‘Close Your Eyes’ is Annalene’s long awaited debut album. Featuring an enchanting selection of songs by leading British and American songwriters; beautiful new arrangements by Peter White, Jonathan Williams and Richard Taylor; West End guests Julian Ovenden (Marguerite, Annie Get Your Gun), Rebecca Lock (Avenue Q, Phantom of the Opera) and Simon Greiff (Saturday Night Fever, Spamalot); and a special album foreword by acclaimed American composer Mr Scott Alan.
Recording Artist:
Annalene Beechey has become a respected and established West End leading lady. Her West End credits include creating the role of Annette in the world premiere of ‘Marguerite’ opposite Ruthie Henshall, Glinda standby in ‘Wicked’, Belle in ‘Disney's Beauty & The Beast’, Johanna in ‘Sweeny Todd 25th Anniversary’, Cosette in ‘Les Miserables’, Alternate Christine in ‘The Phantom of The Opera’; numerous Regional Theatre work including Cinderella in 'Into The Woods', Pat Collins in 'Moon Landing'; Molly Cassidy in the World Premiere of 'The Ha'penny Bridge'; a regular Guest Artist on BBC Radio 2’s ‘Friday Night Is Music Night’, and Eliza in the Northern Sinfonia Concert of ‘My Fair Lady’ opposite Anthony Andrews and under the baton of John Wilson.
Track Listing:
No One Is Alone / Children Will Listen
(Stephen Sondheim)
Lion Tamer
(Stephen Schwartz)
River
(Joni Mitchell) – with Julian Ovenden
Hannah’s Dream
(Grant Olding) * previously unrecorded song
Doll On A Music Box
(Sherman & Sherman)
Carrying A Torch
(Stiles & Drewe)
The Promise
(Tracy Chapman)
It’s Never That Easy / I’ve Been Here Before
(Shire & Maltby, Jr) – with Rebecca Lock
Sailing
(William Finn)
Nothing More
(Scott Alan)
Perfect Day
(Colin Towns)
What We Have
(Richard Taylor)
If I Told You
(Sklar & Beguelin) – with Simon Greiff
Always / Goodnight
(Scott Alan)
Credits:
Producer: Simon Greiff for SimG Records
Engineered, Mixed & Mastered by Steve Kent
All songs recorded at Tin Pan Alley Studio, London, August/September 2009
Musical Supervision & Arrangements by Peter White
'Perfect Day' arranged by Jonathan Williams
'What We Have' arranged by Richard Taylor
Piano/Guitar/Glockenspiel: Peter White
Piano: Dan Jackson (track 4, 6, 8),
Rob Archibald (track 2),
Julian Ovenden (track 3),
Jonathan Gill (track 12)
Cello: Lucy Payne
Guitar: Andy Jones
Percussion: Ben Brooker
The ‘Perfect Day’ voices: Kate Graham,
Jon-Paul Hevey, Ian McLarnon,
Verity Quade & Stephen Weller.
CD Cover/Book Design & Art Direction by Simon Beechey
Album Photography by Joanna Lane
Released 5th October 2009 by SimG Records
Catalogue Number: SimGR-CD01
Composer Quotes:
“Annalene is a rare and gifted actress who layers startlingly focused emotion into her singing. This album is her own choice of songs that all have a powerful story to tell - give it a listen ... you won't be disappointed.” George Stiles
"Annalene Beechey is a stunning performer who finds new meaning in every song she sings. You'll love this album." Richard Maltby Jr.
“Annalene manages with her debut album to surprise, delight and reward the ear at every turn. A deeply personal collection of songs, new and familiar, are delivered with such a passionate connection to the material that you feel each of these songs must have been written specially for her. And as the lucky composer of one of those songs I can certainly say that was the case. Of course I wrote the song four years before I met Annalene, nevertheless it seems to me now that I must have been hearing this newly recorded version when the inspiration struck. ‘Close Your Eyes’ is a wonderfully classy CD. Beautifully sung, tastefully arranged, lovingly programmed. The first of many I hope.” Grant Olding
“To have a singer want to record your song is always a treat, but when it is someone of Annalene’s stature and artistry it is a dream. Her sense of phrasing, communication of the text, and sheer musicality, makes anything she sings a joy to listen to.” Richard Taylor
Reviews:
"A delightful album of songs chosen by Annalene herself. Miss Beechey sings with great beauty and clarity displaying a talent that singers like Katherine Jenkins can only dream about. Here we have great attention to detail accompanied by a real understanding of the style necessary to make every song tell its own story. The musical arrangements are superb. I particularly liked the stunning rendition of 'Doll on a Music Box'. Annalene is part of a group of West End singing actors who take their work seriously and who are continually trying to expand their art whilst being almost constantly ignored in favour of mediocre talents. Annalene is joined by the not inconsiderable talents of Julian Ovenden and Rebecca Lock." Ken Caswell from MUSICAL STAGES
"Fans will be happy to know ... it’s a winner. Lovingly produced ... it’s a fine showcase for this talented singer’s lovely voice, with some beautiful new arrangements and a thoughtfully chosen playlist focusing on narrative numbers. This respected West End leading lady with the angelic voice is a pleasure to listen to, from the very first track to the last. This is an album full of highlights: Schwartz’s marvellous 'Lion Tamer', Stiles and Drewe’s comic number 'Carrying a Torch (“for the boy who’s carrying a spear”), Finn’s 'Sailing', Olding’s 'Hannah’s Dream', Joni Mitchell’s 'River', and a dreamlike six-part vocal arrangement of 'Perfect Day' which evokes Gregorian chant. Another standout is a slow, haunting 'Doll on a Music Box', completely rethinking the familiar Sherman Brothers’ number from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which is sure to make you see the song in a completely different light." Catherine Surowiec from whatsonstage.com
"West End star Beechey brings such sweetness and delicacy to show tunes ranging from Stephen Schwartz's 'Lion Tamer' to William Finn's 'I'd Rather Be Sailing' that she truly surprises when giving 'Doll on a Box' a satisfyingly haunting spin."
“You may not have heard of Annalene Beechey yet, but her debut solo album suggests she won’t remain a secret much longer. Drawing on a repertoire from Sondheim to Tracy Chapman, she also concentrates on more unfamiliar material from newer composers. She is joined by Julian Ovenden for a haunting rendition of Joni Mitchell’s ‘River’; and there’s a lovely song about carrying a torch for an actor who is a Shakespearean spear-carrier, by Stiles and Drewe. You’ll want to carry a torch for Annalene after listening to this.” REALLY USEFUL GROUP Theatre Programmes
“On her debut solo CD, singer and actress Annalene Beechey lets all conventions fly. She presents a wild mixture of well-known songs somewhat off the beaten path (a touching Sondheim medley and a beautifully emotional rendition of ‘Sailing’) and truly unexpected offerings (‘Doll On A Music Box’ and ‘Perfect Day’, both treated exquisitely). However, it is a far less lugubrious song, which in and of itself constitutes a very good reason for both buying this CD and continuing to keep a close eye on Beechey in the future. The song is George Stiles and Anthony Drewe’s ‘Carrying A Torch’, with Beechey’s interpretation overflowing with head-over-heels romantic euphoria and weakness of the knees that one has to wonder how that man can miss the glowing star watching him every night.” Fredrik Fischer from OPERA Sweden
“Beechey's personality is enchanting and infectious … she gets a change to flex her dramatic and musical muscles with the all-around exquisite content of the songs chosen here, each and every one an appropriate and carefully crafted confection with elegant and subdued minimalist orchestrations, the tip-top production quality never wavering for even a mere instant giving us the feeling of a perfectly captured aural performance. It flows; it dives; it soars. [Annalene] lives her lyrics, and the results inform each and every one of her performance choices here, all well-chosen and endearing. She is always equally the actress and the singer of the song … she is always excellent, always affecting, always spot-on sincere and, above all, superlative in each chosen endeavor.”
"Stunningly flawless ... Words fail in trying to share the quintessential beauty found in Close Your Eyes, it is perfect start to finish. The song selections, song order, arrangements, musical accompaniments (both instrumental & vocal) all come together complimenting Ms. Beechey's phenomenal voice. Take the time to read the liner notes as they give an introspective peek into the heart and soul of Ms. Beechey, which in turn will help you realize why this album is destined to become a classic."
"This is a lovely album ... it exceeds all my expectations! Annalene has obviously spent time choosing just the right track - a perfect combination of beautiful songs. I have always admired her stunning voice - now I have her on my iPod to play any time!!”
"Wow ... what an album - and about time too I might add! It is so refreshing to find an album from a musical theatre performer that isn't filled with the usual musical theatre tracks we all expect to hear! If there is one album I insist you buy this year it is this one. It has something that will appeal to any taste - well, with a voice like that, how could it not!!”
"Stunning debut CD ... it is simply stunning, and contains some of the most beautifully written tracks I have ever heard. I would highly recommend this CD to anyone who loves musical theatre, beautifully crafted songs, or just likes to hear a song sung perfectly."
"Close Your Eyes ... And dream you shall as Annalene's exquisite vocals soothe away all your cares ... Rarely will one hear a voice so pure, that connects on such an emotional level with listeners. The tracks are exciting and enchanting, not a single dud. I can say with all honesty that each and every track is a mini masterpiece … an album showcasing real emotion, real passion and above all things, real talent."
To read Customer Reviews in full, please click ‘here’
Buy the CD:
‘Close Your Eyes’ is also available in-store at Dress Circle (57-59 Monmouth Street, London) and to download on www.cdbaby.com and all good online download stores.
"give it a listen ... you won't be disappointed.” George Stiles
"You'll love this album." Richard Maltby Jr.
“...songs, new and familiar, are delivered with such a passionate connection to the material that you feel each of these songs must have been written specially for her."
"This is a lovely album ... it exceeds all my expectations!"
"a perfect combination of beautiful songs..."
"Wow ... what an album - and about time too I might add!"
"If there is one album I insist you buy this year it is this one."
"Stunning debut CD ..."
" it is simply stunning, and contains some of the most beautifully written tracks I have ever heard."
"Close Your Eyes ... And dream you shall as Annalene's exquisite vocals soothe away all your cares."
" Rarely will one hear a voice so pure, that connects on such an emotional level with listeners."
"each and every track is a mini masterpiece …"
" an album showcasing real emotion, real passion and above all things, real talent." Customer Reviews
Photo Album:
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