The Sweet Keeper Explained

The Sweet Keeper
Type:	studio
Artist:	Tanita Tikaram
Cover:	Tanita Tikaram The Sweet Keeper.jpg
Border:	yes
Released:	29 January 1990^[1]
Recorded:	August 1988 – May 1989
Genre:	Rock pop folk
Length:	47:12
Label:	East West
Prev Title:	Ancient Heart
Prev Year:	1988
Next Title:	Everybody's Angel
Next Year:	1991

The Sweet Keeper is the second studio album by British pop/folk singer-songwriter Tanita Tikaram, released in 1990. Like her debut album Ancient Heart (1988), it was produced by Peter Van Hooke and Rod Argent. Three tracks from the album were released as singles: "We Almost Got It Together", "Little Sister Leaving Town" and "Thursday's Child".

Critical reception

On its release, Bob Stanley of Melody Maker felt Tikaram's voice was the "centrepiece" of the album. He praised the use of strings and brass as "an inspired move", but felt they "intrude" on some of the songs. He considered Tikaram's lyrics to "barely compare" to those of her inspirations, Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell, stating that they "sound portentous, but are ultimately shadows to the words of Tanita's heroes and heroines". Stanley concluded, "The Sweet Keeper sees Tanita dabbling with the folk-pop of her debut, embellishing and improving it in some areas. They'll love it in Basingstoke and Norway - the next LP will be the real test."^[2]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Tanita Tikaram.^[3]

1. "Once & Not Speak"
2. "Thursday's Child"
3. "It All Came Back Today"
4. "We Almost Got It Together"
5. "Consider the Rain"
6. "Sunset's Arrived"
7. "Little Sister Leaving Town"
8. "I Owe All to You"
9. "Love Story"
10. "Harm in Your Hands"

Personnel

• Tanita Tikaram – guitar, vocals
• Mark Isham – trumpet
• Rod Argent – arranger, conductor, keyboards
• Sonny Landreth – bottleneck guitar
• Abigail Brown – violin
• Richie Buckley – tenor saxophone
• David Clifton – guitar
• Mark Cresswell – guitar
• Mitch Dalton – acoustic guitar
• Mark Davies – cello
• Roger Garland – violin
• John Giblin – bass
• Roy Gillard – violin
• John Heley – cello
• Helen Kamminga – viola
• Martin O'Connor – accordion
• Helen O'Hara – violin, arranger
• Mark – violin
• Peter Van Hooke – arranger, drums
• Clem Clempson – acoustic guitar
• Rory McFarlane – bass
• Katherine Shave – violin
• Robert Woollard – cello
• Andrew Davis – double bass
• Anne Solomon – violin

Charts

Chart (1990)! scope="col"

Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[4]	68
US Billboard 200^[5]	124
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)^[6]	2
European Albums (Eurotipsheet)^[7]	3
US Cash Box Top 200 Albums^[8]	95

Notes and References

1. Smith. Robin. 27 January 1990. This Week - The next seven days in view. Record Mirror. 28.
2. Stanley . Bob . 27 January 1990 . Albums: Thursday's Child . . 29.
3. Web site: Tanita Tikaram – The Sweet Keeper.
4. 280.
5. Billboard 200: Week of March 10, 1990. Billboard. 13 July 2022.
6. Web site: Sisältää hitin . fi . Contains a hit . musiikkiarkisto.fi.
7. European Hot 100 Albums. Eurotipsheet. 7. 9. 3 March 1990. 8. 29800226. World Radio History.
8. Cash Box Top 200 Albums . Cash Box. March 24, 1990. 16. 21 July 2024.