CLOSE YOUR EYES Annalene Beechey
The long awaited debut album from "always excellent" West End leading lady of 'Les Miserables', 'Phantom' and 'Marguerite'. Featuring an enchanting selection of songs by leading British and American songwriters including
Scott Alan, Stiles & Drewe, Grant Olding, Maltby & Shire, Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Richard Taylor, William Finn
; beautiful new arrangements by Peter White, Jonathan Williams and Richard Taylor; West End guests
Julian Ovenden
('Marguerite'),
Rebecca Lock
('Phantom') and
Simon Greiff
('Saturday Night Fever'); and a special album foreword by acclaimed American composer
Scott Alan.
"A beautiful and captivating debut album … intoxicating voice speaks for itself … I can’t express how humbled I feel to have her as a part of my life, the respect I have for that beautiful voice of hers, and, most important, how honored I am to call her my friend. It’s a rare gift to meet someone who’s undeniable talent matches the purity of their heart. Annalene is that gift."
Scott Alan
TRACK LISTING
- No One Is Alone / Children Will Listen
by Stephen Sondheim - Lion Tamer
by Stephen Schwartz - River
by Joni Mitchell- duet with Julian Ovenden
- Hannah’s Dream*
by Grant Olding - Doll On A Music Box
by Sherman & Sherman - Carrying A Torch
by Stiles & Drewe - The Promise
by Tracy Chapman - It’s Never That Easy / I’ve Been Here Before
by Shire & Maltby, Jr- duet with Rebecca Lock
- Sailing
by William Finn - Nothing More
by Scott Alan - Perfect Day
by Colin Towns - What We Have
by Richard Taylor - If I Told You
by Sklar & Beguelin- duet with Simon Greiff
- Always / Goodnight
by Scott Alan
*previously unrecorded song
Released 5th October 2009 - Catalogue Number: SimGR-CD01
LISTEN NOW... to a selection of tracks from the album
REVIEWS...
"Miss Beechey sings with great beauty and clarity displaying a talent that singers like Katherine Jenkins can only dream about. Here we have great attention to detail accompanied by a real understanding of the style necessary to make every song tell its own story. The musical arrangements are superb. Annalene is part of a group of West End singing actors who take their work seriously and who are continually trying to expand their art whilst being almost constantly ignored in favour of mediocre talents."
Musical Stages
"a fine showcase for this talented singer’s lovely voice … this angelic voice is a pleasure to listen to, from the very first track to the last."
WhatsOnStage.com
"Annalene lives her lyrics, and the results inform each and every one of her performance choices here, all well-chosen and endearing. She is always equally the actress and the singer of the song … she is always excellent, always affecting, always spot-on sincere and, above all, superlative in each chosen endeavor. Brava!"
BroadwayWorld.com
"give it a listen ... you won't be disappointed."
George Stiles (Composer)
"You'll love this album."
Richard Maltby Jr. (Lyricist)
"...songs, new and familiar, are delivered with such a passionate connection to the material that you feel each of these songs must have been written specially for her ... a wonderfully classy CD ... Beautifully sung, tastefully arranged."
Grant Olding (Composer & Lyricist)
"a joy to listen to."
Richard Taylor (Composer & Lyricist)
