First Songs

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First Songs
Cover of First Songs CD Gwyn and Will.jpg
Studio album by
Gwyneth Herbert and Will Rutter
Released27 October 2003 [1]
StudioCowshed Recording Studio, London
Genre Jazz
Length53 minutes
Label Dean Street Records (CD: DNSTCD2002); Universal Music Classics & Jazz (CD/LP: 9866620)
Producer Ian Shaw
Gwyneth Herbert and Will Rutter chronology
First Songs
(2003)		 Bittersweet and Blue
(2004)

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]

Contents

Reception

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]

Track listing

NoTitleLyrics and musicLength
1"Little Red Rooster" Willie Dixon 2:41
2"Maybe Me"Gwyneth Herbert and Will Rutter3:10
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 Rutter3:39
8"Calling You" Bob Telson 5:04
9"No Other Love"Gwyneth Herbert and Will Rutter3:38
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 Fearing4:24Total length = 53 minutes

Personnel

Production

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]

References

  1. ↑ "Gwyneth Herbert & Will Rutter: First Songs". The Elvis Costello Wiki. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  2. 1 2 Clive Davis (2 November 2003). "Jazz: New Releases: Gwyn & Will: First Songs". The Sunday Times . Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Jack Foley (2003). "Gwyneth Herbert – I suppose for as long as I can remember, singing's always been my complete passion". IndieLondon. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  4. ↑ John Fordham (25 September 2003). "Gwyn Herbert/ Will Rutter". The Guardian . Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  5. ↑ Kathryn Shackleton (2004). "Gwyn and Will First Songs Review". BBC Music . Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  6. ↑ Rebecca Grundy (Spring 2008). "So what exactly lies between Gwyneth Herbert and her wardrobe?". Durham First. No. 24. University of Durham . Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 Album sleeve notes
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