A long-lost second album from the Sandy Denny led band Fotheringay has now been set for release on 29th September 2008, some 38 years after it was aborted.

Folk-rock legend Denny made her name with Fairport Convention but left them in 1969 to form Fotheringay with her partner Trevor Lucas. She also brought in guitar legend Jerry Donahue, bassist Pat Donaldson and drummer Gerry Conway. The quintet released the acclaimed debut album, Fotheringay, in 1970 and a tour soon followed. Work started on a second album, but the time needed to run a band, not to say the expense too caused Denny to fold the band and strike out as a solo artist. A number of tracks were recorded for the second album, some completed and some barely more than vocals and arrangements. A number were salvaged and re-recorded for her solo albums, including such classic songs as Gypsy Davey, Late November and John The Gun. Sadly, Sandy Denny died in April 1978 following a fall down some stairs and a subsequent brain haemorrhage in hospital.

The remaining members of Fotheringay have all subsequently passed through the ranks of Fairport Convention and Gerry Conway has been their drummer now for several years. Trevor Lucas returned to Australia, but passed away following a fatal heart attack in 1989. Jerry Donahue, based back in his native USA, never lost interest in the aborted album and in 2007 gained agreement with Universal (as successor to Island Records) to take the unreleased tracks and "work-in-progress" material and prepare them for release as Fotheringay 2 in 2008. The latest news is that there are 5 Trevor Lucas tracks available, plus 7 from Sandy Denny and an instrumental. Donahue says that "things are going great...better than I hoped as I uncover more treasures within the many versions of the songs". The work required to get them fit for release was extensive and he had to fit the restorartion into the gaps between his curent touring and recording projects with (amongst others) Legends Of Folk Rock.  

"Fotheringay 2 - The Album Cover"

Donahue has spent much time over here in the UK working on the material and he's determined to make sure that he is "doing justice to all those who participated in this fine music". 

The expected tracks - all Fotheringay recorded - are:

• Eppie Moray
• Gypsy Davey
• John The Gun
• Knights On The Road
• Two Weeks Last Summer
• I Don't Believe You
• Late November
• Restless
• Silver Threads & Golden Needles
• Bold Jack Donahue
• Wild Mountain Thyme

Jerry Donahue says that Lowlands Of Holland may not make the album at this stage; it needs too much work and getting the remaining members of the band together to complete it is proving difficult without a further delay to the release. Some of the instrumentals are in a similar state, but he does say that "We might look at a release of these sometime in the future"

The vibes coming from the project have been warm and positive, so let's hope that on September 29th, we'll all be celebrating a fine new addition to the canon of Sandy Denny.

Jerry Donahue - Maestro

Alan Dorey/30th November 2007 - Updated 12th August 2008 - Updated 20th August 2008 

Fledgling Records are releasing the finished album on September 29th 2008 and it's being distributed by Proper Music Distribution (FLED 3066).