Dana Gillespie - Hold on to Your Fire - Non-Album Tracks (1971-1976)

Recently, a commenter asked me if I still plan on posting more non-album tracks collections. Actually, I have lots of them that are already made. I just don't get around to posting them much because they're part of my music collection and I usually prioritize posting things I've recently discovered. But I'll try to get back to posting more of those. Back in 2020, I posted a non-album tracks collection by British singer-songwriter Dana Gillespie. It consisted of rare songs she did in the late 1960s. Finally, I'm back with a second such collection, from the early 1970s.

First, here's the link to the earlier collection:

https://albumsthatshouldexist.blogspot.com/2020/11/dana-gillespie-light-up-various-songs.html

At the time of the start of the music here, she had released two albums in the late 1960s, mostly consisting of her own songs. Both were well received, but neither of them were hits. Around 1970, she started musically collaborating with David Bowie, whom she had known since about 1965. She was signed to his record company and management team. Bowie even wrote a song for her, "Andy Warhol," and they performed it together on the BBC in 1971. 

The first five songs here are demos she recorded in 1971. This was half of an album with her songs on one side and Bowie's songs on the other. About 500 copies were made and circulated in the music industry to help both of them get record deals. Bowie's songs were redone for his album "Hunky Dory." These versions come from a later archival compilation called "What Memories We Make."

However, Gillespie didn't release another album out until 1973, because she got involved playing a major role (Mary Magdelene) in the first London production of the play "Jesus Christ Superstar." That kept her busy through 1972, and a soundtrack was released in 1973. Tracks 6 and 7 here are from that. 

When she finally released her next album, "Weren't Born a Man," it was a very good one. I recommend it if you haven't heard it yet. Bowie and his guitarist Mick Ronson technically produced it. But in fact, they were too busy with their careers, having turned into big stars since Bowie started collaborating with Gillespie in 1971. But Bowie did have some involvement, for instance, playing on and producing that album's version of "Andy Warhol." 

In 1974, she released another album, "Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle." This was also was good, but didn't get much traction. It showed her moving more in a blues direction. Unfortunately, she began having trouble with her record company. She got stuck in a dispute, and was unable to release any more records. Her next album wouldn't come out until 1982. From that point on, she went all in on the blues, and put out many more albums in the blues style. Tracks 8 through 14 are from 1973 and 1974, and mostly consist of songs she wanted to put out on her next album. Those didn't come out until the "What Memories We Make" compilation mentioned above.

While having a music career, Gillespie also was pursuing a movie career. She certainly had the looks to be a big star. When she was blocked from making more records, she spent most of the rest of the 1970s as an actress. She landed some prominent roles, but never became a big star in that field either. The last song here is from a 1976 movie. 

One final thing. Here's an article from the Guardian about Gillespie's very interesting life. It's worth a read:

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/aug/12/bowie-bed-hopping-and-the-blues-the-wild-times-of-dana-gillespie

This album is 58 minutes long.

01 Mother, Don't Be Frightened (Dana Gillespie)
02 Andy Warhol (Dana Gillespie)
03 Never Knew (Dana Gillespie)
04 All Cut Up on You (Dana Gillespie)
05 Lavender Hill (Dana Gillespie)
06 Everything's Alright (Dana Gillespie with Stephen Tate & Paul Nicholas)
07 I Don't Know How to Love Him (Dana Gillespie)
08 Hold on to Your Fire (Dana Gillespie)
09 Man Size Job (Dana Gillespie)
10 Stoke the Engine (Dana Gillespie)
11 Goin' Crazy with the Blues (Dana Gillespie)
12 Say Goodnight to the Night (Dana Gillespie)
13 Do the Spin (Dana Gillespie)
14 Gone at the Game (Dana Gillespie)
15 Celandine's Blues (Dana Gillespie)

https://pixeldrain.com/u/LAAK3hDd 

alternate:

https://bestfile.io/en/I0tgLutyB6aSxSK/file

The cover image is from a 1968 movie called "The Lost Continent." The original picture I found was in black and white, but I colorized it. She also had some dirty smudges on her skin, which I removed in Photoshop.