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Eddi Reader
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Eddi Reader | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Sadenia Reader |
| Born | August 28, 1959 |
| Origin |  Glasgow, Scotland |
| Genre(s) | Pop, Folk |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musician |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, acoustic guitar, concertina, harmonica, piano |
| Years active | 1984 - present |
| Label(s) | RCA Blanco y Negro Rough Trade Compass |
| Associated acts |
Fairground Attraction |
| Website | Official Website |
Eddi Reader MBE (born Sadenia Reader, 28 August 1959) is a Scottish singer, known both for her work with Fairground Attraction and for an enduring solo career, which in 2003 saw her showcase the works of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns.
Contents |
Reader was born in Glasgow, the daughter of a welder, and the eldest of seven children (her brother, Francis, is vocalist with the band Trashcan Sinatras). Living at first in a two-bedroomed flat, the family was re-housed in Irvine, Ayrshire; however, Reader returned to Glasgow (where she lived with her grandmother) in order to finish her schooling. She began playing the guitar at the age of ten, and started her musical career busking, first in Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street, then in the early 1980s around Europe (where she also worked with circus and performance artists).
Back in Scotland, she joined the punk band Gang of Four as a backing singer which led to her first U.S. tour. Back in the UK, after leaving the band she started working as a session vocalist in London, singing with such acts as Eurythmics and Alison Moyet.
In 1984, Reader sang for a brief time with disco group Outbar Squeek. Around the same time she teamed up with Mark E. Nevin, a guitarist and songwriter, to record a few of his songs. They subsequently formed Fairground Attraction, together with Simon Edwards (guitarrón — a Mexican acoustic bass guitar) and Roy Dodds (drums & percussion). In 1988 the band released their first single, "Perfect", which became a UK number one, winning best single at the 1989 BRIT Awards. Their first album, The First of a Million Kisses, was also a success, reaching number two in the UK Albums Chart, and winning best album at the 1989 Brits.
This success was short-lived, however. In November, 1989, after a break, during which Reader had her first child, Charlie with her French-Algerian partner Milou, Mark Nevin abandoned a recording session for the second album, which would eventually lead to the splitting of the band. A makeshift second album, a collection of B-sides and live tracks, Ay Fond Kiss was rushed out the following year.
Reader returned to Scotland, but before she embarked on her solo career she took a temporary detour into acting. She played Jolene Jowett, a singer and accordionist, in John Byrne's Your Cheatin' Heart, a comedy-drama series for BBC Television, set in the country music scene in Scotland.
Returning to London, Reader worked on new material with a backing band calling itself "The Patron Saints of Imperfection" (made up of Roy Doods, Neill and Calum MacColl, and Phil Steriopoulos). This became her first solo album, recorded for RCA Records: 1992's Mirmama. It was followed by Eddi Reader (1994), which won her the "Best female singer" BRIT Award that year, Candyfloss & Medicine (1996), Angels & Electricity (1998), Simple Soul (2001) and Driftwood (2002) - a "homegrown" release of songs recorded during the Simple Soul sessions.
Reader continued to tour (England, Scotland, Japan, Australia, Spain, the United States, and Ireland). In 2003, she recorded her album of material by Robert Burns, with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, leading to good reviews and an international resurgence in interest in Scotland's "bard".
She spent April 2006 touring Australia with Boo Hewerdine and Alan Kelly, following the release of St Clare's Night Out: Live at The Basement, with Australian acts such as David Hosking invited to open the concerts.
In the 2006 New Years Honours List, Reader was awarded the MBE for services to music.
Her eighth studio album Peacetime was released in the UK on 29 January 2007 on the Rough Trade record label. Produced by fellow Scottish folk musician, John McCusker, the album features a few Burns composed songs, alongside brand new material with longtime collaborator Boo Hewerdine and Trashcan Sinatras' John Douglas. Reader promoted the album with a fifteen date UK tour.
- Mirmama (1992)
- Eddi Reader (1994)
- Candyfloss And Medicine (1996)
- Angels & Electricity (1998)
- Simple Soul (2001)
- Driftwood (2001)
- Sings the Songs of Robert Burns (2003)
- Peacetime (2007)
- Eddi Reader Live (2001)
- Eddi Reader Live: Edinburgh (2003)
- Eddi Reader Live: Newcastle (2003)
- Eddi Reader Live: Leeds (2003
- Eddi Reader Live: London (2003)
- St Clare's Night Out: Live at The Basement (2006)
- First of a Million Kisses (1988)
- Ay Fond Kiss (1990)
- Kawasaki - Live In Japan 02.07.89 (2003)
- The Very Best of Fairground Attraction (2004)
- Eddi Reader Official Website
- Official MySpace site
- Eddi Reader — Adrian Dover's unofficial site
- The Right Place — fan site (in Japanese & English)
- Official site of Robert Burns