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After the recent live CD and DVD issue recorded at Halifax Piece Hall, plus the reedition of the two acoustic (and magnificent) "Devil Arse" shows, Richard Hawley seems to be taking stock of his sublime career, with a Best-Of release. This CD is generous (32 songs; leaning a bit too much on post-Coles Corner songs) and it does include three inedit songs, plus new arrangements of already-known tunes. We die-hards of the Northern Star perhaps expected more new material and discarded takes (a Bootleg a la Dylan?). But this will do for now.
Born in Sheffield, Richard Hawley was briefly a guitar player in some UK bands. He also did some compositions for other singers, and started a solo career in the early 2000s. His two first solo albums, “Late Night Final” (2001) and “Lowedges” (2003), even if they do contain many excellent songs, went unnoticed, partially because his baritone and anguished voice, and generally dark themes didn't find a way into the neat Brit-Pop, then in fashion. It didn't help that Hawley didn't go much to TV nor presented himself as anything else than exactly what he wanted to be: a singer of his own compositions.
In 2005 he released his third album “Coles Corner”, an excellent piece of work in which he kept the intimacy of his first three solo CDs while managing to take his songs to a much wider audience. He became, as suddenly as justly, one of the most respected singers in the UK. The CD is a collection of superb songs without artifice or fireworks; many performed with only one instrument – guitar or a soft keyboard – upon which Hawley sings his sad lyrics. "Coles Corner" is a masterpiece that put the Sheffield crooner accessible to a whole new (and younger) audience.
Yet he steered away from the many traps of fame and success and carried on with two more exemplary and personal CDs: “Lady's Bridge” and “Truelove's Gutter” – the latter an exercise in dry compositions and sparse instrumentation; it's commercially suicidal, without catchy singles, yet it is one of the best collections of love songs published in the last 25 years. Every song on that CD is outstanding, with the excellent “Soldier On” anticipating the acidity and distorted guitars of the later “Standing at the Sky's Edge”, and with one of Hawley's best songs, “Remorse Code” which has three chords and lasts almost ten minutes; but we wouldn't mind it even longer.
He lent his name (and his band) to a risky project: as Mark Knopfler did with Chet Baker, Hawley recorded a CD with another old-time guitar hero: Duane Eddy, an obvious influence as guitarist. But unlike Knopfler, Hawley stepped back, from the cover of the songs of the CD too, and merely participated from the background. The result is an excellent, sober set of instrumental songs.
After the success of “Standing…” he's released two more CDs, “Hollow Meadows” and “Further” - more excellent songs soberly delivered. He now tours Europe as a star, surrounded by his long-time band, masterly headed by Colin Elliot and Shez Sheridan.
There have been other side projects: "Funny Cow" and other soundtracks, the collaboration with the late Lisa Marie Presley, the musical based on "Standing..." and the concerts with John Grant (nothing of which, sadly, is represented in this Best-of CD). However, these are all very interesting works and reveal the many and varied angles of a musician who - still in his mid-fifties - has ahead of him a wonderful maturity.
Richard Hawley has based his career on simple melodies. He doesn't try to change or disguise the very short range of his voice. Rather, he puts it at the service of stories of love and people. In conclusion, There's nothing radically new here, but, as I stated before, I do believe that this Best Of is both a victory lap and a pause in an already illustrious career. Where will it go from here we cannot know, but I'm sure it will be full of great songs.
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Superb collection spanning Hawley's stellar career
I'm reviewing the lovely coloured 2LP vinyl - the blue, black and white (Sheffield Wednesday team colours). The sound is pristine with no distortion. See photos for how great this gatefold double album looks.The official blurb for the album:Curated by Hawley and long-term collaborator Colin Elliot, Now Then spans his twenty plus year career, exhibiting all facets of his song writing mastery; marrying his most cinematic moments with his most tender, his best loved work and a host of hidden gems from his early work, to create a collection for both his hardcore fanbase and the perfect entry point for his newest fans.Includes tracks from Richard Hawley (2001), Late Night Final (2001), Lowedges (2003), Coles Corner (2005), Lady’s Bridge (2007), Truelove’s Gutter (2009), Standing at the Sky’s Edge (2012), Hollow Meadows (2015) and Further (2019).
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 October 2023
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 May 2024
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 October 2023
The official blurb for the album:
Curated by Hawley and long-term collaborator Colin Elliot, Now Then spans his twenty plus year career, exhibiting all facets of his song writing mastery; marrying his most cinematic moments with his most tender, his best loved work and a host of hidden gems from his early work, to create a collection for both his hardcore fanbase and the perfect entry point for his newest fans.
Includes tracks from Richard Hawley (2001), Late Night Final (2001), Lowedges (2003), Coles Corner (2005), Lady’s Bridge (2007), Truelove’s Gutter (2009), Standing at the Sky’s Edge (2012), Hollow Meadows (2015) and Further (2019).
Superb collection spanning Hawley's stellar career
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 October 2023
I'm reviewing the lovely coloured 2LP vinyl - the blue, black and white (Sheffield Wednesday team colours). The sound is pristine with no distortion. See photos for how great this gatefold double album looks.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 October 2023
The official blurb for the album:
Curated by Hawley and long-term collaborator Colin Elliot, Now Then spans his twenty plus year career, exhibiting all facets of his song writing mastery; marrying his most cinematic moments with his most tender, his best loved work and a host of hidden gems from his early work, to create a collection for both his hardcore fanbase and the perfect entry point for his newest fans.
Includes tracks from Richard Hawley (2001), Late Night Final (2001), Lowedges (2003), Coles Corner (2005), Lady’s Bridge (2007), Truelove’s Gutter (2009), Standing at the Sky’s Edge (2012), Hollow Meadows (2015) and Further (2019).
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 March 2024
What a beautiful way to have a selection of Richard Hawley's greatest work. A fine choice of tracks spanning over 20 years and picked by the man himself.
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