We have a very special video exclusive today from Eddi Reader. I’ll Never Be The Same is the opening track from the wonderful Vagabond album and in keeping with one of the records central themes. Eddi describes it as, “…a song I have had in my memory for lifetimes, it’s the first travelling we do.” She continues, “Drunk grown ups educated me with songs,” referring back to family parties, with everyone crammed into a room and her mother and various aunts and uncles encouraged to sing a song. I’ll Never Be The Same is also our Song of the Day:
When I saw Eddi at the Union Chapel, she gave a humorous account of such gatherings, but underlying that shaggy dog story she revealed her mother was a very fine singer in her own right, taking such opportunities quite seriously, practicing as she did the housework. Ultimately I’ll Never Be The Same stuck in Eddi’s memory and came full circle when, “I fell out with someone I loved and this song, like a long gone memory, came to sing itself to me.”
The jazzy lilt reflects the song’s origins. Originally composed in 1932, it started life as an instrumental written by ‘Matty’ Malneck, leader and violinist with The Paul Whitman Orchestra, with pianist Frank Signorelli and called Little Buttercup. When Gus Khan added the words, the tile changed and the song has since famously been recorded by Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald amongst others.
The video here is nicely off the cuff, following the style for Baby’s Boat with no elaborate props or styling, it’s a little ray of sunshine to puncture the current winter gloom. Our full review of the album, which is due for release on February 3rd, will follow next. In the meantme check Eddi’s tour dates below which includes an extensive tour of Ireland.
Forthcoming Gigs
20/01/14 – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow (Charity concert with Eddi performing 3 songs)
22/01/14 – Ayr Town Hall, Ayr
Ireland & N. Ireland Dates
25/01/14 – Waterfront Hall, Belfast
11/02/14 – Galway Town Hall, Galway, Ireland
12/02/14 – Waterford Theatre Royal, Waterford
13/02/14 – Vicar St, Dublin
14/02/14 – Mullingar Arts Centre, Mullingar
16/02/14 – Hawkswell Theatre, Sligo
17/02/14 – The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon
19/02/14 – The Grain Store, Ballymaloe
20/02/14 – Siamsa Tire Theatre, Tralee
21/02/14 – Glor Theatre, Ennis
22/02/14 – Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge
Vagabond is released 3 Feb 2014 via Reveal Records