Take My Heart

by Claire Martin

Overview

A major departure from Claire Martin's previous efforts, Take My Heart marked the first time she recorded an album that had very little to do with jazz. The British singer had never been a jazz snob; she always had a healthy appreciation of rock, pop and R&B. But jazz was her foundation -- if she interpreted a Tom Waits or Stevie Wonder song, she did so from a jazz perspective. Take My Heart, however, is essentially a pop album with R&B, folk, rock and jazz references -- the only thing on the CD that can honestly be called jazz is a torchy interpretation of the Cahn/Van Heusen classic "Only the Lonely." A gently introspective tone defines this album, and her remakes of Elvis Costello's "Baby Plays Around," the Beatles' "Help" (which she changes from uptempo pop-rock to relaxed pop-folk) and Paul Simon's "Jonah" sound quite personal. Martin co-wrote a few of the songs, including the Joni Mitchell-ish "Pleading Guilty" and "Inner City Girl," a pop/R&B gem that encourages a poor woman to be strong and persevere despite the challenges she faces. Thankfully, Martin the pop singer proved to be every bit as compelling as Martin the jazz singer. ~ Alex Henderson

Product Details

Release Date:	05/04/1999
Label:	Linn Records
UPC:	0691062009331
Rank:	229376

Tracks

1. Riverman
2. Take My Heart
3. Only The Lonely
4. Queen Bee
5. Brilliant Trees
6. Jonah
7. Help!
8. Inner City Girl
9. Pleading Guilty
10. I Scare Myself
11. Baby Plays Around

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Claire Martin   Primary Artist,Vocals
Ben Davis   Cello
Anna Giddey   Violin
John Murphy   Viola
Mark Smith   Autoharp,Dulcimer,Stylophone,Appalachian Dulcimer
Sarah Baker   Cello
Mornington Lockett   Clarinet
Alistair Walker   Trumpet
John "Johnny Genius" Murphy   Viola
Duncan Mackay   Trumpet
Charlotte Glasson   Viola
Paul Stacey   E-Bow,Guitar,Keyboards,Guitar (Bass)
Luis Jardim   Voices,Percussion
Clark Tracey   Drums
Gareth Williams   Piano,Fender Rhodes
Jason Rebello   Bassoon
Anthony Kerr   Vibraphone,Vocals (Background)
Jeremy Stacey   Drums
Noel Gallagher   Guitar (Acoustic)
Arnie Somogyi   Bass
Darragh Morgan   Violin
Robin Miller   Harmonica

Technical Credits

Ted Baker   Wardrobe
Dan Hicks   Composer
Sammy Cahn   Composer
G. Williams   Composer
Burkhard Hopper   Executive Producer
Tony Bridge   Mastering
John Haxby   Graphic Design
Helaina Alexandrou   Make-Up,Hair Stylist
Paul McCartney   Composer
Paul Simon   Composer
Paul Stacey   Arranger,Engineer,Producer
Andrew Lynwood   Assistant
Elvis Costello   Composer
Jon Hassell   Composer
David Sylvian   Composer
John Lennon   Composer
James Van Heusen   Composer
Nick Drake   Composer
Rupert Holmes   Composer
Noel Gallagher   Arranger
Gordon Mills   Composer
Cait O'Riordan   Composer
James Moore   Composer