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Post by andyhowell on Sept 4, 2017 10:58:00 GMT
The debate about Simpson's singing has always fascinated me, not least because I have the temerity to sing in public myself!
I first saw Simpson in 1980 when he and June Tabor were touring to promote the album he made with June tabor, A Cut Above. While the evening really focused on Tabor I was stunned by his guitar playing. He sang two songs I think, a couple of blues pieces. His performance may not have been that polished but was very intense. I saw him a lot over a short time and never really minded his singing although some found it difficult. He did improve a lot and by the time he made Sad and High Kicking it was getting more polished.
He left to live in the USA — he told me at the time — because it was so difficult to make a living. He jumped on the Wyndham Hill thing and made series of instrumental album which a lot of you seem to relate to. He had already produced three or four vocal albums. While in the USA he toured and continued to sing and regularly came back to the UK to tour.
When he came back the the UK Topic wanted him to record another instrumental album but he stuck to his guns and Prodigal Son was made — i think thesis a great album.
This is a guy who has worked hard on his singing. In my rather lofty view, he was guilty of what a lot of singers do — they try and hammer the vocal too much. He now seems happier singing to the PA, stripping back the attack and everything benefits from this. Oaths album he has also found a producer who seems to have got the best out of his voice.
I don't think Simpson has a great range but who cares? He can communicate his song and on this album there is some lovely new stuff.
I think he should be seen as a bit of a role models for those with not the strongest of voices! Ralph Mctell doesn't have a great range either ( or at least he doesn't push it) but it is a very rich and lush voice. Not everyone is so blessed but it doesn't mean that they can't knock out a song or two.
Could Jansch sing? Well, to a point.
Renbourne?
Richard Thompson?
There are many in the folky arena who have voices that are not instantly accessible. But does this really matter? The ability to communicate a story is the most important thing!
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Sept 4, 2017 12:01:30 GMT
Tabor and Simpson were a sublime combo - bought A Cut Above LP when it came out Mind you, Nic Jones is ace on Airs and Graces / Ashes and Diamomnds too.
For me, Martin Simpson is one of the few English singers who can take on convincingly a Merkin accent for the right material; presumably as a result of living there and living the music for some time.
Voices are v subjective. When Mrs O'C and I saw Nancy Kerr and James Fagan not long ago I rather liked her voice but Mrs O'C couldn't stand it.
Keith
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Post by andyhowell on Sept 4, 2017 12:23:01 GMT
Tabor and Simpson were a sublime combo - bought A Cut Above LP when it came out Mind you, Nic Jones is ace on Airs and Graces / Ashes and Diamomnds too. For me, Martin Simpson is one of the few English singers who can take on convincingly a Merkin accent for the right material; presumably as a result of living there and living the music for some time. Voices are v subjective. When Mrs O'C and I saw Nancy Kerr and James Fagan not long ago I rather liked her voice but Mrs O'C couldn't stand it. Keith Years ago Nancy once babysat my son! Her family are good friends of friends of mine. Her voice is often just too highly pitched for me but in all honestly I have learnt to really enjoy it over the years. I can see though how you might react coming to it for the first time. But that's the thing about singing. To be honest, one of the things i like most about the film world is that it applauds effort and commitment rather than just 'quality'. It is the music for most of us! SaveSave |
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Post by Phil Taylor on Sept 4, 2017 14:36:52 GMT
Tabor and Simpson were a sublime combo - bought A Cut Above LP when it came out Mind you, Nic Jones is ace on Airs and Graces / Ashes and Diamomnds too. For me, Martin Simpson is one of the few English singers who can take on convincingly a Merkin accent for the right material; presumably as a result of living there and living the music for some time. Voices are v subjective. When Mrs O'C and I saw Nancy Kerr and James Fagan not long ago I rather liked her voice but Mrs O'C couldn't stand it. Keith I remember borrowing A Cut Above LP first from the local library. Never heard of either of them at the time but I thought any woman who wears thigh length boots deserves listening to  Phil |
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Post by robmc on Sept 4, 2017 20:59:09 GMT
Don't know about the CD, but there's a good bit of banter on this read. I may buy the CD based on that alone!
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Post by martinrowe on Sept 9, 2017 9:06:31 GMT
Good recent programme on Radio 3's world music programme. Radio 3 Martin Simpson It starts with Blues Run the Game and then from about 30 minutes to the hour mark there's an interview with three live tracks. You can see the track listing if you scroll down. Me - I never tire of Bramble Briar. Martin |
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Post by earthbalm on Sept 9, 2017 14:37:29 GMT
Good recent programme on Radio 3's world music programme. Radio 3 Martin Simpson It starts with Blues Run the Game and then from about 30 minutes to the hour mark there's an interview with three live tracks. You can see the track listing if you scroll down. Me - I never tire of Bramble Briar. Martin The Bramble Briar is my favourite MS album too. Every track is a gem! |
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Post by Welshruss on Sept 9, 2017 19:30:19 GMT
The Bramble Briar is my favourite as well!
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Post by andyhowell on Sept 10, 2017 17:25:41 GMT
The Bramble Briar is a great album and a nice return to UK roots.
For those you buying the album I suppose you will all go for the Deluxe version but I'm not sure it is worth it Joshua gone Barbados I don't like (probably because I have been singing it for 30 years), too many reprises of Blues Run the Game and I couldn't care less about Heartbreak Hotel.
The substantive album is superb though. It is still growing on me.
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Post by Akquarius on Sept 11, 2017 15:36:39 GMT
I don't have to like all of them Guitar Gods, do I ?
Simpson is just not my cup of tea.
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Post by earthbalm on Sept 12, 2017 13:59:30 GMT
I have had a chance to listen to the album on headphones as well as a set of Adam monitors. It sounds like somebody has taken the trouble to treat the vocals with some processing. Really, a must for modern albums, no more than any other vocalist and the least Mr Simpson's recordings deserve. Just my ten pence's worth.
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Post by vikingblues on Sept 13, 2017 22:04:30 GMT
The CD(s) arrived yesterday and I've now had a chance to listen properly. I'm liking it more than I expected to - normally I prefer more non vocal, just guitar pieces and also often find that solo acoustic guitar player / singers don't benefit from having other musicians on their albums. I found "Vagrant Stanzas" was a Martin Simpson album that fitted my preferences very well. But there can be exceptions and in the case of "Trails and Tribulations" the other musicians make a fine job of adding benefits to the music very tastefully. I've been particularly taken with "A Ballad for Katharine of Aragon" - I just loved the mood that this one evoked. Just Martin Simpson's guitar and vocal and Ben Nicholls' string bass. Typically I've honed in on one of the minority of pieces that Martin Simpson has not left any notes about in the wee booklet that comes with the CDs. I have found it's a poem by Charles Causley that make up the lyrics. I don't pretend to understand them all but they seem to communicate strongly to me nonetheless. I find the guitar playing particularly appealing on this piece. Ended up with the 2 CD set as the single CD was not particularly cheaper. It does mean there's a chance to hear a track with a few minutes of nothing but guitar playing, albeit an electric resonator. Good one though. But like you Andy, I'll not be heading for the Heartbreak Hotel track. Overall a classy album.  Mark |
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Post by andyhowell on Sept 14, 2017 7:12:01 GMT
I have had a chance to listen to the album on headphones as well as a set of Adam monitors. It sounds like somebody has taken the trouble to treat the vocals with some processing. Really, a must for modern albums, no more than any other vocalist and the least Mr Simpson's recordings deserve. Just my ten pence's worth. Agreed. The Producer has earnt his fee here. |
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Post by earthbalm on Sept 14, 2017 19:34:34 GMT
The CD(s) arrived yesterday and I've now had a chance to listen properly. I'm liking it more than I expected to - normally I prefer more non vocal, just guitar pieces and also often find that solo acoustic guitar player / singers don't benefit from having other musicians on their albums. I found "Vagrant Stanzas" was a Martin Simpson album that fitted my preferences very well. But there can be exceptions and in the case of "Trails and Tribulations" the other musicians make a fine job of adding benefits to the music very tastefully. I've been particularly taken with "A Ballad for Katharine of Aragon" - I just loved the mood that this one evoked. Just Martin Simpson's guitar and vocal and Ben Nicholls' string bass. Typically I've honed in on one of the minority of pieces that Martin Simpson has not left any notes about in the wee booklet that comes with the CDs. I have found it's a poem by Charles Causley that make up the lyrics. I don't pretend to understand them all but they seem to communicate strongly to me nonetheless. I find the guitar playing particularly appealing on this piece. Ended up with the 2 CD set as the single CD was not particularly cheaper. It does mean there's a chance to hear a track with a few minutes of nothing but guitar playing, albeit an electric resonator. Good one though. But like you Andy, I'll not be heading for the Heartbreak Hotel track. Overall a classy album. Mark I too love the song "A Ballad for Katharine of Aragon" and am quite taken lyrically with "Maps". The album is very much a cousin to Righteousness and Humidity" even sharing a ' mondegreen' type of title. "Heartbreak Hotel" belongs to Mr Presley! Very glad I invested in the deluxe version. |
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Post by andyhowell on Sept 15, 2017 13:34:50 GMT
The Ballad for Katherine Aragon I think is extraordinary and though the lyrics are a bit bemusing they all seem to fit in well. I feel the same way about maps and about 'Ridgeway' which is a wonderful concise little number.
When I was at one of Simpson's guitar weekends three or four years ago he was writing a song the lyrics of which really got to me. It was about birds and woodland and rich shooting parties. For ages afterwards I would ask him if he had finished that song and the answer was always no. However, I can hear echoes on Toy Soldiers (Simpson, Cutting, Kerr) and also on Ridgeway. Fascinating that.
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Jo whoever he is.
