Sharleen Spiteri

[paul jh]

I have always loved the Texas recordings. I'm sure you've heard Sharleen's first solo single, All The Times I Cried, played on BBC Radio 2 recently. I decided to order the album. Not from HMV as their postage charge to the UK is too high. I've always been intrigued by this website cdwow.com that offers free worldwide shipping. And I can pay in pounds or dollars.

Sharleen's album, Melody, was priced at £7.99 or $15.75. I decided to order in dollars which is cheaper than 7.99 with the exchange rate. I ordered it last Wednesday. They told me it was dispatched on Friday. Imagine my surprise when it arrived in my mailbox on Tuesday this week! (Letters from my mother 350 miles away don't arrive that quickly!) And a bigger surprise was that it was sent from Hong Kong! I really couldn't believe it as I was expecting it to come via the Channel Islands.

I noticed that they are selling many Matt Monro CDs. Matt at the Movies is only £4.99 or $9.99. I may buy a few copies as it makes a special "all-occasion" gift.

I'm really loving Sharleen Spiteri's album. It's mostly break-up songs set to a retro Motown and 70s soul sound, and one song (Stop I Don't Love You) reminds me of the Four Seasons. She said her influences were Nancy Sinatra and Francoise Hardy. (I'm not too familiar with Ms Hardy.) You can tell that Sharleen and her producers really wanted to create a memorable album. The song Melody has odd dissonances which I love. If you like 60s and early 70s music, you will enjoy this album.

[mariana44]

I have used cdwow.com a lot for ordering cds also. I like the featue where you can look up pre-realeases months in advance and preorder. Many of these firms use Jersey to send out their cds, as it is usually cheaper there, mainly I think due to no VAT. I think that is excellent news that they post to USA free--and so quickly too. !!

My favourite track from Sharleen Spiteri [Texas] is "In demand"

[ROBERT M.]

What do you think of Satans Harvest, from Matt at the Movies, Jeff would you give it to someone as a gift. Personally I think the actual movie is DIRE. I have played it once, to watch Matt. But of course the best thing about MATM is Go with Matt Monro.................fantastic, and it just look's so 1960's in appearance talking about the price of MATM, HMV have had it at £11.99 since it's release. I eventually bought it from Amazon.co.uk for £5.97

[ROBERT M.]

I have just checked CDwow.com, and saw the DVD Matt at the Movies is £11.99, so I now know you were talking about Matt at the Movies CD ( which is a different kettle of fish) .................fancy having two MM items to purchase with the same title but I would still like to know what you think of the DVD, Jeff................if you have it

[paul jh]

Yes, I was talking about the 3 CD set. I don't have the DVD Robert. Basically the only DVDs I have are the ones that Marian and Marian send me. And I enjoy them very much! The only DVD I've ever purchased was The Italian Job at the HMV in Southampton. I haven't watched it yet.

[paul jh]

Robert seems to have forgotten that Sharleen Spiteri has her own thread here. Perhaps because most of them were written at the weekend. Anyway her Melody album remains one of my favourites of 2008. I recommend it highly.

I also wanted to point out that my favourite Texas song is also In Demand, Marian. It sits in a special place with my CD singles that I play very often.

[ROBERT M.]

Yes Jeff, I forgot about this SS page, but I do now remember reading your album review.................really good CD

[paul jh]

Music Week is listing a new album from Sharleen titled The Great Movie Songbook, with a release date of March 1st. Very interesting ... It would be her first album of covers. She will sing the movie songs so well.

I still enjoy playing her solo CD Melody and the Texas albums and singles. In Demand will have a high position on my list of top songs of the last decade.

[mariana44]

I heard her singing "Xanadu" from the new album--and although it sounded ok--much like Olivia's version really--it was not outstanding enough to make me want to buy it-I need to know what the other tracks are.

[Mark Fox]

Sharleen is guest on'THE ALAN TITCHMARSH SHOW' ITV1 11 March.

[jon]

Hi Marian

The tracks on Sharleen Spiteri's "Movie Songbook" album are:
- Xanadu
- If I Can't Have You
- God Bless The Child
- Between The Bars
- The Sound of Silence
- What's New Pussycat
- The Windmills Of Your Mind
- Take Me With You
- Cat People
- Many Rivers To Cross
- Oh Pretty Woman

Can't say I recognise all of them (is What's New Pussycat from a film?). Anyway, haven't heard any of them.

[Mark Fox]

Sharleen is guest on'THE ALAN TITCHMARSH SHOW' ITV1 11 March.

[paul jh]

What's New Pussycat is from the film of the same name.

Thanks for posting the tracklist, Jon. I don't recognise four of them. Good for her to record some rarer film songs. Now I'm interested in this CD.

[jon]

Hi Paul

I had a listen to Sharleen's 'Melody' album at the Barbican Music Library in London (near where I work in the City and a good source of music to borrow) but it didn't really click - maybe more listenings are needed.

[ROBERT M.]

Melody is a very good album..........after a few listens