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Like an Old Fashioned Waltz

Sandy Denny: Like an Old Fashioned Waltz (Island ILPS 9258)

Like an Old Fashioned Waltz
Sandy Denny

Island ILPS 9258 (LP, UK, June 1974)
King Records ICL 61 (LP, Japan, 1974)
Hannibal/Rykodisc HNCD 4425 (CD, UK, 1987)
Island IMCD 315 (CD, UK, 2005)
Island 370 028-8 (Deluxe Edition) (2 CD, UK, 21 May 2012)
Proper Records UMCLP008 (LP, UK, 11 November 2022)

 Sandy Denny: Like an Old Fashioned Waltz (Island IMCD 315)
Sandy Denny: Whispering Grass (Island WIP 6176)

Whispering Grass / Until the Real Thing Comes Along
Sandy Denny
Island WIP 6176 (single, UK, 1974)

Like an Old Fashioned Waltz
Sandy Denny
Island WIP 6195 (single, UK, 1974 - cancelled)

 Sandy Denny: Like an Old Fashioned Waltz (Island WIP 6195)

Produced and engineered by Trevor Lucas and John Wood;
Recorded at Sound Techniques, London and A&M Studios, Los Angeles in Summer 1973

Musicians

Sandy Denny: vocals, piano, acoustic guitars;
Trevor Lucas, Richard Thompson, Diz Disley: guitar;
Jerry Donahue: electric guitar;
Jean Roussel, John “Rabbit” Bundrick: keyboards;
Ian Armit: piano;
Alan Skidmore: saxophone;
Pat Donaldson, Dave Pegg, Danny Thompson: bass;
Gerry Conway, Dave Mattacks: drums

Orchestral arrangement by Harry Robinson with whispering brass by Bob Leaper.

Tracks

Side 1

  1. Solo (4.24)
  2. Like an Old Fashioned Waltz (4.09)
  3. Whispering Grass (3.56)
  4. Friends (3.31)
  5. Carnival (5.44)

Side 2

  1. Dark the Night (4.27)
  2. At the End of the Day (6.28)
  3. Until the Real Thing Comes Along (3.40)
  4. No End (6.36)

Bonus tracks of the 2005 CD reissue:

  1. At the End of the Day (alternative take without strings) (6.28)
    previously released on A Boxful of Treasures
  2. The King and Queen of England (demo) (3.52)
    previously released on Island Life
  3. Like an Old Fashioned Waltz (Fairport Convention live at the LA Troubadour) (4.11)
    previously released on the semi-bootleg From Past Archives
  4. No End (solo piano version) (7.35)
    previously released on A Boxful of Treasures

All tracks Sandy Denny except
Track 3 Doris & Fred Fisher
Track 8 Sammy Cahn / Saul Chaplin / L.E. Freeman

Bonus tracks of the 2012 Deluxe Edition CD reissue:

  1. Walking the Floor Over You (1973 version) (4.18)
  2. No End (piano version, alternative take) (10.32)

CD 2 of the 2012 Deluxe Edition reissue:

  1. Solo (4.24)
  2. Until the Real Thing Comes Along (3.40)
    both from a BBC Session for Bob Harris, 14 November 1973
  1. Like an Old Fashioned Waltz (without strings) (4.11)
  2. Whispering Grass (demo) (4.13)
  1. Friends (3.31)
  2. Dark the Night (4.35)
  3. At the End of the Day (6.30)
  4. No End (6.37)
    all four alternative takes without strings
  1. Solo (4.35)
  2. Like an Old Fashioned Waltz (3.31)
  3. Who Knows Where the Time Goes? (5.35)
    all three from a BBC Session for John Peel, 11 September 1973
  1. Whispering Grass (2.56)
    live on the Willem Duys Show, Dutch TV

Japanese Liner Notes

[ These liner notes were included with the lyrics of the Like an Old Fashioned Waltz album, released in Japan by King Records in 1974. Submitted & typed up by Yoshikai Kurosawa. Thank you! ]

Dear Friends, I am pleased to be here in Tokyo, shortly before the release of this, my third solo album, as it enables me to explain a little to you about the songs. I do hope you enjoy the album as much as I have enjoyed my stay here. I also want to tell you that the feeling of some of these songs, hopefully will evoke some of the romance of the Thirties, for these are also time when a touch of the romantic, may be just what we need. Don’t you agree?

Solo:
A song which depicts, I think, that knowledge we all have inside, which is, that nobody can live your life for you. But at the same time, let’s try to help one another, all the same.
Like an Old Fashioned Waltz:
Being a romantic at heart which I indicated before, I tried to capture the magic of an old Hollywood movie. Two dancers alone in an enormous deserted ballroom. But where does the orchestra hide? Notice when the strings come in!
Whispering Grass:
When I was young, my parents used to possess many of the old Inkspots recordings, this is one of my very favourites of these. I always promised myself that one day I would record it. So here it is!
Friends:
This is about some people I know and love. Even with their faults and all.
Carnival:
When I wrote this song, and when I sing it now it was, and is, a creation of imagery. Like when the summer is gone, and all the laughter and frivolities which go with the summer have mellowed, all at once the autumn is with us, albeit beautiful just the same.
Dark the Night:
About love lost perhaps, and being alone with your memories, wishing that things may have been different, if you had your time again.
At the End of the Day:
Anyone who has ever been away from home for a long time, and has felt a little homesick, will understand the sentiment behind this song. I wrote it on the plane journey home, after an extensive tour of the United States.
Until the Real Thing Comes Along:
Once again a song which I loved as a child. When I first heard it, it was sung by a wonderful black Pianist - Singer, Fats Waller - master of the keyboard, as is the pianist on this rendering of the song - Ian Armit. We recorded it as closely to the aforementioned recording by Fats, as possible.
No End:
The story of two friends, one a person who loved to travel and the other one who loved to paint. They persuade each other back into their respective vocations, a strange song perhaps, but we all lose our zest for life at times don’t we? Let’s hope it’s never for long!

Many of the names of the musicians I know you will recognise. They are all very fine people, and it’s my thanks to them.

It is my hope that I will see you all again soon.

Love from (Signed) Sandy Denny