Don't Stop Singing - Thea Gilmore and Sandy Denny

Thea Gilmore and Sandy Denny – Don’t stop Singing

I think it is fair to say that the origins of this CD are just a little unusual, to say the least.  Thea Gilmore was approached by the estate of the late Sandy Denny, with the request that she put music to new lyrics found in some of Sandy’s journals.  Despite having grown up with Sandy’s music, Thea admits to being hesitant about undertaking such a project; would Sandy want those lyrics turned into songs? Would she approve?  Eventually Thea’s husband, producer and guitarist, Nigel Stonier eventually asked her; if  she had written those lyrics, would she wasn’t them to find their way into the world?  Eventually, after much soul-searching, Thea concluded that as long as she made good music out of the lyrics, Sandy would surely approve.  Thus this trans-generational project was begun and it is clear from the CD’s title and the fact that both are pictured on the cover, that Thea has, from the beginning, considered it a collaboration between the two.

With all that said, I was still unsure of what to expect and never could have predicted the result.  What struck me from the opening song, Glistening Bay, is that the lyrics could have been written by, or for, Thea, so perfectly does her voice wrap itself around them, like she knows them intimately. For all the music was Thea’s remit, she has produced  very simple, subtle accompaniment, rather than music heavy songs.  The result is that this allows Sandy’s lyrics to shine through, via Thea’s unique voice, in all of their sadness, longing, hope and beauty.

Long Time Gone  wonders aloud if the man she loves will come home, whilst Goodnight takes on a more modern tone.  London has a more upbeat, almost Irish influenced sound, which equally works, and I think everyone can relate to the sense of longing to be somewhere else. Pain in My Heart  is enhanced by the addition of some lovely fiddle accompaniment and solos, enhancing this sad, sad song. A message to a sailor comes in the form of the aptly named Sailor and the stunning piano introduction to Frozen Time somehow develops an icy sound to match the song title. Stunning.

The intriguingly titled Song No 4  leaves you wondering whether it was named that, was a fourth draft, or was it just random?   Definitely a standout track on the CD, there is such irony in the lyric, ‘If I don’t make it before I die, then I just ain’t gonna die.’ In this song, Sandy speaks of travelling and being ‘pushed round in a wild goose chase..’   Equally ‘..get me a bottle of wine, I don’t wanna drink, get me out of my mind, I don’t wanna think,’ seems to encapsulate her state of mind, yet still demonstrates a determination to go on.  Who knows what could have been.

However, the absolute standout track for me, is the achingly beautiful Georgia, a lullabye to Sandy’s baby daughter, then months old, just before she died.  By this time, Georgia had been taken out of state by her father as Sandy was not considered to be in a good place to look after her.  Tragic circumstances really, as this song just echoes how much she really loved the child, leaving no doubt that had things been different, had she had a chance to turn her life around, she had the potential to be a great mother. Sadly, that was not to be.  Thea admits that being a mother herself, she finds this song incredibly emotional and difficult to sing.

I think Thea sings this so beautifully that any doubts about her choice to agree to the project are dissipated on first listen. Georgia, Sandy’s daughter, is part of her estate, and surely it is a gift to her to hear the song her mother wrote for her, and to her, rather than simply reading them in a book.

The final track on the CD is the title track; Don’t Stop Singing seems to be a celebration of music and singing.  ‘Don’t stop singing til you drop..’ – in many ways Sandy didn’t and it doesn’t seem to me that Thea will either – there is also a correlation in that it seems that music has gotten both women through some difficult times.  Equally, I can’t sing in a meaningful way, but don’t intend to stop singing along to the songs I love, so it seems to me that Sandy has left us some pretty sage advice, through the voice of Thea Gilmore.

Coming back for a moment to the question of whether Sandy Denny would approve of this CD.  Well, we can never know for sure can we?  However, I feel confident that she would not only approve but would want to thank Thea for breathing life into these songs and allowing the world to hear them.  I have a suspicion that she was somehow in the studio with Thea, perhaps even guiding her, somehow.  I would also like to think of her watching with pride as those very songs make people smile, or cry, one at a time.  After all, who is to say she didn’t play a part in those journals being found? So, on behalf of Sandy Denny and all of us who have loved listening to this CD, thankyou Thea, and please, Don’t Stop Singing.


www.theagilmore.net
www.fatea-magazine.co.uk