Search - Fairport Convention :: Rising for the Moon

A Much Better Sandy Denny Album Than "Rendezvous"

Michael K. Kivinen | Wyoming, MI United States | 04/26/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Rising for the Moon" may not be as epochal or acclaimed as "Liege and Lief," but I like it better and play it more often. It has more of a country-rock, singer-songwriter feel than Fairport's earlier progressive-folk albums, although this was off-putting to some fans. It is also a much better Sandy Denny album than the overproduced "Rendezvous" (1977) which relied heavily on covers. It is ironic that she occupied a more central position on this 1975 Fairport Convention offering than on her final solo album before her untimely death at age 31. The five originals Denny contributed to "Rising for the Moon" are easily some of her finest songs: the bluegrass-inflected title track, "What Is True," "After Halloween," "Stranger to Himself," and the epic "One More Chance." If you enjoy "Sandy" (1972), you will find much to love on "Rising for the Moon." Trevor Lucas'"Restless" is another excellent cut. It is only because of two weaker numbers ("Dawn" and "Let It Go," respectively rather turgid and twee, but still listenable)that this album receives 4 stars instead of 5."

A Really Really Good Album That Really Ought Have Been Great

Michael Weber | Atlanta | 10/19/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Sandy Denny rejoins Fairport Convention" sounds like a recipe for a great album. But, somehow, it wasn't.



Perhaps it's because i just don't much like several of the songs. I don't much DISlike them either, and that's a recipe for apathy.



Of the songs that i DO like, i like a couple of them quite a bit, indeed -- as songs -- though i must agree that the production to some extent detracts even from the songs i do like.



That said, the title song is wonderful, Trevor's "Iron Lion" is one of the better railroad songs i've heard in a while, "White Dress" is almost achingly beautiful, "Stranger to Himself" is almost Dylanesque in its apparent symbolism, and, as others have remarked, "One More Chance" is a soaring wonder that shows what this band COULD have done, if they had been allowed/elected to soar to the heights that they could reach.



Sandy was only to be with us for a little while longer; it's sad that she and the band didn't take this chance to get together, rare back and fly.



That all having been said -- if you are at all a fan of Fairport, Sandy Denny or both, this album is one you need, if only for the title song and "One More Chance".



(The cover, by the way, is one of the prettier and more evocative of all the Fairport album covers)



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A Later Note (11/26/02): Probably this album should be considered in tandem with "Before the Moon", a recent 2-disc set presenting two live shows recorded at Ebbets Field on the US tour that supported this album. I haven't heard it yet, but it sounds like a fantastic set.



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A STILL Later Note (10/18/06): DEFINITELY this album should be considered in tandem with "Before the Moon". You should buy this first, then "Before the Moon". f you are at all a fan of Fairport, Sandy Denny or both, you won't regret it."