- Discover more great music in our Proper Music store, and read about the very best of Proper Music's latest and forthcoming releases in Properganda Issue 19 (online flash version).
Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Product Description
CD Description
When John Tams released his first solo album UNITY in May 2001 he had been a fixture on the scene for 25 years or more. He first came to prominence as a key member of Ashley Hutching's Albion Band, going on to form Home Service, one of the seminal English folk rock bands of the early 1980s. John's other love was the theatre. He became Musical Director for The Cottesloe Theatre at The National Theatre where such works as "The Mysteries" and "Larkrise To Candleford" were produced to great acclaim. He has had extensive acting work in TV and films and is probably best known for his role as Daniel Hagman playing with Sean Bean in the long running Napoleonic War series "Sharpe" in which he also co-wrote the music with Dominic Muldowney and produced the album for the series "Over The Hills And Far Away" which went on to sell over 100,000 copies. His new album THE RECKONING is a masterful collection of traditional and self composed material including a spellbinding reading of "The Bitter Withy", a powerful reworking of "A Man Of Constant Sorrow" and a magnificent set of sea songs including "Pretty Nancy and "A Sailor's Life". The musical settings range from sparse acoustics to full on band recordings with such musicians as Barry Coope and fellow Albion Band and Home Service alumni Graeme Taylor and Roger Wilson. Tracks: Written In The Book / Safe House / Amelia / How High The Price?, All Clouds The Sky, St Hilda's Waltz / Bitter Withy / A Man Of Constant Sorrow / The Sea: Pretty Nancy, A Sailor's Life, One More Day, As I Looked East - As I Looked West / Including Love. Also available: UNITY (TSCD508), HOME (TSCD533).
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
What makes John Tams' songs so special? Well, he has a genius for melody, and his words are intelligent and imaginative. His obvious sympathy with the underdog, both past and present, lends sincerity to his singing and provides much original material.
But musically, the reason why these are songs are so unusual is that they are obviously written by a singer, not by a guitarist or a pianist. The melodies seem unrelated to any obvious chords. The rhythms are hard to pin down. They change and develop as Tams shortens or lengthens his lines and changes his pace. The musicians have to follow along as best they can (and they do so brilliantly). The folk-rock of the past was generally driven by the rhythm section of a band. Although Sandy Denny would sometimes lag behind or forge ahead, Tams goes one stage further. His strong vocals definitely lead the band. The musicians accompany him, and the accompaniment itself has endless variations.
Another delightful touch, probably owing something to Tam's early contact with Joe Boyd (original producer for Fairport, Sandy Denny etc.) comes in the odd little musical digressions, unexpected and delightful: a change of rhythm, an unexpected instrument, a snatch of melody or harmony unrelated to the main song, leading into it or out of it.
The end result is not merely a dozen familiar tunes you like to whistle while walking the dog; neither the melodies nor the rhythms will allow for that. They are songs (or rather cycles of songs and snatches of songs) that you want to hear again and again, to rediscover exactly how they went. Some musical moments will appeal more than others, but none are so easily remembered that you grow weary of them. Their appeal is a lasting one.
"Home" was the first of Tams' solo recordings that I heard and (perhaps for that reason) remains my favourite. But the whole trilogy (with "Unity" and "The Reckoning") remains an ongoing delight.
But musically, the reason why these are songs are so unusual is that they are obviously written by a singer, not by a guitarist or a pianist. The melodies seem unrelated to any obvious chords. The rhythms are hard to pin down. They change and develop as Tams shortens or lengthens his lines and changes his pace. The musicians have to follow along as best they can (and they do so brilliantly). The folk-rock of the past was generally driven by the rhythm section of a band. Although Sandy Denny would sometimes lag behind or forge ahead, Tams goes one stage further. His strong vocals definitely lead the band. The musicians accompany him, and the accompaniment itself has endless variations.
Another delightful touch, probably owing something to Tam's early contact with Joe Boyd (original producer for Fairport, Sandy Denny etc.) comes in the odd little musical digressions, unexpected and delightful: a change of rhythm, an unexpected instrument, a snatch of melody or harmony unrelated to the main song, leading into it or out of it.
The end result is not merely a dozen familiar tunes you like to whistle while walking the dog; neither the melodies nor the rhythms will allow for that. They are songs (or rather cycles of songs and snatches of songs) that you want to hear again and again, to rediscover exactly how they went. Some musical moments will appeal more than others, but none are so easily remembered that you grow weary of them. Their appeal is a lasting one.
"Home" was the first of Tams' solo recordings that I heard and (perhaps for that reason) remains my favourite. But the whole trilogy (with "Unity" and "The Reckoning") remains an ongoing delight.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
John Tams has been a leading light on the folk music scene for decades but his first solo outing was the wonderful Unity, released in 2001. It was followed by the equally wonderful (IMHO) Home in 2002. Now, just when I thought nothing could beat those two, comes The Reckoning! Each song is superb. I have been listening to it for days now and have yet to even think about getting tired of it. Each of the 11 tracks is a mini-masterpiece. The Sea suite, All Clouds the Sky, Written in the Book, The Bitter Withy, Safe House, Amelia, Including Love and the awesome Man of Constant Sorrow are all superlative. Give it a listen. A must for any music collection!
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have deliberately delayed writing this review. I was tempted to write it as soon as I heard The Reckoning, but resisted until I felt that I really knew each song. That said, I don't think it is possible to single out individual songs from an album that - in keeping with his previous two solo albums 'Unity' and 'Home' - has an organic wholeness about it. What is so incredible is that there is such variety in the songs (check out the 'Sea' medley, for example) yet they simply seem to belong together. Paradoxically, they simultaneously surprise and reassure.
John Tams is a real craftsman. The album is beautifully and sensitively, well, crafted. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
John Tams is a real craftsman. The album is beautifully and sensitively, well, crafted. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Same old, same old...
How can Tam be so consistently great? I've never listened to him yet without being impressed with how laid-back yet forceful his voice is. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mark Whitehead
Constantly playing this album
When i got this album i think it was a week before i put anything else on. It's so listenable and enjoyable. Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2009 by E. Swift
Pure Craftmsmanship
I have deliberately delayed writing this review. I was tempted to write it as soon as I heard The Reckoning, but resisted until I felt that I really knew each song. Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2005 by Dr G.C.Oram
Spine Tingling
John Tams' third album is much more laid back, mellow affair than the first two. It is, however, spine tingling wonderful - drawing in traditional songs and Tams' own personal... Read more
Published on 29 Sep 2005 by The Soft Machine Operator
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
![traditional folk music [2000-09]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51s8HLXgWrL._AA60_.jpg)
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
