Jill Carr - Songs of Love, Loss and Betrayal

I'm not sure why we've been sent this CD for review. It doesn't appear to be commercially available – at least, there's no contact information on it at all so, if you wanted to buy it, I couldn't tell you where to get it. It seems to be what is known in the literary world as “vanity publishing” - intended as a memento for family and friends. In which case, it'll do the job.

It's a collection of well-known and much-loved songs including Come All Ye Fair and Tender Maidens, Geordie, The Water Is Wide, Mary Hamilton, Banks of the Sweet Primroses, etc. Twelve tracks in all, and all in the widely-sung versions established by popular recordings from the 1970s and 80s. They are accompanied by Jill herself on guitar with a few additions from friends on fiddle, bouzouki and synthesised strings or pipe organ. The arrangements are banal but not unpleasant (though I wouldn't want to listen to the fiddle on Black Is the Colour too often). The singing is somewhat uncertain in pitching and, very occasionally actually off-key, but it's okay. It sounds like she's very nervous - which, if this is her first venture into a recording studio, is understandable and (by a tolerant audience of family and friends) forgivable. I think it's very likely that she sings much better than this in folk clubs and sessions where she feels relaxed. They're great songs and she obviously loves singing them and I bet she's really popular in her local pub.
However, there is another possibility. A brief search on the internet brings up the name Jill Carr as a singing and guitar teacher so this CD may be intended to raise business. If this is that same person, it's a poor advertisement.
Chris (Yorkie) Bartram
3 Meole Hall Gardens, Shrewsbury SY3 9JS 01743 271269