alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'

Subject: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: breezy
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 09:47 AM

any othe catter lucky enough to have this Cd or am I alone on this planet?

And with the words to help us deaf uns follow the stories its well worth a listen.

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 09:53 AM

Alan sent me a copy as well, breezy!

RtS

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 09:56 AM

I have it, and it is excellent. I am really impressed with Alan's vision for capturing people in song, from the inside view. His tunes are great too, and he has a really twisted sense of humor that we especially appreciated.

~Susan

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 10:19 AM

I also have a copy of Alan's CD. I've been enjoying it for several months now. As Susan says, Alan captures his subjects with his songs. The CD is well produced and worth the money for sure.

Mike

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 10:20 AM

I've got it too and I play it a lot. I especially like Johnny Petto with fiddling from Klaus der Geiger.

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: Big Mick
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 11:53 AM

Yep, you would have a hard time finding fault with this CD. It is fast becoming one of my fav's. I love the take on what Alan sees going on around him. Well worth the cost of purchase. This man has a great deal of talent.

Mick

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: khandu
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 12:53 PM

Yes yes! I have had it for some time now, & I give it a listen quite often. As others have said, Alan does have a wonderfully twisted & quirky sense of humor & a piercing insight into the hearts of those of whom he sings. Excellent writer!

Besides, he is a great fellow! We have not met in the real world but through cyber-mail & snail mail, I feel like I know him well. My fingers are crossed in hopes of meeting him!

ken

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: alanabit
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 02:06 PM

I can only blush to see so many of my favourite Mudcatters in one place! You are most kind. Tomorrow I am meeting Markus to begin preparing the second album and it is lovely to have such encouraging remarks the night before.
It is actually Markus who does most of the real work. I usually play an acoustic guitar part or sing a guide vocal. Then Markus begins the painstaking task of building up the track. We are hoping to finish this album a bit more quickly than the first, which took about a year. The new one will be called "Travellers' Tales", which will be comprised mainly of the sort of apochryphal tales which you might hear in a pub storytelling session. (Some of them are actually based on true stories). I shall let you know when it is finished, of course.
For those of you who understand German, it is more than worth taking the trouble to check out Klaus der Geiger. In my humble opinion he is one of the world's greatest folk musicians (although he would not dream of making such a claim himself). Apart from being a wonderful musician, he really is the closest thing to a Woody Guthrie type character that I am ever likely to meet.

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: michaelr
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 08:01 PM

I'm looking forward to "Traveler's Tales". When I visited Alan last fall, he sang me the title song. It's great!

Be sure to let us know when the CD is done, Alan.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: khandu
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 10:46 PM

"Traveler's Tales"! I like the name!
Do not blush so much that you fail to tell the Catter's when the CD is done!

ken

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: GUEST,Pat Cooksey.
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 06:56 AM

I also have Alan's C.D. and like it very much, I have a concert in
Alan's City in March so I look forward to meeting the man himself.

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: GUEST,Wolfgang
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 10:31 AM

The songwriting is extremely good. Very good observation. My personal favourite after a couple of listenings also is Johnny Petto, but several other songs come close.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: breezy
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 01:49 PM

So I too am privileged along with a few other catters.

I'm finding a liking to most of the songs.

'Petto' , 'Jack the Stripper',- great title-    'Men of Steel'

'Holiday Romance' 'Small Voice Crying' but my favourite is turning out to be 'Should Have Thought'

!!!

I found it very useful to follow the text with the help of the enclosed lyrics

I was impressed by the variety in styles and changes of emotional moods along this musical journey.

Wishing Alan all the best with the next album, he's set a high standard for himself IMHO

If he gets here in early Autumn I've said that all being well, I'll gig him in St Albans.

www.folk4all.net

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 01:57 PM

I came in contact with Alan Moorhouse some 2+ years ago and swapped CDs - all that's said above is valid and in spades too.

If you book him, Breezy, I'll be there panting...

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: Cats
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 05:43 PM

I also have the CD. It was delivered by his brother when we discovered, via mudcat, that he used to live in the house next door!! It has some fine songs on it. Check it out.

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: alanabit
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 12:02 PM

You guys are getting me thinking about making concrete plans for a week in autumn. The thought of spending a few evenings swapping songs and stories over a couple of pints with some of my favourite posters here is too much to resist. Markus is planning to have us finish the album by June, so we should have "Traveller's Tales" ready by then and Markus would be very interested in coming with me. If I can get a couple of extended spots and cover some of my expenses, it has to happen. I have not played so much in the past year or two, but I used to go out on an almost daily basis either gigging or busking. Apart from the chance of meeting so many interesting people, it would be a real thrill to be able to work completely in my own first language, to people who can understand what I am singing about. I am starting to get excited about the idea. I will be in touch with some of you. Please PM me if you have any bright ideas.
Regards,
Alan.

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: Cats
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 02:41 PM

Alan, when you come back to Cornwall come on over to the new house (we've left KB) and have a beer or six!!

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: breezy
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 02:49 PM

El Greko

Get ready for panting

23/24th Sept

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 07:26 PM

Tis a good un Alan all the best from the fat bloke

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: alanabit
Date: 17 Feb 05 - 03:39 PM

To you as well Jim. I will be over in September and would be interested in playing anywhere where someone might be interested before or after the weekend 23/24 September. I may well put up a thread to this effect in the coming days.

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 17 Feb 05 - 07:09 PM

Give us a shout suspicion it's either Bromyard or Otley but you can stop here in Sunny Sheff and just play the sesh's let me know

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 17 Feb 05 - 10:08 PM

It's great stuff.

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 17 Feb 05 - 10:30 PM

What I found particularly moving was "I used To Have A Name".

Been there. Done that.


Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: khandu
Date: 17 Feb 05 - 10:42 PM

Yep, Stephen, that is a touching song!

Alan, you are welcome to come & play in my living room anytime!!! Doesn't pay good, but we will feed you well & swap some rough old Mississippi licks for some of your tunes!

BTW, my Friend, how's the finger??

ken

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: alanabit
Date: 18 Feb 05 - 04:25 AM

The finger is still swollen and will probably never again be quite right. I can't extend it fully and I can't bend it outwards. I can touch the palm of my hand with it though (which is progress) so most of the stuff I did before is still within my reach. The world has not lost another Robert Johnson or Django Rheinhardt, I can assure you! I was not a virtuoso even before the accident. I have been able to start practising again and have even done a few gigs (one of which was attended by Mudcat's own MC Fat last autumn). Greetings Jim! I'll be in touch.
Mississippi sounds very attractive to me, but I am going to need a few more gigs and translations to get the air fare together. I have been hoping for some time that a short visit to the New York/New England area could be within my reach. A few more months in which I got as much work as December and January would make that a reality.
For the time being, I am very much looking forward to swapping pints and stories with Breezy and El Greko in September.
"I Used to Have a Name" was written with Rob Taylor. Oddly enough, he had a number one hit on the dance charts over here a couple of years back with a cover of the old Ice House song "Hey Little Girl". It is odd, because he writes much better songs himself! He has co-operated with me on a song called "Black Crow Hill" for the new album. By the way Stephen, your "Where Did The Good Man Go" will almost certainly be included. Markus liked the song immediately on hearing it.

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 19 Feb 05 - 12:43 AM

Sometimes the interpretation of a song is as important as the writing.
You bring a depth and understanding to "I Used To Have A Name" which transcends the song itself.

I'm tickled that you are thinking of using "Where Did The Good Man Go" on your next CD. When I read that I let out a yelp of joy which scared the hell out of my cats. They are all hiding in other rooms now.

BTW, are you going to record your song, "Take My Hand"? It's simple and direct. To my ears, it's one of your best songs.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: alanabit's CD 'small voice crying'
From: alanabit
Date: 19 Feb 05 - 03:18 AM

I think you mean "Walk Together" Stephen. Yes. That will be the closing track. Kind remarks about "Used to Have a name". I had the tuning, most of the tune and most of the first verse when I went to Rob, but it would have been very different without him. The idea of changing the focus for the third verse was all his.
The final recording was one of those flukes which sounds a bit like an apochryphal story. When we first did a guide vocal for the playbeck, my voice was in a horrible mess following a sinus operation. It hurt and breathing was a challenge at the time - let alone singing! When I heard the quality of my voice, I said, "That is strictly a guide..." Later on, Markus pointed out that we neded a rough sound on it, so we ended up keeping it.
Now if we have a song like that on another album, I am not going to have another sinus operation!