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Gregson and Collister successfully raised their ambitions and widened their stylistic reach on A Change In The Weather with an even better collection of songs and settings. Joining their voices in more intricate harmonies and testing out more complex material, the duo soars through poignant essays on wife abuse (‘This Is The Deal’), mortality (‘How Weak I Am’), the hollowness of pop stars and culture (‘Jumped Up Madam’ and the CD-bonus ‘Temporary Sincerity’) and overdriven children (‘Talent Will Out’). On a lighter note, Gregson reveals an abiding enthusiasm for Elvis Presley with the witty and personal ‘(Don’t Step In) My Blue Suede Shoes’, to which Collister adds a rocking rendition of the King’s own ‘Tryin’ To Get To You’. A tremendous record without one mediocre or ineffectual track.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Audio CD
A Change In The Weather was originally released in 1989 on the folk label Topic's short-lived imprint Special Delivery. I bought a copy at a Gregson and Collister gig and felt slightly let down by the album (the mainly-live "Home and Away" is much better at capturing their live energy). On reflection, I think A Change in the Weather falls into two categories - some absolutely excellent songs, up there with the duo's best material, and some slightly lumpy uptempo songs that don't work quite so well.
All the slow songs are great, "Blues on the Run" suits Christine Collister's voice so well, and "Talent Will Out" is a typically dark and creepy tale sung from the point of view of a precociously-talented 10 year old (or is it an adult who hasn't grown up emotionally...? hmmmm). "Blessing in Disguise" opened the original album running order and, although it treads a well-worn descending chord staircase, the lyrics again catch you out with a tale of mistaken identity leading to luuurve.
Two of the faster-tempo songs are also classics; "This Is The Deal" (originally started Side 2 of the vinyl album) is a stark and explicit tale of domestic violence that is extremely affecting ("And though the kids are sleeping with their fingers in their ears/They recognise their father laughing at their mother's tears"). "Temporary Sincerity" was originally a CD-only bonus track, but is one of the strongest songs here, seeing right through smooth men in suits, entertainment world luvvies and pretty much everyone! Finally "Blue Suede Shoes" bemoans the legacy of rock 'n' roll the Elvis left behind (and in 1989 it wasn't a pretty sight, I guess).
I struggle to love some of the other songs ("Jumped Up Madam" sounds particularly lumpy - not sure if it's the band arrangement or the production) but there are enough diamonds here to make it worth investigating.
And then buy "Home and Away"!
All the slow songs are great, "Blues on the Run" suits Christine Collister's voice so well, and "Talent Will Out" is a typically dark and creepy tale sung from the point of view of a precociously-talented 10 year old (or is it an adult who hasn't grown up emotionally...? hmmmm). "Blessing in Disguise" opened the original album running order and, although it treads a well-worn descending chord staircase, the lyrics again catch you out with a tale of mistaken identity leading to luuurve.
Two of the faster-tempo songs are also classics; "This Is The Deal" (originally started Side 2 of the vinyl album) is a stark and explicit tale of domestic violence that is extremely affecting ("And though the kids are sleeping with their fingers in their ears/They recognise their father laughing at their mother's tears"). "Temporary Sincerity" was originally a CD-only bonus track, but is one of the strongest songs here, seeing right through smooth men in suits, entertainment world luvvies and pretty much everyone! Finally "Blue Suede Shoes" bemoans the legacy of rock 'n' roll the Elvis left behind (and in 1989 it wasn't a pretty sight, I guess).
I struggle to love some of the other songs ("Jumped Up Madam" sounds particularly lumpy - not sure if it's the band arrangement or the production) but there are enough diamonds here to make it worth investigating.
And then buy "Home and Away"!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
Remaster sounds good but no bonus tracks
29 April 2012
Format:Audio CD
It's a pity that Clive Gregson and Christine Collister never got more notice and fame for their work; the duo who both supported and toured with Richard Thompson featured two gifted singers with Collister's smokey, soulful voice a natural for Gregson's incisive songs.
This collection originally released on the Rhino label in the U.S. (and now, sadly, no longer in print in our market) has been remastered (quite nicely) for BGO. Although there aren't any bonus tracks, outtakes or demos to speak of (and all would have been welcome including any live recordings made for this tour), this, one of the duo's finest albums, remains essential for fans and is a good introduction for newbies as well.
The album starts off with two strong tracks "This is the Deal" and "Blessing in Disguise". What follows including the rocker "(Don't Step in) My Blue Suede Shoes" (about Elvis and his group of "friends" who all wrote books, took advantage of his talent, etc.), "Tryin' To Get To You" and "How Weak I Am" all hold up remarkably well although the quality dips a bit before we hit "Temporary Sincerity" and "Blues on the Run". "Voodoo Doll" a trio that reminds us why Gregson was once considered something of a new Elvis himself--in this case Elvis Costello (even though he had been around since 1979 with his band Any Trouble. It's also as if anyone who wrote incisive, biting lyrics and melodic, melancholy music was exclusive to Costello or Gregson's mentor Richard Thompson).
As with the previous version we get lyrics for the songs.
This is a fine set for fans and the BGO sounds pretty good--it's not noticeable louder (I was only able to compare it to three tracks of the Rhino which got wet somehow and the label side along with some of the silver peeled off in spots). The EQ choices are slightly different compared to the Ken Perry mastered disc but it sounds pleasant.
I'd also recommend
MischiefHome Is Where the Heart IsLove Is a Strange HotelLast Word which are all fine albums as well.
This collection originally released on the Rhino label in the U.S. (and now, sadly, no longer in print in our market) has been remastered (quite nicely) for BGO. Although there aren't any bonus tracks, outtakes or demos to speak of (and all would have been welcome including any live recordings made for this tour), this, one of the duo's finest albums, remains essential for fans and is a good introduction for newbies as well.
The album starts off with two strong tracks "This is the Deal" and "Blessing in Disguise". What follows including the rocker "(Don't Step in) My Blue Suede Shoes" (about Elvis and his group of "friends" who all wrote books, took advantage of his talent, etc.), "Tryin' To Get To You" and "How Weak I Am" all hold up remarkably well although the quality dips a bit before we hit "Temporary Sincerity" and "Blues on the Run". "Voodoo Doll" a trio that reminds us why Gregson was once considered something of a new Elvis himself--in this case Elvis Costello (even though he had been around since 1979 with his band Any Trouble. It's also as if anyone who wrote incisive, biting lyrics and melodic, melancholy music was exclusive to Costello or Gregson's mentor Richard Thompson).
As with the previous version we get lyrics for the songs.
This is a fine set for fans and the BGO sounds pretty good--it's not noticeable louder (I was only able to compare it to three tracks of the Rhino which got wet somehow and the label side along with some of the silver peeled off in spots). The EQ choices are slightly different compared to the Ken Perry mastered disc but it sounds pleasant.
I'd also recommend
MischiefHome Is Where the Heart IsLove Is a Strange HotelLast Word which are all fine albums as well.
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