Buffy Sainte-Marie - 'Vanguard Visionaries'

Finally I have Buffy's new record - it arrived from America faster than ordering it here and at less than half the price (including postage). With the remainder of the saving I also got 'Too Much Too Soon' by the New York Dolls.

So, the new record. It's part of a large series of records to promote Vanguard, artists signed to Vanguard at some point and their Vanguard records. Packing is minimal (a folded cardboard cover) as is information about Buffy, just a list of the songs and a list of other albums by Buffy available from Vanguard. Other than the two lists, the text is all about Vanguard. No photos other than the cover, no biography, nothing.

As for the music, just 10 tracks totaling 34 minutes, all songs already available on other CDs and no bonus material. The tracklist is also wrong when it notes the final track as being 'For Free' when it's actually 'Quiet Places'. The list inside notes the writer and publisher of 'For Free' so is it a mistake to include 'Quiet Places' on the CD or a mistake to note 'For Free' on the packaging? Most odd.

Was it worth the wait? Yes, on principle. I'm pleased that Buffy is included in the series and it's right that she has her place in that pantheon. I was also pleasantly surprised to hear the country-waltz version of 'Now That The Buffalo's Gone' from 'I'm Gonna Be A Country Girl Again' (the late Patrice Holloway sang backing vocals on that album, y'know) rather than the more usual acoustic guitar version. For that surprise alone this album gets the thumbs up from me.

Compilations are always tricksy things since we all have different favourites and different views of what might be representative. But if I was ever allowed the great honour and privilege of doing one for Buffy it would certainly have more than 10 tracks on it.