Originally released in 1971, produced by the legendary Sandy Roberton and featuring the likes of Richard & Danny Thompson, Keith Christmas and members of Mighty Baby & Fotheringay, the album has been talked about in glowing terms by an ever increasing fanbase over the years and is highly sought after. It’s a beautiful mixture of folk, psychedelic flourishes and adventurous production combining majestically with Shelagh’s exquisite songwriting and purity of voice.
It will immediately appeal to fans of Pentangle, Incredible String Band and Joni Mitchell, as well as the solo records from members of some of the biggest U.S. bands of the 1970s; David Crosby’s ‘If Only I Could remember My Name’ and Gene Clark’s ‘No Other’, and is presented here for the first time ever on vinyl re-issue.
Born in Edinburgh in 1948 before moving to Glasgow and attending the Glasgow School of Art, Shelagh McDonald’s reputation grew rapidly on the London and Bristol folk circuit, gaining a cult following. In her early twenties she cut her first album titled simply ‘Shelagh McDonald’, the following year entering the studio with producer Sandy Roberton (Ian Matthews, John Martyn, Chocolate Watch Band, Steeleye Span) to cut ‘Stargazer’. Unfortunately for Shelagh, following a bad LSD experience, she withdrew from not only the music industry but public life shortly before commencing work on her third album. However, it is ‘Stargazer’ that continues to grow its reputation, with original copies changing hands for hundreds of pounds.
Imbued with the finest instrumentation and vocal delicacy in late ’60s folk, the record is heightened by a progressive production approach; the slow organ grooviness in the traditional ‘Dowie Dens of Yarrow’, uplifting gospel overtones of ‘Odyssey’ and the perfect match of melancholic piano and haunting strings by Robert Kirby on the title track. These sublime arrangements all serve Shelagh’s songwriting and soulful voice that invoke the finest folk traditions but at the same time look forward.
The album is the inaugural release on new label Different Strokes For Different Folks with more genre bending, rare and cult records scheduled for 2025.
You may also like...
- Quick ViewRead more
Comicopera (Vinyl)
Robert Wyatt
2 x vinyl LP. Originally released 2007.
Syrup House (Vinyl)
Jilk
A series of church based improvisations are reworked into clockwork symphonies of clattering percussion and driving, joyous synth workouts. Black and Amber vinyl.
Ammmusic (Vinyl)
Amm
Long-awaited reissue of the 1966 album from the legendary avant-garde experimentalists who influenced Syd Barrett among many others. Remastered Vinyl LP.
- Quick ViewRead more
Spiderland (Dark Blue Vinyl)
Slint
A welcome re-pressing of a legendary album, and one that came to define post-rock. Limited edition of 500 copies on dark blue vinyl.
An Introduction To… (Vinyl)
Anne Briggs
A Collection of Anne Briggs Topic recordings on high quality vinyl.
- Quick ViewRead more
The Music from Bagpuss (CD)
Sandra Kerr & John Faulkner
CD edition with 24 page book. Also available on Vinyl.