Sandie Shaw - Sympathy for the Devil

Dunno where I have this MP3 from, but I cant find it on Disc, anybody know if Sandy's version got a vinyl release, or is from the tapes as it were?

Mal.C

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...

Good album, quite hard to find.

The cover's really flimsy too.

Cheers, and obviously i don't agree with this chaps review, her version rocks!!

m

Quick browse on you tube and got this, for those amoungst us whos never heard it

https://youtu.be/FCnZJt26lh8

it originally came with a free pair of ear plugs

Malcolm! Mate, that is truly pants....

Sorry but this is utter tosh!!! 'Brian Ferrys version is far far better

Sandie Shaw - Sympathy for the Devil

Dunno where I have this MP3 from, but I cant find it on Disc, anybody know if Sandy's version got a vinyl release, or is from the tapes as it were?

Mal.C

Since when has Sandy Shaw covering a Rolling Stones song been a relevant subject for Soul Source??!!!

Since when has Sandy Shaw covering a Rolling Stones song been a relevant subject for Soul Source??!!!

Lets not get into silly buggars, we speak about all sorts of music on here, especially 6ts, and folk on here have discussed Sandy's music lots of times... So Its relevant.

As for pants and earbuds, which makes me chuckle, chaps your prizes are in the post...

Mel.B

Edited August 8, 201213 yr by Mal.C.

Lets not get into silly buggars, we speak about all sorts of music on here, especially 6ts, and folk on here have discussed Sandy's music lots of times... So Its relevant.

As for pants and earbuds, which makes me chuckle, chaps your prizes are in the post...

Mel.B

There's no need to call me a silly bugger. I am entitled to ask the question. I have not read every single post on here so I was unaware Sandie Shaw has been discussed on here previously but it surprises me as IN MY OPINION she was dreadful right from the off. I have listened to her since and her warblings are just as unsoulful as they were and have not improved with age.

Apologies, I know what you mean about her voice though, and I agree. I just especially like this version, maybe because it's so different than the others I'm aware of, basically for being the only female one perhaps?

I have to say I was surprised about Paul and Marks thumbs down, very tongue in cheek of course...but hey one man's judy street is another mans Garland Green, or what ever the expression is... its all good.

well maybe not all of it...

Mal.C

Edited August 8, 201213 yr by Mal.C.

Apologies, I know what you mean about her voice though, and I agree. I just especially like this version, maybe because it's so different than the others I'm aware of, basically for being the only female one perhaps?

I have to say I was surprised about Paul and Marks thumbs down, very tongue in cheek of course...but hey one man's judy street is another mans Garland Green, or what ever the expression is... its all good.

well maybe not all of it...

Mal.C

Thanks Mal for your gracious reply. I've been collecting since 1960 but wouldn't presume to know exactly where the line should be drawn between Soul and non soul but I would hazard a guess it has to be somewhere near Sandie Shaw!

she has had a couple of things played on the northern scene whether we like it or not,,, i thought SFTD was dire but she has made a couple or 3 decent things over the years

i pride myself on liking and championing rubbish records, ral donner, newbeats, al superstar/supersonic,frank popp, whatever, but this record is crap

she has had a couple of things played on the northern scene whether we like it or not,,, i thought SFTD was dire but she has made a couple or 3 decent things over the years

Hi Dave. I am not surprised that she has had a couple of things played on the northern scene just as I would not be surprised if there was a Ken Dodd B side c/u being played somewhere on the 'scene'. I was asking whether Sandie Shaw merited a dedicated thread to her in SS. If so perhaps we can look forward to Nosmo King being artist of the week? LOL