The Tempest

Sandie Shaw is best known as being the bare-footed, bowl-cut headed Eurovision winner in 1967. The rest of the music world may have been happily psyching out to Syd Barrett, Hendrix and Woodstock but Sandie found success with her inoffensive brand of pop music. Some of you may be aware that this work enjoyed a critical reappraisal in the mid 80s, thanks to the patronage of Morrissey. Indeed, the Smiths 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' was a direct steal (in title if not music) from Sandie's 'Heaven Knows I'm Missing Him Now'. She went on to return the favour by recording her version of 3 Smiths tracks (a later post for sure) as well as covering other stuff of the day like Lloyd Cole's 'Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?' What many people don't know is that toward the end of 1969 she had a go at producing her own album. The resulting album, 'Reviewing The Situation' was unlike anything she had done so far. The album contained covers of the more alternative acts of the day. In fact, she was the first person to cover a Led Zeppelin song. 'Your Time Is Gonna' Come' (originally on the first Led Zeppelin album) is a belter. It's fairly faithfull to the original. Starting out on a 12 string guitar, it comes on all heavy organ through the verses and features some brilliant double tracked vocals in the chorus. Better than Led Zeppelin's? It's not far off. It also features a flute-happy, organ heavy version of Bob Dylan's 'Lay Lady Lay', Sandie's whispered vocals to the fore. Not a patch on Dylan's, but it's always good to hear his songs done by other folk. The last track on the album is her version of the Rolling Stones 'Sympathy For The Devil'. Some frantic brushed drumming, piano riffing and bass playing, coupled with the slightly helium approach on the vocals make this sound a wee bit too fast. You'll need to insert your own "woo-hoo's" though. Points off for missing them out Sandie. Following her success at Eurovison and beyond, Sandie was fed up at being treated like a conveyor belt pop star and saw this album as her chance of making it as a credible artist. But sadly for Sandie, Pye Records hated the album and did nothing to promote it. You can still get it, but enjoy these tracks while you can...

Great oldie

Great record

It really does get on my t++s ! and has done for over 25 yrs , over rated is an understatement !!!!!

PM SENT

Andy , There are two versions of this on two albums that are practically identical !! The uptempo version is on S-9014-A (-2)

Thanks everyone

Just back from dinner at a mate's and over numerous bottles of wine the debate was in his view that both artist's are the same on this track . It was recorded between DEE leaving the Roulette label after numerous hits and was recorded just before he was signed to Jubilee . In a nutshell I said they're different or words to that effect !!! Who's right ?

I have placed an order with him ( not paid yet ) but no response to my e-mails . He is now attracting negative feedback from punters waiting for their goods !! I realise selling on the internet is not everyone's full time occupation and that family / personal commitments come first , just trying to give him the heads up I'm awaiting a response and so is everybody else ?

The Lp contains a more " gospel " version , but still good

I remember Soul Sam smashing this every time when discovered !! , it got the rounds nationally for a while and then disappeared !!! Any more out there ?

Always loved this track , B' side of above , just love those BIG RED A'S !!

Bought mine for a £10.00 mid eighties ( original ) , first record I heard from a " Live " Wigan tape and fell in love with it as a teen , sold my copy my to a well known DJ in 2000 for £100 , nice record but I thought overpriced even then I seem to remember a lad's custom vespa decked out in this years ago and the single as the main theme , anybody