Penny Valentine

[Chris]

I have long thought that Penny Valentine has to have been one of the better Music  Journalist of the 1970's. And she always wrote such wonderful interviews of Cat. I don't know if it was because they seem to have grown up in the same area of London or what? But her articles always seem to touch Cats inner spirit in a way that not many other writers seem to have touched. And she seemed to have genuinely liked Cat as a friend or a person.

What I would like to know is: is Penny Valentine still writing music articles for magazines in the UK, or has she retired?

[hummingbird]

Wow, that's a really good question Christine.  I agree with you about PV.  She did seem to have a kind empathy towards him.  She always wrote about him from a personal perspective, it seemed...never like he was just another pop star.  It seemed there was some mutual trust forged between them.

I guess she would be in her 50s now too.  If I remember correctly she contribute anecdotes for the David Evans bio.  Funny, I remember feeling a little 'let down' when I read her bits...she said something to the effect, that she couldn't remember how many times she had interviewed him or some of the interviews themselves.  I was surprised at that.  He seemed (seems) rather unique to me...I think I would've remembered each and every time I met with him.  But then again, maybe that's part of his strange legacy...it seems to have taken on more significance 'after the fact'  I guess that's how life and relationships can be sometimes.

I often wonder what some of the people who were part of the 'cat stevens machine' are doing now.  How they've moved on, what their thoughts are now about any/all of this.  I found VH1 BTM very touching in that respect...esp Alun Davies.  Boy when he says, (paraphrasing)..."...I was very fortunate to have attached myself to a major talent...so for a while there was a sense of loss''...and he let's out a big *sigh* you can just feel the emotion.  That part still gets me every time.

Ooops...I went way off track.  Just rambling.  Haven't seen any Penny Valentine interviews since the 70-s.

[Girlhowdy233]

INTERESTING you should mention Penny!   While I was in London last year, the subject of Dusty Springfield came up(my friend's boss was the lead guitarist in her band in the sixties)and he mentioned that there was a new bio about Dusty available, written by Penny Valentine and Dusty's manager Vickie Wickham.   If I remember correctly, the title is "Dancing With Demons" and is supposed to be very interesting and HONEST (it apparently pulls no punches in discussing Dusty's personal demons, as well as her famous off-kilter sense of humor).                                                                         Shirley ;D