Eddi Reader - Sings The Songs Of Robert Burns
by Adrian Huggins
published: 25 / 1 / 2009

Label:
Rough Trade
Format: CD
intro
Stunning reissue with extra tracks of Scottish folk artist Eddi Reader's 2003 album, who has taken several of Robert Burns' poems and songs and reworked them as her own
As the title of this album suggests this is a collection of songs by Scottish poet Robert Burns, beautifully performed by Scottish folk artist Eddi Reader. Reader has been on the folk scene for around 25 years and this album, originally released in 2003 and now reissued in an expanded version, came about after she played a series of special Burns performances, including some with the Scottish National Orchestra, and then decided to turn them into a full album. The songs are gorgeous and soulful and all are made into Reader's own songs, rather than just interpretations of songs that are engrained into the Scottish culture. It is this personal stamp that makes the album so special. I wasn’t sure how this album would sound, but found it musically sounding similar to Damien Rice, especially on songs like ‘Jamie Come Try Me’ and ‘Ye Jacobites’. The fiddles that appear occasionally throughout the album give it a real Celtic feel and work well beside Reader's unmistakably Scottish twang, ‘Wild Mountains’ is stunning and soars with its full string backing. In a very brave aand admirable move, ‘Auld Lang Syne’, probably the most well known of the songs, sounds very different from the New Year's style rendition most of are used to. Another song worth listening to is ‘Charlie is My Darling’ which is reworked with echoes of the Levellers. This is a great collection of songs that will have you itching to head North and take in the country that this beautiful music and poetry was inspired by.
Track Listing:-
1 Jamie Come Try Me2 My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose
3 Willie Stewart/Molly Rankin
4 Ae Fond Kiss
5 Brose And Butter
6 Ye Jacobites
7 Wild Mountainside
8 Charlie Is My Darling
9 John Anderson My Jo
10 Winter It Is Past
11 Auld Lang Syne
12 Green Grows The Rashes O
13 Comin' Through The Rye / Dram Behind The Curtain
14 Ye Banks And Braes O'Bonnie Doon
15 Aye Waukin-O
16 Dainty Davie
17 Leezie Lindsay
18 Of A'The Airts
Band Links:-
http://www.eddireader.co.uk/https://www.youtube.com/user/rosstyuk
https://plus.google.com/106289467619229103124
https://www.facebook.com/eddireader
https://twitter.com/eddireader
Label Links:-
https://twitter.com/RoughTradeRecshttp://roughtraderecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/roughtraderecords
live reviews |
Pavilion, Matlock, 24/10/2014 |
![]() |
Bill Seagrave watches Scottish folk pop artist Eddi Reader play an incredible set in the remarkable venue of the Pavilion in Matlock |
photography |
Eddi Reader (2014) |
![]() |
Bill Gray much acclaimed Scottish singer-songwriter and folk musician Eddi Reader at a gig at the ABC in her native Glasgow |
soundcloud
reviews |
The Best of Eddi Reader (2016) |
![]() |
Double CD spanning former Fairground Attraction singer-songwriter Eddi Reader’s career to date |
most viewed articles
current edition
Man From Delmonte - InterviewPennyblackmusic - Book of the Year Award 2024
Pennyblackmusic - Writers and Photographers' Albums of the Year 2024
Clive Langer - Interview
Johnnie Johnstone - Interview
Marianne Faithfull - Reflections
Laura Nyro - Profile
Vinyl Stories - Vinyl 2024
Johny Brown - Corpse Flower
Bob Dylan - A Complete Unknown
most viewed reviews
current edition
Ringo Starr - Look UpDusty Springfield - The BBC Sessions
Emily Burns - Die Happy
Pixie Lott - Encino
Dorie Jackson - Stupid Says Run
Joan Armatrading - How Did This Happen and What Does It Mean?
Rosie Lowe - Lover, Other
Beabadoobee - This is How The World Moves
Oïmiakon - Comptoir Des Vanites
Unthanks - In Winter
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart