Peacetime

by Eddi Reader

Overview

2003's excellent Eddi Reader Sings the Songs of Robert Burns found the Glasgow native exploring her Scottish roots, a thread she continues to uncoil on Peacetime. Whether the piece is traditional or contemporary, Reader is a first-class interpreter of songs, and her abilities as a singer are indisputably rare. While she can wield her regional lilt like a highland princess ("Mary and the Soldier"), Reader never comes across as a Celtic folk singer. 2002's Driftwood found her tackling tunes from the pens of North American songwriters like Ron Sexsmith and David Rawlings, and Peacetime, despite its overall penchant for traditional works, feels more like that album than it does the Burns collection -- Reader's two duets with the Trash Can Sinatras' John Douglas are highlights. Produced by lauded fiddler John McCusker, who added a lovely brass quintet to the "Shepherd's Song," the arrangements are impeccable, though a tad on the safe, adult contemporary side -- both "Galileo (Someone Like You)" and the title cut are lovely but impossibly shiny, but fans of Reader and her closest contemporary Kate Rusby will find much to love here, especially on charming renditions of "Calton Weaver" (better known as "Nancy Whiskey" to all of you Pogues fans) and Burns' "Leezie Lindsay," and listeners who count the contributions of longtime guitarist Boo Hewerdine as high points of each album will love his superb "Muddy Water." [Peacetime was also released with a bonus track.] ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	02/20/2007
Label:	COMPASS RECORDS
UPC:	0766397444925

Tracks

1. Baron's Heir + Sadenia's Air
2. Muddy Water
3. Mary and the Soldier
4. Aye Waukin-O
5. Prisons
6. The Shepherd's Song
7. Ye Banks and Braes O' Bonnie Doon
8. Should I Pray?
9. The Afton
10. Leezie Lindsay
11. Safe as Houses
12. Galileo (Someone Like You)
13. Peacetime
14. The Calton Weaver

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Eddi Reader   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Phil Cunningham   Accordion
Neil Yates   Brass
Michael McGoldrick   Pipe,Flute,Whistle (Human)
Gavin Hall   Flugelhorn
John Enrico Douglas   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Ewen Vernal   Bass,Double Bass
Kobus Frick   Viola
Fiona Stephen   Violin
Ian Carr   Guitar
Alan Kelly   Accordion
Richard Evans   Cornet
Donald Shaw   Harmonium,Wurlitzer
Alison Brown   Banjo
Paul Livingston   Guitar
Roy Dodds   Drums,Percussion
Matt Broadbent   Tuba
Nick Stones   French Horn
Michael Howley   Euphonium
Rudi DeGroote   Cello
Meg Reader-Thomson   Vocals (Background)
Richeal Reader-Thomson   Vocals (Background)
Kevin McGuire   Double Bass
John McCusker   Piano,Fiddle,Guitar,Cittern,Keyboards,Guitar (Tenor)
Greg Lawson   Violin
Andy Cutting   Accordion
Boo Hewerdine   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
James MacKintosh   Percussion

Technical Credits

Eddi Reader   Composer,Arranger
Phil Cunningham   Arranger
Gavin Hall   Arranger
Joe Rusby   Engineer
John Enrico Douglas   Arranger,Cover Photo
Keith Bird   Engineer
Ian Carr   Arranger
Alan Kelly   Arranger
Richard Evans   Arranger
Roy Dodds   Arranger
Randy LeRoy   Mastering
Matt Broadbent   Arranger
Nick Stones   Arranger
Michael Howley   Arranger
Calum Malcolm   Mastering
Jeff Teader   Cover Design
Kevin McGuire   Arranger
John McCusker   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Mixing Assistant
Greg Lawson   String Arrangements
Traditional   Composer
Paul McGeechan   Engineer
Andy Seward   Mixing,Engineer
Boo Hewerdine   Arranger,Composer,Mixing Assistant
Colin Reid   Arranger