Sandy Denny - Interview (1974)

Sandy is interviewed on John Peel's 'Sounds on Sunday' in January 1974 and also interviewed for BBC Manchester in 1974. Both interviews are to promote her album "Like an Old Fashioned Waltz".

[@leannmeixner8073]

Her and Nick Drake are two of the magical ones who took Brit folk to its zenith. And, John Martyn.... Solid Air.

[@dennishockaday8103]

John Peel always had his finger on the pulse of good music. Bless him for sharing his obsession with the rest of the world. R.I.P. to the these two legends.

[@frannieo6128]

Such a loss to music. So many more wonderful albums she could have made, had she lived. So tragic that someone so talented was taken so young. RIP Sandy.

[@user-rh3qb5dz7z]

She was one of the most talented artists who ever lived. It is such a shame that she is not more well known by now. A singer/songwriter of this magnitude should have the recognition of a superstar. But then, sometimes I am grateful that she is just "our Sandy". God love her, may she rest in sweet and gentle peace.

[@3niknicholson]

Fuckit, I miss John so much as well, he was so much part of my musical growing-up, tears for him too, miss you bruvvah...

[@zelly8163]

No singer has touched my soul as much as Sandy. When I saw her in 1974 the PA may have been distorted but the moment she started singer tears rolled down my face. I still love her to this day.

[@Notmehimorthem]

Me too, saw her many times at the Ciountry Club Belsize Park. Heaven.

[@pentangle4444]

I also saw Sandy Denny for the first time in 1974 at just about stroke of midnight.

[@linbell8947]

I had the pleasure to see Sandy live in a folk club in Greek street ..called Les cousins...In Soho London..will never forget.

[@anthonykimball7463]

April 21st, 1978 was one of the absolute saddest days in 20th century music history...the day sandy denny bid the world farewell. To me, her death was a tragedy and loss on par with that of buddy holly, gram parsons and john lennon. Irreplaceable.

[@stevetugwell9599]

It’s 2020 and I still listen to Sandy on a regular basis.One of the finest musical talents the UK has ever produced

[@garydreamweaver]

She was probably the most talented musicians of my lifetime.

[@jimred5700]

I`ve been fascinated by Sandy Denny for many years now. Being a huge Led Zeppelin fan I was drawn to her after her stunning contribution on "The Battle Of Evermore". She certainly had her personal struggles , but she possessed a voice never to be forgotten.

[@RobJoTurner]

How wonderful to hear Sandy in conversation and how I wish she was still here writing and performing. Her musical legacy lives on. Who knows where the time goes...indeed!

[@richardsicree3049]

That tale, and photo of Sandy at the Sydney Opera House…wow+++…..another reason to drive up from Melbourne, and stand there in wonder…..my favourite ever singer.

[@haltmusic]

Sandy Denny - no equal, then or since. Bellissimo!

[@martinfinch1343]

Sandy was so so so sogood to listen to

[@geraldmellon740]

The North Star Grassman and the Ravens is surely one of the best ever album titles ever ever ever. ❤

[@Vor_Tex_Sun]

best female vocalist ever

[@factorylad5071]

And the next award goes to................... Dana Gillespie , for the biggest pair of lungs.

[@kenelkins1841]

Can't argue with that.

[@guilermo57]

I have worshiped Sandy for most of my life, and what an honour to hear her speak for the first time ever. She sounds so young and humourous and full of life. Loved her singing, and now love the personality too.

[@0palineblue]

Sandy lives on in those who loved her . R.I.P. Sandy xx

[@MrBrungers]

she reaches me deep inside with her voice, I loved her the moment I heard her the first time.. beautiful, talented..I love her

[@slackdude1]

She was only a kid then. Was writing and singing very beautiful songs at that time. Amazing interview. Almost like she’s doing a Lazarus on us!

[@Edward1312]

She has a fine speaking voice as well as a fantastic singing voice.

[@neilparry4390]

Sandy once asked me for a light at the Cambridge Folk Festival while we were watching Steve Goodman (or possibly John Prine!) standing at the back of the marquee. She was very pleasant, very smiley. I tried to be cool but almost blew it!

[@carloseugeniocarlos4287]

She have the vocie of a sweet angel! R.ip Sandy Denny (1947-1978)

[@bishlap]

Never heard such a strong melodic voice in my life, especially live, she was effortless yet sounded like a sonic boom.

[@stuboyd1194]

2024. Hard to believe that this was recorded half a century ago now. This would have been her 27th birthday, 6 Jan 1974. RIP to one of the best singers ever.

[@ChristopherRoberts-vz4hf]

Well it's her ,Who knows where the time goes that she moves me so much it's a Spiritual experience to listen to her!

[@lancerx1759]

What a gift she was

[@chriskilroy7002]

Can't believe how close I lived to this wonderful girl and there was only three years between us in age. Its now 42 years since she left us and 'who knows where the time goes' a timeless song that just leaves me floating.

[@edwardlacorte6357]

To Me Sandy was the Ultimate British Folk- Rock Hippie Earth Mother Goddess! Oh how I wish I'd have met Her! An Earth ANGEL! R.I.P. Alexandra The GREAT!!!!

[@RobHollanderMusic]

An angel's voice.

[@rickmartin6817]

She was beautiful. I loved her. What a songbird.

[@Pigeon55]

Great to hear John Peel & Sandy Denny again, both sadly missed. thanks for the upload

[@lucytwyman3627]

I’m obsessed with Sandy at the moment. Such a shame she died so young.

[@3niknicholson]

Me, obsessed for years, the paradox: she was so talented, so beautiful and then what....I read of "substance abuse" and she fell, or jumped, and no-one seems to have been close enough to her to tell the story, or they don't want to. A huge Wrongness that she died so young, like I feel cheated, although I know that's selfish and irrational. Sandy, I send you huge amounts of love to heal your broken soul...and thanks for your angelic voice.

[@kelvinlewis4065]

I agree ..Her fickle friends are now leaving ...R.I.P. Beautiful girl ..

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

@@kelvinlewis4065 Richard Thompson asked the question concerning why there hasn't been an acknowledgement of Sandy's music these days while there has been for Nick Drake .

[@kelvinlewis4065]

@TheHumbuckerboy great question ...I really don't know ..Both were very much tortured souls ..

[@0palineblue]

Sandy lived at a time when rock and roll ruled many young people and drink and drugs ended the lives of many . Her music will live on forever when our generation has gone .

[@collinbutt5440]

just to clarify - no drink or drugs ended Sandy's life - she had an unfortunate accident that was not treated properly

[@0palineblue]

She will live forever in our hearts .

[@evansmith3589]

Saw Sandy with Fairport in KC in November 1974.

[@christown2827]

Lucky you that was as the 'Rising For The Moon' album that reunited Denny with the band came out but wasn't as successful as hoped for so she left for the final time.

[@Mr121953]

Beautiful lady , voice of an angel ...

[@richalderson6069]

Sandy was so much more than a mere "folk singer". She was an artist that transcended labels.

[@turnipoohead5762]

nice to hear Sandy Denny talking in such detail particularly in the Manchester interview and sounding happy.

[@MrMymanalishi]

I had only heard Sandy sing, this makes her more real as a person to hear her speak, great upload,

[@ScottyWig]

Thank you for this, this woman's voice always moves me, being from Alabama I love to escape to far away places through music and I seem to be strolling through a beautiful English forest in the days of knights and fair maidens when Sandy sings. Yeah there are about 7-8 songs by her I adore, "No More Sad Refrains", "Old Fashioned Waltz", the one about the house falling down, I found a few of her records way down here in Bama, I cherish them.

[@gardensofthegods]

You really should try to visit England ... I was there briefly years ago and did not want to come back to America because of how magical it was .

[@belmarguitar7839]

It rains too much there. The food sucks and so do the dentists. They’re pretty good at rocknroll though. Then again, Muscle Shoals is no slouch of a musical place. Seriously however, Denny is one in a billion.

[@TheHelloWaterface]

Hearing her voice just makes me fall in love with her even more. Thanks for posting.

[@kieronkettle738]

I only just discovered Sandy Denny yesterday after watching a program on BBC2 by professor Brian Cox called the Universe. They played Sandy's "Who knows where the time goes" at the ending credits. So sad to hear about her struggles with alcoholism. I'm going to buy all her records.

[@zorbanongreco]

beautiful singing AND speaking voice 💕💘

[@frankbolger3969]

On my Mt. Rushmore of vocalists.

[@thewordofgord]

Gee, all these years (45+) following Sandy's music and these are the first interviews I've ever heard! Thank you!

[@lanabanana68]

my first time too,i was curious to hear what her peaking voice sounded like.

[@elfread]

...reading more and more on Sandy Denny's story, I feel sorry of how much weight is given to this idea of drinking and neglecting, forgetting she had some head injuries and they may have been likely the cause of her strange sudden behavior. Unfortunately, in a normal world somewhere else, she would have been looked after and cared from some medical structures, differently from the far west where she had been, better dropped and let die alone, suffocating truth with prejudice. Her legacy is strongly relevant. A great musician, a talented songwriter, a beautiful voice.

[@gutsfield3504]

elfread True. Sandy was basically abandoned and there are always two sides to a story. The late Dave Swarbrick and many others say she was the kindest, most missed woman they ever knew. She died of a brain hemorrhage, and was an angel not the opposite.

[@Mrariesdave]

Similar as with Ulrike Meinhof...though ironically a medical disaster like Donald Trump goes relatively unnoticed and canonized for sainthood...

[@gardensofthegods]

@@Mrariesdave please please please can we not deal with politics everywhere we go . I'm just so sick of the age we live in where no matter what people are talking about they have to drag politics into it.... is there no Escape ?

[@gardensofthegods]

Yes I heard that she had fallen down the steps in her parents house and that's where she got her head injury . But I didn't hear any stories of her having behavior issues before she died . But yes a head injury can make a person irritable and irascible .

[@Mrariesdave]

@@gardensofthegods Yes politics has become the Spectre (Blake) of our time...thanks for the reminder to eschew the deadly devisive paradigm and broaden my horizons...

[@Gonzoidzz]

amazing talent, rip.

[@domofswitch]

Sandy is still 100% alive & with so much to say! Who knew? Sandy becomes us..

[@rickallen6378]

No, Sandy has passed away.

[@ProfessorTime]

I love these artists that self-destruct and die young because I think somehow they gave us more than the others.

[@catrionajoyce2834]

'The intellect of man is forced to choose Perfection of the life, or of the work, And if it take the second must refuse A heavenly mansion, raging in the dark'. W B Yeats, from 'The Choice'

[@Frege100]

Catriona Joyce Yeats had some strange ideas, didn't he? Is it necessarily true that talent is some kind of personality defect, surely not. Also the idea that accountants and civil servants aren't original doesn't seem quite accurate (not that you expressed it, of course) or that lack of self-control is creative. Cuts both way as Van Gogh might have said. Art is a form of indulgence but not of the self.

[@granthurlburt4062]

+Catriona Joyce. thanks Catriona. And there is a lot of support for this view as known by anyone who follows the lives of people who are highly accomplished in certain fields. Well said, mr Yeats.

[@Frege100]

Yeats was 73 when he died. Can he really have "raged in the dark" that long or was he exempting himself? Poetic licence expired?

[@0palineblue]

I recently visited JOHN PEEL'S grave at GREAT FINBOROUGH SUFFOLK . We laid flowers and left a card remembering JOHN and his friday nights as disc jockey at MOTHERS ROCK CLUB ERDINGTON BIRMINGHAM . Thanks JOHN for your leadership in the rock and roll world . R.I.P . JOHN PEEL .

[@klecoxs2]

0palineblue Absolutely he introduced Me to so many artists And broadened my horizons June Tabor & Sandy being being just a couple of them.

[@Tonetwisters]

What a talent. What a waste of a precious life lost too soon. The Ink Spots! Wow! I remember them as a little boy ... She was as sweet as her voice ...

[@jaspervanderblint7986]

That was recorded 41 years ago. Just before I was born. I feel like her sometimes, I was born in 1974.

[@mickigoe]

Sandy was the queen of everything :)

[@gavanwhatever8196]

Don't tell Ott that!

[@granthurlburt4062]

I also feel she was at her best with Richard Thompson. Asking how Richard is doing is like asking whether she is using her favourite accompanying instrument. Her life was a bit of a train wreck but like many or most of us she would have benefitted from emotional and professional support tht she didnt get enough of from her parents, friends, manager, or boyfriend. Something that happened to Chris Wood. And to continue a list of creative important people who died too early, usually for life-style related erros. Frank Zappa, Chris Wood, Richard Thompson's girlfriend, Lowell George, Syd Barrett, Paul Kossoff. And people who made bad career moves, Steve Marriot, Ronnie Lane. Creative, original people follow their own light. They're not play-it-safe accountants or civil servants.

[@ThePaledruid]

+Grant Hurlburt I find a bit odd the ones you mention regarding 'life-style related errors'. Frank Zappa was anti-drugs and drank very little alcohol, and died from testicular cancer, and Syd Barrett was schizophrenic - I'm sure that taking acid didn't help, but he died in obscurity at the age of 60. There are so many obvious ones you could have mentioned who ended up members of the '27 club' after well-known drug-related deaths. And Ronnie Lane? I suppose having Multiple Sclerosis might be seen as a bad career move.

[@granthurlburt4062]

+Paledruid Dave To expand. a) Frank Zappa was a workhoholic. And there are increasingly evidence suggestions that simply driving oneself too hard and getting insufficient sleep can make one more prone to cardiovascular disease and cancer. The body has various cellular repair-mechanisms and the immune system seeks out and destoys cancerous cells, but these systems only function when the body is being run by the parasympathetic system (when the body is at rest). (b) there is similarly a lot of evidence that even marijuana, let alone LSD, can trigger schizoprenia in those with a genetic predisposition to it, and from my reading about Syd, there seems little doubt his personality changes occurred following extensive LSD use. I'm not convinced by the argument made that he wasnt affected by LSD, because on some days he reportedly acted normally for a day or two following his intense LSD exposure. c) Ronnie. Lane. I said bad career moves. As you probably know, he attempted to start a gypsy-like, musical caravan endeavour which was not a commercial succces, and he was far less financially secure than he might have been following a more financially sensible pathway. I wasnt including him as a member of the 27 club or referring to his death. It ws a great period and it is enjoyable to share information and memories about it. Regards

[@lanabanana68]

so true,i blame her mother for not calling an ambulance out of shame of Sandys alcoholism when she fell down stairs the first time.She may still have died but at least she may have had a better chance than having no treatment.Shame on that kind of bigotry.R.I.P Sandy.

[@gutsfield3504]

Grant Hurlburt true and Sandy had a brain hemorrhage unrelated to drugs and I don't know that she was drunk and fell down the stairs. She was actually abused or ignored by those close to her. They should have taken her to the hospital. I definitely don't believe all the bad things said about Sandy. Dave Swarbrick and others definitely loved her deeply but were pushed away by those who abandoned her. The truth is not being told. She would probably still be alive today. She has twins and would be a grandmother of only 72. Swarbrick passed away. Her other faithful friends, Richard Thompson, Gerry Conway etc are alive. Jerry Donahue has had a stroke. They knew Sandy and the truth. What a story and tragedy that virtually no one knows about. Thompson denies it but his song 'did she fall or was she pushed' was about Sandy.

[@pentangle4444]

I was lucky to see Sandy perform twice in early 1970s and have treasured her songs and music since first hearing her records on WBAI FM on Steve Post show in NYC in the midnight to early am hours. There are a coupe of interviews like this where we can hear our own thoughts and hear that infectious laugh. Her music and words have made a great impact on me as it has so many others and to the point that many of us take the pilgrimage to see her gravesite in Putney Valle Cemetery

[@dreamyblue44]

Fascinating stuff, great to hear these interviews, many thanks! :)

[@punteral101]

Lovely to hear her laugh while explaining about the door in the Sidney Opera House

[@wardka]

My God, she was beautiful! I had heard her voice for decades in the song "Battle of Evermore" and knew vaguely of Fairport through Dave Pegg's connection with Jethro Tull, but it took the internet to connect the dots for me to finally listen to her music in my late middle age.

[@lanabanana68]

good for you friend! please listen to who knows where the time goes,it is in my humble opinion a masterpiece.

[@lanabanana68]

bugger1 sorry,i made that first comment before i had listened to the whole thing.

[@jamesedwards2237]

I went with my brother Terry, to a Wherehouse Records store back in '73. I heard this kick butt song over the sound system and immediately asked who it was. Turned out it was Matty Groves, by Fairport Convention, from their latest album - Liege and Lief. I bought, and have loved Sandy Denny and Fairport since.

[@jamesedwards2237]

As an addendum, I got to see Dave Pegg, when he was with Jethro Tull during the Crest of a Knave tour I. '87. First being the bass player in Fairport Convention, and then with Tull. Then 4 years later when Jethro Tull were on the Catfish Rising tour. Dave Pegg is damned good bass player.

[@lapaunche1971]

Thank you so much for posting!

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

Hugh Burns played the magnificent guitar solo on Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker Street'.

[@carloseugeniocarlos4287]

The Shining soul ,Dandy Denny!

[@mojopin70]

Beautiful..

[@44eliane]

sweet sweet girl

[@paulpayton8238]

I love sandy she was good r I p Paul p Birmingham England xx lol 🍁💚👌

[@kimh5566]

Great story about the fantastic Sydney Opera House.

[@steveosterling9993]

Her music is amazing!

[@antjackson4471]

sandy was taken too soon. genius

[@meestermeesterhastings.3159]

She was a lost soul with far more soul then anyone in music that comes to mind.

[@amccann7]

Great to hear this, thank you for posting :)

[@lsdmadman]

the very best....thanky

[@granthurlburt4062]

This is a TERRIFIC interview. She is being a full human being, not some self-promotng sell-out. He asks about R. T. because they are colleagues chatting. These are some of the best photographs I have ever seen of her, much better than most images on her albums. They really bring out her beauty and cheer. It is hard to be open, free, and honest and spend a life taking chances. She was a real musical original. No one like her. The sixties and seventies were a time when people indulged in excess and MANY highly talented and original, important, people led short lives to their own destruction. Keith Moon, Brian Jones, Danny Kirwin, Peter Green, Jimi Hendrix,Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison. Often the case with original musicians. Charlie Bird, Lady Day, Chet Baker, and someone who sang They Tried to Make Me to Rehab. I dont listen to any female singer from the sixties and seventies except her now, and Jacqui w. Pentangle and Linda with Richard. And prefer her to all of them.

[@lanabanana68]

it was Amy Winehouse who sang the song Rehab,another superb singer whose life was short and ruined by alcoholism.

[@COLEEN322]

Wiki states her as being a bad mother, was she a drunkard, was she drunk whenshe fell which caused her eventual death.

[@anihtgenga4096]

Did she fall or was she pushed?

[@LoyalOpposition]

Thank you... Not enough interviews online :(

[@caley956]

THANKS for this - phew, took me back a bit. My openreel tape of the Peel session has been gently mouldering away in our loft for over 30 yrs now. Peely fancied Sandy a bit (as did we all) and Sandy knew it, which accounts for the flirtatious chat. She really was like that - nothing like a diva or whatever. All the BBC recordings of the songs can be found on various CDs & box sets - unfortunately any of these will now probably cost large sums of folding money.

[@sportsmediaamerica]

great musical history

[@TheGenreman]

Their seem to be a few people here who don't get John Peel.

[@TheFunkadelicFan]

I once told my ex-girlfriend that Sandy Denny was the only woman I ever really loved. She understood.

[@skygazer6898]

TheFunkadelicFan Had I been your girl-friend, i would have kicked you up the arse and shoved you out the door. How can you love someone you have never met or spoken to, you are in a fantasy matey. concentrate on your girl-friend.

[@TheFunkadelicFan]

@@skygazer6898 Get a life, matey.

[@skygazer6898]

@@TheFunkadelicFan LOL I don't spend my life fantasizing over someone I have never met. LOL You need to get urself a life, matey.

[@TheFunkadelicFan]

@@skygazer6898 You spend your life ranting at random strangers on the internet. Pretty sad, really.

[@Max-nf1vw]

I understand how you feel 👍

[@sudfac]

Thanks, BlueWildAngel11!

[@geoffreymerrifield5666]

Seems like she was a huge inspiration to Heart's Ann Wilson. Nice usic, so much life tragedy.

[@dominiquelydice2174]

great to hear here

[@jerrydonquixote5927]

Why are the most beautiful people tortured Souls...

[@granthurlburt4062]

You can perfect your life or your work. Yeats or someone.

[@TheHideChild]

What a beautiful soul. Such a tragedy she died so young - she has been almost forgotten. Almost, but not quite...

[@folkmusicgirl]

Truely enjoyed hearing this interview. Is there more of this interview to be heard or just this one? Thank you very much for uploading this. I am such a huge Sandy fan - for many, many years and just sad that I never got to see her in concert. Not sure how often she got to California.

[@hendrico8]

One more brilliant musician who''left us'' at age 27! MMM....Music immortal though!

[@OICU-go8bf]

She passed away at the age of 31.

[@greghobbs1728]

I've said this before , but , it's worth noting again that both Sandy (Alexandra Elena) & Roger (Syd) Barrett worked with producer Sam Boyd , but , never worked together. I want to hear her interpretation of his "dominoes" for instance. Sad that they didn't have an opportunity for collaboration. I am determined to try to use modern technology to make it happen. "It's really just a question of your honesty..." Neil Peart.

[@erniebeggs]

Sandy & John Peel shared a house together

[@blackmore4]

God... the 70s... 'serious' 'rock' journalism... zzzzzz All he asked her about were the damn musicians backing her. I couldn't care less who they were. Ask her questions about herself.

[@christoguichard4311]

That's the legendary John Peel that you're slagging-off...😒 Typical dumb yank comment.

[@blackmore4]

@@christoguichard4311 No, typically bored to tears with 'rockism' Brit comment.

[@mojopin70]

Sandy was an Ink Spot fan too...

[@michaelfraser5723]

Lucas betrayed her, Peel wouldn't.

[@pressureworks]

Not at all like an interview. Just 2 great friends chatting !

[@topspin4456]

So sad, that she had to die so young.

[@pentangle4444]

Sandy Denny was named by Rolling Stone as number 164 of greatest singers of all time (Jan. 2023 list) beating out Joan Baez and Buddy Holly. But no Nick Drake or John Martyn on list!!!?????

[@Frege100]

Why do people feel the need to patronise the memory of the dead? Sandy Denny was a wonderful talent but a very insecure and often difficult person who made some bad choices in her life particularly in regard to men and other drugs. Born with talent and wit to a supportive family there really isn't much excuse for turning into a victim. Maybe we should just respect her art as rising above her human failings.

[@Frege100]

Good point, well made!

[@portcullis5622]

Don't mince your words Jasper. Be more direct!

[@sabrinasjourney]

Fuck off

[@kevinindublin]

Wow, she just sounds like a normal bird.

[@laggardly6201]

It begins and ends with Sandy Denny . Her only equal is Joni Mitchell

[@TheGenreman]

the 2nd interviewer is worse

[@Rahoorkhuitable]

To be honest, I guess she needed a guy like Bon Scott....

[@COLEEN322]

Wiki says she neglected her prematurely born child and chose to drink instead hence her death, you can't forget this.

[@philtheroach]

Lord Nelson she was actually suffering from brain damage following a fall. There is plenty of written evidence to support this if you do more research. It’s a great shame wiki offers such lazy reporting. In any event her musical legacy should speak for itself.

[@jamesedwards2237]

Any one can put something on Wiki. Not the best place to fact check about a celebrity's personal information.

[@acidthunder1]

@@jamesedwards2237 lots of fake news on wikepedia

[@0palineblue]

She will live forever in our hearts .