North of a Miracle [Import]

Nick Heyward | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 17, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Sony/Bmg Int'l
• ASIN: B00005S84L
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #297,810 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The former leader of Haircut 100 had come a very, very long way by the time he recorded this, his first solo record, in 1983. Instead of his former band s chirpy, made-for-MTV bubblegum, 'North of Miracle' displays an eclectic, soulful sound with influences as far-ranging as the Beatles, the Walker Brothers, jazz and R&B. No wonder it was a smash over in the U.K.; it appears here on CD for the first time in years! Another hooky pop exclusive from our American Beat imprint! --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still my favourite after all these years, February 11, 2000

By 

Paul Nicholas Gogarty (Lucan, Co Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: North of a Miracle (Audio CD)

'North Of A Miracle' is an exceptional album that captures Nick Heyward at his talented best.

Recent offerings ('The Apple Bed', 'Tangled' and the brilliantly melodic 'From Monday To Sunday') have all seen Nick Heyward communicate via a more guitar-based, and sometimes second division, Britpop sound. Were it not for the fondly-remembered Haircut 100 days, it would be difficult to believe that Nick Heyward was once an out and out pop artist.

Soulful pop is Nick Heyward's specialility, so why did he leave it all behind? His 1990s albums may have given him credibility amongst fans of a certain genre, but somewhere along the way the music has become stereotypical, a parody of itself. The latter three albums are not bad by any means; the melodic magic remains, but the strummy guitar effect and Britpop yesteryear references are beginning to wear a bit thin to this reviewer.

'North Of A Miracle' was Heyward's only solo commercial success. Albums such as the flawed 'Postcards From Home' (1986) and the likeable 'I Love You Avenue' (1989) maintained Heyward's pop sensibilities but shifted fewer units. This, I suggest, was just part of a phase all artists go through following mid-range commercial success. Had Heyward persevered with pop in his subsequent three albums, further UK (and possibly US chart) hits would undoubtedly have followed.

'North Of A Miracle' sees Heyward tackle new musical arrangements that evolved from the Haircut 100 sound. Like a previous reviewer mentioned, half of this album would have appeared on the next Haircut 100 offering had the band not sadly split up. But certainly not as arranged on 'North Of A Miracle'.

The Haircut 100 re-recordings and the new solo Heyward songs all combine to create an evocative musical experience. The soulful, melodic pop groove of 'North Of A Miracle' hit me on vinyl all those years ago and it reaches me now.

The album is still my favourite after all these years. Hopefully Nick's next work of art will see more strings, more beats, more brass, more keyboards, less guitar and more public acclaim.

'North Of A Miracle'. Music to dance to. Music to get lost in. Music to remember by. Music to cherish.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars North of a Miracle review by Bob Deakin, September 15, 2005

By 

Bob Deakin (Connecticut) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: North of a Miracle (Audio CD)

Nick Heyward's North of a Miracle was originally released in 1983 following his success with Haircut 100. It epitomized the resurgence of that time using real orchestral instruments instead of synthesizers, so prevalent in previous years.

The album was produced by Heyward and Geoff Emerick of Beatles fame as George Martin's engineer on the later albums. The production quality is brilliant with a full orchestra on every track and a good deal of percussion. The vocal harmonies, guitars, bass, drums, piano, organ and other instruments jump out of the speakers with crisp sonic precision to be appreciated across the audio spectrum.

Most importantly, the songs are great. The CD version includes a few extra tracks as noted and as usual, the extra tracks are forgettable with the exception of Stolen Tears, a bright tune with fine acoustic guitar work.

Listeners of college radio or English radio in the early 80s may have heard When It Started to Begin, Atlantic Monday or other tracks but American pop radio listeners surely heard Whistle Down the Wind, which cracked Billboard's top 20 in late 1983. Opening with piano and a droning fretless bass (Pino Palladino), this breezy tune grows in energy with each measure and finishes with a beautiful orchestral climax. A pop tune with class.

Every other one of the 10 original songs are exceptional although The Day It Rained Forever, the last song on the original album, always made me hit the stop button on my turntable.

Speaking of which, I still have the original vinyl LP in mint condition and a good turntable with an Ortofon cartridge and it sounds much better than the CD, which sounds fine. I realize not everyone wants to bother with all the old stuff but the LP does sound better. That's another story for another day.

As for the songs, Atlantic Monday and When It Started To Begin are so good and so high energy that one could only wish they were playing in that band, if only as a percussionist or background vocalist.

Blue Hat For a Blue Day has a wonderful organ part providing the base for a lead vocal with one of the sweetest refrains imaginable. Mandolin and accordion are featured with a sentimental violin, marimba, saxophones and the fretless bass carrying the rhythm. It doesn't get much better than this. As with many of the albums' tracks, guitar virtuoso Tim Renwick plays guitar (and mandolin on this one.) As for the words, I guess one could decipher the meaning of the song by the title but I've always been too consumed with the sounds to bother. Doesn't sound like it was recorded on a blue day.

Club Boy At Sea is spectacular in its subtle build to a climax with an irresistible rhythm guitar throughout backed by an aggressive orchestral arrangement and yet another outstanding lead vocal performance. What club he's talking about, who the boy is or what sea he is sailing I don't care. I'm too consumed with the performances. Just listen to the last two minutes of the song and you won't care either.

Two Make It True and On a Sunday are classics themselves - Sunday for the great spoken verse-in-rhythm at the end and True for quality guitar tracks and a fine bass/guitar/percussion break near the end. The Kick of Love is a jazz tune featuring a Spanish guitar solo with piano. It faces stiff competition with the rest of the tracks on the album, which means it's only a very good song.

Heyward plays guitars on most if not all of the tracks but Renwick takes ordinary parts and makes them spectacular, as he's always done. (See Al Stewart, Allan Parsons and Gilbert O'Sullivan among others)

Atlantic Monday and The Day it Rained Forever were recorded live. The album was recorded and mixed at Air Studios and Abbey Road Studios in London and the album is undeniably English. Orchestral arrangements are credited to Andrew Powell and Paul Buckmaster and Heyward is credited with the brass arrangements. He wrote all of the songs.

Nothing about this album seems contrived other than creating great tracks. Nick Heyward, Geoff Emerick and everyone else involved should be as proud of making it as I am for having found it so long ago. One of my top ten albums of the last 25 years. If you like the Style Council or XTC you will like this. Spend the money for the album.

P.S. I reserve five stars for Abbey Road, Pet Sounds, Dark Side of the Moon and others in that stratosphere.

[...]

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gemm of the '80s, April 11, 2002

By 

"esizeta" - See all my reviews

This review is from: North of a Miracle (Audio CD)

This a gemm of the '80s. Got fab UK hits like Take that Situation, Whistle Down the Wind, Blue Hat for a Blue Day. Some songs come from the second lost album from Haircut 100 like When it started to begin who was call Coming Home before, Club boy at the sea. I think Atlantic Monday is a song really perfect that you want to listen through the years. About the bonus tracks you got here for the first time on CD the "12 version of Whistle Down the Wind (probably do it with the Haircut boys) and the non album single Laura only get it on compilations plus a couple of b-sides. A really great album with all the songs put in his right place.