[2017-03-31] Mary Hopkin "Live At The Royal Festival Hall 1972" reissue (Mary Hopkin UK)

Linda · **Posted:** Fri Jan 27, 2017 4:35 am

Description
A recording of Mary's performance in 1972 supporting Ralph McTell. Mary was joined on stage by Brian Willoughby, Danny Thompson, Tony Visconti and the Pop Arts String Quartet. There are highlights from her first two albums as well as some of her folk favourites. Mary Hopkin's liner notes of this 34 year old album give an indication as to her attitude to her brief but bright music career all that time ago. Picked up by the Beatles' own Apple label, and thrust into pop-stardom with a trans-Atlantic number-one single, it was only a matter of time before she withdrew. Despite being a few years into her career by 1972, Hopkin sounds shy, self-effacing and modest. She appears with her friends and her husband, producer Tony Visconti, creating the sound and atmosphere of a small fireside get-together. She sounds almost apologetic when introducing her band, as if it was a bit too 'rock star' to do so. The crowd applaud politely, even to the biggest songs here (Those Were The Days, Streets Of London, Dona Dona) and it's a window into an era when whistles and cheering just weren't done, y'know. After each sublimely-delivered, note-perfect song, she issues a quiet 'thank you' and moves on. In the pop and folk crossover world of the time, Hopkin was a star - her voice alone was to thank for that. A cover of the Beatles' If I Fell, a duet with Visconti, is as animated as she gets; the rest of the songs are minimally orchestrated with acoustic guitar, double bass and strings. On the production, her voice is right at the front, doing its job: showing off the skills of an artist of tremendous tender soulfulness.

Tracklist
1. Once I Had a Sweetheart
2. Introductions
3. Ocean Song
4. Streets of London
5. Sparrow
6. Aderyn Pur
7. If I Fell
8. Silver Dagger
9. Dona Dona
10. Those Were the Days
11. Earth Song
12. Morning Has Broken
13. Both Sides Now
14. International

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRA65IU/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MRA65IU/?tag=imwan-21

Kid Bailey · 16 Jul 2006

The description is accurate. This is a wonderful album. Mary and the band were in top form.

Robert Meagher · 30 Sep 2006

Like Maria Muldaur or Dee Dee Sharpe or Cyndi Lauper - I would listen to her sing the alphabet.

[2017-03-31] Mary Hopkin "Live At The Royal Festival Hall 1972" reissue (Mary Hopkin UK)

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