Just Another Diamond Day
Encyclopedia
Just Another Diamond Day is the debut album of English
singer-songwriter Vashti Bunyan
.
In the mid to late 1960s, Bunyan was under contract to Andrew Oldham, which saw her release two singles. However, Bunyan found the experience frustrating, and decided to head for the Scottish islands in search of an artistic commune
supposedly established by Donovan
. She travelled around the countryside with her partner Robert in a horse-drawn wagon. It was during these travels that she wrote the songs which would later appear on Just Another Diamond Day.
Bunyan returned to London
where she was urged by producer Joe Boyd
to record her songs while they were still fresh. The recording session took place in December 1969 at Sound Techniques in London. Song arrangements were performed by Robert Kirby
, who also worked with Nick Drake
. Simon Nicol and Dave Swarbrick of Fairport Convention
and Robin Williamson of The Incredible String Band contributed to some tracks. The album was initially released in 1970 but was a commercial failure and Bunyan retired from music for many years.
Just Another Diamond Day was re-released by Spinney Records in 2000, its success prompting Bunyan to return to music and eventually record the much delayed follow-up Lookaftering
, released in 2005. Just Another Diamond Day was also featured in a UK TV advert for T-Mobile
's Flext in 2006.
Bonus tracks:
String and recorder arrangements by Robert Kirby
(1,6,11)
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer-songwriter Vashti Bunyan
Vashti Bunyan
Vashti Bunyan is an English singer-songwriter. In 1970, Bunyan released her first album, Just Another Diamond Day. The album sold very few copies, and Bunyan, discouraged, abandoned her musical career...
.
In the mid to late 1960s, Bunyan was under contract to Andrew Oldham, which saw her release two singles. However, Bunyan found the experience frustrating, and decided to head for the Scottish islands in search of an artistic commune
Commune (intentional community)
A commune is an intentional community of people living together, sharing common interests, property, possessions, resources, and, in some communes, work and income. In addition to the communal economy, consensus decision-making, non-hierarchical structures and ecological living have become...
supposedly established by Donovan
Donovan
Donovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
. She travelled around the countryside with her partner Robert in a horse-drawn wagon. It was during these travels that she wrote the songs which would later appear on Just Another Diamond Day.
Bunyan returned to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where she was urged by producer Joe Boyd
Joe Boyd
Joe Boyd is an American record producer and former owner of the Witchseason production company. Boyd was instrumental in launching the careers of Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, and The Incredible String Band.-Career:...
to record her songs while they were still fresh. The recording session took place in December 1969 at Sound Techniques in London. Song arrangements were performed by Robert Kirby
Robert Kirby
Robert Kirby was a British born arranger of string sections for rock and folk music. He is best known for his work on the Nick Drake albums, Five Leaves Left and Bryter Layter, but has also worked with Elton John, Ralph McTell, Strawbs, Paul Weller and Elvis Costello.-At Cambridge:Patrick...
, who also worked with Nick Drake
Nick Drake
Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
. Simon Nicol and Dave Swarbrick of Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
and Robin Williamson of The Incredible String Band contributed to some tracks. The album was initially released in 1970 but was a commercial failure and Bunyan retired from music for many years.
Just Another Diamond Day was re-released by Spinney Records in 2000, its success prompting Bunyan to return to music and eventually record the much delayed follow-up Lookaftering
Lookaftering
Lookaftering is the second album by Vashti Bunyan, the much-delayed follow-up to 1970's Just Another Diamond Day, released in 2005 on Fat Cat Records.-Track listing:All songs by Vashti Bunyan.# "Lately" – 2:21# "Here Before" – 2:05...
, released in 2005. Just Another Diamond Day was also featured in a UK TV advert for T-Mobile
T-Mobile
T-Mobile International AG is a German-based holding company for Deutsche Telekom AG's various mobile communications subsidiaries outside Germany. Based in Bonn, Germany, its subsidiaries operate GSM and UMTS-based cellular networks in Europe, the United States, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
's Flext in 2006.
Track listing
All songs written by Vashti Bunyan, except where noted.- "Diamond Day" – 1:47
- "Glow Worms" – 2:16
- "Lily Pond" – 1:24
- "Timothy Grub" – 3:15
- "Where I Like to Stand" (Bunyan / John James) – 2:21
- "Swallow Song" – 2:16
- "Window Over the Bay" (Bunyan / Robert Lewis) – 1:47
- "Rose Hip November" – 2:27
- "Come Wind Come Rain" – 2:07
- "Hebridean Sun" (Bunyan / Lewis) – 1:13
- "Rainbow River" – 3:22
- "Trawlerman's Song" (Bunyan / Lewis) – 1:56
- "Jog Along Bess" – 3:36
- "Iris's Song for Us" (Bunyan / Wally Dix / Iris Macfarlane) – 1:33
Bonus tracks:
- "Love Song" – 1:58 (B-side to 1966 single "Train Song" produced by Peter Snell)
- "I'd Like to Walk Around in Your Mind" – 2:15 (an unreleased 1967 Immediate RecordsImmediate RecordsImmediate Records was a British record label, started in 1965 by The Rolling Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham and Tony Calder and concentrating on the London-based blues and R&B scene.-History:...
acetateAcetate discAn acetate disc, also known as a test acetate, dubplate , lacquer , transcription disc or instantaneous disc...
produced by Mike HurstMike Hurst (producer)Mike Hurst is an English musician and record producer.-Biography:...
) - "Winter Is Blue" – 1:48 (an unreleased acetate from 1966, different from Tonite Let's All Make Love in LondonTonite Let's All Make Love in LondonTonite Lets All Make Love in London. is a soundtrack album released on LP in 1968, for the 1967 semi-documentary film made by Peter Whitehead about the "swinging London" scene of the sixties...
version) - "Iris's Song Version Two" (Bunyan / Wally Dix / Iris Macfarlane) – 2:31 (a 1969 alternative version from John Bunyan's tape)
Personnel
- Vashti BunyanVashti BunyanVashti Bunyan is an English singer-songwriter. In 1970, Bunyan released her first album, Just Another Diamond Day. The album sold very few copies, and Bunyan, discouraged, abandoned her musical career...
: vocals, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
. - Christopher Sykes: pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
. - John James: dulcitoneDulcitoneA dulcitone is a keyboard instrument in which sound is produced by a range of tuning forks, which vibrate when struck by felt-covered hammers activated by the keyboard....
. - Robin WilliamsonRobin WilliamsonRobin Williamson is a Scottish multi-instrumentalist musician, singer, songwriter and storyteller, who first made his name as a founder member of The Incredible String Band.-Career:...
: fiddleFiddleThe term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
, whistleWhistleA whistle or call is a simple aerophone, an instrument which produces sound from a stream of forced air. It may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means...
, Irish Harp. (8,13) - Dave SwarbrickDave SwarbrickDave Swarbrick is an English folk musician and singer-songwriter. He has been described by Ashley Hutchings as 'the most influential [British] fiddle player bar none' and his style has been copied or developed by almost every British, and many World folk violin players that have followed him...
: fiddleFiddleThe term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
& Simon NicolSimon NicolSimon John Breckenridge Nicol is a guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He was a founder member of British folk rock, or electric folk group Fairport Convention and is the only founding member still in the band...
: banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
(5,9,14) - Mike Crowther: guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
. (17)
String and recorder arrangements by Robert Kirby
Robert Kirby
Robert Kirby was a British born arranger of string sections for rock and folk music. He is best known for his work on the Nick Drake albums, Five Leaves Left and Bryter Layter, but has also worked with Elton John, Ralph McTell, Strawbs, Paul Weller and Elvis Costello.-At Cambridge:Patrick...
(1,6,11)
Production
- Joe BoydJoe BoydJoe Boyd is an American record producer and former owner of the Witchseason production company. Boyd was instrumental in launching the careers of Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, and The Incredible String Band.-Career:...
: Producer, Liner Notes. - Jerry Boys: Engineer.
- Robert Lewis: Drawing.
Covers
- "Winter Is Blue" was covered by IdlewildIdlewild (band)Idlewild are a Scottish rock band, formed in Edinburgh, in 1995, comprising Roddy Woomble , Rod Jones , Colin Newton , Allan Stewart and Gareth Russell...
as a b-side to their "El CapitanEl Capitan (song)"El Capitan" is a song by Scottish rock band Idlewild, from their 2005 album Warnings/Promises. It was released as the third single from the album on 11 July 2005 and charted at #39 in the UK Singles Chart....
" single, released in July 2005. - "I'd Like To Walk Around In Your Mind" was covered by English alternative rock group LushLush (band)Lush were an English alternative rock band, formed in 1987 and disbanded in 1998. They were one of the first bands to attract the "shoegazing" label...
as a b-side to their "500 (Shake Baby Shake)Lovelife (album)Lovelife is the third and final album by British shoegazing act Lush. On this album, the band left their dream pop/shoegazing-styled music and went for a more Britpop-styled sound...
" single, released in July 1996.