by bluenorther #5

Vikki Clayton "It Suits Me Well: The Songs Of Sandy Denny"

Vikki Clayton has a lush, powerful voice and holds notes like nobody's business; and anyone expecting an acoustic album is in for a surprise -- oh, there's some unamplified guitar, but a lot of what's here includes some modest electric playing in between the acoustic guitar and the occasional fiddle accompaniment. Surprisingly, as much as she puts into her rendition of a signature tune like "Who Knows Where the Time Goes," it's on somewhat lesser-known numbers like "No End" and the title track that Clayton really takes flight, and the prettiest piece here may be "Fotheringay," with its gentle orchestral accompaniment. Other highlights include the hauntingly beautiful, stripped down "A Sailor's Life," limited to a voice and one guitar, and "Rising for the Moon." The 2000-vintage CD also features three bonus tracks, "One Way Donkey Ride," "Like an Old Fashioned Waltz," and "The Sea," with the latter, in particular, a match for anything on the original CD. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide