"The Deserter" - Fairport Convention [Audio]

[Ja14111948]

was always hooked up to them, since 40 years, what musicians! greetings from vienna!

[TheMeleemonkey]

We lost all chance of any future sandy's the minute autotune was introduced.

[TheMeleemonkey]

i listended to this song on my personal stereo whilst i was AWOL. way back in 95. still makes me smile with manic joy to think of it.

[caslox]

wonderful song brilliant band, Sandy Denny gone too soon Rest in peace, sadly missed.

[Senatorcraigz]

I love these old songs and bands enough not to dismiss all the works of all the people that came after them. Why use a good song as an excuse to limit what you'll listen to? Always, there's somebody in the comments talking up their tastes and putting down anything else. Enjoy the damn song, that way you don't have to suffer over the bad ones.

Fairport Convention were folkies who rocked out. That doesn't happen if you've got a closed mind to other styles. This could be what's at stake here!

[krupu]

lady denny listed this as one of her favourite songs in an interview (you can find the BBC program by googling 1988 SandyDenny.Folk.On.2.BBC.28.04­.1988).

[farsajjj]

NOW..????...it is tragic beyond words...somebody put their hands on Music's throat, and has been squeezing tightly for a long time...is it dead yet??... I hope not.

I hope not.

[farsajjj]

wqanted - indeed!!...I agree...our entire generation grew up with music meaning so much to us...and in a sense, we took it for granted/expected that musicians actually CARED about the music they made, being good musicians, and becoming better...brilliant music was everywhere, from the simplicity and genius of CCR to experimental like OLD PinkF/GDead. - EVERYONE knew and cared about the difference between crap and beauty....

[allroundgenius]

@farsajjj really? was EVERY band in the 70s as good as Floyd? Was every number one when you were children a golden single? Sure, there aren't bands like The Beatles or Floyd around now but that because the scene's changed. There are other good bands who enjoy commercial success but in a slightly different way to how the greats did it in the 60s and 70s. Most of the skiffle stuff popular in the early 60s was crap... one of hindsight's great benefits is that it filters out the bad stuff for us.

[farsajjj]

@allroundgenius Of course not arg. I don't think that was my point . Was trying to say that there was a qualitative difference, in groups/styles as diverse as PFloyd to CCR. They cared about being better musicians-.( includes singers).

[allroundgenius]

@farsajjj but my point is that there are bands today that care about music today, just as there were bands in the 70s that didn't (Wild Cherry? Hot Chocolate?). I think it seems bad today because we haven't had the bad ones filtered out yet.

[farsajjj]

@allroundgenius --- With respect, allroundg. - I think it was much more than just 'filtering out the bad'.....and I'm sure there are bands that care about their music today - I'm addressing the PREVALENCE of good bands/musicians and a commonly shared/displayed attitude - I think this can be demonstrated, not just a product of memory.

[allroundgenius]

@farsajjj hm... I think maybe you're listening in the wrong places. The problem today is that there is SO MUCH music in so many different genres that the same amount of talent (which I think is always pretty much constant) is spread more thinly. There are just as many great musicians these days but due to the changed industry their efforts can be recognised in slightly different places. I have a feeling that a band listing match is about to ensue...

[allroundgenius]

@farsajjj also, it occurs to me that its difficult to identify the brilliance of artists in their own time, because what might at the time appear to be a new sound may actually be a relatively short lived fashion, and what might appear to be nonsensical crap might actually be an innovation that's difficult to fathom (see Within you without you, or Blue Jayway by the beatles).

[farsajjj]

@allroundgenius - I take some of what you say - but respectfully still, in the main, disagree. I have definitely tried to find the music and musicians I can like - but it's not an easy task, most of what's heard is a re-making of existing forms, and 'new/original innovation' being the cause for not appreciating music these days AS MUCH - again, I have to disagree - granted, brilliant art/musicians CHALLENGE society in a new way, but that's not what I see going on now - as in the 60'-70's ...etc.

[allroundgenius]

@farsajjj you're going to hate this.. but some hiphop artists, or RnB writers (D'Angelo?) are making new music. HipHop and RnB challenges society just as much as 60s and 70s groups did - shown by the fact that most adults hate it. I'm not talking about most of the stuff that charts. I'm talking about Artists that really care. What about club music? Or newwave Indie? These sounds are challenging and original. But in different ways to Fairport, etc. Afterall, that sort of innovation has been done.

[farsajjj]

@allroundgenius Interesting discussion, but I'm still going to have to disagree (and now - WE'RE THE ADULTS!..OH NO! WHAT T/FUCK HAPPENNED?) I do not believe that it was a matter of filtering out - that music is still good, which is the true test, and the new-wave indie -naaah...not all that impressed, though OCCASIONALLY I hear something inspiring. The Quality- spread- over- more quantity point doesn't hold, for me. Past=more present inspiration, I believe, is t/way it SHOULD be.?

[TheMeleemonkey]

the best fun i had in the army is when i was awol. COURT MARSHAL!

pity the duty free ran out, or id still be awol.

[y54tub]

it's all over for the unknown soldier, nestled in your hollow shoulder....

[catweasel28]

The tempo changes and drumming on this are out of this world.

Producer Joe Boyd cited this as his favourite track. Although the competition is strong, it's not easy to argue with him.

[penrod59]

I also love the simple pretty bass line that impecably stays with the beat as it shifts, along with the low guitar notes. I can't really describe the feel of the tempo change except to state that it has a "regal" feel, I guess.

[wqandted]

From Sandy Denny to Britney Spears. What can we expect in 30 years??? I don't want to see it.

[coramunroe]

Indeed =(

[pvuf431]

I'm not sure the one directly replaced the other, or that Britney Spears heralds the collapse of civilisation.

[allroundgenius]

@wqandted well of course it looks bad when you distort it like that... what if you'd said "Goody goody to Elbow" or "Candi Station to Nickle Creek"...

I'm betting the progression would look slightly better.

[urheadonastick]

@wqandted

Lady Ga Ga-

I'm now going to projectile vomit.

[Bitteulze]

@wqandted I understand the point you're trying to make. But this is not a faire comparison. It's like saying : "From 'Fear and loathing in Las Vegas' to 'Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban'. What can we expect in 30 years ???"... They're not in the same category. Same thing between these two singers : one performs within a band wich doesn't necesserily aim at making people dance or making the charts whereas the other one does. It has nothing to do with time. But then I will agre that...

[Bitteulze]

@wqandted ... There aren't many female singers within bands nowadays. Except in heavy metal bands like Within Temptation, Nightwish and the lot....

[Phioletovii]

@wqandted they are just totally different. They are not meant to be compared, I guess.

[erniebeggs]

a couple of years ago, I was just getting into sandy denny.Sitting in on a session in Ryans pub,Smithfield Dublin..I asked the singer to do A sandy song..She sang this.. I didnt know it then. I do now..That girl was an angel

[Boviss1]

Whats really remarkable is that no one has surpassed this album (in its genre) since that time. The Band, you might say, but their music was Americana - and theyre also vintage stuff.

What happened?

[mistermousterian]

better this way

[madhurpole]

i discovered this band last week and am hooked ever since!! So distinctly unique and amazing

[coramunroe]

Indeed =)

[apemanstreetwalker]

get a shovel and dig in cause they are near bottemless

[macvoutie]

I can only count my blessings that I was on the planet earth when this album was released. They delivered the goods with this one. Sandy you left way to soon but your work will touch someone new everyday.

[BinLadenMustDie368]

You have no idea how right you are... i'm 19 and just discovered this band! I am a big classic rock fan... actual i only listen to classic rock and this band is AMAZING!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!

Classic Rock 50's - 80's

LONG LIVE ROCK!

[macvoutie]

Check out thethebandband here on the tube. They are a tribute band to the Band ( Late 60's early 70's rock giants)and their pretty good.

[zappatull]

This album compliments the autumn weather here in New England. One of the greatest albums of all-time. Timeless.

[coramunroe]

Awesome - I also live in New England but am now in school out-of-state. I can see how Fairport fits the NE autumn, my favorite time of the year.

[farsajjj]

@coramunroe --- Also fits Oregon weather perfectly - where I grew up (in the 60's) and Fairport was heard everywhere - I thought all this beautiful music was gone with the winds of memory...so glad to hear it again...and happy to know younger people are appreciating it too...but..what thefuck happened??? How did society go so wrong??? -- all you hear is ...oh don't get me started! ...thanx for posting this!

[BeareTube]

Sandy Denny had a beautiful voice!

[danswon]

as a songwriter i can say that this song has beguiled me - the melody of her voice against the chord progression in the the verses is really cool

[arp1978]

I was 13 and very bored one night. So for some reason I ended up raiding through my parents eclectic collection of music. Somehow ended up listening to this album. Must have left a lasting impression because I end up looking it up on youtube 17 years later. Don't know why. Don't usually listen to folk based stuff. Love this though!

[redkennedy]

thanks