DANIELS, ELLIE - Both Sides of the Coin (teenage folk private press 1971) CD

Deluxe cd version of this reissue of totally unknown New England teenage folk private press album from 1971. Originally released by the artist herself as a demo-only, blank cover edition of 100 copies—she was just out of high school and hoping somebody might pay attention, but the LP slipped though the cracks, the chapter closed, and life moved forward on a different course.

But the album stands as a true female loner folk gem, of which there aren't many at all: just Ellie's humbly intimate vocals and her harp-like self taught finger-picked guitar playing, plus some lovely pastoral flute by a friend on a handful of tracks. The sounds are straight from the tuned-in melancholy teenage mind, reeling from the mind expansion of the 60s, but also the excesses—the aching innocence of youth tempered by a biting contempt for all things false.

Deeply reflective, poetic and searching lyrics of love / nature / peace playing out in real time against stark reality / longing / loss, and balanced at the very edge of the void. In the liner notes Ellie mentions only practicing under a blanket, and there's a up-close, lo-fi, almost voyeuristic realism / fragility here that's quite special. A complex and personal trip that takes some time and attention to fully unfold. Once it does, it will be no surprise that Ellie went on to build geodesic domes and become a professional midwife, as that same unique spirit is already deeply embedded here. A really wonderful album we're happy to help finally reach some receptive ears.

The original had no cover art, so we've kept the packaging suitably stark: packaged in a metallic silver offset printed deep blue art paper cover, with paste-on photo art and booklet insert containing more photos, Ellie's original notes from last years vinyl reissue, as well as updated and expanded notes. Edition of 500 copies
 Tracklist
1     Reach Out Brother     
2     How Many Miles     
3     Doctor Man     
4     It's A Long Long Road     
5     Song For A Wilted Rose     
6     Don't Think Twice     
7     Sister Orelia     
8     For Gro     
9     For Gretchen     
10     Should This Song     
11     You Still Shrug Your Shoulders     
12     On Confidence