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Review
Lesley Garrett's A North Country Lass, released for St George's Day, celebrates our folk song tradition from as far back as Pastime With Good Company, by Henry VIII, to relatively recent fare such as the Welsh tune Suo Gan, dating from the early 1800s. “This album,” to quote the star adorning its sleeve, “is intensely individual and very personal and it will surprise you.” And Garrett’s words are worth keeping in mind as you read on.
The South Yorkshire singer’s soprano voice has changed little since she won the Kathleen Ferrier Award in 1979. Her sure technique is at the root of it, and that guarantees her exemplary tuning and extraordinary ability to produce a myriad of hues. Her voice sounds young and her attention to words is a great asset in these songs. Her operatic lineage is manifest as at the beginning of He Moved Through the Fair, but the abiding impression is of a voice where the purity of tone is always at the service of the line of the song.
More questionable, to this mind, is the concept of this CD, on which one too many overblown arrangements compete for attention. The sophisticated orchestration is sometimes a deterrent to enjoyment. Bloe the Wind Southerly has a surge halfway through in the accompaniment suggesting a film soundtrack. Fine Knacks for Ladies, written for lute accompaniment by John Dowland, might have been better as he left it. Other titles, like Suo Gan with its multi-tracked choral backing and Dance to Your Daddy with a newly composed middle section à la Riverdance, are along the same lines. He Moved Through the Fair and the song that gives the album its title show how it can be done. All Around My Hat, with an accordion introduction and the enthusiastic Crouch End Festival Chorus, goes with a swing – as does Pastime With Good Company, in a fun contemporary arrangement yet still evoking the Tudor spirit. The finale, On Ilkley Moor, arranged as an operatic spoof, is very entertaining, likewise Garrett's Gracie Fields take on The Collier Lad.
Lesley Garrett is such a charismatic singer that the thought crossed this writer’s mind that maybe this album should have been released with a DVD, too, for the full experience.
--Adrian Edwards
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By R. W. Steel
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Followers of Lesley have known for some time that Lesley is still developing her voice by moving into different adjacent genres. After all, she still has weekly singing lessons with the formidable Joy Mammen. Together they study each new song in detail and develop a style to suit both the song and Lesley's voice. Her brilliant technique allows her tackle areas that her fellow sopranos steer clear of. Her fellow music professionals are well aware of this and are eager to help. Fans remember how a few years ago Sir George Martin leapt at the opportunity to select and arrange Beetles' songs for her.
Now Lesley has tackled at the genre of "British Folk Songs". Her performance of "Lagan Love" on her "The Singer" album showed what could be possible. (It was labelled "the best she's done" by her conductor, Philip Ellis, adding "it's the only one on the album I had nothing to do with".). Reunited with producer James Fitzpatrick, they approached a selection of arrangers to select a folk song and tailor it to Lesley's voice. Chief among them was Paul Bateman who also conducted the orchestra, and had worked with Lesley before. Devotees will remember his brilliant arrangement of "Silent Night".
The results are staggering. It is not a case of effectively the same song on every track. The only similarities are that they are all British Folk Songs arranged for a world-class soprano. It is difficult to pick out individual tracks without feeling the others are just as brilliant. I have played it several times now, and still my favourite is the track I am listening to. Pressed I might pick "All Around My Hat" because I found myself singing it whilst boiling a kettle. But them when I compare it with each of the other 15 in turn I find reasons to equally prefer them.
But...... Read more ›
Now Lesley has tackled at the genre of "British Folk Songs". Her performance of "Lagan Love" on her "The Singer" album showed what could be possible. (It was labelled "the best she's done" by her conductor, Philip Ellis, adding "it's the only one on the album I had nothing to do with".). Reunited with producer James Fitzpatrick, they approached a selection of arrangers to select a folk song and tailor it to Lesley's voice. Chief among them was Paul Bateman who also conducted the orchestra, and had worked with Lesley before. Devotees will remember his brilliant arrangement of "Silent Night".
The results are staggering. It is not a case of effectively the same song on every track. The only similarities are that they are all British Folk Songs arranged for a world-class soprano. It is difficult to pick out individual tracks without feeling the others are just as brilliant. I have played it several times now, and still my favourite is the track I am listening to. Pressed I might pick "All Around My Hat" because I found myself singing it whilst boiling a kettle. But them when I compare it with each of the other 15 in turn I find reasons to equally prefer them.
But...... Read more ›
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By beetroot
Format:Audio CD
Absolutely brilliant album - some real favourites in here and I can sing along to them all too. I've always loved Lesley Garrett and was worried when I heard this was folk songs but this is such an amazing sound you can't fail to love it.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Greg
Format:Audio CD
Fans have been eagerly awaiting this album because Lesley shared her thoughts with them during the months of its development and production. They will not be disappointed. It is a fantastic as they hoped.
Lesley is constantly expanding her repertoire and developing her voice to match. The weekly singing lessons she still has with her Royal Academy tutor are still paying off.
In this album she has gone into UK folk music in big way. She has got a group of experts to arrange their favourite songs to match her voice. They have taken advantage of vocal talents she has to great advantage. Some we already knew are up to the task. Julian Kershaw and Paul Bateman for example. They have worked their magic with Lesley before. Others may not have done but they have done their homework. All to brilliant effect.
It seems unfair to pick on some of the tracks because all 16 are excellent. Perhaps On Ilkley Moor Baht at stands out because the Black Dyke band supporting her Alternatively the welsh lullaby Suo Gan because it shows Lesley does quiet as well as she does loud. Then again Robbie Burns My Love is Like a Red Red Rose is an example of her brilliant diction. Possibly a slightly poorer track is Pastime with Good Company but only because King Henry VIII was not as good a composer as some of the anonymous people who wrote the others.
One point to note. Some Lesley albums should not be played using shuffle. The Singer in particular. This album can. In fact everyone can have fun finding out what order they like best.
Now Lesley has done Folk Songs. So what next for the Diva? Apparently she is returning to Opera in La Voix Humaine by Poulenc. This single person single act opera is 45 minutes long. How about a recording of a live performance?
Lesley is constantly expanding her repertoire and developing her voice to match. The weekly singing lessons she still has with her Royal Academy tutor are still paying off.
In this album she has gone into UK folk music in big way. She has got a group of experts to arrange their favourite songs to match her voice. They have taken advantage of vocal talents she has to great advantage. Some we already knew are up to the task. Julian Kershaw and Paul Bateman for example. They have worked their magic with Lesley before. Others may not have done but they have done their homework. All to brilliant effect.
It seems unfair to pick on some of the tracks because all 16 are excellent. Perhaps On Ilkley Moor Baht at stands out because the Black Dyke band supporting her Alternatively the welsh lullaby Suo Gan because it shows Lesley does quiet as well as she does loud. Then again Robbie Burns My Love is Like a Red Red Rose is an example of her brilliant diction. Possibly a slightly poorer track is Pastime with Good Company but only because King Henry VIII was not as good a composer as some of the anonymous people who wrote the others.
One point to note. Some Lesley albums should not be played using shuffle. The Singer in particular. This album can. In fact everyone can have fun finding out what order they like best.
Now Lesley has done Folk Songs. So what next for the Diva? Apparently she is returning to Opera in La Voix Humaine by Poulenc. This single person single act opera is 45 minutes long. How about a recording of a live performance?
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Richard
Format:Audio CD
Leslie Garrett singing opera I can take or leave preferably leave but this is to me the real deal.As she won the Kathleen Ferrier Award its a reminder that both sang folk songs and here the most obvious is Blow the Wind Southerly.Which the BBC ought to have spelled correctly instead of all the criticism
Folk music came to the masses in Great Britain from classical music anyway when Benjamin Britten and Vaughan Williams used it extensively.It may not have been how people see it nowadays but it was the way English folk music was preserved
I think this is the only version of Ilkley Moor after the Spinners and is done as an operatic spoof
Folk music came to the masses in Great Britain from classical music anyway when Benjamin Britten and Vaughan Williams used it extensively.It may not have been how people see it nowadays but it was the way English folk music was preserved
I think this is the only version of Ilkley Moor after the Spinners and is done as an operatic spoof
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By feziwig
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Lesley is just my favourite female singer. She makes every note resonate in a song. I hesitated to buy this because I am not a fan of her 'pop' music, but what the heck. She really has excelled with this and the inclusion of different musicians is a plus. I play it a lot and it sounds as though it was fun to record. All around my hat takes on a new perspective and Lesley's rendition brings the scene to life in my mind.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love lesley garretts music as a rule but this particular album didn,t work for me apart from a couple of songs , i.e the more traditionally arranged tracks the collier lad and dance to your daddy also suo gran is beautiful and sung beautifully . I found on most tracks the orchestral arrangements were too overpowering which lesleys voice appears to be trying to compete with and she's really belting it out , the tracks where leslie softens and lowers her vocal tone and adds some dialect are much easier on the ears .
I feel these traditional songs are as much about story telling as they are singing and the singing tone needs to be modulated accordingly and perhaps musically they lend themselves better to more traditional instruments it was all a bit too fast and furious for me the listening experience lacked the charm and atmosphere these songs deserve .
I feel Lesley could have experimented a bit more vocally ,iv'e heard several more authentic versions of these songs over the years which really work for example pastime with good company by blackmores night using traditional instruments or john tams version of over the hills and far away sung in yorkshire dialect and the authenticity shines through tells a story and conjures up the plot , i feel a bit of vocal risk taking would have worked ,these songs provided the perfect opportunity .
I feel these traditional songs are as much about story telling as they are singing and the singing tone needs to be modulated accordingly and perhaps musically they lend themselves better to more traditional instruments it was all a bit too fast and furious for me the listening experience lacked the charm and atmosphere these songs deserve .
I feel Lesley could have experimented a bit more vocally ,iv'e heard several more authentic versions of these songs over the years which really work for example pastime with good company by blackmores night using traditional instruments or john tams version of over the hills and far away sung in yorkshire dialect and the authenticity shines through tells a story and conjures up the plot , i feel a bit of vocal risk taking would have worked ,these songs provided the perfect opportunity .
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Songs
This replaced a CD ordered by my son for my birthday (which never arrived) so I ordered it myself.
Enjoyable but a bit disappointing.
Enjoyable but a bit disappointing.
Published 22 days ago by Penelope Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
A North Country Lass
I have always loved Lesley Garrett singing all types of music, I would recommend it to anyone who is a music lover
Published 1 month ago by charles layton C S Layton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Folk songs
Bought this for the pure nostalgia of the country songs. Was not disappointed, it is a great album and I recommend it.
Published 4 months ago by Penna
3.0 out of 5 stars
OK
I was a bit disappointed with sone of the songs but this is very much down to personal preference so check tracks before you buy but it was ok
Published 4 months ago by Mrs Pamela SHEPHERD
3.0 out of 5 stars
A north Country Lass
Like the track very much but somehow Lesley Garrett sing it in opera style did not quite do it for me.
Published 6 months ago by K West
5.0 out of 5 stars
Doncaster Diva
This is an exellent recoring by the Yorkshire lass There are many songs from your childhood presented in excellent style by a Czech Orchestra and the excellent Crouch End Chorus
Published 10 months ago by Mr. Roger J. Gifford
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lesley's Best Vocal Performance In Recent Years
Lesley's Vocal performance: 5 stars
Musical arrangements: 3/3.5 stars (depending on the track)
There is no denying that this album contains Lesley's best... Read more
Musical arrangements: 3/3.5 stars (depending on the track)
There is no denying that this album contains Lesley's best... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Musical anorak
5.0 out of 5 stars
A North Country Lass
Lesley Garrett is one of many excellent artists from whom I look forward to hearing a latest release with anticipation, and 'A North Country Lass' does not disappoint. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Quilter
5.0 out of 5 stars
classical
I have always admired Lesley Garrett for many years. She never disappoints me. That is why I am buying her CD's.
Published 11 months ago by Mr. Lawrence F. Gapper
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lesley Garrrett ~ A North Country Lass
A pleasant and enjoyable listen, with a variety of songs from her home region.
Never dissappointed with Lelsey Garrett's fine voice.
Never dissappointed with Lelsey Garrett's fine voice.
Published 11 months ago by dkp
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