First Songs, initially credited to "Gwyn and Will",[2] is the debut album of British singer-songwriter Gwyneth Herbert and composer and acoustic guitarist Will Rutter.[3] Comprising both original songs and standards, it was launched at London's Pizza Express Jazz Club in September 2003.[4] The Herbert/Rutter song "Sweet Insomnia" featured guest vocals from Jamie Cullum.[3]

First Songs
Studio album by
Gwyneth Herbert and Will Rutter
Released27 October 2003[1]
StudioCowshed Recording Studio, London
GenreJazz
Length53 minutes
LabelDean Street Records (CD: DNSTCD2002); Universal Music Classics & Jazz (CD/LP: 9866620)
ProducerIan Shaw
Gwyneth Herbert and Will Rutter chronology
First Songs
(2003)
Bittersweet and Blue
(2004)

Reception

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Described by BBC Music as a "lovingly crafted debut",[5] the album received a significant amount of radio airplay on Jazz FM and BBC Radio 2, and was promoted by Michael Parkinson.[3][6]

Writing in The Sunday Times, reviewer Clive Davis said: "If Gwyneth Herbert is not a star before long, I will eat my CD player. The sultry young singer’s partnership with guitarist Will Rutter has caused a stir on London's club circuit, and their debut album — artfully produced and arranged by vocalist Ian Shaw — lives up to that promise, blending pop and jazz values".[2]

Track listing

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No Title Lyrics and music Length
1 "Little Red Rooster" Willie Dixon 2:41
2 "Maybe Me" Gwyneth Herbert and Will Rutter 3:10
3 "Beguiling Eyes" Stephen Fearing 4:13
4 "My Thief" Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello 4:06
5 "I Was Doin' Alright" George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin 2:59
6 "It's Getting Better" Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil 3:38
7 "Sweet Insomnia" Gwyneth Herbert and Will Rutter 3:39
8 "Calling You" Bob Telson 5:04
9 "No Other Love" Gwyneth Herbert and Will Rutter 3:38
10 "Trains & Boats & Planes" Burt Bacharach and Hal David 3:55
11 "Don't Worry About Me" Ted Koehler and Rube Bloom 3:58
12 "There'll Be Some Changes Made" Benton Overstreet and Billy Higgins 3:09
13 "The Ballad of the Sad Young Men" Frances Landesman 5:02
14 "Beguiling Eyes" (FM Mix) Stephen Fearing 4:24 Total length = 53 minutes

Personnel

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  • Gwyneth Herbert – vocals
  • Will Rutter – guitar
  • Mark Hodgson – bass
  • Tom Mason – bass
  • Andy Nice – cello
  • Josefina Cupido – drums and percussion
  • Ben Godfrey – trumpet
  • Guy Barker – trumpet
  • Jamie Cullum – vocals
  • Ian Shaw – keyboards and percussion[7]

Production

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The album was produced by Ian Shaw, who arranged all the songs (except "No Other Love", which was arranged by Will Rutter).[7] It was recorded by Joe Leach at the Cowshed Recording Studio, London between June and September 2003.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Gwyneth Herbert & Will Rutter: First Songs". The Elvis Costello Wiki. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  2. ^ a b Clive Davis (2 November 2003). "Jazz: New Releases: Gwyn & Will: First Songs". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Jack Foley (2003). "Gwyneth Herbert – I suppose for as long as I can remember, singing's always been my complete passion". IndieLondon. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  4. ^ John Fordham (25 September 2003). "Gwyn Herbert/ Will Rutter". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  5. ^ Kathryn Shackleton (2004). "Gwyn and Will First Songs Review". BBC Music. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  6. ^ Rebecca Grundy (Spring 2008). "So what exactly lies between Gwyneth Herbert and her wardrobe?". Durham First. No. 24. University of Durham. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  7. ^ a b c Album sleeve notes
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