[Buying the albums sampled on “You Can All Join In”.]
Track 13 is “You Never Wanted Me”, which I had first come across in 1987 as Track 2 on Side 4 of the lovely 4 LP box set “Who Knows Where The Time Goes?”
There are many recordings of the song as performed by Sandy Denny, but this one was different. It was simply marked “BBC Recording 1968 – Fairport Convention”. It is notable in particular by virtue of an entrancingly magical middle 8 where Ian Matthews joins in, in harmony. On hearing it for the first time, it immediately became a serious contender for my favourite song ever.
The “Heyday” credits show that the song was recorded on 28 May 1968 in Studio 1, 201 Piccadilly for John Peel’s Top Gear show, and broadcast on 2 June 1968, exactly the same details as for Track 1.
Written by Sandy Denny’s one-time boyfriend Jackson C. Frank, this Fairport Convention “What We Did…” line-up performance is truly exceptional, an amazingly brilliant song. It has a gentle, insistent, laid back beat, splendid lyrics, and a beautiful tune. The vocals are just perfect, and the backing is sublimely faultless. The only song which challenges this on for the best ever is “Who Knows Where The Time Goes?” from “Unhalfbricking”.
In the next post we come to the last two bonus tracks on the expanded CD which are by the “What We Did…” ensemble.
Listentomusicanywhere's Blog 
Comments