one night stand

• Format: CD, album reissue, remastered
• Packaging: Deluxe miniature LP-style papersleeve with lyrics insert
• Special feature: First release of the album on CD
• Country: South Korea

One Night Stand is a rare Irish folk album originally issued privately by Indigo Sound Studios in 1973. Centred on the contrasting voices and acoustic guitar work of Fiona Simpson and Dave Shannon, the recording combines contemporary singer-songwriter material, popular songs and traditional British and Irish folk.

Fiona Simpson provides guitar and expressive lead vocals, while Dave Shannon contributes guitar, vocals and keyboards. They are joined by Dave Lynane on bass and Bill Nixon on drums, whose restrained accompaniment adds rhythmic variety without disturbing the album's intimate acoustic character.

The first half concentrates mainly on contemporary compositions. Joni Mitchell's “Carey” and “Big Yellow Taxi,” Melanie's “Brand New Key,” Ian Tyson's “Someday Soon” and The Beatles' “Honey Pie” are approached with light arrangements, close vocal interplay and an emphasis on melody rather than elaborate production.

“Twelfth Street Rag” introduces a playful instrumental element, while Duncan Browne's “Journey” suits the duo's quieter and more reflective side. Simpson's clear, flexible singing is especially effective throughout these contrasting selections, moving naturally between bright folk-pop and more delicate ballad performances.

The second half turns towards traditional material arranged by Dave Shannon. “Our Captain Cried ‘All Hands’,” “Month of January,” “Little Beggarman” and “Black Waterside” are presented with uncluttered guitar and vocal arrangements that retain the narrative strength of the original songs.

“Carnlough Bay” adds a distinctly Irish sense of place, while “Bells of Rhymney,” adapted from the words of Welsh poet Idris Davies, brings the album to a serious and atmospheric conclusion. The combination of familiar compositions and traditional repertoire gives the record an appealing balance between early-seventies folk-pop and older ballad traditions.

Long difficult to obtain in its original private-press form, One Night Stand is a rewarding discovery for collectors of female-vocal folk, intimate acoustic music and obscure British and Irish recordings. This Big Pink Music edition presents the complete album with remastered sound in a miniature LP-style sleeve.

Track listing:

1. Carey
2. Brand New Key
3. Twelfth Street Rag
4. Journey
5. Honey Pie
6. Someday Soon
7. Big Yellow Taxi
8. Our Captain Cried “All Hands”
9. Month of January
10. Little Beggarman
11. Black Waterside
12. Carnlough Bay
13. Bells of Rhymney