Prodigal Son

Martin Simpson

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 25, 2007)
• Original Release Date: July 30, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RYP brandcode cleanup for DA
• ASIN: B000V8MR8O
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #48,738 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Folk > Traditional British & Celtic Folk > Celtic Folk

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

With Prodigal Son Martin Simpson has made what is undoubtedly his finest recording to date. The album reflects the full breadth of his creativity, drawing on both British and American traditions as well as including several of his own outstanding compositions.

Many of Martin s good friends and favorite artists appear with him on the album, including Jackson Browne who adds a perfect harmony vocal to Martin's beautiful version of Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927". Kate Rusby and Kellie While sing sublime harmonies on two of the tracks "Never Any Good" [Martin's song for his father] and "Batchelor's Hall". The album is further enhanced by Danny Thompson on bass, Andy Cutting on accordion, Alistair Anderson on concertina and Northumbrian pipes and Barry Philips on cello.

Martin's playing deploys a control of pace and dynamics that touches the heart, like the best music, irrespective of whether the listener has a bit of Lincolnshire, Mississippi or Ganges beneath their manicured or careworn nails. In his playing he focuses upon economy and how to make each note pay. Listen to him playing now and you will hear how he measures not only the impact and length of each note, but, tellingly how he delivers the space that frames each note.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful British trad/folk with gorgeous guitars, November 28, 2007

By	Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Another majestic album from British trad-folk singer-songwriter Martin Simpson, a veteran performer who also, by the way, picks one helluva fine acoustic guitar. This album is a summary of all that is best about his career, the elegant bridging between traditional and contemporary folk, with equal shares of Celtic, English and American influences. There are ancient ballads such as "Little Musgrave" and "Andrew Lammie," as well as two of Simpson's finest and most personal original compositions, "She Slips Away," written after his mother died, and "Never Any Good," a song about his father. Throughout, there is achingly beautiful guitar work, reminding us yet again why Simpson has long been considered one of the best players in the modern English folk scene. Certainly one of the finest trad-folk albums of the last few years. (DJ Joe Sixpack - Slipcue music reviews)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MASTER AT WORK., October 5, 2008

By	FRANKIE GRIFFIN (Cork City,Ireland) - See all my reviews

What an amazing album this is.The guitar playing is mesmerising and the lyrics are heartwrenching.The first track Batchelors Hall,all I can say is Wow!I've been there, it's an amzingly sad tune but it's truly a great song.Great banjo tune on Pretty Crowing Chicken.Then She Slips Away,written by Martin while his mother slipped away from this life at her bedside.I always enjoyed Planxtys version of Little Musgrave,but here again Martin gives it his own style.My own favourite is A Love Letter.It has an amazing guitar lick that just cries out to you.Before I bought this cd my own personal favourite folk cd would have been Welcome Here Kind Stranger by Paul Brady way back in the '80s.I've waited almost 30 years to hear a greater album and it has arrived in the form of Prodigal Son.I can't compliment this album enough.It's music from the top shelf.Brilliant.Looks like i'll be checking out his extensive back catalogue and I'm not complaining.Nice one Martin.Thanks for re-invigorating my cd collection.Thanks for the best album in 30 years.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful!, July 24, 2008

By	applewood (everywhere and nowhere) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

A truely masterful recording from one of the world's greatest guitarists/multi-instumentalists.... This IS the best Martin has produced (Amazon reviewer is right on)! Combining about a dozen heartfelt (mostly traditional) songs with a few lovely instrumentals this CD gives us consistent achingly beautiful music - lively, complex, masterful guitar playing and polyrhythmic acoustic accompaniment (yeah bassist, Danny Thompson!). Deeply satisfying - a real treat!