UK Odyssey - Extra Tracks New Edition

[Dave]

The following supermarkets and record shops have reported (to the music press) that they will be selling Odyssey Special Edition in their stores next week:

Asda
Borders
Morrisons
Tesco

These will not be the only ones to stock it and with Asda and Tesco certainly, it means they will have Odyssey in their in-house album charts next Monday evening. I shall visit them to see exactly where and I will pay particular attention to where Hayley is placed compared to Russell Watson who will hopefully, by then, be slipping down tha charts a bit. One of those will almost certainly be top of the classical chart at the end of next week.

We need to keep a wary eye open for Katherine though... she's on TV again on Sunday and is still pottering around in the bottom half of the top 200 album chart

Dave

[Steve H]

Hi Folks,

There is an interesting article regarding Hayley's new album on the age-net.co.uk website.

There is an comprehensive biography attached with some content I was not aware of like:-

Born the eldest daughter of a gemologist, an expert in precious stones,

...and a little about the personal side of things...

You wonder if she ever regrets all this. All the fame, the success, the traveling round the world. Wouldn't she like to stay still for a while, maybe get a boyfriend, hang out a little? "You don't walk away from opportunities like these," she laughs, looking at you as if you're mad. "This is what people dream of." Having circled the globe many times, Hayley's fallen for the charms of the UK, setting up her temporary base here. "I love being an honorary Brit if I can call myself that" she smiles, "I consider London to be my second home - it's an exciting, fantastic multi-cultural city".

.. and again about the UK and London......

Hayley is particularly looking forward to the UK leg of the tour; now that she is resident in London (she also has family roots in Wales and Scotland). "I love being an honorary Brit if I can call myself that and I feel very much at home in London. It's a fantastic and exciting city with a lot on offer."

and finally about the new songs on the special edition of Odyssey... (to keep it on topic guys)

"I've recorded 'The Water Is Wide', 'Scarborough Fair' and 'Lascia Ch'io Pianga'. They are all songs I wish I'd recorded earlier! 'Scarborough Fair' is so haunting; I feel I've put my stamp on 'The Water Is Wide', and I got to play piano on it. I love 'Lascia Ch'io Pianga,' it's such a beautifully sad, yet regal song."

You can read the whole article here:-
www.age-net.co.uk/entertainment/cd_releases/haley_westenra/haley_westenra.htm

Best Wishes

Steve H

[Richard]

Hello everybody!

I've just bought my copy of the new UK 'Odyssey' in HMV, price £13.99. It is the HMV Classical Album of the Week, as heard on Classic FM, so hopefully it will be getting some airplay there.

The new 'Odyssey' is also available at Virgin, price £16.99, so I'm going to tell Sir Richard Branson where to go. Out of the Virgin Megastore, turn right and walk about 350 yards to HMV. He might be a bit skint, so I've just saved him £3! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

I'll have a listen to the album tonight and post my thoughts tomorrow. Meanwhile I'm going to update my list in the 'Hayley Collections' thread.

Bye for now,

Richard

[postscript]

Hi Richard.

I look forward to that response from you on the 'new' Odyssey. Where does that count in boosting her position. Does it count as a 'continuity' of the original Odyssey or as a new CD?

Peter

[denis]

Good Morning Richard, Peter and all,

I have just come back from Asda with Hayley's extra track Odessey.

I am very touched that the CD is dedicated to Keith. R.I.P.

All buy and enjoy.

Denis

[postscript]

You can read the whole article here:-
www.age-net.co.uk/entertainment/cd_releases/haley_westenra/haley_westenra.htm

Thank you for that connection Steve.The quote I take is her saying 'I love being an honorary Brit, if i can call myself that...' Hayley, you have doubts? I'm sure every other Brit on this site at least, never mid elsewhere in the country will say that in regarding yourself as an honorary Brit, we Brits regard ourselves as honoured!

You do make your Kiwi home proud of you for being yourself. We're grateful to have a share in that. You're great, kid, welcome to Britain. We're proud of you too!

Peter

[postscript]

Hi Denis.

Thanks for the reminder that Hayley had dedicated the CD to Keith. It is always the greats who pay homage to the detail. In that kindness she shows herself as wonderful as ever.

But, in fact, is your news a reminder? Perhaps you are telling us something new. Was it not the Japanese (or other Asian version) that was first noted on this site about a tribute to Keith?

Peter

[stevemacdonald]

The quote I take is her saying 'I love being an honorary Brit, if i can call myself that...'

Last I checked New Zealand was kinda/sorta under the British Queen's rule. Wouldn't that already make her a Brit or, at least a lot closer to being one than, say, an American? And if one relocates to London -- as she clearly has -- isn't "Brit" status automatically conferred (for someone from a place that's part of the Empire)?

[roger]

Hi Steve,

That alone would not make Hayley a 'Brit' in the true sense. She, or rather, New Zealand is a member of the British Commonwealth. Her relocation to London (which isn't permanent anyway, but only at the times when she needs to be based here for a few months) would not make any difference to her nationality. Only applying for British citizenship would do that and I don't believe Hayley would ever consider it as she is, quite rightly, so proud to be Kiwi.

Roger

[Richard]

Hello everybody!

I listened to my new UK 'Odyssey' CD last night, and the three new songs definitely make it worth the expense.

The first of the three is "The Water Is Wide", which Hayley sings beautifully with great feeling. Although it is really an English folk song from Somerset (according to Brian Kay on Friday Night is Music Night), the inclusion of the Irish whistle in the backing gives this version a strong Celtic feel. An added bonus is the piano introduction, magnificently played by Hayley.

The next new track is "Lascia Ch'io Pianga', and Hayley sings her own arrangement of the vocal. It has always been one of my favourite pieces by Handel, and this version has a delightfully fresh sound. Again Hayley sings with feeling and shows her vocal skills to perfection.

The last of the new songs is "Scarborough Fair", which again has a Celtic feel to it. Hayley sings it pitch-perfectly as always, and clearly demonstrates how comfortably she sits on the fence between classical and folk music.

"The Water Is Wide" and "Lascia Ch'io Pianga" are definitely my favourite tracks on this version of 'Odyssey', although I find it difficult to choose between them. Overall the Celtic feel is stronger than on previous versions, possibly because it starts with "May It Be" and ends with "She Moved Through The Fair". I hope it does well in the charts.

Best Wishes,

Richard

[postscript]

Hi Richard and all AGAIN in the same session!

I have already made my mind up to buy the special edition purely on the tracks you yourself quote and hearing them on Friday Night is Music Night.
I had missed the fact that on the recording Hayley was playing the piano. SUPERB SUPERB.

I remember when chatting with Steve after her show at The Stables, Milton Keynes and saying that in having decided on so small a theatre I had thought she might be trying out a purely 'Hayley at the piano' evening, but he indicated that possibility was some way off.

She just likes changing venues and enjoys both vast crowds and intimate theatre. But like everything Hayley does, she will push the boundaries but in a disciplined way. another aspect that came over in her Classicfm interview.

She is focused and disciplined. It is another aspect of this extraordinarily mature judgment that sits so comfortably and naturally upon such young shoulders. She dares, but like the stunt man, she plans every detail of her dare. She paces herself according to her maturing voice. She pushes boundaries in a planned and methodical manner. On this disk we now have not just her own arrangement (which has happened before) but also her piano accompaniment, possibly as a separate track? She didn't do both at the same time? That is a very difficult technique and especially for a whole evening in front of a live audience. She is right to see that as some way off. Perhaps she will never feel it is right for her? After all, many of the songs in her repertoire need her to be standing to be able to fill her lungs.

Peter

[roger]

Hi Peter,

Not at the same time, no. In fact, Hayley only plays the piano during the introduction; not throughout the whole song.

Roger

[JOHN MCNEIL]

I live in the USA and got the first version several months ago. Yesterday I got the UK version and it is as wonderful as all hers are. The most touching thing for me is the insert where she makes some special thoughts about Keith.

Happy Easter to all.

John

[JOHN MCNEIL]

I apologize for spelling errors in my last post. I was at work and writing it between customers. I was getting ready to close and never reviewed it. I hope I did not offend anyone, especially Hayley.

I am at work today also and am having a Hayley music festival since it is not busy and I am alone, I plan to play all of her albums.

[Steve H]

Hi beaverisl

Don't worry about the spelling mistakes, its good to see you posting! its the taking part thats important, If you use the reply button to make your post rather than the 'quick reply' you will be able to run a spell check on the post before you add it to the forum! without that nice facility my posts would be unreadable!!

Take care and keep the posts coming!

Steve H