| First Songs | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Gwyneth Herbert and Will Rutter |
| Cover: | Cover_of_First_Songs_CD_Gwyn_and_Will.jpg |
| Released: | 27 October 2003[1] |
| Studio: | Cowshed Recording Studio, London |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Length: | 53 minutes |
| Label: | Dean Street Records (CD: DNSTCD2002); Universal Music Classics & Jazz (CD/LP: 9866620) |
| Producer: | Ian Shaw |
| Next Title: | Bittersweet and Blue |
| Next Year: | 2004 |
First Songs, initially credited to "Gwyn and Will", is the debut album of British singer-songwriter Gwyneth Herbert and composer and acoustic guitarist Will Rutter. Comprising both original songs and standards, it was launched at London's Pizza Express Jazz Club in September 2003.[2] The Herbert/Rutter song "Sweet Insomnia" featured guest vocals from Jamie Cullum.[3]
Described by BBC Music as a "lovingly crafted debut",[4] the album received a significant amount of radio airplay on Jazz FM and BBC Radio 2, and was promoted by Michael Parkinson.[5]
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".[6]
| 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 |
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]