Dear John (Eddi Reader song)

Last updated
"Dear John"
Eddi Reader Dear John 1994 single cover.jpg
Single by Eddi Reader
from the album Eddi Reader
B-side "Battersea Moon"
Released24 October 1994 [1]
Length4:08
Label Blanco y Negro
Songwriter(s) Kirsty MacColl
Mark E. Nevin
Producer(s) Greg Penny
Eddi Reader singles chronology
"Joke (I'm Laughing)"
(1994)		"Dear John"
(1994)		"Nobody Lives Without Love"
(1995)

"Dear John" is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Eddi Reader, released on 24 October 1994 as the third and final single from her second studio album Eddi Reader . It was written by Kirsty MacColl and Mark E. Nevin, and produced by Greg Penny. "Dear John" reached No. 48 in the UK and remained in the charts for two weeks. [2] In 1995, the song was nominated for "Best song musically and lyrically" at the Ivor Novello Awards. [3]

Contents

Background

"Dear John" was inspired by the end of MacColl's ten year marriage to Steve Lillywhite. It was originally intended for inclusion on her 1993 album Titanic Days , however she considered it too emotional and personal, and offered it to Reader instead. MacColl's demo version, which was recorded at Nevin's house, would later surface on the 2005 compilation From Croydon to Cuba: An Anthology . [4] [5]

Nevin said of the song in the 2001 BBC documentary The Life and Songs of Kirsty MacColl: "It was really Kirsty admitting violently that her marriage was over. I remember when she first sung me the lyrics, I put my arms around her and she cried, and I cried because I knew it was the end." [6] He told Ian Peel of Record Collector : ""Dear John" was literally Kirsty's Dear John note to her husband, Steve, and just too close to the bone. You can hear how emotional Kirsty was when she was singing it [on the demo version]. We ended up giving the song to Eddi Reader." [4] Reader told Insight in 2019 that performing "Dear John" live "can be difficult". She added: "It was written by people in the misery of divorce then sung at the time by me, in the misery of that too!" [7]

Reception

In a review of Eddi Reader, Jan Moir of The Guardian described the song as a "big ballad" and considered it the best track on the album. [8] Rick Anderson of AllMusic felt "Dear John" was "perhaps the tenderest kiss-off song ever written". [9]

Track listing

7" single
  1. "Dear John" - 4:08
  2. "Battersea Moon" (Jay's Edit) - 4:12
CD single
  1. "Dear John" - 4:08
  2. "When I Watch You Sleeping" (Demo Version) - 3:53
  3. "What You Do With What You've Got" - 4:37
  4. "That's Fair" - 4:44

Personnel

Production

Other

Charts

Chart (1994)Peak
position
UK Singles Chart [2] 48

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairground Attraction</span> British folk/soft rock band

Fairground Attraction are a London-based folk and soft rock band. They are best known for the 1988 hits "Perfect" and "Find My Love", both from their debut studio album, The First of a Million Kisses. The band won two Brit Awards in 1989, but broke up the following year to pursue solo careers. They reformed in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddi Reader</span> Scottish singer-songwriter

Sadenia Reader MBE is a Scottish singer-songwriter, known for her work as the lead vocalist of the folk and soft rock band Fairground Attraction, and for an enduring solo career. She is the recipient of three Brit Awards. In 2003, she showcased the works of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns.

<i>Titanic Days</i> Album by Kirsty MacColl

Titanic Days is the fourth studio album by Kirsty MacColl, released in 1993. Containing eleven tracks, Titanic Days was sometimes hard to get in years after its release, but it was remastered and re-released in 2005 by ZTT with a second CD of non-album tracks and some live recordings, including a version of "Miss Otis Regrets". In 2012, another remastered re-issue of the album was released by Salvo/ZTT, which again featured a second disc of bonus tracks. This is the final album to be produced by her then-husband Steve Lillywhite, before they divorced several years after the release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Affair</span> 1991 single by Kirsty MacColl

"My Affair" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, released by Virgin on 29 July 1991 as the second single from her third studio album, Electric Landlady. It was written by MacColl and Mark E. Nevin, and produced by Steve Lillywhite. "My Affair" reached No. 56 in the UK and remained in the charts for two weeks. A music video was filmed to promote the single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">They Don't Know (Kirsty MacColl song)</span> 1979 single by Kirsty MacColl

"They Don't Know" is a song composed and first recorded in 1979 by Kirsty MacColl. Though unsuccessful, the song was later recorded by Tracey Ullman in 1983. Ullman's version reached No. 2 in the UK and No. 8 in the US.

<i>Angels & Electricity</i> 1998 studio album by Eddi Reader

Angels & Electricity is the fourth studio album by Eddi Reader released in the UK on 11 May 1998.

<i>Eddi Reader</i> (album) 1994 studio album by Eddi Reader

Eddi Reader is the second studio album by the Scottish singer Eddi Reader released in the United Kingdom on 20 June 1994.

"A New England" is a song written and recorded by Billy Bragg, included on his album Life's a Riot with Spy Vs Spy, released in 1983. It remains a signature song from the early years of Bragg's recording career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!</span> 1990 single by Kirsty MacColl

"Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1990 as the fourth and final single from her second studio album Kite. It was written by MacColl and produced by Steve Lillywhite. The song reached No. 82 in the UK and remained in the charts for four weeks. A music video was filmed to promote the single, directed by Sarah Tuft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirsty MacColl</span> English singer and songwriter (1959–2000)

Kirsty Anna MacColl was an English singer and songwriter, daughter of folk singer Ewan MacColl. She recorded several pop hits in the 1980s and 1990s, including "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" and cover versions of Billy Bragg's "A New England" and the Kinks' "Days". Her first single, "They Don't Know", had chart success a few years later when covered by Tracey Ullman. MacColl also sang on a number of recordings produced by her then-husband Steve Lillywhite, most notably "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues. Her death in 2000 led to the "Justice for Kirsty" campaign.

<i>The First of a Million Kisses</i> 1988 studio album by Fairground Attraction

The First of a Million Kisses is the debut album by Fairground Attraction, released in 1988. The album features the number-one single "Perfect".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walking Down Madison</span> 1991 single by Kirsty MacColl

"Walking Down Madison" is a song by Kirsty MacColl featuring Aniff Cousins, released by Virgin Records on 7 May 1991 as the lead single from her third studio album, Electric Landlady. It charted at No. 23 on the UK Singles Chart and impacted a number of Billboard charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free World (song)</span> 1989 single by Kirsty MacColl

"Free World" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, released on 20 March 1989 as the lead single from her second studio album, Kite. It was written by MacColl and produced by Steve Lillywhite. "Free World" reached number 43 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for seven weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Innocence (Kirsty MacColl song)</span> 1989 single by Kirsty MacColl

"Innocence" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1989 as the third single from her second studio album Kite. It was written by MacColl and Pete Glenister, and produced by Steve Lillywhite. "Innocence" reached No. 80 in the UK and remained in the charts for four weeks. The song's music video was filmed in the back garden of MacColl's home in Ealing. It was directed by Sarah Tuft and features a cameo appearance from Edward Tudor-Pole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caroline (Kirsty MacColl song)</span> 1995 single by Kirsty MacColl

"Caroline" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, released in February 1995 as a single from her compilation album Galore. The song was written by MacColl, and produced by Victor Van Vugt and MacColl. "Caroline" reached number 58 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for two weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel (Kirsty MacColl song)</span> 1993 single by Kirsty MacColl

"Angel" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, released in 1993 as the lead single from her fourth studio album Titanic Days. It was written by MacColl and produced by Steve Lillywhite. For its release as a single, "Angel" was remixed with additional production by Gregg Jackman. The song reached number 87 in the UK Singles Chart and number 26 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Stop Killing You</span> 1993 single by Kirsty MacColl

"Can't Stop Killing You" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 1993 as the second single from her fourth studio album Titanic Days. It was written by MacColl and Johnny Marr, and produced by Victor Van Vugt and Baboon Farm. The song reached No. 20 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and remained on the chart for seven weeks.

<i>From Croydon to Cuba: An Anthology</i> 2005 box set by Kirsty MacColl

From Croydon to Cuba: An Anthology is a three disc box set by the British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, released by Virgin in 2005. It reached No. 98 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In These Shoes?</span> 2000 single by Kirsty MacColl

"In These Shoes?" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released in 2000 as the second single from her fifth studio album Tropical Brainstorm. It was written by MacColl and Pete Glenister, and produced by MacColl, Glenister and Dave Ruffy.

<i>Mirmama</i> 1992 studio album by Eddi Reader

Mirmama is the debut solo studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter Eddi Reader, released by RCA in 1992. The album reached No. 34 on the UK Albums Chart. The album did not receive a US release in 1992, but was later remastered and issued on CD there by Compass Records in 1997.

References

  1. ↑ "Single Releases". Music Week . 22 October 1994. p. 27. ISSN   0265-1548.
  2. 1 2 "EDDI READER | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  3. ↑ "Archive | The Ivors | The Ivors Academy | Champions of Music Creators". The Ivors Academy. 1995-05-23. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  4. 1 2 "The Making Of Titanic Day - Record Collector Magazine". Recordcollectormag.com. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  5. ↑ "Dear John". Kirsty MacColl. 2005-03-28. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  6. ↑ "The Life and Lyrics of Kirsty Maccoll (2001)". BFI. Archived from the original on August 3, 2019. Retrieved 2019-08-03.
  7. ↑ gryffe. "Eddi Reader Interview – Insight". Advertizer.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  8. ↑ Moir, Jan (18 May 1994). "Lady sings the blues". The Guardian.
  9. ↑ Eddi Reader. "Eddi Reader - Eddi Reader | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.