A Conversation With ‘Train Song’ and ‘Love Song’, brilliant string and recorder came from her pen. Caught in the settings for many of the ‘Diamond vortex of confusion and ceaseless Day’ songs. The record is at once motion that was the dynamic of a pastoral symphony and a field “Catch one leaf and fortune will the Immediate label at this time, worker’s song, a Picasso painting surround you ever more” – she recorded a number of further and a child’s sketch, a poem and a ‘Rose Hip November’ sessions, none of which ended up documentary of life on the road. being released, although a window The songs coalesce on substrates on this time is thrown open of consciousness like ideas, moods ometimes it’s the briefly thanks to Peter and moments captured by an glyphs in the Whitehead's ‘Tonite Let's All antique box camera. Like the margins of history Make Love In ’ “slow glass” in Bob Shaw’s that tell us the documentary, which featured memorable novel, they offer the most about a footage of Vashti recording the contemporary listener a frozen particular period, and the superb ‘Winter Is Blue’. The track moment to hold up to the light. experiences of English singer- also appeared on the soundtrack The opening track ‘Diamond Day’ Vashti Bunyan for the film, but acetates of sets the mood of effortless lyricism throughout the 1960s resonate other songs recorded at these that informs the whole record, with the spirit of that decade in a sessions have crumbled in dusty celebrating days where fields were way that makes them a valuable closets, and may be difficult to ploughed and seed sown so that addition to the our understanding recover. Thankfully, a superior her children could eat – days that of its psychedelic tumult. Her recording of 'Winter Is Blue' did must have been harder than this small body of work is at last survive, and was 7 song’s lightness of touch suggests. becoming a little more accessible The /pagan theme of the through reissue of the 'Just After the lack of progress became transforming power of nature is Another Diamond Day' LP on too much, she left it all, following also established early, in the Spinney Records, its eloquent the hippie dream up and down stunning ‘Glow Worms’, as words mysteries left for us to unravel like the length of Britain in a horse like “dawn-time mist begins an enigmatic set of verses left in a and cart with partner and child reflecting light/waking sun will time capsule. Originally released and some visions, and nothing soon forget our night” are readily by Phillips in 1970 with no much else. A non-specific journey accepted - carried under your publicity, 'Just Another Diamond for meaning and place, trapping guard by a deceptively simple Day' is now one of the iconic the decade within the prism of its melody and one of the simplest major-label rarities of the period, nomadic isolation, luckily here - just acoustic fashioned by angels and utterly producing a travelogue of songs guitar and close-miked vocal. The unattainable in its original issue. for posterity. In “Just Another distance between the artist and But it didn't come from nowhere. Diamond Day” we can hear her life is virtually non-existent Typically, Vashti’s journey started Vashti orchestrating the slow throughout, but especially on with the discovery of Dylan’s early turning wheel of the seasons ‘Timothy Grub’, which tells the work, his lyrics putting cross-hairs accompanied by a shifting palette story of the beginning of the on her angst as it did for many of fields and villages, towns and journey with preternatural others at the time. In turn, she cities, projecting songs into the vividness. Skilled folk-blues was discovered by Rolling Stones corners to tame the deepest of the songwriting elevates on ‘Where I manager and pop-impresario shadows, or to celebrate moments Like to Stand’ to a higher plane, , who took of clarity. These songs so Swarbrick’s violin a perfect her on board the unstable paisley impressed the legendary counterpoint to Vashti’s vocals. dirigible of his Immediate label. that he left her a standing She was given the Jagger-Richards invitation to record them for his composition 'Some Things Just Witchseason production company Stick In Your Mind' to record for when she came to rest. In 1968, a a first single in 1965, an brilliant selection of musicians infuriating impost for someone was assembled to record 'Just who thought herself primarily a Another Diamond Day'. Robin songwriter. Her song, ‘I Want to Williamson from the Incredible be Alone’ was consigned to the String Band, and flipside. The single sank without from Fairport trace, as did a subsequent, but Convention, and especially superior single recorded for , arranger of Nick Columbia in 1966. At least for Drake’s ‘Five Leaves Left’ and the second single, both sides, ‘’, and contributor of 1 ‘Window on the Bay’ deserves to VB. My father had a large My musical side did not go down be rated with Denny’s best, or collection of classical records and well with an incoming principal of even Anne Briggs’ ‘The Time Has played Handel, Bach and the art school. In an argument, I Come’, as does the staggering Mendelssohn very loudly every said “art is art whatever medium”, ‘Rose Hip November’, arguably Sunday. I wanted to be the and he said “well go and do your the song that projects everything choirboy who sang 'O For the art somewhere else - here you that works about this record like a Wings of a Dove'. asked for Paint and Draw”. The previous perfectly formed hologram you lessons but it didn't happen, so I principal had been more of a can carry around with you like a watched other kids. When I mind to let me stay as long as I spirit lantern. With an visited my grandmother who had shaped up and did the work that is Byzantine in a piano I played what they had required of me, but the new guy - its complexity, the more you listen played. I learned to play by ear. sweeping clean with new broom to ‘Rose Hip November’ the more Eventually I got violin lessons but no doubt - said I hadn't done the righteous it’s cornucopia of string I didn't exactly take to it. I work in the previous year and so resonances and recorder couldn't learn how to read music. must go, which was fine by me. exhalations and vocal whispers Then I went to art school, and seems. And whether desperately there I met a friend – Jenny Lewis When my brother sat me down envisioning a utopian destination - who taught me to play guitar. for a talk about my future - at the as in ‘Hebridean Sun’, or painting This I loved. We played and sang request of my parents who didn't an iridescent word-painting as in together, Everly Brothers, Buddy know what to do with me as I ‘Rainbow River’, these songs glow Holly, Carol King and the like. hadn't come home with the like stained glass backlit by the We also wrote songs. I was thrown expected undergraduate wanting setting sun. out of college. to marry me and take me off their hands - he ‘’ said what should have come out in 1968, do you want when it was recorded and made to do? I said perfect sense, rather than in the “I want to 1970; a giant existential hangover be a pop- of a year with Altamont fresher in singer”. He people’s minds than Woodstock, laughed so and the technical flash of much that progressive rock in the ascendant. he sealed Few cared, and Vashti had already my fate. moved on. In the end recognising Nothing that there were most fruitful was going to avenues to pursue than wrestling stop me with a recalcitrant music industry after that. to get her voice heard, Vashti left the making of music to What did concentrate on living a normal you do next? life, with all of the tangled strands of love, children, work and Went to New York for the general floating down time's great How did you manage that? summer, bought “The and meandering river that is the Freewheelin' ” and lot of most of us. Thanks to that Painting took a back seat after thought I'd discovered the answer other great and meandering river, about a year at art school - once I to everything. I was 19 at the time. the Internet, Vashti Bunyan is had learned to play guitar. I I wanted to blur the join between now somewhat accessible again, skipped days on end, and also got 'folk' music and pop music. I and we were luck enough to be a little involved in the wanted to be just me and guitar, able to conduct this interview experimental theatre which was but I was not at home in folk with her earlier this year. evolving in Oxford at the time. clubs or amongst folk musicians. I The originators of Monty Python loved pop music, I was fascinated PT. Can I start by asking you where were amongst my friends then. It by pop songs, but I didn't want to your interest in music came from? I'm was a good time for invention and be like all other girl singers interested in people’s early influences creativity in Oxford those years, seemed to be, I just wanted to be and musical experiences and from 1963 to 1965. Young people me with a guitar and my quiet sad memories. How you learnt to play beginning to realise their power to love songs. I was a scruffy and guitar and sing? change the old order radically. sulky girl and had no idea how to be a sparkly star!

2 was very young. So I became Arran sweaters were not my style. Why do you think that “The interested in pop songs. I loved But Bob Dylan - also categorised Freewheelin' Bob Dylan” had so much the way pop songs were as a 'folk-singer -appealed very impact on you? constructed, and when later I much. As much as anything, I came to learn guitar it all seemed think his apparent loneliness was I think part of the reason was so easy. But then I thought that the attraction. Him and a guitar upbringing. I was a post-war child, the lyrics were mostly stupid. and harmonica, and no looking and had a sheltered existence in Hence, when I found Bob Dylan I backwards, it was all new and all that there was little access to was ecstatic. Someone was saying now, whereas previously other than my father's something, someone was music for me had been something classical records, and what was explaining what was happening. preserved in aspic. being played on BBC radio and My world was narrow - I could see Can you elaborate on what you meant by "blurring the join" between folk music and pop music?

I wanted to use the melody - the beauty of the melody - and keep any arrangements simple and uncluttered with maybe a or violin, perhaps a flute here and there. And the lyrics - well I had no real control over what came out of my head any more than I do now. I'm sure I didn't really think all that much about it. I was no clever person, I just knew what I wanted, and it wasn't to be a folksinger nor was it to be a girlie pop singer singing songs written for her by other people. I wanted to stand up on a stage by myself with my guitar and sing my own music, and not be a folksinger! I wanted to be on pop TV and radio…

You came back from the US in 1965, to London and the club circuit?

Yes, it had been a stop-gap. Since I had a sister living in New York I went to stay for a bit. I realised it was a whole lot easier to find 'The crackly Radio Luxembourg. The that much - and his lyrics let me Music Business' in Britain than in only way my generation found out out of that world and into what I US, so I returned, to find a girl about what was going on in saw as the real one which had called Marianne Faithful had kind America for instance was by word been hidden from me. I knew I of done what I had wanted to do, of mouth, and if you didn't come was angry but I didn't really know only she wasn't a songwriter. That across anyone who knew more what about. He gave that anger a made me sulkier than ever. I than you did - or who had older voice. avoided folk clubs and played siblings who had found out more, wherever I could find anyone to it was a bit of a bleak outlook. Some of the people I met at art let me. I remember a place called Although I hate to admit it, Cliff school and at the University the Dark Room where no one Richard and the shadows, Adam introduced me to traditional folk even heard me above the noise of Faith and all the young British music which I liked for its the crowd. I auditioned all over guys who were being promoted on simplicity and the longing in some the place, tramped Tin Pan Alley early Saturday night pop music of the melodies. However, folk looking for anyone who might be slots on TV were the only other music and the world it inhabited interested in what I had to say but easily accessible performers when I did not appeal to me in general. they were all Establishment agents

3 and managers with no putting in some black plastic mac at least a year imagination past “how will she percussion. I was very nervous and beforehand and thought them look in a ball gown”. I was skinny shy, probably said nothing to outmoded. I preferred jeans and t- and wore a big black jumper and a anyone. I don't know what they shirt and denim jacket or leather mournful expression - get the could have made of me. jacket at least. picture? It must have been a strange experience I gather that by the beginning on Can you talk a bit about the events doing the promotional whirlwind for 1966 you decided that the kind of leading up to meeting with Andrew that record. circus that surrounded the release of Loog Oldham and the recording and that first single wasn't for you and you release of the 'Some Things Just Stick It was. Six weeks of interviews and withdrew from it in favour of playing In Your Mind' single? TV shows up and down the your own material solo with acoustic country. I loved it until I realised I guitar. Can you tell me how this time One night I played reluctantly at a was being portrayed as a rather was, and about the Alasdair Clayre party given by an actress friend of dumb version of Marianne, connection? my mother. Monte Mackie was following in her footsteps. This there, who was an agent who began to upset me as I knew we I enjoyed that circus hugely till it knew Andrew Oldham. I got a call were very different. I thought I went quiet on me. Before I met the next day to say she had told was a musician and songwriter Andrew I had been very busy, him about me and he wanted to and that she was a star, a running around performing where meet me. I had a cold but went to performer and someone who had I could and banging on doors. her office which was big and plush a way of dealing with the world I Then the six weeks of ‘Some and dark with a grand piano envied and admired but knew I Things Just Stick in Your Mind’ covered in framed photographs didn't have. Andrew says now that were full with interviews and TV expressing fondest love this was not what he wanted for and radio. Suddenly it all went from her clients. I croaked out my me, that he in no way thought me silent and I had nothing to do. I songs. Andrew said nothing and I a replacement for Marianne, that was left with having been thought him less than impressed. he knew I was different, but the publicised as a He was so beautiful, Italian shiny journalists and newspapers made follower - which I hated and still box jacketed suit, blond hair, the story and there was nothing do - and nothing much else. There much prettier than me. From he could do apart from pull the was an attempt at another single another world, one I had plug on the whole thing. Looking but the promise to record one of absolutely no knowledge of, but back, I'm very glad he didn't. This my own songs didn't happen and I was utterly entranced by. was in about June 1965 I think. was given a song written by - a session musician then. I Later, Mrs Mackie called me to say was fed up at that, sang the song I was to go to Andrew's office. unwillingly and it was probably There he handed me an acetate really bad. I have no record of it. demo of the Mick Jagger Keith Richard song 'Some Things Just I had met Alasdair Clayre in my Stick in Your Mind’. I was last term at art school. He was thunderstruck. I wanted to record interested in old folk music, and my songs. It was my father who wrote poetry which he used to persuaded me to “compromise leave in a milk bottle at my door. my girl”, and so I went back to He lived in a loft in the east end Andrew and he promised that the of London, and knew Pete Seeger. next single would be a song of my Everyone there was a lot older own, and that the B side of this than I was and had no link with one would be a song of mine pop music at all. I saw that there called 'I Want to be Alone'. did not need to be such a huge gulf between folk and pop. I loved I was in heaven during the some of the old music but recording. This was especially so couldn't see why it had to be during the recording of my own played traditionally or performed song, hearing it arranged by David Did they really dress you up in a by traditional musicians. Whittaker and played by 'real' plastic mac? musicians. and Big I believe you made a single ‘Train Jim Sullivan. Jimmy Page was a Yes, for “Thank Your Lucky Stars” Song’ around this time. How did this session musician then and was in - imagine how much I sulked some about? there too. And then Andrew and about that. I had been wearing a

4 I had a song called '17 Pink Sugar to say I thought the guitars at the about to try to clean them up for a Elephants' which I'd written in a beginning needed to be played a possible CD collection of singles moment of frustration with bit softer, and he mimicked my and demos. I hope I'll be able to Andrew and the lack of phone little voice and I don't think I clean up the version of ‘Winter is calls or other direction, and the uttered another word. In fact I Blue’ I like. tune just happened to fit one of was terrified of all of them. All the Alasdair's songs - 'Train Song' - were there that night, From what I understand, you had an which had no music yet. I met a and PP Arnold, and I sat staring enjoyable time with Immediate during Canadian producer called Peter in wonder around me, that I was 1967, but not much happened in Snell - I can't remember how - and there at all. I was shy, hopelessly terms of releases. "Coldest Night of the he was taken with the recent songs quiet and unable to deal with the Year" was one of your compositions, and he bought me out of my people I had chosen to work right? The hook-up with the Twice As contract with Andrew. 'Train amongst, and yet had this Much guys obviously happened Song' and 'Love Song' were enormous ego about my music. I through Andrew Oldham? It must recorded with a session guitarist don't know where it came from. have been frustrating not to see that and cellist only - in contrast to the come out at the time? enormous orchestral and Peter Whitehead was at the first percussive backing of Andrew's session filming for his My memory of that time is hazy. It productions. It came out on documentary. That all went over wasn't long after ‘Winter is Blue’ Columbia and disappeared. my head and I had no idea about before I was called again to meet Without much in the way of it until the film came out. The Twice as Much and start promotion, and being just a quiet first session I thought went well, rehearsing ‘Coldest Night of the small song, it had no chance, but I and I have a demo of it which I Year’. I didn't write it, it is a had to try it for myself. like a lot. Andrew wasn't happy Mann/Weill composition. with it however and we had Another Immediate band had Tell me about the ‘Winter Is Blue’ another try. You should never go recorded it - The Factotems, I recording, which wasn't released but back over things! The second one can't remember if theirs was ever the sessions were filmed for Peter was not so good, and this is the released. Probably not! (Editor’s Whitehead's "Tonite Let's All Make one which ended up on the note: It wasn’t) . These were my Love In London" documentary? soundtrack sadly. It was to be a best days at Immediate, rehearsing single, but one day I was called to and being able to input ideas and I was going crazy with boredom the office and told not be ignored. We wanted a after ‘Train Song’ and all it took me they were not going to release Beach Boys kind of sound and I was a phone call from Tony it because Cliff Richard wanted think we got it. I love the Calder and I was back in the the song. I didn't know whether recording still. We worked in studio making demos of new to laugh or cry. I have never Andrew's Hotel room. It was at songs. The duo Twice as Much believed him, but recently when I the time was really had had a hit with the told Andrew I hadn't believed it getting bad and everyone seemed Jagger/Richard song 'Sittin' on a he said “well you know it just worried sick about what was to Fence', and Tony said “there you might have been true”. As he happen to him and the problems are you see if you hadn't gone off pointed out, Cliff Richard did he was causing. Again, I sat with to try it by yourself you could have cover a Stones song (‘Blue turns to wide eyes and witnessed this had that one”. Again I said “but I Grey’), and that that all things extraordinary play being acted want to record my songs”. I had seemed possible at that time. It out, different Stones drifting in met up with a guitarist called could have been that Tony wanted and out of the hotel room whilst Mike Crowther and we had Cliff to want it. Everything was Andrew Rose, David Skinner and worked out a few simple moving so fast for everyone else I rehearsed the song over and over arrangements. involved with Immediate, and I till Andrew Oldham was satisfied. think that if a production didn't On our way out of the hotel, the Anyway, Andrew chose' Winter is grab them straightway it just got Savoy I think it was, Andrew - Blue' and sent it to Art lost in the tide. flourishing an enormous joint - Greenslade to arrange. Art went up to a stiff uniformed changed a bit of the tune, which a Incidentally, I still have acetates of doorman and asked for a light, year before would have had me the demo sessions that led to which he got before swanning out stamping around in a rage, but I recording ‘Winter is Blue’. They the revolving door. A precious was beginning to lose the huge went to the Hebrides and back moment, remembering how much confidence I had started out with with me and have been stored in more seriously risky this was then and just let them do it. I was various attics and barns since. than it would be now. Gered somewhat terrified of Andrew, They are completely grimy and Mankowitz has found some and just once found the courage green with mould, but we are photographs he took of us on

5 Primrose Hill. I have no How did ‘I'd Like To Walk Around that the soundtrack of ‘Tonite recollection of the photo-shoot, In Your Mind’ end up on Phil Smee’s Lets All Make Love In London’ only the ride in ALO's Rolls with “Circus Days, Vol. 1” compilation? was out on CD and included the Mamas and Papas playing 'Winter is Blue', and also I found LOUD and California dreaming I kept an acetate of the original out about 'Coldest Night of the around London . (Editor’s note: recording. The acetate was with Year' on the second Twice As this story also appears in an some other studio recordings on Much LP. The most exciting was interview with John Kearney on acetate demo discs that were the Circus Days as I had not heard 'I'd his unofficial Immediate website only things I kept with me from Like To Walk Around In Your at music days. (I left all photos, Mind' for nearly 30 years. A friend http://www3.sympatico.ca/johnfk newspaper clips etc in a box in my found the lyrics to 'I'd Like To / vashtiinterview). brother's shed. He sold his house, Walk Around In Your Mind' on a but five years later bought it back. Lush site, and I phoned 4Ad and But ‘Coldest Night of the Year’ Miraculously the box was still they sent me a copy of the single. was shelved with no reason given. there or I would have nothing but Lush had heard the song on I only found out threeyears ago the acetates.) In 1968, when I had Circus Days, but didn't know who that it was included on the second reached the Hebrides by horse had written it so it was not Twice as Much album 'That's All' and wagon, a writer called Iris credited to me. I was really, really which came out much later. Macfarlane (who had helped us in pleased to hear someone of this many ways throughout the time singing my old song. They Tell me about the recording of 'I'd journey and beyond) liked that got the chord sequence slightly Like To Walk Around In Your Mind' song when I played it to her so I wrong, but otherwise I like their and meeting ? Was he an gave her the acetate as a thank version, and yes, I did get Immediate house producer at the you. I didn't have much else to royalties. First time ever apart time? This was before his time with give her. She doesn't remember from the odd seven quid that used Deram? how she lost it as she has moved to come from ‘Diamond Day’. For many times since then. Somehow this and many other things I am There were another bleak few it must have found its way to grateful to the Internet! months during which I nearly sold London and the collection of Phil all my songs to another female Smee who put out an album of It seems like Immediate had a habit of singer whose manager wanted 'Pop Syke Obscurities' called shelving projects, the classic example material for her. I never knew Circus Days in 1990 and included being Billy Nichols' fantastic ‘Would who it was. Tony Calder heard my demo. I knew nothing about You Believe’ LP, which was never about it and sent me to see Mike it, being blissfully unaware of any released, because I believe that the Hurst and play him the songs, music of mine being out in the label wanted to put its money into maybe to see if they were any good world at all. I thought it all long promoting the Small Faces ‘Ogdens before letting me sell them away. forgotten and disappeared. It is a Nut Gone Flake’ instead. I always Mike liked 'I'd Like To Walk great example of what you give thought that with bands like The Around In Your Mind'. I think he away coming back to you in , , and the Small was producing for Immediate end. If I hadn't given the acetate Faces, they would have been on a then, yes. He was very different to to Iris it would be in the same sound financial footing, but clearly Andrew and Tony, much more scuffy bag along with the others this was not the case, as evidenced by easy for me, and I enjoyed here and would remain unheard, the fact that they went under in working with him very much. I and possibly damaged beyond 1969. Any final thoughts on the can't say he was nice and they repair. Immediate years? weren't, just that he lived more or less on the same planet as I did. And 1990s noise-popster Lush covered It has taken me 30 years to come The first session went well and we it as well. Did you hear about that, to some kind of understanding of were pleased with the result. and ever get any royalties from 4AD? the pace at which Andrew Andrew heard it and said it Oldham and Tony Calder were needed more, more strings, more In 1997 I got a computer for the living, and that someone as easily substance, more everything. He first time. Typing my own name bruised as I was could never have was no minimalist. We tried this into a search engine (apparently been able to deal with them, nor but it didn't work. That was the the thing most people do when them with me. If something didn't end for me, I was completely they first get on line) brought up a work straight off for them then desolated when they didn't want few surprises. I learned that ‘Just there was always another project me to work any further with it. Another Diamond Day’ was rare to take their attention. That was and getting silly money on the their brilliance. Always new ideas, collector's market and was new people, energy and disregard 'wanted' on quite a few lists. I saw for risks. I loved Immediate.

6 Although I was scared senseless by the night with him. Next morning everyone wanted to come and Andrew I adored him - his he was gone, but a year later make houses in our wood? If we extravagance and irreverence and (1966)I was in Andrew's office let you stay, we'd have to let them his strutting about like an Infant and one of the secretaries gave me and then where would it end?' By King. He behaved outrageously a letter addressed to : another great miracle we found but he drove his way through the the wagon and the horse that grim old guard of the music Vashti same day. We decided to make industry and reclaimed it. It was , the journey to Skye to join what just such joy to witness and be a London we hoped would be a place we small part of the big Fuck You. could do what we wanted to do - This was a letter written on old be self-sufficient as possible and I was there at the beginning of brown paper from Robert. He was rear dogs, horses and children. Immediate and often regret now at art school in London and lent us the money to leaving it before it really got going, had heard 'Train Song' on the buy Bess and the wagon. but I did my share of being radio. It was a miracle really that around the office and staying the letter was ever forwarded from I’ve seen the pictures of your wagon - there till someone could find time Decca and that it was given to me. It must have been very arduous. to listen to me. I think the There is an ex-Immediate secretary shelving of ‘I'd Like to Walk to whom I owe the next part of Yes it was hard. We set off in May Around In Your Mind’ just the story - and my three children. 1968. It rained a fair bit but there finished me off, broke my spirit. A Robert was full of dreams. He had were brilliant days too. We lived few months after that I left no money and got by at college by on £2 a week, a lot of brown rice London and the music business buying and selling old watches and nicked cabbages from for ever (I thought) and set off which he bought in Suffolk and allotments. And we dug gardens with a horse and wagon for the sold in London. He slept on and painted farms along the way, other end of the earth, as far away friends' floors. At about the time whatever we could find. There are from my failure at being a pop that my father got to the end of stories here, too many, but singer as I could get. his rope with me and my animals everyday had one. It was a good and my tendency to stay in bed, I way of getting my head straight. It After leaving Immediate, you took a met up with Robert again. He was took my attention from my job a vet in London's King's Road? preparing his diploma show and troubled self and into the How did that work out? was fed up with sleeping on floors problems of living with a horse and so was building himself a who needed water and food, a fire That was my first and only real canvas house behind the art which needed wood gathering, a job. I was persuaded by a long- college - in a wood. After a fight wagon which needed a place to suffering family to forget music with my Dad I joined him. He park up every night and a difficult and join the real world. This was a knew Donovan who also had and determined character for a Big Mistake. I ended up taking dreams - and had bought three partner. By time we reached the home a large dog brought in to be islands off the coast of Skye where Lake District it was winter and we put down, and a baby monkey. At he hoped to start a community of needed shelter - there was no stove this stage I was back living at my artists writers and musicians. in the wagon. When you are out parents, and we already had two there with nothing much in your other dogs. My mother was This was about the time you bought a pocket and no where to go is seriously ill and my father couldn't horse and wagon and started your when the miracles happen. We cope with me and my animals. I travelling years? met a retired couple who were just was what would now maybe be about to leave their cottage to go called depressed - panicky and Yes. Robert knew some young to a ruin they had bought in the miserable. Prescription drugs people who had made a Outer Hebrides. They let us stay proved to be another bad idea. pilgrimage to Glastonbury with in their beautiful Lake District horses and wagons. They were house, not knowing us at all, just Telling this part of the story is not “opening up ancient ley-lines”. trusting that we would look after easy to do quickly. I had met They were the children of wealthy it. This was Iris of ‘Iris's Song’ on Robert Lewis - an art student - at parents and Robert was very taken ‘Diamond Day’. the time of the first single. He was with the idea, but had no a hitch-hiker that my then resources. The song on ‘Diamond You met Derroll Adams around this boyfriend and I picked up one Day’ - 'Timothy Grub' - tells the time? dark night as he was walking story of the time in the wood. We home to his rented cottage in were thrown out by the owners - Yes – halfway through the journey Suffolk. He was a long-haired, the Bank of England – given the whilst wintering in the Lake romantic Dylan lover. We stayed reason - 'what would happen if District we went over to Holland

7 to do some gigs and by chance about a beautiful island called directly descended from John Bunyan met him there. He was an old Berneray - which is where the himself are true… friend of Donovan's who had journey ended. played with Jack Elliot and Woodie Guthrie as the Rambling Boys. He'd been very ill but listened to my songs and told me not to “hide my light under a bushel”, since I'd told him I was through with the music business for good. He hadn't played for a while because of the illness but Robert got Derroll's banjo and put it in his hands. Stiff hands they looked too, but showers of notes sparkled from them and entranced us.

On my way back to the Lake District I stayed with a friend who knew Joe Boyd and sent me to see him. Joe had seen me sing at the ICA in London two-years previously when I was still trying to work with Immediate. He'd wanted to make an album then, but I didn't even go to meet him. If I had things might have been very different. As it was, when I did finally meet him he liked the songs of the journey and said we'd make an album once I'd done and written about the rest of it. We went to have dinner with him and the Incredible String Band that night. I didn't have a clue who they were. There was no electricity, no radio and no record player in our lives.

I believe that you wound up in Skye and Donovan was gone, or about to leave? Apparently they are - although my The second part of the journey Was most of 'JADD' written during grandfather and father were a bit started early March and we arrived these travels? romantic about it and my brother in Skye in late summer 1969. was never sure it wasn't a bit of Donovan and his friends had Nearly all, apart from Glow family apocrypha. But I can’t say gone up to Skye in the summer of Worms which was the first to be his heritage was even a subliminal 68, in a Landrover. By the time we written, just after Robert and I got influence as my family was got there most of the people who together. Probably the most completely irreligious and I was had been there and dug the lyrically unreal songs were written never made to read Pilgrim's ground and grown the veg and whilst travelling through the worst Progress. lived the life for a while had gone industrial parts of Britain, the back to London. Donovan himself more difficult the days the more How was the deal to record ‘Just was only there for a visit and was the dreaming in the songs. Another Diamond Day’ actually set on his way back to US. It was up? Joe Boyd presumably made an obvious we could not stay there Hearing of these travels, I can’t help offer that inspired some confidence in and so went on to the Outer wondering if the rumours that you are you That something might actually Hebrides, found Iris and were told happen and get released?

8 It was written at Iris's house in the be released in December. Joe The recording of Diamond Day Lake District, warm and roofed at Boyd gave me the choice of was made during a short visit to last. We had no money and so staying in London to promote the London at the end of 1968 then couldn¹t have the heating on, but record, or to have one of the we returned to our life in the even so we felt wonderfully String Band's cottages in Scotland. Hebrides and more-or-less forgot sheltered and grateful. The song I had grown up in London always about the album. Joe took the came to me while sitting at the longing for the country. I'd tried tapes to master them in the US. I window and watching the leaves hard to get away and was back was too busy being pregnant on a gusting around outside, and I there reluctantly. I didn't want to remote island and trying to deal remember being so happy to be raise my kid in the city and an with gales and a leaky thatched inside. Living outside changed the offer of a roof was too good to roof to think much about music. way I saw the world to the extent turn down as we were homeless ‘Just Another Diamond Day’ was that the trees, hills, roads and and staying on friends' floors bound for Island along with all everything took on personality. again. other Witchseason productions, Maybe it was the psychy times, but they didn't want it. maybe it was just me, but living Do you regret not promoting the record took it up on a five year licence close to the ground I think had now? but didn't promote it. this effect. I felt I was just part of my surroundings. It made me I didn't think anything would There are some pretty amazing more careful of them. So to me come of the record. It had been a musicians on the record. Joe selected the pine tree really was waiting for year from the writing of the songs these? the snow. to the recording, and a further year till release. I thought it had Yes he did. As I mentioned before What happened when you returned to missed its small window of I had lost the thread with music the Hebrides from these recording opportunity and that times had since I had no radio or record sessions? moved on and people in general player and had stopped reading more cynical and less likely to take music papers. I had no idea who We set about trying to make our any notice of it. I chose to forget was, and only dreams into reality against some about it. I succeeded in this for vaguely who Dave Swarbrick and fairly heavy odds. It is a long story, nearly 30 years. Simon Nicol were. I had only but our main difficulty was that heard of we were not able to have our It's a fragile record, very beautiful in because a few years back horse on the island we’d ended up mood. The musicians on various somebody had handed me a piece buying a ruined thatch house on. tracks must have been pretty sensitive of paper with their name and a (We bought the house with an to the needs of the material? phone number saying “this band insurance settlement from when a is looking for a female singer” and speeding car whanged into the They were. I came to know Robin I’d ignored it, being still back of the wagon on the shores better later, but at the time of the determined to make it on my of Loch Ness.) No islander would recording we had only met briefly, own. Robert Kirby had been lend us a boat to swim her over as and spent one evening rehearsing. working with Joe on 's they really didn’t want her there – He was wonderful with ‘Rose Hip and so he was brought in, and after a while there seemed November’ - also my favourite by again I didn't know him. little point in staying if she the way – and completely couldn’t be with us. We’d understood its mood and seemed The material on the record varies a lot travelled too long with her to even to throw himself into it. Dave more than is usually acknowledged, think of giving up on her. There Swarbrick and Simon Nicol were from songs of child-like innocence, to were many reasons for our leaving at the studio one night and we more windswept folk like my favourite the Hebrides - and I am in big recorded three songs in three ‘Rose Hip November’ Would you say trouble for recounting them on a takes as I remember and I was this represented the ups-and-downs of website. amazed at how easily they took up the travelling life? the tunes. I had been so used to You went back to London again after singing and playing guitar by Yes definitely. It must have been this? myself – it was a shock to be with the way I protected myself from others – kind of unreal. homesickness and isolation. I'd Yes, we went back to London for left everything familiar. the birth of Leif. It was July 1970 and we lived in a great shed at the Listening to the record now, are you What is the story behind ‘Rose Hip bottom of my brother¹s garden for proud of it, and why do you think it November’? a few months. By October it has endured in the minds of record looked like ‘Diamond Day’ might fans and collectors?

9 was brought over by two girlfriends who hitch-hiked with her. We got a wagon outside Dublin, this time with a stove in it. We had a friend travelling with us with another wagon - Rakis, who had been in Stone Monkey, an offshoot of the Incredible String Band. By time we got to the west the prices had gone beyond us already, and a farm would have been 600 or 700 pounds.

We returned to Scotland after a year, had another baby - a girl, Whyn. After another ten years living in rented farmhouses we eventually found the elusive place of our own where we lived some of the old dream - but with a lot more horses, dogs, transient friends and children, and a semi- successful furniture restoration business, albeit we were a mile up a terrible track which ruined occupied by Mike, Rose, Robin customers exhausts and a few of From here now I can see what it and Licorice. It’s a bit difficult our prospects. Son Leif left home was that we did, and how describing life there, but it was and joined travelling circus at 16, extraordinary it was. That Joe warm and very insular and quite then joined Circus Archaos on his should have taken such a chance unlike anything else I've known. A motorbike and now lives in with it, that I had such help from world of its own. It had an air of California doing film and special those great musicians and then unreality I guess, what with the effects. Whyn went to Glasgow just abandoned it - is maybe part success and comparative wealth of Art School and is now making a of its appeal now. I did not the String Band, and the relative living as painter. I had another expect it to be heard so it is quite struggle of ordinary folks such as boy, Ben, well he’s still only 14. unselfconsciously a document of us in numbers 2, 4, 6 and 8. The Robert and I separated when Ben its time. I am hugely proud of it first two months were great, but was four and then I fell in love now. More than that I'm proud of then things changed a bit. with my lawyer - and moved to the the life on the road - having crept in too much for city. We all live in houses which almost nothing and making it up my liking. I didn't go along with have no land and no horses and as we went along. I kept very little it, was resistant in every way. It no dogs. On to a different life. of ‘Diamond Day’ except the made it difficult to stay there. I original John James painting for have kept in contact with most of I note that there seem to be some the sleeve, giving away all the LPs them though. parallels with your experiences in the Joe gave me. Someone gave me a 60s and those of Anne Briggs. I know tape a few years later but it stayed This is the stage when you decided to she was a traveller, was under- stuck in the back of a drawer. head for Ireland? recorded, not keen on getting tangled up in the machinery of the music What you did next? Whilst at the Glen we decided to industry - and very much a country carry on with the search for a spirit. Did you ever meet Anne, and We spent the winter of 1970/71 place of our own and met people do you feel that there are parallels at Glen Row, the Incredible String who talked of the cheap farms on there? Band's cottages. the west coast of Ireland. We had an old VW, which was untaxed, No I never did meet her. I didn't What was it like staying with Robin uninsured, had no starter motor, know of her, or many other and Mike and Rose and Licorice and which we always kept the pram musicians from the time. I'm sure Co? wheels on the top of so we I'd have been much happier if I'd wouldn't be stopped. In this we known how to be around other Glen Row was eight farm-workers' crammed all of our possessions people who made music. I didn't cottages - numbers 1, 3, 5 and 7 that we could, and set off. Bess think of myself as a musician by

10 the time I'd made the album - only reference, an almost surreal inversion a songwriter - and so I didn't seek of the way things were supposed to be. out the company of other music people. I was also very shy about Vashti listened to ‘Just Another my musical abilities, feeling that Diamond Day’ again, trying to filter it almost anyone else was better at it through late 1990s perceptions to than I was. I like the fact that figure out why the songs and their some of us who didn't go along arrangements still mattered to people, with the music business thing some of whom weren’t born when the (although I did at first - just record was made. It did seem that couldn't make it work) are being people valued the transportation back heard now. Not that musicians to a time where it was possible to starting out now would be “have those sixties dreams and to be cheered to be told “oh never mind able to make them real”. So she kept if no one hears you, you just wait unwaveringly to the task of phoning, thirty years”. I believe Anne stills faxing and emailing people to repossess lives in the country and I would the rights to the record, occasionally love to meet her one day. I'd like having to resist the temptation to to know more of her story - I'm bootleg it herself. Meanwhile a bootleg sure we would find a few parallels. CD did come out, but was of poor quality and failed to fill the void. 1n 1997 Vashti got access to the Eventually, Paul Lambden and Sean Internet. One of the first things she Newsham created Spinney and made did (like you do) was to punch her ‘Just Another Diamond Day’ their own name into a search engine to see first release, so the record is back from what happened. To her amazement the brink of extinction, and from the she found that some of her earliest master tapes, too. She has been asked work had appeared on recent if she will ever make music again. compilations, and that her album, She’s not sure. Her old Martin guitar rather than being forgotten, was hung on the wall for 25 years and valuable and heavily sought after. ended up being given away, but now Slowly via email she connected with she has another guitar so you never people she thought lost to her, as well know. The Terrascope wishes her well as new and old seekers of her work. with whatever she chooses to do, but Three years were spent wrestling with will resoundingly rejoice if that the industry to regain rights to ‘Just includes a resumption of playing and Another Diamond Day’, aided and recording. advised by Paul Lambden at Ryko Music. Ryko had inherited to the Written, produced and directed by entire Warlock publishing catalogue, Tony Dale ©Ptolemaic Terrascope, which included Nick Drake, March 2001 Incredible String Band, Fairport Convention and John and Beverley Martyn. Vashti had written to Ryko asking if anybody there knew who owned the rights to the recording. Paul Lambden asked for a tape of the album, but (and I find this particularly poignant) Vashti only had her deteriorated and incomplete cassette, and had to arrange a copy to be made by someone else. She was duly surprised to find that Paul actually liked it, still carrying with her the stain of the abandonment of the record on initial release. As she says “ it just edged its way out, blushed and shuffled off into oblivion”. The fact that anyone liked it was a shifting of a carefully constructed frame-of-

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