AW

ALAN WEST

REVIEWS

Article in Maverick Magazine April 2008

Devon – born and raised Alan West has been delighting audiences up and down the UK for past twenty years without quite breaking out from the dreaded “cult hero” label that has held back some of the finest creative singer-songwriters for years. With the release earlier this year of his long awaited debut solo album, “Songs from a Neophyte” comes the news that Alan has been selected as the special guest opening act on the five English and Scottish dates of Hal Ketchum’s April tour.

This will bring Alan’s deep, rich voice and superb selection of songs to a whole new audience. The release of the album has already seen the accolades pouring in, not to mention extensive radio play, not only across the UK but also in America, Australia and several European countries.

Alan’s deep passion for country music has been with him since the age of six and, over the last three decades, he has gone on to establish himself as one of UK’s finest country singer-songwriters and performers. In 1978 he started playing the pubs, clubs and festivals around the south west of the UK, working alongside some of the country’s finest musicians, including Sarah Jory. In 1985 he met Steve Elliot and together they formed west & Elliot.

Within five years they had risen  to the top on the UK country music scene, and had received numerous awards and accolades throughout Britain and Europe. West & Elliot were recognized by the British  country music association (BCMA) and its members as the UK’s finest duo in 1990, an award they retained the following year; in addition, their debut album, THE ALL DAY SESSION, was voted BCMA Album of the year.

Their popularity flourished, as did their reputation for delivering fresh new songs with unrivalled passion and conviction, which led to frequent tours with songwriting legends such as Townes van Zandt, Guy Clark, Sonny Curtis and Hugh Moffatt. During the late 1990’s, West & Elliott broadened their musical horizons and became involved with many varied projects taking in folk, bluegrass, blues as well as country music

Success, though, never really equaled potential in any way shape or form. There has always been a ‘missing link’. The country music audiences of Europe have always warmed to them, but they never quite felt they fitted into that ‘pigeon hole’. Their shows always featured very strong songs drawn from obscure album tracks and singer- songwriters some of whom they have worked with and have consequently become friends.

All the while the music that they have performed has appealed to a very wide, varied and for the most part intellectual audience. During the early 1990’s they played many theatre shows as a support act and without fail were exceptionally well received. They worked for a couple of years on a special theatre show – The Songwriter. It was based on songs written by Americana writers, using projected images and subtle lighting to enhance the musical performance, taking the audience on a musical journey through the music that is Americana. Sadly they were only able to perform the show on a few occasions and being unable to secure financial backing had to shelve the whole project.

In the meantime, Steve Elliot moved abroad and Alan West set out on his own solo career. He made an all-important journey to Nashville to record his album. Produced by Pat Mclnerney, who currently tours with Nanci Griffith and has in the past worked with Don Williams, and played on hundreds of sessions, and engineered by the legendary Bill Vorndick (Alison Krauss and many others) at Mountainside Studios in Nashville, “Songs from a neophyte” is a superb collection of songs of love, life, longing and desire.

Choice of songs, subtle production and the compelling, distinctive vocals all come together to produce the kind of classic Americana album that should be in every Maverick readers collection. And if you go out to see Hal Ketchum, make sure you get there nice and early to see and hear Alan West’s commanding performance.

Jim Almand commenting on the album………………

Review from Up-Country Magazine, April 2008

They don’t just make great cream teas in Devon and it seems all that sea air and fresh mown hay helped to feed the deeply held passion Alan West has nurtured since the age of six for Country music.  Twenty years on he has established himself as one of the UK’s finest Country singer/songwriters and performers.  Sarah Jory tells it straight, ‘he can sell a song in such a way that you live every line with him’.  It’s true.

His latest offering recorded in the legendary Mountainside Studios in Nashville, produced by Pat McInerney is a moving collection of songs by some of Country’s greats, including Hugh Moffatt and Chris Knight who penned Framed, an up tempo bluegrass offering.  The Jealous Kind is sung with the voice of a cowboy, mid tempo with pleasant guitar riffs.

At times he is almost Cash-like in cadence, especially when he gets his chops around the compelling You’d Be Wrong.  The title track, Jim Almand’s Songs For A Neophyte is easy going Country.  You can almost smell the barbequed ribs!  Guy Clark’s touching, The Partner Nobody Chose, aah!  Intrinsic, understanding of how it feels when nobody asks you to dance and so much more.

Steve Earle’s I Don’t Want To Lose You Yet is a great tempo Country rocker handled with care.  The track that I found most powerful was Ralph McTell’s Streets Of London which Alan delivers like a gift of truth.  If you are feeling sorry for yourself this will stop you in  your tracks, whether you’ve been asked to dance or not.  There have been so many cover versions of this classic but this is one of the best you’ll hear.  By My Side by Darden Smith is the lively two stepping toe tapper that leaves you smiling and like all good things, including cream teas, wanting more.

OVERALL RATING ~ Alan understands what Country Music is all about.  His gruff baritone deep and emotional vocals and skilled mastery of grabbing your attention and holding it demonstrates easy listening at it’s most enjoyable.

Linda Willis

Review – Southern Country Magazine – March 2008

“Songs from a Neophyte” – Alan West ventures where no other British Country artist goes, but you’ve got to have the talent and style to tread that path. There’s never any doubt that Alan has it in abundance in this latest album. Alan has a knack of picking such good songs that complement his voice as well. The musicians on the album are of the highest standard, I especially liked the steel guitar, the up tempo Darden Smith song, “By My Side” is a favourite of mine, which I remember from a few years back. Not sure about “Streets of London” maybe I’ve heard it too many times over the years, but a pleasant and nice arrangement though. Excellent album, highly recommended. If you get the chance, get out and catch this guy perform at a venue near you. 

You won’t be disappointed.

Macca

Review by Paul Davis      www.pauldavisauthor.com

13 February 2008 

Neophyte? What on earth does it mean? I went to the dictionary to discover that it means “a new beginner or a convert”. He’s done 4 CDs but comes unknown to me but apparently should gain quite a foothold in with this uncomplicated Nashville-produced album with Pat McInerney in charge. This Brit is modern-country balladeer who has an engaging vocal-sound laced with gentle urban- flavours, a well-chosen mix likely to succeed. The songs, direct-and-honest, are packaged musically and clearly as a labour-of-love and is an album worth searching out. I found this country-blues CD a heart-warming project of honest sentimental material to solid but gentle country backing. Produced in style, this enterprise finds the mellow country music neophyte with an easy-on-the-ear virtuosity that deserves to be an influential mover in the genre.

 Review  www.americanauk.com

Devon’s Alan West has built up a strong following over the years for his original interpretations of ‘classic’ American singer songwriters.

For the last 40 odd years West has plied his trade and for this record he travelled to Nashville where the record was produced by Pat McInerney, and to Alan’s credit he has steered away from the usual suspects on this predominantly ‘covers’ record.

Alan has bravely chosen songs by Chris Knight ‘Framed’, Darden Smith ‘By My Side’, Hugh Moffat ‘How Could I Lover Her So Much’, Dave Loggins ‘Please Come To Boston’ plus ‘The Streets of London’ and Steve Earle’s ‘I Don’t Wanna Lose You Yet’. There is one original song co-written with Steve Black ‘You’d Be Wrong’.

On two levels this is an excellent record - firstly as an introduction to some of these lesser known songwriters, and secondly you can hear Alan West’s voice and start seeking out his back catalogue.

Andy Riggs

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Review Maverick Magazine Feb 2008

****

There are so many British artists who, year in, year out, tirelessly hot-foot the length and breath of the country playing clubs and pubs, earning a virtual pittance which, after meeting their expenses, leaves little to invest in anything but an album recorded on a shoestring budget. Alan West, a talented musician and singer, started out in the business in 1978, but he has never settled on releasing an inferior album. This is only his fourth release and, by his own admission, has taken in the region of two years to complete. Despite what a number of British artists claim, that there is no real advantage in spending a lot of money by recording in Nashville, West disproves that notion by doing precisely that, and the results show that, provided one has the talent, Nashville does have a lot to offer. SONGS FROM A NEOPHYTE was produced by Pat McInerney, recorded at the Mountainside Studios and engineered by Bill VornDick. West worked tirelessly for three weeks with musicians like Thom Jutz, (guitar), the man who has recently relocated to Nashville but who had previously worked on so many of Richard Dobson’s albums in Germany, Mike Daly, (Dobro and lap steel), Michael Webb, (keyboards), Deanie Richardson, (mandolin and fiddle), a player who recorded with The New Coon Creek Girls and who has appeared on numerous albums by major artists, and Pat McInerney, (drums and percussion). All the tracks were recorded in Nashville although a few were further enhanced at Mirage Music studios in Cleveland, engineered by John Taylor and featuring Sarah Jory on pedal steel and harmony vocals.

West has the type of voice ideally suited to country music. There is not a trace of a pseudo-Trans Atlantic accent, yet he does not sound patently ‘British’ either. Although not a prolific writer, he is a great interpreter of songs. He does, however contribute one number, You’d Be Wrong, which he co-wrote with Steve Black. The remaining ten tracks will be largely familiar to those who take an interest in the singer/songwriter scene. The album opens with the driving Framed, written by Chris Knight. Included is another Knight original, The Jealous Kind. There are two Jim Almand contributions, The Likes Of You and Song For A Neophyte, the soulful Dave Loggins number, Please Come To Boston, recorded in the past by David Allan Coe and Joan Baez, among others, and more recently revived by Kenny Chesney, Hugh Moffatt’s plaintive How Could I Love Her So Much, with Guy Clark’s doleful The Partner Nobody Chose added to the mix. Finally, there’s a number from Steve Earle’s catalogue, I Don’t Wanna Lose You Yet, with the closing track, By My Side, coming courtesy of Darden Smith. Interestingly, West has selected Ralph McTell’s Streets Of London, but he has approached this in his own way giving it a whole new lease of life.

SONGS FROM A NEOPHYTE is a ‘songwriter’s showcase’; strong material, ideal backing, extremely well produced and delivered by one of Britain’s more stylish solo performers. It is an album well worth checking out.

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“The David Allan Page” Country Music People Feb 2008

“Songs from a Neophyte finds Alan West (formerly one half of West & Elliott) in really cracking form, reviving lesser aired compositions crafted by some of his favourite writers including Steve Earle, Guy Clark, Ralph McTell, Dave Loggins and Jim Almand together with a fine original number which he penned with Steve Black.

The set was recorded in Nashville and Cleveland with Production by Pat McInerney and the inclusion of Sarah Jory on steel and vocals is inspired. Alan effortlessly extracts the maximum of emotion out of each song and the result literally takes your breath away at times. His version of Hugh Moffatts How could I love her so much had this old softie close to tears.

Incredibly this major talent is currently playing only a few local clubs and pubs in his native Devon. Have we no far-seeing promoters left in the UK?”

“His voice has a natural quality and truth about it and he can sell a song in such a way, that you live every line with him…and such a quality is very rare.”

 “Alan has a wonderful way as both a singer and performer that draws you in.”

“Alan West is a UK Treasure. His masterful interpretation of both classic and original Americana songs, together with his easy going stage demeanour, gives the impression of a laid back, front porch musical presentation, but with the professionalism that very few can carry off so effortlessly.”