Saturday, January 25, 2014

Deena Webster - is Tuesday's Child (Rare Folk UK 1968)


Size: 66.3 MB
Bitrate: 256
mp3
Ripped by: ChrisGoesRock
Artwork Included
Source: Japan 24-Bit Remaster

The influences of early Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Marianne Faithfull, and Sandy Denny echo heavily on Deena Webster's obscure 1968 British LP Tuesday's Child. Emphasizing high-voiced and earnest interpretations of contemporary songs by Donovan, Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, and the Bee Gees, there's also a hint of folk-pop orchestration in some of the arrangements. "Hurry, Tuesday Child" almost sounds like something Scott Walker could have sung in the late 1960s, though far more often the production has a plainer tone, and is on occasion fairly stark traditional folk. 

Of course, at least part of the reason this album is so obscure is that, despite the similarities to the aforementioned folk legends, Webster's voice isn't nearly as good or distinct as the vocals of Denny, Faithfull, Collins, or Baez. It's still pleasant period mid-'60s folk (actually slightly retro by the time of its 1968 release) for genre specialists. Considering how often the song was covered, "The House of the Rising Sun" is a surprising standout, Webster's haunted voice and acoustic guitar backed only by a spooky organ.

A Baezic collection of sweet hippy folk. Not perfect, but some very sweet and moving moments such as a very good interpretation of the Bee Gees New York Mining Disaster, Tangles of My Mind, Flower Lady and the romanescan Geordie.

 I sometime enjoy Bob Dylan's song when they are sung by people who actually are able to sing well. Her version of Just Like Tom Thumbs Blues is gorgeous. I felt quite carried away by the sensitive pop oriented orchestrations of Hurry Tuesday Child. I wasn't enammored by The House of the Rising Sun, thought it was a strange choice but I guess it was popular at the time.

Deena has a strong understanding of the lyrics she relates and handles them always with sincerity and intelligence. Not just a bimbo folkie chick. While I don't believe I have ever seen a performance of her, she has a voice commanding attention and I got quite lost in hearing this. I wish she had had a more extensive discography.

01. Hurry, Tuesday Child
02. Hair Of Spun Gold
03. New York Mining Disaster 1941
04. Geordie
05. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
06. The House Of The Rising Sun
07. Who Will Buy
08. The Flower Lady
09. Summer Day Reflection Song
10. Colours
11. Tangles Of My Mind
12. The Last Thing On My Mind

1. Link
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Deena Webster 1970



4 comments:

  1. Thanks for this one . . . nice voice and interesting to hear Dylan's song and the old blues (Rising Sun) in such a fresh, and it must be said - innocent voice.

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  2. Very nice voice. I enjoyed different versions of some "classics", too.
    JJ

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  3. Links are dead. So I found individual mp3 tracks here. They are only @256 but sound okay and all 12 tracks are available :
    https://audio-vk2.ru/?mp3=deena+webster&s=f
    Claire Voyant

    ReplyDelete