Stories From The Steeples Set for Release on February 14 followed by New Albums by Cathy Jordan, Maia Sharp and “Dreams of the San Joaquin” Anthology
Independent Blix Street Records will inaugurate 2012 with the U.S. release of STORIES FROM THE STEEPLES, Mary Black’s first new studio recording in six years. Arriving in stores in time for Valentine’s Day on February 14, 2012, the album from the Irish singing legend will be followed by three more releases from the Seattle-based label during the first months of the year.
STORIES FROM THE STEEPLES marks the reunion of Mary Black, recognized as Ireland’s premier female vocalist, with Blix Street, whose Gifthorse label established Black in America in 1990. Widely known as a leader in Celtic music, Blix Street is also home to artists such as Grace Griffith, Dougie MacLean, Maia Sharp and Eva Cassidy.
Mary Black has been at the forefront of the Irish music scene for over 25 years. Her voice is rich; her delivery vivid and nuanced. Her gift for storytelling and ear for emerging songwriters have earned her star billing on the international stage, devoted fans, awards and honors too numerous to recount.
STORIES FROM THE STEEPLES, named for the Dublin studio where it was recorded, comes straight from the heart. Eleven songs of life, love, loss, struggle and hope are the perfect rocky terrain for Black. With writers rooted in Ireland, Australia, the UK and America, the diverse and adventurous material offers more than a few delicious surprises, among them the bonus track “Fifi the Flea,” written by the Hollies’ Graham Nash, Tony Hicks and Allan Clarke.
Black shares vocals on three duets on the new CD: “Lighthouse Light” with Janis Ian, a catchy tune written by Boston-based artist Ry Cavanaugh; “Walking With My Love,” a spirited romp with the incomparable Irish musician Finbar Furey; and “Mountains To The Sea” with Irish chart-topper Imelda May, which is slated to be the album’s first single. It’s enough to say that when Dublin-born May took first place on Ireland’s album charts with her 2009 debut Love Tattoo, she became the first female Irish artist to secure that spot since fellow Dubliner Black did it nearly 20 years before. This tuneful salute to open spaces was written by Australia’s roots artists Shane Howard and Neil Murray, familiar territory for the triple-platinum May whose influences include rockabilly and blues. Black also includes Murray’s “One True Place,” a song that could easily have been sung by The Carter Family.
Leading off the musical adventure is “Marguerite and the Gambler,” the story-song about a doomed love affair involving a beautiful woman, a dashing rogue and an unhappy father written by Irish contemporary singer-songwriter Ricky Lynch. “The Night Was Dark and Deep,” from acclaimed Australian musician Paul Kelly, showcases Black’s mesmerizing ability to deliver the soul of a song ever fresh with understatement.
The album features three songs from Danny O’Reilly, the lead singer of the Irish pop/rock group The Coronas whose new album just debuted at #1 on the Irish pop chart: “Faith in Fate,” a memorable union of Black’s fluid delivery fitted to Andrew Holdsworth’s well-tempered string arrangement and Ritchie Buckley’s sax; “Wizard of Oz” with a sparse arrangement echoing its emotional landscape; and the energizing, upbeat “The Night Is On Our Side.” Given the affinity of sense and sensibility between singer and writer in these three songs, it is not surprising to learn that Danny is Mary’s son, one of the next generation of the Black family musical tradition. Mary’s two other children, RoisÃn and Conor, also appear on “The Night Is On Our Side.”
Rounding out the set are the Julie Matthews-Chris While composition “Steady Breathing,” and the Eric Bogle-John Munro anti-war offering “All The Fine Young Men.” Those familiar with these selections will appreciate Black’s sensitive interpretations on these two outstanding tracks.
Mary Black is an artist with extraordinary gifts, foresight and generosity, in tune with today and always moving gracefully into tomorrow. In her long and successful career as a solo artist, she has recorded dozens of albums and toured extensively while never hesitating to share a spotlight or a credit. STORIES FROM THE STEEPLES is no exception. The album comes with a booklet that features her notes on the songs and credits a long list of musicians and producers with putting this project so seamlessly together. In addition to Black, co-producers on various tracks include Billy Robinson, Bill Shanley and Pat Crowley. Shanley’s guitar work and Crowley’s keyboards (and sometimes accordion) are featured throughout the album, along with Nick Scott on double bass and Matt McGranahan on fiddle. Many other musicians and backup singers contributed as well, among them Finbar Furey on banjo.
Long awaited, STORIES FROM THE STEEPLES is the latest chapter in Mary Black’s story. Or, as Ireland’s Hot Press put it in a recent issue: “Mary Black instinctively makes a song her own, and her voice here is more expressively fragile than before. The musicianship is impeccable, especially Bill Shanley’s guitar and Pat Crowley’s keyboards, making Stories From The Steeples a very worthy addition to an already impressive catalogue.”
“Mary Black is the artist who launched our business, and all these years later, it’s a great pleasure to welcome her home,” states Blix Street President Bill Straw. “We are pleased to have her first new studio album in quite some time lead off our release schedule for 2012.”
Following STORIES FROM THE STEEPLES, Blix Street will release another album from Ireland in the form of ALL THE WAY HOME, a solo project from Ireland’s Cathy Jordan, best-known as lead singer of the band Dervish. In addition, renowned Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Maia Sharp, whose work has been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Edwin McCain and the Dixie Chicks, among many others, is finishing her second Blix Street release. Maia is also part of the California-themed musical anthology DREAMS OF THE SAN JOAQUIN, featuring her parents Randy Sharp and Sharon Bays along with family friend Jack Wesley Routh.
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