First Songs | ||||
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Studio album by Gwyneth Herbert and Will Rutter | ||||
Released | 27 October 2003 [1] | |||
Studio | Cowshed Recording Studio, London | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Length | 53 minutes | |||
Label | Dean Street Records (CD: DNSTCD2002); Universal Music Classics & Jazz (CD/LP: 9866620) | |||
Producer | Ian Shaw | |||
Gwyneth Herbert and Will Rutter chronology | ||||
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First Songs, initially credited to "Gwyn and Will", [2] is the debut album of British singer-songwriter Gwyneth Herbert and composer and acoustic guitarist Will Rutter. [3] Comprising both original songs and standards, it was launched at London's Pizza Express Jazz Club in September 2003. [4] The Herbert/Rutter song "Sweet Insomnia" featured guest vocals from Jamie Cullum. [3]
Described by BBC Music as a "lovingly crafted debut", [5] the album received a significant amount of radio airplay on Jazz FM and BBC Radio 2, and was promoted by Michael Parkinson. [3] [6]
Writing in The Sunday Times , reviewer Clive Davis said: "If Gwyneth Herbert is not a star before long, I will eat my CD player. The sultry young singer’s partnership with guitarist Will Rutter has caused a stir on London's club circuit, and their debut album — artfully produced and arranged by vocalist Ian Shaw — lives up to that promise, blending pop and jazz values". [2]
No | Title | Lyrics and music | Length | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Little Red Rooster" | Willie Dixon | 2:41 | |
2 | "Maybe Me" | Gwyneth Herbert and Will Rutter | 3:10 | |
3 | "Beguiling Eyes" | Stephen Fearing | 4:13 | |
4 | "My Thief" | Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello | 4:06 | |
5 | "I Was Doin' Alright" | George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin | 2:59 | |
6 | "It's Getting Better" | Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil | 3:38 | |
7 | "Sweet Insomnia" | Gwyneth Herbert and Will Rutter | 3:39 | |
8 | "Calling You" | Bob Telson | 5:04 | |
9 | "No Other Love" | Gwyneth Herbert and Will Rutter | 3:38 | |
10 | "Trains & Boats & Planes" | Burt Bacharach and Hal David | 3:55 | |
11 | "Don't Worry About Me" | Ted Koehler and Rube Bloom | 3:58 | |
12 | "There'll Be Some Changes Made" | Benton Overstreet and Billy Higgins | 3:09 | |
13 | "The Ballad of the Sad Young Men" | Frances Landesman | 5:02 | |
14 | "Beguiling Eyes" (FM Mix) | Stephen Fearing | 4:24 | Total length = 53 minutes |
The album was produced by Ian Shaw, who arranged all the songs (except "No Other Love", which was arranged by Will Rutter). [7] It was recorded by Joe Leach at the Cowshed Recording Studio, London between June and September 2003. [7]
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