[2023-02-17] Laurie Styvers "Gemini Girl: The Complete Hush Recordings" 2CD set (High Moon)

Linda · **Posted:** Fri Dec 02, 2022 12:31 pm

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BN1CBPYG/?tag=imwan-20

Description
LAURIE STYVERS may be amongst the lesser-known names within the milieu of 1970s cult singer-songwriters, but anyone who experiences the bewitching innocence on display upon her collectible albums Spilt Milk (1971) and The Colorado Kid (1973) will surely fall in love with this enigmatic figure, whose records spill over with the baroque flavors of late 1960s-early 1970s British pop.

Born in Texas, Laurie Styvers was a student at the American School in late 1960s London when she joined the legendary folk-pop outfit Justine, guesting on their eponymous LP before returning to the US to attend college in Colorado in 1970. Within months however, she was back in the UK to embark upon a solo career, after signing with Shel Talmy and Hugh Murphy’s Hush Productions entity, based upon Laurie’s own highly personal yet evocative songwriting.

Produced by Murphy and arranged by Tom Parker and David Whitaker, with the cream of UK session personnel as accompaniment, recording sessions over the next two years revealed Styvers to be a gifted songsmith with a humble and captivating vocal presence, redolent of Carole King, Karen Carpenter or Judee Sill. The sumptuous musical backgrounds only serve to heighten the attractive qualities of this young ingenue, and her debut single ‘Beat The Reaper’ received encouraging airplay on BBC Radio 1.

Styvers commuted between Colorado and London while making her records, but the relative commercial failure of both albums and a disastrous engagement at LA’s Troubadour saw her ardor dampen for a record career and hastened an exit from the music scene. Her later years saw her caring for animals, and Laurie died in 1998 a cult figure that had faded into obscurity, her seraphic face and voice somehow frozen in time.

Gemini Girl: The Complete Hush Recordings is the exhaustive document of Laurie Styvers’ career that her music has so long demanded. Drawn from original tapes and session reels, the remastered audio sparkles, and the release boasts a full album’s worth of unreleased material, including demos, alternate versions and some superb unheard songs. The 48-page booklet comes with thorough notes by compilation producer Alec Palao that delve deep into the legend of Laurie, based upon the recollections of those who knew or worked with her, and extensively illustrated with photos and memorabilia. The deluxe 2CD Gemini Girl is the last word on the intangible magic of this fascinating and mysterious artist.

Tracklist
[CD1]
1. Beat The Reaper
2. Imagine The Lights Have Gone Out
3. All I Ever Had
4. Five Leaves Left
5. Gemini Girl
6. Pigeons
7. Leo Loves You
8. Seasonal Blues
9. You Keep Coming Home
10. Inside You
11. Eat Your Cornflakes
12. Open Your Window
13. Let Me Comfort You
14. God Knows The Reason
15. Gemini Girl (Alt Version)
16. Eat Your Cornflakes (Alt Version)
17. All I Ever Had (Demo Version)
18. White Flowers (Alt Version)

[CD2]
1. You Are My Inspiration
2. All American Long Haired Denimed Songwriting Guitar Man
3. Take Me In Your Arms Again
4. Heavenly Band
5. You Can Fly Me To The Moon
6. White Flowers
7. You Be The Tide I'll Be The Bay
8. There's Still Time (Follow Your Heart)
9. Oh Colorado
10. Gather The Grain
11. Take Good Care
12. The Way It Should Stay
13. Now That The Rain's Stopped
14. Part Time Lover
15. Crazy Rainy Spring
16. If You Don't Write Me Soon
17. Oh Colorado (Alternate Version)
18. You Be The Tide I'll Be The Bay (Alternate Version)

Linda · **Posted:** Sat Feb 11, 2023 10:44 pm

"Beat The Reaper"

Simon · **Joined:** 26 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 59407

Good Lord.

I really like this and I can't believe I've never heard of her before. Thank you.

Jay · 12 Jul 2006

Really, really enjoying this. Arrived yesterday.

[2023-02-17] Laurie Styvers "Gemini Girl: The Complete Hush Recordings" 2CD set (High Moon)

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