Bridget St. John - Ask Me No Questions (1969)

Bridget St. John - Ask Me No Questions (1969)

Bridget St John is a English singer and songwriter who recorded some lovely albums in the early seventies. Her debut Ask Me No Questions was released in 1969 on John Peel's legendary Dandelion Records. Good old John even produced it. The music is very gentle and poetic. She sings beautifully in a quite low register accompanied by sparse guitar playing. Sometimes she sounds a little like Nico.

Bridget St. John's first album was a wholly acoustic, almost wholly solo folk affair, though different from many British folk albums of the time in that it was comprised entirely of self-composed material. St. John sang low-key, reflective, slightly sad songs that were unsurpassed, really, in their extraordinary level of containment. That's not say they were brilliant, or even as good as those of another British singer/songwriter of the time known for reserved meditations, Nick Drake. There was, however, the sense of an unflappable woman whose temperature would remain unchanged by nothing short of an equatorial sun. Her deep voice makes her sound at times rather like a Nico who can sing more in tune, without Nico's gothic or more bizarre streaks. Perhaps there's a tinge of Françoise Hardy without the pop sensibility, too, if you're looking for another comparison. It's music for wandering through meadows on overcast days, though a sameness to the presentation (the slide guitar on "Many Happy Returns" makes for a welcome dash of urgency) and a lack of excellent melodies can make it easy for one's mind to wander.

A British folk-rock singer/songwriter with a gentle, lilting voice, Bridget St. John enjoyed cult success in the U.K. in the late '60s and early '70s. In addition to recording some LPs for John Peel's Dandelion label (one of which was produced and scored by Pink Floyd collaborator Ron Geesin), she also did some vocals for Kevin Ayers' Shooting at the Moon album. Her final album, Jumblequeen, included support from members of Jethro Tull and King Crimson, as well as folk guitarist Stefan Grossman. She put her recording career on hold after moving to New York in 1976.

1. To B Without A Hitch
2. Autumn Lullaby
3. Curl Your Toes
4. Like Never Before
5. The Curious Crystals Of Unusual
6. Barefeet And Hot Pavements
7. I Like To Be With You In The Su
8. Lizard-Long-Tongue Boy
9. Hello Again ( Of Course )
10. Many Happy Returns
11. Broken Faith
12. Ask Me No Questions
13. Suzanne ( Bonus Track )
14. The Road Was Lonely ( Bonus Track)