English singer-songwriter Jonathan Spottiswoode has been a parent of a daughter now for quite some time, which made him reconsider his responsibilities as well as the undeniably fact that he is getting older. On his new album It Wasn't In The Script he can not help but wonder how much it has changed in his life, but now that he has adapted to this new reality, he actually quite likes it. He even went as far as to have his daughter singing backing vocals on most of the tracks. Being joined by your offspring is tricky - what if the little brat hasn't been gifted with the genes of the parent or, even worse tries to steal his thunder? It turns out that little Sophie actually can carry a tune (phew) and while she probably will hate her contributions once she hits puberty, she will come around eventually and cherish these moments in the recording studio.
As a songwriter and musician Spottiswoode alway has been on the fence between jazz and pop, both as a solo artist and fronting his ace band His Enemies, taking cues from both English folk and the less polished sound of off-broadway performances. While he has been spending most of his time in New York for longer than he cares to remember, the pull of London is always there, hence a heartfelt song about wanting his kid the sights of Camden town - "I'm a washed-up rock and roller, I played a season in hell Now I'm pushing a stroller along the Regents Canal // Couples grinning like they know who we are // But it's not me, it's my baby, she's the star" - in When I'm With You.
He is savouring every moment right now, but he is also aware that things might fall apart (I'm A Worrier) or even end abruptly (The Bullet's Coming). He has to play another part now, being a father, and as millions of guys before him,, he is making it up as he goes along. As a seasoned artist he can give voice to his feelings through song, turning personal hassles into a bunch of snapshots that have a universal appeal.
Spottiswoode: vocals, guitars, piano (6)
Brian Geltner: drums, percussion; Marxophone amp; Mellotron (7); bass synth (8)
Drew Hart: bass
Kenny White: piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond C3, Wurlitzer, Farfisa
Special guests:
Sophie Lee Elliott Spottiswoode: backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11)
Martha Redbone: backing vocals (3, 4, 8, 12)
Matti Müller: backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 8, 9), backing arrangement (2)
Andrew Miller: backing vocals (2, 4, 8, 9)
Clare Elliott: backing vocals (4, 6)
Walter Salas-Humara: backing vocals (8)
Chris Marquardt: Flugelhorn, pocket trumpet, horn arrangement & backing vocals (6)
Tom Watson: trumpet (3)
Peter Fox: melodica (5), Gibson 347 electric guitar (9)
It Wasn't In The Script is a self-released album. Buy it from his website (vinyl - 200 copies, CD, digital). Release date: April 21.
Tracks:- It Wasn't In The Script
- Prayer #1
- Old Man At The Station
- Oh, What A Beautiful World
- When I'm With You
- Just As We Planned
- The Bullet's Coming
- I'm A Worrier
- Through The Shadows
- It's Always Something
- You Think Too Much
- Summer Day
- 04/24 The Bitter End, New York,NY (album release show)
- 04/25 Spencertown Academy, Spencertown, NY (w/ Kenny White)
- 05/01 Club Passim, Cambridge, MA (w/ Kenny White)
- 05/02 The Parlor Room, Northampton MA (w/ Kenny White)
- 05/15 House Concert, Brussels, Belgium (w/ Kenny White)
- 05/16 Luxor Cinema, Zutphen, Netherlands (w/ Kenny White)
- 05/22 The Green Note, London,, UK (album release show w/ Kenny White)
- 06/19 Helles Have, Stege, Denmark
- 06/20 Roy’s Music Exchange, Naestved, Denmark
HCTF review of I Have So Many Friends
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