Dando Shaft
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1968-70) - Roger Bullen (RIP 2018) -- bass - Dave Cooper -- vocals, guitar - Kevin Dempsey -- guitar - Martin Jenkins (RIP 2011) -- guitar, mandolin, flute, violin - Ted Kay (RIP 2007) -- drums, percussion
line up 2 (1970) NEW - Polly Bolton -- vocals - Roger Bullen (RIP 2018) -- bass - Dave Cooper -- vocals, guitar - Kevin Dempsey -- guitar - Martin Jenkins (RIP 2011) -- guitar, mandolin, flute, violin - Ted Kay (RIP 2007) -- drums, percussion
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- The Albion Dance Band (Polly Bolton) - Blue Aquarius (Polly Bolton and Kevin Dempsey) - Polly Bolton (solo efforts) - Rosie Carson and Kevin Dempsey - Kevin Dempsey (solo efforts) - Hedgehog Pie (Martin Jenkins) - The Ashley Hutchings All Stars (Polly Bolton) - Bert Jansch Conundrum (Martin Jenkins) - Martin Jenkins (solo efforts) - Leamington Spa (Polly Bolton) - Joe O'Donnell's Shkayla (Martin Jenkins) - Pzazz (Kevin Dempsey) - Swarb's Lazarus (Kevin Dempsey) - Uiscedwr (Kevin Dempsey) - Vulcheva-Jenkins Incident (Martin Jenkins) - Whippersnapper (Kevin Dempsey and Martin Jenkins)
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Genre: folk Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Dando Shaft Company: Neon Catalog: NE5 Country/State: Coventry, UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: gatefold sleeve; radio station stamp on front and back covers WCLR Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $60.00
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The band's debut left the group feeling they'd been cheated by their manager Sandy Glennon, producer Miki Dalton and Young Blood Records. I found a 2012 interview where Dave Cooper talked about the experience of recording their first two albums:
"The first Dando Shaft album occurred as a result of a cancellation at Pye studios by Jonny Silvo. The bands manager Sandy Glennon suggested we could use the studio time to make a demo. After the first take the session producer Miki Dallon called us into the booth and announced “great lets make an album!”. The eight tunes were played live no overdubs, at the session in little over four hours.
A second session was booked at a later date, to mix the tracks and correct the one fluff we made in “Drops of Brandy”. At this session a contract and lawyer were produced and as a result of ‘support offered’ by Mr. Dallon and Young Blood Music we signed away 60% publishing and 100% of mechanical royalties. We quickly realized the promises and offers were lies and foam and resolved to get away from Miki Dalton and Young Blood Music, however we had an album release, “An Evening with Dando Shaft” to support our live shows. I contest this original contract was presented in a way that was duplicitous and the terms were unfair and unrepresentational and therefore illegal. We were on a musical mission and as a result of Martin’s [Jenkins] session work with “Matthews Southern Comfort” we signed with new management Axel Ents. (Ken Howard & Alan Blakely) This resulted in a new recording contract with RCA Neon, a move to London and the second album. The contract was for six albums over three years with an advance paid yearly. We were buddies with John Martyn and hoped that he or Jo Boyd would produce it. We thought we had seen the last of Miki Dalton but in the event Axel Ents, the “damagers” booked him as producer. This put an initial damper on the sessions but “the show must go on” so the album was made. Great songs, hot tunes and the vocal addition of Polly [Bolton] made a worthy mix. In 1970 it made the top 50 in US Cashbox not bad for a little acid-folk group."
Continuing
their collaboration with producer Mike Dalton, 1971's "Dando
Shaft" (occasionally referred to as "The Carousel
Album"), introduced former Leamington Spa singer Polly
Bolton to
the line-up. Musically the album wasn't a major departure from the English
folk-rock stylings found on their debut LP. Anyone into Fairport
Convention, Pentangle, or Steeleye Span was liable to find
For what it's worth, the original UK and US releases share the same eleven tracks, but they have different sequences. No Idea why RCA/Neon decided to change the order for the two hundred Americans who bought the album.
Unfortunately, just as the album was released, RCA effectively pulled the plug on is progressive-oriented Neon label, leaving the band with little promotional support. Critics were kind, but sales were few.
"Dando
Shaft" track listing: 1.) Coming Home To Me (Dave Cooper - Kevin Dempsey - Martin Jenkins - Polly Bolton - Roger Bullen) - 3:46 rating: **** stars You wouldn't think an acoustic folk band like Dando Shaft could rock out, but "Coming Home To Me" proved that wasn't the case. Mind you these guys were never going to be mistaken for Deep Purple, or Uriah Heep but they actually generated considerable energy with their blended vocals and bouncy arrangement. Actually the funniest and most accurate description of the song I've seen was "This is what Erebor dwarves listen to ..." Perfectly captures the vibe. = ) The track was even tapped as a UK single:
- 1971's "Coming Home To Me" b/w "Kalyope Driver" (RCA/Neon catalog number 72-0100)
2.) Railway (Dave Cooper - Kevin Dempsey - Martin Jenkins - Polly Bolton - Roger Bullen) - 2:46 rating: *** stars Admittedly Polly Bolton's sharp voice isn't going to appeal to everyone, but it you liked the late Sandy Denny, Jacqui McSheen, or Maddy Prior then there was a good chance "Railway" was going to appeal. Powered by Martin Jenkins "sawing" fiddle, "Railway" had a very Fairport-ish reel flavor. The end-of-song train sound effects were kind of cool. 3.) Whispering Ned (Dave Cooper - Kevin Dempsey - Martin Jenkins - Polly Bolton - Roger Bullen) - 1:36 rating: **** stars A lot of English folk music can be dour; tales of heartbreak; violence and mayhem that would easily match the stream of atrocities coming out of Hollywood in this day and age. Martin Jenkins' smiley voice made "Whispering Ned" different. A bouncy jig for people who don't like English folk-music. 4.) Sometimes (Dave Cooper - Kevin Dempsey - Martin Jenkins - Polly Bolton - Roger Bullen) - 4:02 rating: **** stars "Sometimes" was easily one of the prettiest songs to come out of the '70s English folk-rock movement. Powered by Dave Cooper and Kevin Dempsey's acoustic guitars, the song sported a surprisingly muscular melody and some delicious vocals from Cooper and Bolton. Not hard to imagine the late Dan Fogelberg recording a cover. Shame Neon didn't release it as a single. 5.) River Boat (Dave Cooper - Kevin Dempsey - Martin Jenkins - Polly Bolton - Roger Bullen) - 4:29 rating: **** stars The pretty ballad "River Boat" served as another showcase for Bolton; this time her voice much smoother and luxurious. Another album highlight.
(side
2) With Jenkins on lead vocals the sweet, harmony rich and bouncy "Kalyope Driver" was another album standout. The song seems to be inspired by a wagon drawn calliope player - an keyboard playered at traveling circuses. (I vaguely remember Kalyope as being the goddesses of music, song and dance and the goddess of eloquence, bestowing her gift on kings and princes.) The song also served as the "B" side on their "Coming Home To Me" 45. 2.) Waves Upon The Ether (Dave Cooper - Kevin Dempsey - Martin Jenkins - Polly Bolton - Roger Bullen) - 4:35 rating: **** stars The energetic "Waves Upon The Ether" added a jazzy edge to their folk sound. Kind of a David Crosby jazzy vibe here with some amazing mandolin moves from Jenkins. 3.) Dewet (instrumental) (Dave Cooper - Kevin Dempsey - Martin Jenkins - Polly Bolton - Roger Bullen) - 0:45 rating: ** stars The brief instrumental "Dewel" essentially served as a showcase for Jenkins' mandolin. Not an essential performance. 4.) Till The Morning Comes (Dave Cooper - Kevin Dempsey - Martin Jenkins - Polly Bolton - Roger Bullen) - 1:47 rating: *** stars With a pleasant flute propelled pastoral melody, "Till The Morning Comes" found Dempsey handling lead vocals with Bolton on harmonies. Shame the song was so brief. 5.) Pass It On (Dave Cooper - Kevin Dempsey - Martin Jenkins - Polly Bolton - Roger Bullen) - 3:48 rating: *** stars Imagine Donovan deciding he wanted to step out of his pop-psych world and try something in the English folk realm. Yeah, "Pass In On" wasn't going to win any prizes for sophisticated lyrics, but there was something charming in the track's children's lullaby vibe. Imagine a decent outing by The International String Band (a group that normally irritates me).. 6.) Prayer (Dave Cooper - Kevin Dempsey - Martin Jenkins - Polly Bolton - Roger Bullen) - 0:32 rating: ** stars Featuring Cooper accompanying himself on guitar, "Prayer" was more a song fragment than a full composition. Pretty, but too brief to make much of an impact.
© Scott R. Blackerby March 2026
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the sophomore collection of at least passing interest. Featuring
eleven group compositions, this time out the band
sounded far more comfortable in the studio. Once again Dave
Cooper and Kevin Dempsey provided first-rate acoustic guitar throughout with
an assist from mandolin player/multi-instrumentalist Martin Jenkins and
percussionist Ted Kay. The band were also blessed with four capable
singers in Bolton, Cooper, Dempsey and Jenkins. To my ears Bolton's
performances recalled Sandy Denny or Maddy Prior (whom she'd previously
worked with), while Dempsey was the most impressive of the three male
vocalists. Even though the album was an all acoustic affair with
little in the way of percussion, I've always been surprised at how energetic
and well arranged tracks like "Coming
Home To Me", "Kalyope Driver"
and "Waves Upon The Ether"
were. The album also included a
pair of the prettiest songs in the '70s English folk-rock catalog - check
out "Sometimes" and Bolton's performance on the gorgeous "River Boat".
Admittedly some folks will be put off by the group's all-acoustic sound, but
give the album a try as they generate as much energy as most of their
conventional, electric instrumented compatriots.
