Just Another Diamond Day

Infobox Album |
Name = Just Another Diamond Day
Type = Album
Artist = Vashti Bunyan


Released = 1970
Recorded = December 1969 at Sound Techniques, London.
Genre = Psych folk, pop/folk
Length = *31:24 (original release) 39:17 (CD re-release)
Label = Philips
Producer = Joe Boyd
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ivge4j274waq link]
*"Pitchfork" (9.0/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/15859-just-another-diamond-day 21 Oct 2004]
*"Feel the Word" (favourable) [http://www.feeltheword.net/magazine/2007/11/07/vashti-bunyan-just-another-diamond-day-1970-ethan-smith/ link]
Last album =
This album = "Just Another Diamond Day" (1970)
Next album = "Lookaftering" (2005)

"Just Another Diamond Day" is the debut album by United Kingdom 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 throughout December 1969 at Sound Techniques in London. Song arrangements were performed by Robert Kirby, who also worked with Nick Drake. Members of Fairport Convention and 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 Flext in 2006.

Track listing

All songs 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
# "Love Song" – 1:58 (B-side to 1966 single "Train Song")
# "I'd Like to Walk Around in Your Mind" – 2:15 (an unreleased Immediate Records acetate)
# "Winter Is Blue" – 1:48 (an unreleased acetate from 1966, different from "Tonite Let's All Make Love in London" version)
# "Iris's Song Version Two" (Bunyan / Wally Dix / Iris Macfarlane) – 2:31 (an early alternative version)

Personnel

*Vashti Bunyan: Acoustic guitar, vocals.
*Simon Nicol: Banjo.
*Dave Swarbrick: Mandolin, Fiddle.
*Robin Williamson: Fiddle, Whistle, Irish Harp.

Production

*Joe Boyd: Producer, Liner Notes.
*Jerry Boys: Engineer.
*Robert Kirby: Strings & Recorder Arrangements.
*Robert Lewis: Drawing.

Trivia

*"Winter Is Blue" was covered by Idlewild as a b-side to their "El Capitan" single, released in July 2005.