Eddi Reader

Subject: Eddi Reader
From: michaelr
Date: 02 Feb 02 - 11:01 PM

I recently "discovered" this wonderful singer-songwriter. She has two CDs out on the Compass label: "Angels and Electricity" and "Simple Soul". Great writing, lovely voice, nice production.
Does anyone know of her background, and are there other CDs avaiable?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 02 Feb 02 - 11:39 PM

She was the lead singer in a UK band called Fairground Atraction, she is solo now and very good live, she played The Adelphi in Hull last year, she has got long ginger hair.john

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: Nerd
Date: 03 Feb 02 - 12:58 AM

She also occasionally turns her attention to traditional songs, Burns songs, and other folky material. She does a nice job on them, too.

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 03 Feb 02 - 02:43 AM

Eddi has a website at www.eddireader.com/---or just enter the name "Eddi Reader" in a search engine [google is fast and sure.] I can vouch for the fact that not only is Eddi a wonderful performer, but a real gem of a lassie into the bargain. [And I might get an earful next time I see her for letting the cat out of the bag about her hair being long and red---at the moment-----!] Many years ago, a lass wwho was a regular came to our local folk club in Irvine, and asked me to give her friend a floor spot. I did, and very sincerely told her that she had a better voice than Bab Dickson at her age. Eight years later, I got a special invite to her concert in Govan town Hall, Glasgow where she celebrated her Number one 'Perfect". Eddi does a lot of work in north America; she was in Edmonton, in September, I believe. Alovely lass, who really puts effort into her work.

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 03 Feb 02 - 03:25 AM

Maybe I should add a wee bit; Eddi [known at home as "Edna"]is a Glasgow born girl, and moved with her family to Bourtreehill, an estate in Irvine, Ayrshire. She has, I think, two sisters and one brother [could be short on that!] Her Dad, Danny--real nice man---was a great Presley fan. Sadly, Danny died a few years back. There's more to her life which could be told, but I think I'll set a limit on what I say. She may be looked upon as "public property" and perhaps fair game for shitty tabloids etc.., but I aint in that category.

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 03 Feb 02 - 04:17 AM

She was one of three great singers who performed in a Burns Night special on BBC. They were Michael Mara,Rod Paterson, and Edi Reader, and it was a smashing programme of all Burns material.
Failte....Giok

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: Micca
Date: 03 Feb 02 - 08:42 AM

There was a TV Drama series on the BBC several years ago set against the background of the Country music scene in Scotland. Called " Your Cheating Heart" In which Edde Reader was one of the leading singers, and the CD of the music (same title) maybe still available, It is Magical!!

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: michaelr
Date: 03 Feb 02 - 03:38 PM

Boab, you teaser... now you've made me want to know the tabloid stuff!*BG*Seriously, thanks for the info.

Fairground Attraction, eh? Now what does that remind me of??

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 12:33 AM

Aye, Micca---I still threaten to hang a "boax" roond her neck wi' all the works intact and see if she can play "Cheatin' Heart"! Michaelr---I trust I gave no bad impression when I "drew a line" at further discussion of Eddi's private life;there's no life that I know of which has less to apologise for. An extraordinarily talented lady with an extraordinarily common touch!

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: GUEST,mollificent
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 12:45 AM

(poking my head out of the gopher hole I've been hiding in...)

She sang backup on a few tracks of Kate Rusby's latest album, too. She's got a lovely voice. I should see if we can get in some of her stuff at Dusty Strings. Oh, Ronny...*batting eyelashes*...please please pretty please?

Molly

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: fat B****rd
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 07:43 AM

And she does a mean Edith Piaf song an'all.

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: Zipster
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 08:03 AM

She certainly has a great voice followed her from Fairground Attraction into her solo career and as stated she gives excellent renditions of such as "Ae Fond Kiss" and "Jock O' Hazeldean".

2 questions,

Does anyone know why "The Wild Side of Life" (Honky Tonk Angel) was in the series of Tutti Frutti, but never appeared on the Album of the series, (which I bought for Eddi's tracks, she's that good)

Why does she do that thing with her hands? I honestly find it very distracting that her hands flap around apparently with minds of their own.

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: michaelr
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 11:04 PM

So tell me about Fairground Attraction!! It sounds too close to you-know-who to be coincidence - were they a FC cover band? Recordings available?

Thanks for all info.
Michael

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: Zipster
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 07:23 AM

Fairport Convention? Hmm not actually familiar with their work, but Fairground attraction are no tribute band. Great songwriter who's name I forget, and the bonny and fantastically voiced Eddi Reader as lead singer. Biggest hit was the aforementioned "Perfect", (It was picked up for Asda commercials, "Its got to be e e e e e e...perfect") Acrimonious split eg Eddi Reader has said the first she knew of the commercial was hearing someone else sign the hook on telly.

I'm sure she was on Aly Bain's superb Transatlantic Sessions and therefore might have some tracks on the CD

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: Grab
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 07:33 AM

I don't think Fairground Attraction lasted long. They were late-80s/early-90s IIRC. They had a UK number 1 with "Perfect" - that wasn't a cover, but I couldn't swear to the rest of it, but I doubt it since ER writes her own stuff. (A search on Google shows that they only released two albums.)

I was lucky enough to see her and Boo Hewerdine (sp?) playing at the benefit gig for the Cambridge Two (the best gig I've ever seen with the quality of ppl performing - the Watersons were also up there - and top marks to them all for supporting Ruth Wyner and John Brock). She's a very, very good singer and guitarist, not just one who fakes it with the electronics.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 09:21 AM

She appeared in the recent Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow and went down a storm -

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: michaelr
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 09:32 PM

Thanks all. Michael

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 01:59 AM

Awee tale re. Eddi and her appearance at Celtic Connections; After a gig, Herself and Phil Cunningham had a visit to a fish and chip place, and were "on the wander" while they dipped into the paper bags. They happened to come upon a pub [it was named, in the "Herald Diary", but I forget it---] from which the sounds of a karaoke were floating. The pair of them landed in there, and the bold Eddi stepped onstage and "karaoked" one of her own numbers. The report reckoned that everybody was amazed at her likeness to the "real thing". [Personally, I can't credit Eddi being unrecognised, especially in Glasgow.]

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: Stu
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 08:14 AM

She also appeared on Sult, Donal Lunny's music programme, where she was awesome.

Can't remeber the name of the track she sang but would love to know.

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: Zipster
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 08:25 AM

I'm surprised people didn't recognise her from that flappy-handy thing she does. THere can't be too many karaoke's in Glasgow where that would pass unremarked.

I AM a fan, just not of the F-H thing.

Subject: michaelr..COME BACK!
From: O'Trasno
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 07:37 PM

I've checked this thread twice because i can't believe that no-one's mentioned the classic,classic album 'Mirmama' which is a sublime work of "post-fairground" bliss.

Errr,lemme see;it's on RCA and the only code number here is 74321 158652 and it's distributed by BMG.

Eddie Reader with the Patron Saints of Imperfection.

Well worth finding IMHO,and right now it's playing away here just fine!

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: michaelr
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 08:20 PM

Thanks O'Trasno, I've found Mirmama since I started this thread, and love it! Great version of John Prine's "Hello In There"...

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Eddi Reader
From: Declan
Date: 29 Oct 02 - 12:29 PM

Just came here from the Hummingbird thread and thought I'd add to the praises of this fine singer. As well as possessing great taste in songs she has tended to surround herself with some fine musicians over the years. Her latest musical collaborations appear to be mostly with Boo Hewerdine from Cambridge and Colin Reid a fine guitarist from Belfast. The song she sang on Sult with Donal Lunny was the Blacksmith which was a big song for Planxty in the 1970s, Andy Irvine sang it and Lunny was a band member.

I also heard her sing some nice Duets with Dick Gaughan in Cambridge a couple of years back.

Btw there's another great version of the Blacksmith (with a Different tune) on Jane & Amenda Threlfall's album "The Gown of Green".