Awkward Annie is the seventh studio album by English contemporary folk musician Kate Rusby, released on 3 September 2007 on Pure Records. The album is the first to be produced by Rusby herself, following her split with husband and producer John McCusker.[6]

Awkward Annie
Studio album by
Released3 September 2007
RecordedPure Records Studio, South Yorkshire
GenreFolk
Length51:37
LabelPure Records
ProducerKate Rusby
Kate Rusby chronology
The Girl Who Couldn't Fly
(2005)
Awkward Annie
(2007)
Sweet Bells
(2008)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]
BBC Music(not rated) [2]
The Guardian [3]
Q [4]
FolkRadio.co.uk [5]

Regarding her role as producer Rusby states that:

It wasn’t something that was planned, but the split from John two years ago has inevitably put a strain on our working relationship, and sadly meant that it wasn’t the right time for us to make a record together. So the best thing was to produce this record myself, it’s been a long and at times lonely road, but with help from [my brother] Joe we got there in the end. John still played on the record. He’s a brilliant musician and a great fella'.[7]

Song information

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Rusby states that the track "Bitter Boy" is her favourite composition that she herself has written.[7]

"John Barbury" is set to a traditional melody, Child Ballad 89 ("Fause Foodrage"), while its lyrics originate from Child Ballad 100 ("Willie O Winsbury"). This tune became well known in the late 1960s after Richard Thompson used it as the basis for the Fairport Convention song "Farewell, Farewell".

The bonus track, a cover of The Kinks' song "The Village Green Preservation Society", was recorded as the theme for BBC TV sitcom Jam and Jerusalem.

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Rusby, except where noted.

  1. "Awkward Annie" - 3:14
  2. "Bitter Boy" - 4:54
  3. "John Barbury" (Traditional) - 5:42
  4. "High On a Hill" - 4:30
  5. "Farewell" (Traditional) - 5:30
  6. "Planets" - 4:10
  7. "The Old Man" (Traditional) - 3:49
  8. "Andrew Lammie" (Traditional) - 3:54
  9. "Streams of Nancy" (Traditional) - 3:57
  10. "Daughter of Heaven" - 3:56
  11. "Blooming Heather" (Traditional) - 4:44
  12. "The Village Green Preservation Society" (Ray Davies) (bonus track) - 3:17

References

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  1. ^ Nickson, Chris. Awkward Annie at AllMusic
  2. ^ BBC Music review
  3. ^ The Guardian review
  4. ^ Q Magazine review, (October 2007, p.109)
  5. ^ Folkradio review[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Denselow, Robin; "Kate Rusby, Awkward Annie" Guardian.co.uk, 14 September 2007 (Retrieved: 20 July 2009)
  7. ^ a b "Conversations with Kate Rusby" (in three installments) SalutLive.com 4–11 September 2007 (Retrieved: 20 July 2009)