Sings the Songs of Robert Burns

Last updated

Sings the Songs of Robert Burns
Sings-the-songs-of-robert-burns-cover.jpg
Studio album by
Eddi Reader
ReleasedUK: 12 May 2003
US: 3 February 2004
Studio CaVa Studios, Glasgow
Genre Folk
Length45:34
Label Rough Trade
Producer Boo Hewerdine
Eddi Reader chronology
Driftwood
(2001)		Sings the Songs of Robert Burns
(2003)		 Peacetime
(2007)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg link
PopMatters not rated link
Daily Telegraph CD of the year [ dead link ]
BBC not rated link

Sings the Songs of Robert Burns is the seventh studio album by Eddi Reader. It was released in the UK on 12 May 2003.

Contents

The album was premiered at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as part of the Celtic Connections Festival in January 2003 and on release garnered Reader some of the best reviews of her career.

Reader explained how the album came about in the extensive liner notes, how when her family was relocated to the Ayrshire town of Irvine (Burns was from Ayrshire), how it "saved my life to be introduced to an alternative Scottish beauty and language... I often thought Robert Burns was for the highbrow and not the likes of me, the hardly educated, council estate, overspill girl. Now I see that I was wrong and that I am precisely the person Burns wrote for."

Reader says she has discovered in Robert Burns something she believes has been overlooked in the approach to his work, and she believes that her interpretations of his poetry will reach more ears than have previously heard him.

She explains: "I sang My Love's Like a Red, Red Rose to a bunch of 'worse for the drink' people in a bar in Glasgow one cold January night and I felt something happening between me and the words and the people listening, something profoundly moving. After all my travels singing songs to people, I recognised this as being a vein of emotional gold as yet unmined ... I began to be spooked by him and started on a journey to find him, Robert, the guy from Ayrshire that I would have drunk with, walked with and probably got into trouble with. I wanted to show him off to everyone, sit folk down and say 'no! no! listen, listen, really listen, listen to this...'"

Track listing

  1. "Jamie Come Try Me" (Robert Burns, arranged by Reader, Carr, Cunningham, Hanson, Hewerdine, McCusker, Reid, Vernal) – 4:41
  2. "My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose" (Robert Burns, arranged by Reader) – 3:50
  3. "Willie Stewart/Molly Rankin" (Robert Burns, arranged by Reader, Carr, Cunningham, Hewerdine, McCusker, Vernal, Rankin) – 4:18
  4. "Ae Fond Kiss" (Robert Burns, arranged by Reader, Carr, Cunningham, Hewerdine, McCusker, Vernal) – 6:35
  5. "Brose and Butter" (Robert Burns, arranged by Reader, Carr, Cunningham, Hewerdine, McCusker, Vernal, McGoldrick) – 4:02
  6. "Ye Jacobites" (Robert Burns, arranged by Reader, Reid) – 4:03
  7. "Wild Mountainside" (John Douglas) – 3:54
  8. "Charlie Is My Darling" (Robert Burns, arranged by Reader, Carr, Cunningham, Hewerdine, McCusker, Vernal) – 3:22
  9. "John Anderson My Jo" (Robert Burns, arranged by Reader) – 1:52
  10. "Winter it is past" (Robert Burns, arranged by Reader) – 4:15
  11. "Auld Lang Syne" (Robert Burns, arranged by Reader) – 4:36

Deluxe edition

The songs of Robert Burns Deluxe Edition
The-songs-of-Robert-Burns-Deluxe-Edition-cover.jpg
Studio album by
Eddi Reader
Released12 January 2009
RecordedBy Robert Rankin at CaVa Studios, Glasgow
Genre Folk
Length75:28
Label Rough Trade
Producer Boo Hewerdine, Eddi Reader
Eddi Reader chronology
Peacetime
(2007)		The songs of Robert Burns Deluxe Edition
(2009)		 Love is the Way
(2009)
Deluxe Edition
Review scores
SourceRating
Sunday Mail Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg Avril Cadden
The Big Issue Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The List Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg Donald Reid
thelondonpaper Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg Link [ permanent dead link ]

A new edition of the album, with seven extra tracks, was released in the UK on 12 January 2009. The album was re-released to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns.

Of the seven additional songs, two were from the original 2003 sessions ("Green Grow the Rashes O", "Of A' the Airts"), three were previously available on 2007's Peacetime ("Ye Banks and Braes", "Aye Waukin-O" and "Leezie Lindsay") "Dainty Davie", also from that session was previously unreleased, and "Comin' Thro the Rye/Dram Behind the Curtain" was a brand new recording. "Dram Behind the Curtain" was written by the Scottish Highlands composer and accordionist Mairearad Green.

The album was promoted, like its original release, with two sold-out shows at the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow. The deluxe edition is dedicated to Kevin McCrae, the Scottish composer, arranger, conductor and cellist, who died in April 2005. McCrae conducted and arranged the strings on the original album. The additional tracks are:

12. "Green Grow the Rashes O" – 4:36
13. "Comin' Through the Rye / Dram Behind the Curtain (Maireard Green)" – 2:34
14. "Ye Banks and Braes o' Bonnie Doon" (Robert Burns, arr. Reader, McCusker, Hewerdine, Dodds, Kelly, Reid, McGuire) – 3:37
15. "Aye Waukin-O" (Robert Burns, arr. Reader, McCusker, Hewerdine, Carr) – 4:04
16. "Dainty Davie" (Robert Burns, arr. Reader, McCusker) – 5:27
17. "Leezie Lindsay" (Robert Burns, arr. Reader, chorus written by Burns, verses by Reader, Hewerdine) – 4:49
18. "Of A' the Airts" (Robert Burns, arr. Reader, Hanson) – 4:45

Personnel

Certifications

Certifications for Sings the Songs of Robert Burns
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [2] Silver60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boo Hewerdine</span> English singer-songwriter

Mark "Boo" Hewerdine is an English singer-songwriter and record producer. His work includes lead singer and creative force behind The Bible, formed in the 1980s, and reformed in 1994, as well as solo recordings and work for film. He has also produced records by several artists, including a long association with Eddi Reader. He has been described as "one of Britain's most consistently accomplished songwriters".

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

Sadenia "Eddi" Reader MBE is a Scottish singer-songwriter, known for her work as frontwoman of 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John McCusker</span> Scottish folk musician

John McCusker is a Scottish folk musician, record producer, and composer. An accomplished fiddle player, he had a long association as a member of the Battlefield Band beginning in the 1990s and was later a band member and producer for folk singer Kate Rusby. He has served as producer and arranger for artists in a range of genres and also has several solo albums to his credit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Prime</span> Musical artist

James Prime is a Scottish musician best known as the keyboard player for rock band Deacon Blue. Prime also lectures at the University of the West of Scotland. Known as a Hammond/piano player, his talents have been sought after by John Martyn, Johnny Hallyday, Phil Cunningham, Eddi Reader and Little Richard..

<i>The Girl Who Couldnt Fly</i> 2005 studio album by Kate Rusby

The Girl Who Couldn't Fly is an album by British folk musician Kate Rusby, released in 2005. The title refers to Rusby's fear of flying.

<i>Little Lights</i> 2001 studio album by Kate Rusby

Little Lights is an album by British folk musician Kate Rusby, released in 2001.

<i>Peacetime</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Eddi Reader

Peacetime is the eighth studio album by Eddi Reader released in the UK on 29 January 2007.

<i>Simple Soul</i> 2001 studio album by Eddi Reader

Simple Soul is the fifth studio album by Eddi Reader released in the UK on 29 January 2001.

<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>Candyfloss and Medicine</i> 1996 studio album by Eddi Reader

Candyfloss and Medicine is the third studio album by Eddi Reader released in the UK on 8 July 1996, which peaked #24 in the UK charts.

Ian Carr is an English guitarist and record producer from Cumbria, who has performed with Swåp and The Kate Rusby Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kris Drever</span> Musical artist

Kris Drever is a Scottish contemporary folk musician and songwriter who came to prominence in 2006 with the release of his debut solo album, Black Water. Drever is the vocalist and guitarist of the folk trio Lau with Martin Green and Aidan O'Rourke. He has worked with other British folk contemporaries, including Kate Rusby, John McCusker, Ian Carr, Eddi Reader and Julie Fowlis.

<i>Driftwood</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Eddi Reader

Driftwood is the sixth studio album by Eddi Reader released in the UK on 8 October 2001.

<i>Before the Ruin</i> 2008 studio album by Kris Drever, Roddy Woomble and John McCusker

Before the Ruin is a collaborative studio album by Scottish folk musicians Kris Drever, John McCusker and Roddy Woomble, released on 15 September 2008 through Navigator Records. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at #156 and the Scottish Albums chart at #45. The album was originally scheduled for a May release, but was delayed due to McCusker touring with Mark Knopfler.

<i>Under One Sky</i> (album) 2009 studio album by John McCusker

Under One Sky is an hour-long vocal and instrumental suite composed by Scottish folk multi-instrumentalist John McCusker. A studio album was released in February 2009, through Navigator Records. According to a poster advertising the Under One Sky tour: "This large scale composition explores and interweaves the many different styles, genres and traditions at work in today's dynamic UK folk scene"

<i>Love Is the Way</i> 2009 studio album by Eddi Reader

Love Is the Way is the ninth studio album by Eddi Reader. It was released in the UK on 13 April 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heidi Talbot</span> Musical artist

Heidi Talbot is an Irish folk singer from Kill, County Kildare, Ireland. Talbot is a former singer of Irish-American musical group Cherish the Ladies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transatlantic Sessions</span> Series of musical productions by Glasgow-based Pelicula Films Ltd

Transatlantic Sessions is the collective title for a series of musical productions by Glasgow-based Pelicula Films Ltd, funded by- and produced for BBC Scotland, BBC Four and RTÉ of Ireland. The productions comprise collaborative live performances by various leading folk, bluegrass and country musicians from both sides of the North Atlantic, playing music from Scotland, Ireland, England and North America, who congregate under the musical direction of Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas to record and film a set of half-hour TV episodes. The Television director is Mike Alexander and the producer is Douglas Eadie.

<i>Vagabond</i> (Eddi Reader album) 2014 studio album by Eddi Reader

Vagabond is the tenth album by Eddi Reader released in the UK on 3 February 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joke (I'm Laughing)</span> 1994 single by Eddi Reader

"Joke (I'm Laughing)" is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Eddi Reader, which was released in 1994 as the second single from her second studio album Eddi Reader. It was written by Boo Hewerdine and produced by Greg Penny. "Joke (I'm Laughing)" reached No. 42 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for three weeks.

References

  1. ↑ Steinberg, Lianne. "Review: EDDI READER – The Songs of Robert Burns (Rough Trade)". The Big Issue in the North . The Big Life Company (753, 23 December–4 January 2009): 25.
  2. ↑ "British album certifications – Eddi Reader – Sings the Songs of Robert Burns". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 10 August 2022.
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.