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This month marks the start of a new feature for Allan's website. After many successful tours of Germany over the years it seemed natural to add a page addressed to Allan's fans there. News pertaining to Allan's work in Germany will be listed along with reviews, interviews and photos as they become available. For up-to-date information on Allan's German tours, it would be best to still check with the "Tours" page.
More news will follow soon.
During the September Austrian tour, Allan worked with the acclaimed guitarist Peter Ratzenbeck. The concerts were such a success that another tour and a festival are already being booked for September '99. Also, Allan recorded one of his songs, "Colour to the Moon," for Peter's next album, to be released in the spring of the year 2000.
In October '98 Allan was invited to record two songs for a
special tribute double, or possible triple, CD. The exact details of the CD
(e.g., for whom) must remain secret for a while. However, some details are
available: Fellow performers so far are Eric Anderson (American, now living in
Norway, whom Allan first met in Greenwich Village, NY, in the early '70's),
Elliot Murphy (American, now living in Paris), Lou Reed (American), Fabrizio de
Andre (Italy). There will also be several recordings of poets from the 50's,
60's & 70's reading their work.
The project was organized by the Conegliano Poetry and Song Festival with the
support of the Benetton Foundation, and is being co-ordinated by Giorgio
Checchin.
Each performer recorded one of his 'classic' songs and a newly written song. Allan's contribution was "The Morning Lies Heavy" (written in 1971) with guitar, cello, bass and piano, and the new song "A House by the River" (written 1997) with guitar and cello.
The CD is scheduled for release in the spring of the year 2000.
Allan is currently working on writing songs and poems for his new album. However, as Allan has written most of his songs in hotel rooms and cafes, he's looking for a hotel in which to stay for a week or two. Possible locations are: Paris, Cologne, Berlin, Lisbon, Granada, New York. Access to a piano would be an advantage, so if anyone has any ideas please contact Allan through the T Records address.
Copies of all the CD's and the songbook are available, although the new pressing of Lines has almost sold out again. It seems that everyone wants the classic recording, made in 1988.
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(The following news is taken from the Allan Taylor Newsletter)
This month I have enough time to prepare a newsletter before the busy Autumn schedule starts. It has been a good year so far, and to recap, this is what happened: February mainly consisted of the Belgian and Holland tour. I hadn't toured these two countries for some time so I was surprised how well it went. As a result, another tour is scheduled for April '99. July was taken up with a tour of Slovenia, Croatia and Italy. In Slovenia I did a couple of gigs with Peter Lovsin, who could be described as the Johnny Rotten of Slovenia, mainly because he was the foremost Punk performer.
However, he is worth far more than that - he's a well educated literate guy, just kind of rough in his presentation! It's a strange combination when we gig together, but the mutual respect comes over and it works for the audience. Peter is going to record a couple of my songs, maybe "Like I Used to Do" and "It's Good to See You". The Croatian gigs were a series of Cultural/Arts Centre gigs, and because of the song "Libertas Ragusa" (which I wrote about Dubrovnik) I seem to have won the hearts of a few of the Croatians so the gigs were all successful. The final gig was "The Zagreb International Folklore Festival" where I performed with a great Slovenian songwriter, Vlado Kreslin along with some of the Croatian folk singers. With live TV interviews and press and radio interviews during the day, the whole concert was televised (nationally) during the evening. Then I travelled on to Italy to meet up with my son Barnaby to play a concert at the "Folkest International Festival" in the area of northern Italy known as Friuli. We played a concert with David Crosby (of Crosby, Stills and Nash) and his son, who also plays keyboards. That was quite an emotional experience for us all, especially for David as apparently he didn't know he had a son until three years ago and he's still getting used to the idea.
I stayed on at the festival after our gig because I wanted to meet Fabrizio de Andre, perhaps the greatest singer-songwriter in Italy (certainly my favourite) who was due to play a concert. A couple of years ago I had recorded one of his songs on a tribute CD, a CD of performers singing his songs. I'd heard from various sources that he liked my version (in English) of his "A Pittima" so I was anxious to meet him. When we did meet, well, let's say he has a face that has travelled! But what a guy - passionate about music and poetry, and a great performer. I have not seen such a great gig for years. His son and his daughter both play in the band, of which there are twelve members.
I also spent some time with John Wright who was there to play the festival. He told me he has recorded my song "Middle Time" for the next album of the "John Wright Band". He'll do it well, I know.
Talking of cover versions I had chance to hear "The Poozies" sing "The Rose and the Briar" (which I wrote more than fifteen years ago) at Cambridge festival at the end of July. They make a beautiful job of it, perhaps one of the best versions of any of my songs. It's a great compliment to have one's song recorded by such fine musicians and singers.
November and December will consist of a tour of Britain (see gig list). Overleaf are two reviews - one for "Faded Light" and the other for the songbook. Although my work gets extensively reviewed abroad it doesn't happen that much here, a good enough reason to reprint the reviews in the newsletter I think.
THE LIVING TRADITION - MAY 1998
"Faded Light" - Allan Taylor - T Records TCD005
This CD is class - genuine class from a singer who must be one of the most underrated around. If there was any justice the name of Allan Taylor would be top of the bill. He is an artist, a poet, a singer, call him what you like, but he has the ability to paint pictures using the minimum of words, pictures which demand closer study. "Faded Light" is not for the feint-hearted, or those wanting wallpaper music, you've got to listen. I found myself reading the words whilst listening, the songs almost demanded this of me. The mood is set by the cover, the yellow light reflected on the downward looking face in the middle of blackness. The images in the songs are sombre but not without hope.
We are taken on a voyage of experiences, personal to Allan
but available for all of us to share. Right from the first track the images come
alive in the "faded light" of "The Merlin Cafˇ". All our unfulfilled dreams are
identified in "Let's go to Paris", whilst the ability to imagine ourselves as
someone else is explored in "Urban Lovesong".
The standout track, for me, is "Simple Truths" dealing with the Father/Son
relationship, almost reducing me to tears and deserves to be widely heard. The
words convey so much meaning in so short a space. An excellent track.
The backing is just that, backing, only occasionally being
allowed to punctuate the words, but is of the highest quality. Chris Leslie's
fiddle during "The Meadow" is particularly good, but what would you expect?
This is not a new work having been recorded in 1995 - but I can't recommend it
enough. A fine album from one of the finest singer/songwriters around.
Dave Beeby
FOLK ROOTS - MAY 1998
"We Must Journey On: The Songs of Allan Taylor" (T Records)
Of the "legends" from the early days of Britain's folk clubs (Alex Campbell, Jack Elliot, Derroll Adams, Redd Sullivan, Martin Winsor, for instance) most are either dead or retired, or at least inactive in folk circles. Then look at Allan Taylor, turned 50 and full of energy and still looking spry, and to hear him sing (assured, sensitive, and proficient). You need to nudge yourself to remember that he started in the early '60's, and has at one time or another sung with all the club-scene legends.
I first met Allan at the Stanford, in Brighton. At 17, his talent was evident. Since then he has written scores of songs, most of them very good. Many are intimately personal, many others burn with passion of a different sort - passion for the victims of war, drugs, dispossession.
The full biographical notes that accompany the songs in this book give a wealth of detail and insights into Allan's methods of working. His methodical studies have earned him three degrees, the last a Doc. Phil. in Ethnomusicology with a thesis on singer/songwriters. The book is generously illustrated with a gallery of folk notables - Seeger, Paxton, Elliot, Adams, Imlach, (Alex) Campbell, McTell - with all of whom Allan has performed. And the musical scores are extremely detailed and helpful.
It's not surprising that the songs written more recently are among Allan's best. Song writing is certainly something you learn by doing. If I mention Libertas Ragusa (Freedom for Dubrovnik) and Jimmy's Song and Roll on the Day, it's because they are among my favourites. One theme seems to thread its way through much of the book: the sense of isolation, weariness, loneliness that arises out of staying in so many towns, so many unfamiliar hotel rooms. Other singers have pursued this idea, but Allan Taylor has articulated it better than most. Here is a man who is more than a singer/songwriter. He has got his own thinking straight, and the songs demonstrate a sense of purpose and resourcefulness.
Eric Winter
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As for 1999, well, here's the list so far:
February will consist mainly of a tour of Denmark, specifically from 5th
February to 22nd.
March will hold tours of Italy, Slovenia and Croatia, leading back to England and the Darlington Spring Festival on March 20.
Later on in April I will be touring Belgium and Holland, specifically from 16th April to the 3rd May.
May - just a few gigs in England; 6th. Leek festival - a concert with my son Barnaby 9th. Southport folk club - The Blundell Arms 14th. Leeds folk club - The Grove Inn 16th. Hitchin folk club - The Sun Inn 17th. Willingham (Cambs.) The Milkmaid Tavern t.b.c. May 21st. I start a tour of Germany with the German songwriter Helmut Debus (the guy for whom I wrote "Let's go to Paris") which should finish around June 7th.
Then we are in to the festival season. Negotiations are still underway for these, but hopefully I'll be organised enough to send out another newsletter by then.
The CDs that are currently available are; TCD002 "Lines" TCD003 "Out of Time" TCD005 "Faded Light" TCD007 "The Alex Campbell Tribute Concert" (double CD) RTD357.6013.2 "Looking for you" Each CD costs £12.00 plus £1.00 p+p except for TCD007 which is £16.00 plus £1.00 p+p.
The songbook "We must journey on - the songs of Allan Taylor" is still available at £19.95 plus £2.00 p+p. The songbook has sold really well - I know it's expensive but it was expensive to print, costing much more than making a CD! So, sorry about the price but those who have bought it seem to think it's worth it.
Although it's over a year ago now it's
perhaps worth mentioning if only for the fact that "The Alex Campbell Tribute
Concert" double CD has sold so well that I was awarded the "Arets Folkmusikpris",
an award given by Skagen Festival (Denmark) and Danish Radio for my contribution
to folkmusic over the last thirty years. The citation reads:
You are awarded the Arets Folmusikpris (Folkmusic award) for the year 1997 for
your work through many years to keep alive and improve as well as disseminate
the knowledge to the singer/songwriter tradition, bringing it to an extremely
high level of quality and emotional intensity.
The award consisted of the citation plaque, a beautiful painting of the Skagen sand dunes and a considerable sum of money which I've spent on having a new guitar custom made by Ralph Bown.
Finally, my first two albums, "Sometimes" and "The Lady" have been released on one CD by a company called BGO. I made these albums in the early seventies and I find them somewhat difficult to listen to, mainly because my voice has changed so much. I suppose in their own way they have a certain charm and are indicative of the styles and pre-occupations of the time, but you would have to be a real fan to want them! (I seem to remember "The Lady" won the folk album of the year in 1972, for what it's worth!) I won't be selling the CDs, but they are in HMV and Virgin - the catalogue number is; BGOCD390.
I think we're all too aware that there is a preponderance of unwanted mail, and I certainly do not want to add to this problem. If you wish to continue receiving my mail-shot would you send your name, address, and phone number to T Records so I can check your details against my list. Any comments would be welcome. For example, do you find the mail-shot interesting and worthwhile, which CD was your favourite, did you enjoy the songbook, would you be interested in hearing some of the real old songs re-recorded along with some new songs for a new CD - which songs? Send to:
T Records, P.O. Box MT37, Leeds LS17 8UY, Great Britain
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The tour schedule for 1999 is being developed and a preliminary summary can be found in the "Tours" page.
After a tour of Denmark in February a tour of Belgium and Holland follows in mid-April to early May, with a return to Great Britain for some more dates before embarking on a tour of Germany in late May. Running through to the middle of June 1999, this will be a tour with the German singer-songwriter, Helmut Debus.
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Allan's first two albums, Sometimes and The Lady have been released on CD (both on one CD) by BGO Records. Each has been digitally re-mastered from the original analogue tapes and there are extensive sleeve notes taken from an interview with John Tobler in which Allan talks about the recording sessions and the folk music scene in the late sixties and early seventies. The correct listing is: Allan Taylor - Sometimes/The Lady. BGOCD 390.
BGO plan to release Allan Taylor's third and fourth albums (The American Album and Cajun Moon) later in the year. These albums will be available only through BGO Records, whose web address is:
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