Just Another Diamond Day

Just Another Diamond Day
Studio album by Vashti Bunyan
Released	1970
Recorded	December 1969 at Sound Techniques, London.
Genre	Folk
Length	31:24 (original release) 39:17 (CD re-release)
Label	Philips
Producer	Joe Boyd
Vashti Bunyan chronology
Just Another Diamond Day (1970) Lookaftering (2005)

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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.

Track listing

All songs written by Vashti Bunyan, except where noted.

1. "Diamond Day" – 1:47
2. "Glow Worms" – 2:16
3. "Lily Pond" – 1:24
4. "Timothy Grub" – 3:15
5. "Where I Like to Stand" (Bunyan / John James) – 2:21
6. "Swallow Song" – 2:16
7. "Window Over the Bay" (Bunyan / Robert Lewis) – 1:47
8. "Rose Hip November" – 2:27
9. "Come Wind Come Rain" – 2:07
10. "Hebridean Sun" (Bunyan / Lewis) – 1:13
11. "Rainbow River" – 3:22
12. "Trawlerman's Song" (Bunyan / Lewis) – 1:56
13. "Jog Along Bess" – 3:36
14. "Iris's Song for Us" (Bunyan / Wally Dix / Iris Macfarlane) – 1:33

Bonus tracks:

15. "Love Song" – 1:58 (B-side to 1966 single "Train Song" produced by Peter Snell)
16. "I'd Like to Walk Around in Your Mind" – 2:15 (an unreleased 1967 Immediate Records acetate produced by Mike Hurst)
17. "Winter Is Blue" – 1:48 (an unreleased acetate from 1966, different from Tonite Let's All Make Love in London version)
18. "Iris's Song Version Two" (Bunyan / Wally Dix / Iris Macfarlane) – 2:31 (a 1969 alternative version from John Bunyan's tape)

Personnel

• Vashti Bunyan: vocals, acoustic guitar.
• Christopher Sykes: piano, organ.
• John James: dulcitone.
• Robin Williamson: fiddle, whistle, Irish Harp. (8,13)
• Dave Swarbrick: fiddle, mandolin & Simon Nicol: banjo (5,9,14)
• Mike Crowther: guitar. (17)

String and recorder arrangements by Robert Kirby (1,6,11)

Production

• Joe Boyd: Producer, Liner Notes.
• Jerry Boys: Engineer.
• Robert Lewis: Drawing.

Covers

• "Winter Is Blue" was covered by Idlewild as a b-side to their "El Capitan" single, released in July 2005.
• "I'd Like To Walk Around In Your Mind" was covered by English alternative rock group Lush as a b-side to their "500 (Shake Baby Shake)" single, released in July 1996.

External links

• 'I'd like to talk a walk around in your mind' song of the day on thishereboogie.com 13 November 2008