People & Places (album)

Last updated
People & Places
People & Places (album).jpg
Studio album by
Released1995
Genre Folk rock
Label Compass [1]
Demon [2]
Producer Clive Gregson
Clive Gregson chronology
Carousel of Noise
(1994)
People & Places
(1995)
I Love This Town
(1996)

People & Places is an album by the English musician Clive Gregson, released in 1995. [3] [4] It was Gregson's first solo studio album in 10 years. [5]

Contents

Production

The album was recorded in Nashville, where Gregson had moved; Gregson also produced People & Places. [6] [7] The songs were taken from a pool of around 70 that Gregson wrote in early 1994, in Minneapolis. [8]

"Mary's Divorce" was inspired somewhat by the traditional folk song "Mairi's Wedding". [9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [9]

Trouser Press thought that Gregson "folds the multiple folk and rock personalities of his past into an uncharacterizable blend, even steering clear of the adult alternative (AAA) drain." [6] The Washington Post concluded that "the economical, sharply detailed lyrics are well matched to the poignant, moody melodies, but Gregson's opaque vocals and unimaginative arrangements prevent the songs from fulfilling their potential." [7] The Denver Post opined that "Gregson has a knack for melodies that sound old-English traditional but accompany his own contemporary, sophisticated lyrics about love's sad ways." [11]

The Chicago Reader called the album "a ruminative collection of bittersweet love songs marked by an unusual literateness." [12] Stereo Review determined that "the overall impression left by People & Places is just a sort of generic wistful melancholy." [13] The Los Angeles Daily News noted that "wry tales like 'Camden Town' and 'Feathers' draw from contemporary folk, British folk-rock and Celtic influences." [14]

AllMusic wrote that Gregson's "literate lyrics are short domestic stories told in a generally straightforward way." [10]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Camden Town" 
2."Feathers" 
3."Mary's Divorce" 
4."Gabriel" 
5."My Eyes Gave the Game Away" 
6."Medicine House" 
7."Black Train Coming" 
8."Bon Number" 
9."Blue Rose" 
10."My Favorite Lies" 
11."Restless" 
12."Lily of the Valley" 
13."When This War Is Over" 

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References

  1. Levesque, Roger (10 Nov 1995). "Gregson at Full Moon tonight". Edmonton Journal. p. D7.
  2. 1 2 Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 903.
  3. "Clive Gregson Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  4. Pick, Steve (22 Oct 1995). "Folk Singer Clive Gregson May Finally Get Attention He Deserves". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 2D.
  5. Orr, Jay (28 Apr 1995). "Places he remembers: Transplanted English singer-songwriter points toward home on new Compass release". Nashville Banner. p. C1.
  6. 1 2 "Clive Gregson & Christine Collister". Trouser Press. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Gregson's Writing Outshines Voice". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  8. Ansorge, Rick (14 Apr 1995). "The Two Faces of Clive Gregson". The Gazette. p. AA12.
  9. 1 2 MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 324.
  10. 1 2 "People & Places". AllMusic.
  11. Rosen, Steven (May 21, 1995). "For those who love the lyrical intelligence and bittersweet romanticism of British folk-rock...". The Denver Post. p. E12.
  12. Margasak, Peter (March 30, 1995). "Spot Check". Chicago Reader.
  13. Simels, Steve (Jul 1995). "Popular music — People & Places by Clive Gregson". Stereo Review. Vol. 60, no. 7. p. 82.
  14. Shuster, Fred (21 Apr 1995). "Music". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L3.