she had a silver tongue': Sandy Denny as singer-songwriter by Philp Ward. and "Wretched Wilbur". Robinson would arrange strings for Denny's further albums as well as for Nick Drake and other artists signed to the same company.

The first songs recorded were the traditional "Blackwaterside" and "Let's Jump the Broomstick" in March 1971 at Sound Techniques. Sessions continued the following month until the end of May at Island studios, where the album was completed with the cutting of the title track,Clinton Heylin. No More Sad Refrains - The Life and Times of Sandy Denny. London, Helter Skelter, 2002. pp273-4. a sea voyage as a metaphor for death inspired by the loss of her friend 'Tigger' (Paul Bamber) who was in the Merchant Navy.See The Sandy Denny Blogspot

A number of other songs were attempted and discarded during the course of the sessions including "Honky Tonk Women", "Walking the Floor Over You" and the traditional "Lord Bateman".Clinton Heylin. No More Sad Refrains - The Life and Times of Sandy Denny. London, Helter Skelter, 2002. p138.

The album was issued in a gatefold sleeve with a distinctive cover photograph of Denny weighing seeds in an old fashioned apothecary shop. The image covered both the front and rear sleeve, and was taken by Keef (Macmillan) who went on to do a lot of work with another British female singer-songwriter: Kate Bush.Notably the video to Wuthering Heights and the film of her only tour Live at the Hammersmith Odeon. A two-disc Deluxe Edition was released by Island Records in 2011. It features the original album plus outtakes and demos, including a previously unreleased instrumental version of Lord Bateman.

The band for the supporting tour consisted of Denny, Thompson (guitar), Gerry Conway (drums), and Dave Richards (bass).

Reception Spin wrote, "Richard Thompson produced and played unobtrusively on this, her best album. It has a deceptive simplicity, in lieu of the grandiose arrangements that muck up her later records."

Track listing

2011 deluxe edition re-release

Personnel Sandy Denny - lead vocals, acoustic guitar , piano Richard Thompson - electric guitar , acoustic guitar , bass , accordion , vocals Pat Donaldson - bass Ian Whiteman - piano , flute organ Gerry Conway - drums Trevor Lucas - acoustic guitar Tony Reeves - bass Harry Robinson - string arrangements Jerry Donahue - electric guitar (1) Royston Wood, Robin Dransfield - backing vocals Barry Dransfield - violin Roger Powell - drums Buddy Emmons - pedal steel guitar

References

Sandy Denny: The North Star Grassman and the Ravens