Genre: pop
Rating: 4 stars ****
Title: Sing Children Sing
Company: Columbia
Catalog: C 30663
Year: 1971
Country/State: UK
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: gatefold sleeve; minor edge and ring wear; name and minor writing on back cover;
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5219
Price: $20.00
Though she provided Elton John with one of his biggest hits ('Your Song'), singer/songwriter Leslie Duncan isn't particularly well known in the States (not that she's a mega star in her native UK).
Duncan's professional career actually stretched back to 1963 when she was signed by Parlophone. Over the next six years she released a string of nine singles for at least three labels. None did much commercially and by the late 1960s she'd largely abandoned her solo ambitions in favor of being an in-demand sessions singer, supporting a wide myriad of acts including such diverse performers as Long John Baldry, the Dave Clark Five, Elton John, and Pink Floyd (she's even on "Dark Side of the Moon"). That said, it was her work with Elton John that led to a resumption of her solo career in the form of a 1969 recording deal with CBS/Columbia.
Her label debut came with the 1969 UK single 'Sing Children Sing' b/w 'Exactly Who You Are' (CBS catalog number 4584). While the 45 did little commercially, Elton John's version of 'Your Song' (included on "Tumblwood Connection") gave her career a much needed shot in the arm. CBS/Columbia subsequently decided to take advantage of the resulting publicity with the release of Duncan's first album. Produced by husband Jimmy Horowitz, "Sing Children Sing" showcased Duncan's nifty voice and capable songwriting skills on an enjoyable set of folk-flavored pop. At least to my damaged ears, on tracks like 'Chain of Love', 'Mr. Rubin' and 'Rainbow Games' Duncan's sultry performances recalled a slightly more commercial Sandy Denny - not a bad person to be compared to. Infinitly better than anything in Kiki Dee, or Melanie's catalog ... Virtually any one of the dozen tracks would have made a nice single with the highlights including 'Help Me Jesus' and 'If You Won't Be Mine'. Elsewhere Elton John provided keyboards on the beautiful ballad 'Love Song' and a couple of other tracks. CBS/Columbia also re-issued the title track as a single (b/w 'Emma' (CBS catalog number 7493). All hyperbole aside, this is one of those rare albums that simply gets better each time you play it ...
In spite of positive reviews from the critics, the album did little commercially. Sales certainly weren't helped by Duncan's unwillingness to tour in support of the LP.
"Sing
Children Sing" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Chain of Love (Leslie Duncan - Jimmy Horowitz) - 4:32
2.) Lullaby (Leslie Duncan) - 3:52
3.) Help Me Jesus (Leslie Duncan) - 3:55
4.) Mr. Rubin (Leslie Duncan) - 7"05
5.) Rainbow Games (Leslie Duncan) - 2:45
(side
2)
1.) Love Song (Leslie Duncan) - 3:40
2.) Sunshine (Take Them Away) (Leslie Duncan) - 3:31
3.) Crying In the Sun (Leslie Duncan - Jimmy Horowitz) - 3:11
4.) Emma (Leslie Duncan - Jimmy Horowitz) - 2:39
5.) If You Won't Be Mine (Leslie Duncan) - 2:57
6.) Sing Children Sing (Leslie Duncan) - 3:59