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James Morrison may be considered as one of the U.K.'s premier soul talents, but the Warwickshire singer appears to have a bit of a downer on his career of late, having recently stated that he's "sung too many love ballads," and that he hated making his last album, Songs for You, Truths for Me, after being pressured by his former Polydor label to repeat the formula of his million-selling debut. With several songs relating to his alcoholic father's death on his third effort, The Awakening, the husky-voiced guitarist appears to have rectified one of his issues, but despite the presence of Suede's Bernard Butler as producer, it's difficult to hear how he's made any attempt to deal with the other. Seemingly designed to make Radio 2 listeners hearts flutter, "I Won't Let You Go" follows the same heartfelt, acoustic, tearjerker template as his previous two lead singles; the toe-tapping Motown pastiches "Beautiful Life" and "Forever" show that Morrison's retro leanings are still very much apparent; while there's even a "Broken Strings"-style duet with Jessie J on the orchestral, midtempo "Up." Pleasantly inoffensive and lushly produced as they are, they don't exactly live up to the radical reinvention that his rather dismissive comments indicated, and it's only on the funky R&B beats and Michael Jackson-esque chorus of "Slave to the Music," and the sparse, gospel-tinged blues of "Right by Your Side," where Morrison begins to show some of the invention that was allegedly so heavily restricted on his previous effort. However, lyrically, he's never been better, with the heartbreaking themes of loss on "In My Dreams," "6 Weeks," and "Person I Should Have Been," the latter based on a poem inspired by the last conversation he had with his late father, more than fulfilling his ambitions of "wanting to go a bit deeper and find more substance." But until Morrison manages to infuse some of this raw honesty and emotion into his sound, he's always going to struggle to create that one great record that his impassioned and soulful voice deserves.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
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Dan Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Bernard Butler, Producer, Guitar, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - James Morrison Catchpole, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Richard George, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Burdge, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Everton Nelson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Julia Singleton, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Claire Orsler, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Sally Herbert, String Arranger, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Dougal Lott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - James Morrison, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Andy Ross, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dominic Glover, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Baptie, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Oli Langford, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Alison Dods, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Nichol Thomson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Natalie Bonner, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Mako Sakamoto, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Frances Dewar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Nathan Fisher, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2011 Universal Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Bernard Butler, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Robson, ComposerLyricist - Martin Brammer, ComposerLyricist - Dougal Lott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - James Morrison, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Andy Ross, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dominic Glover, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Andrea Grant, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Baptie, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nichol Thomson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Mako Sakamoto, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Beverley Brown, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nathan Fisher, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2011 Universal Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Steve Robson, ComposerLyricist - Martin Brammer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Price, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ash Soan, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ren Swan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ANDY WALLACE, Hammond Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Taylor, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Adam Phillips, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - James Morrison, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robin Smith, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Baptie, Additional Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Patrick Mascall, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2011 Universal Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Toby GAD, ComposerLyricist - Steve Price, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ash Soan, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ren Swan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ANDY WALLACE, Hammond Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Taylor, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Adam Phillips, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - James Morrison, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robin Smith, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jessie J, Additional Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Baptie, Additional Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Patrick Mascall, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2011 Universal Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Bernard Butler, Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Toby GAD, ComposerLyricist - James Morrison Catchpole, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Richard George, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Burdge, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Everton Nelson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Julia Singleton, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Claire Orsler, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Sally Herbert, String Arranger, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Dougal Lott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - James Morrison, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dominic Glover, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Andrea Grant, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Baptie, Additional Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Oli Langford, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jim Hunt, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Alison Dods, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Nichol Thomson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Natalie Bonner, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Mako Sakamoto, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Beverley Brown, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Frances Dewar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Nathan Fisher, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2011 Universal Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Bernard Butler, Producer - James Morrison Catchpole, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Richard George, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Burdge, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Pryce, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Everton Nelson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Julia Singleton, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Claire Orsler, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Sally Herbert, String Arranger, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Dougal Lott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - James Morrison, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ben Baptie, Additional Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Oli Langford, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Alison Dods, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Natalie Bonner, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Mako Sakamoto, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Frances Dewar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2011 Universal Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Bernard Butler, Producer, Guitar, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Brammer, ComposerLyricist - Greg Kurstin, ComposerLyricist - Dougal Lott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - James Morrison, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Andrea Grant, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Baptie, Additional Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Mako Sakamoto, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Beverley Brown, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nathan Fisher, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2011 Universal Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Bernard Butler, Producer, Guitar, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Brammer, ComposerLyricist - Greg Kurstin, ComposerLyricist - Dougal Lott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - James Morrison, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Andy Ross, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dominic Glover, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Andrea Grant, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Baptie, Additional Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nichol Thomson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Mako Sakamoto, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Beverley Brown, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nathan Fisher, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2011 Universal Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Bernard Butler, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - James Morrison Catchpole, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Richard George, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Burdge, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Everton Nelson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Julia Singleton, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Claire Orsler, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Sally Herbert, String Arranger, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Dougal Lott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eg White, ComposerLyricist - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Fraser T. Smith, ComposerLyricist - James Morrison, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ben Baptie, Additional Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Oli Langford, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Alison Dods, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Natalie Bonner, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Mako Sakamoto, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Frances Dewar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Nathan Fisher, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2011 Universal Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Dan Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Bernard Butler, Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - James Morrison Catchpole, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Richard George, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Burdge, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Everton Nelson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Julia Singleton, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Claire Orsler, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Sally Herbert, String Arranger, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Dougal Lott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - James Morrison, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ben Baptie, Additional Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Oli Langford, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Alison Dods, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Natalie Bonner, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Mako Sakamoto, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Frances Dewar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Nathan Fisher, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2011 Universal Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Bernard Butler, Producer, Guitar, Organ, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Claude Kelly, ComposerLyricist - Steve Robson, ComposerLyricist - Dougal Lott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - James Morrison, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Andrea Grant, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Baptie, Additional Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Universal Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Bernard Butler, Producer, Guitar, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Toby GAD, ComposerLyricist - James Morrison Catchpole, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Richard George, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Burdge, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Everton Nelson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Julia Singleton, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Claire Orsler, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Sally Herbert, String Arranger, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Dougal Lott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - James Morrison, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ben Baptie, Additional Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Oli Langford, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Alison Dods, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Natalie Bonner, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Mako Sakamoto, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Frances Dewar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Nathan Fisher, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2011 Universal Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Bernard Butler, Producer, Guitar, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Terefe, ComposerLyricist - Richard Pryce, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Dougal Lott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - James Morrison, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ben Baptie, Additional Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Mako Sakamoto, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2011 Universal Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Album review
James Morrison may be considered as one of the U.K.'s premier soul talents, but the Warwickshire singer appears to have a bit of a downer on his career of late, having recently stated that he's "sung too many love ballads," and that he hated making his last album, Songs for You, Truths for Me, after being pressured by his former Polydor label to repeat the formula of his million-selling debut. With several songs relating to his alcoholic father's death on his third effort, The Awakening, the husky-voiced guitarist appears to have rectified one of his issues, but despite the presence of Suede's Bernard Butler as producer, it's difficult to hear how he's made any attempt to deal with the other. Seemingly designed to make Radio 2 listeners hearts flutter, "I Won't Let You Go" follows the same heartfelt, acoustic, tearjerker template as his previous two lead singles; the toe-tapping Motown pastiches "Beautiful Life" and "Forever" show that Morrison's retro leanings are still very much apparent; while there's even a "Broken Strings"-style duet with Jessie J on the orchestral, midtempo "Up." Pleasantly inoffensive and lushly produced as they are, they don't exactly live up to the radical reinvention that his rather dismissive comments indicated, and it's only on the funky R&B beats and Michael Jackson-esque chorus of "Slave to the Music," and the sparse, gospel-tinged blues of "Right by Your Side," where Morrison begins to show some of the invention that was allegedly so heavily restricted on his previous effort. However, lyrically, he's never been better, with the heartbreaking themes of loss on "In My Dreams," "6 Weeks," and "Person I Should Have Been," the latter based on a poem inspired by the last conversation he had with his late father, more than fulfilling his ambitions of "wanting to go a bit deeper and find more substance." But until Morrison manages to infuse some of this raw honesty and emotion into his sound, he's always going to struggle to create that one great record that his impassioned and soulful voice deserves.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:49:40
- Main artists: James Morrison
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Universal-Island Records Ltd.
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2011 Universal Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited, Licensed to Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. 1755 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Distributed by Universal Music Distribution. All rights ℗ 2011 Universal Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited, Licensed to Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. 1755 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Distributed by Universal Music Distribution. All rights
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