Fotheringay - Fotheringay 2 (2008 Fledg'ling Records)
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Artist: Fotheringay
Album: Fotheringay 2
Released: 2008
Fledg'ling Records (FLED 3066)
Genre: Prog-Folk-Rock
Progarchives Biography : ‘Fotheringay’ was formed in 1970 by singer Sandy Denny (Ex-Strawbs ) upon her departure from ‘Fairport Convention’, together with her future husband, Australian songwriter Trevor Lucas (Ex-Eclection, ), Gerry Conway (Ex-Eclection) and two former members of ’Poet and the One Man band’ Jerry Donahue and Pat Donaldson. ‘Fotheringay’ played Folk-Rock similar to ‘Fairport Convention’, introducing Jazz-elements like ‘Pentangle‘.
The band drew it’s name from Fotheringay Castle, where Mary Queen Of Scots was imprisoned in England, a name, that Denny had already used for one of her finest compositions on the second ‘Fairport Convention’ release “What Did We Do On Our Holidays”(1969).
In 1970 the band recorded their lone self titled album with producer Joe Boyd. The record mixed Rock, Folk and Jazz-elements and sounded similar to , ‘Fairport Convention’ with a less rockier side,Trevor Lucas rhythm-guitar-work giving the record an overall lighter feeling. The record contains two traditionals, among them the outstanding “Banks Of The Nile”, a Gordon Lighfoot composition “The Way I Feel”, a Dylan cover “Too Much Of Nothing” and original songs by Denny, (among them “Nothing More” and “The Sea”), Lucas and Dave Cousins.
Although the album and the group was well received (“Fotheringay” reached the UK top twenty) the band broke up in 1971. Sandy Denny embarked on a solo carreer (some songs for a projected second ‘Fotheringay’ record surfaced on Denny’s first solo recod “The Northstar Grassman and The Ravens”), Donaldson and Conway began session work, while Lucas and Donahue rejoined ‘Fairport Convention’.
”Fotheringay” is highly recommended
Sandydenny.Blogspot Review'Fans of Fotheringay rejoice - the nine classic performances on their debut album are soon to be joined by eleven more studio recordings. Jerry Donahue has been working for many, many months reviewing all the recordings to finally bring this remarkable project to conclusion.
After several years of careful research in dusty tape archives, the surviving members of Fotheringay have been able to complete their second album begun back in 1970. It is very, very rare that musicians get the chance to complete a project begun 38 years previously. Fotheringay 2 will be released on Fledg’ling Records on 29th September 2008.
Fotheringay remain one of the great might-have-beens of British music. They lasted less than a year, and released just one album, but their disappearance robbed the early-’70s scene of a group of musicians capable of taking folk-rock to new heights of subtlety and musicianship. Now, the nine songs on that debut album, assumed for almost four decades to be their sole testament, are joined by the eleven that would have constituted a follow-up. Sadly they broke up during the recording sessions for that second album. Incredibly all the tapes survived in various record company archives. Guest musicians include Rabbit Bundrick on keyboards and Sam Donahue (Jerry’s father) on saxophone.
Track list: John the Gun * Eppie Moray * Wild Mountain Thyme * Knights of the Road * Late November * Restless * Gypsy Davey * I Don’t Believe You * Silver Threads and Golden Needles * Bold Jack Donahue * Two Weeks Last Summer - Fledg’ling FLED 3066'
Fotheringay were: Sandy Denny, Pat Donaldson, Trevor Lucas, Gerry Conway and Jerry Donahue.
Press Release: Fotheringay remain one of the great might-have-beens of British music. They lasted less than a year, and released just one album, but their disappearance robbed the early ’70s scene of a group of musicians capable of taking folk-rock to new heights of subtlety and musicianship. Now, the nine songs on that debut album; assumed for almost four decades to be their sole testament, are joined by the eleven that would have constituted a follow-up. Sadly they broke up during the recording sessions for their second album. Incredibly all the tapes survived in various record company archives. 38 years later the surviving members of the group have mixed all the material to finally complete this remarkable album. When originally released the debut album went straight into the Top 20 in both Melody Maker and NME, and is now an acknowledged classic recording of British folk-rock. It is very, very rare that musicians get the chance to complete a project begun 38 years earlier.
The second Fotheringay album has been eagerly awaited by all fans of Sandy Denny, British folk-rock and by fans of great music in general.
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