10 Stories of Women. (4) Shelagh McDonald
Shelagh McDonald - Stargazer For
@[Taddi] This is a story that means a lot to me.
It’s the early days of November 2005 when a ghost appears at the door of the Scottish Daily Mail.
It takes the form of a 57-year-old woman, clearly marked by life but hinting at a once-bright beauty. No one recognizes Shelagh McDonald, the star who vanished into thin air just before she was about to shine.
Shelagh was destined for greatness: a presence that could not go unnoticed, a voice of crystal clarity, and many good friends. Starting with John Martyn, who had known her as a teenager when he was beginning to grapple with his immense talent.
Then they lost touch. But one fine day, John saw her walking in London, got off the bus he was on, and took her to his manager Sandy Glennon.
Shelagh had to wait for Glennon to finish his commitments with another singer (a certain Sandy Denny), but soon two amazing albums came out: "The Shelagh McDonald Album" and "Stargazer." Two beautiful records (especially the second), illuminated by a breathtaking lineup of musicians: Richard Thompson, Dave Mattacks, Danny Thompson, Keith Tippett, Keith Christmas, some members of Fotheringay, and on the second, with string arrangements by Robert Kirby (the same one from Nick Drake’s "Brayter Layter"). "Stargazer" is a masterpiece, MA-STE-RPIECE (and don’t say I didn’t tell you!).
"Stargazer" didn’t explode immediately, but it quickly began to take the shape of a classic. So they decided to start work on Shelagh’s third LP, convinced that - by now - everything was ready for the big breakthrough.
But Shelagh disappeared.
Literally swallowed into nothingness, vanished from the face of the Earth, not even her parents knew what had become of her. Disappeared for 33 years.
Then, in 2005, her records were reissued. A few newspapers published one or two articles about her, including the "Scottish Daily Mail," and by pure chance, the article came to Shelagh’s attention, who, incredulous, showed up at the newspaper to tell her story.
One day she had woken up, and three weeks had passed... Yes, drugs can play those kinds of tricks! It took her months to recover; she couldn’t follow people’s conversations, saw faceless people everywhere, and her voice (her voice!) was gone.
She wandered around, lived off odd jobs and state benefits, got married, and she and her husband ended up living in a tent. Then the love of her life died.
And, suddenly, Music came knocking at her door again, in the form of an article from the "Scottish Daily Mail."
Does it ring a bell? Incredible comebacks like Bunyan, Perhacs, etc.?
No, unfortunately, this isn't a fairytale with a happy ending. Shelagh has a thick folder full of ideas, but no one has yet decided to record them, and she herself doesn’t insist. She can’t do it. Her voice is gone; she is gone.
