Annie Lennox
Country of origin:
Scotland
Type of music generally:
Mainstream pop/ alternative pop
Status:
Most recent release, Nostalgia (covers, 2014)
See also:
Annie Lennox's siteWikipedia's entry for Annie Lennox
The Ectophiles' Guide entry for the Eurythmics
Comparisons:
Vocally, Happy Rhodes (Happy Rhodes' low register is endlessly compared to Annie Lennox). Her music is somewhat like the Eurythmics but perhaps even more Europop.
Covers/own material:
Own and covers
General comments:
Annie Lennox—both with Eurythmics and without—I don't think she's ever put out a bad album (well, wasn't a huge of In the Garden); some definitely are better than others, but they're all good. (jjhanson@att.net)
Comments about live performance:
I saw Sting and Annie. Despite a very hot, muggy night, the show was delightful. The highlight of the evening for me was Annie's performance. While I've always regarded her as talented, she's never been on my Goddess list. She is now. My friend and I kept turning to each other and commenting on how incredibly wonderful her voice was. Her recordings, although good, do not do her justice. The few live performances I've seen on television do not come close, either. She was also very warm and just lovely to the audience. Her set was heavily laden with R&B tunes that no one could sit still listening to. Of course, she did "Here Comes the Rain Again", "Why", and ended with an encore with an updated version of "Sweet Dreams" that rocked quite nicely, while retaining elements of the original. And speaking of rocking, "Missionary Man" was out of this world. Her low register rivals Happy's in full-throated intensity.
What really impressed me about these two was that they both looked like they were just having a wonderful time performing for us. There was none of the phoned-in-I've-played-this-song-a-million-times tiredness that you see in some veterans. (7/04, JavaHo@aol.com)
Recommended first album:
Diva or Songs Of Mass Destruction
Recordings:
- Diva (1992)
- Medusa (1995)
- Bare (2003)
- Songs Of Mass Destruction (2007)
- Collection (CD or CD+DVD compilation, 2009)
- A Christmas Cornucopia (seasonal, 2010)
- Nostalgia (covers, 2014)
Diva
Release info:
1992—Arista
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Annie Lennox—keyboards, vocals
Guest artists:
Dave Defries—trumpet
Marius de Vries—keyboards, programming
Kenji Jammer—guitar, programming
Steve Jansen—drum programming
Louis Jardim—percussion
Keith LeBlanc—drums
Steve Lipson—guitar, keyboards, programming
Paul Joseph Moore—keyboards
Ed Shearmur—piano
Peter John Vettese—keyboards, programming, recorder
Doug Wimbish—bass
Gavyn Wright—violin
Produced by:
Steve Lipson
Comments:
One of my favorite albums of '92. I was a bit disappointed, mainly because my expectations were too high (whithout knowing what to expect). But it is still a good album. (klaus.kluge@gmx.de)
Medusa
Release info:
1995—Arista
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Annie Lennox—flute, keyboards, vocals
Guest artists:
Neil Conti—drums
Dinesh—tabla
Anne Dudley—string arrangements
Mark Feltham—harmonica
Louis Jardim—bass, percussion
Judd Lander—harmonica
James McNally—accordion
Tony Pastor—guitar
Andy Richards—keyboards
Steve Sidelnyk—programming
Doug Wimbish—bass
Comments:
I have to say, "No more, 'I love you's'" is pretty strange. I love Annie dearly, but I also loved The lover speaks and the original version of that song. While Annie's rendition is uniquely Annie, I miss the gut-wrenching anguish of the original version. Annie's is almost too cool for the subject matter. I'm sure I'll get used to it. (colford@chlotrudis.org)I just want to say that Medusa is INCREDIBLE!! All the songs are covers, but Annie does an amazing job of giving each song a unique touch. There aren't many songs that stand out above the rest because all the songs on the album are so well done in its musical arrangements and vocal harmonics. Well, the original creators of the songs had a hand in making the songs great, but if you listen carefully for the subtle differences, Annie adds to the originals. I don't want to bore the people who don't like Annie Lennox, so I won't write any more on my impression of the album. The album is great. Get it if you liked the single or Diva. You won't be disappointed. (eabu499@ea.oac.uci.edu)
I listened to Medusa exactly twice, said, "Annie, write your own—it's better that way," and put it away. :( (meth@smoe.org)
I like this quite a lot. (mjmjminla@yahoo.com)
Annie Lennox made this covers thing work, although I had some doubts with her cover of "The downtown lights". Songs by the Blue Nile are already perfect and can never be equalled, let alone surpassed. But all the other tracks are really good, even a lame song like "A Whiter Shade of Pale", which I can't bear to hear in the original version anymore thanks to those "oldies" radiostations. I was surprised that she could make something as beautiful as the original in its own right with "Waiting in vain". I mean, I didn't like most of Bob Marley's work, but this song he recorded was endlessly beautiful. And here it was too. (marcel@kimwilde.com)
Bare
Release info:
2003—J Records—52350
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Annie Lennox—vocals, keyboards
Guest artists:
Tim Cansfield—guitar
Steve Lipson—guitar, programming
Pro Arte Orchestra of London—orchestra
Steve Sidelnyk—programming
Peter John Vettese—keyboards, programming
David Sinclair Whitaker—orchestral arrangements
Gavyn Wright—orchestra leader
Produced by:
Annie Lennox, Steve Lipson, Amy Wright
Comments:
Listening to this album makes me realize how great a singer she is. This is a great album. One of my favorite CDs of 2003. (jjhanson@att.net)Nothing immediately grabbed my ear right away, but I grew to love it. One of my top ten albums of 2003. (jzitt@humansystems.com)
It's one of those albums that grows on you with repeated listens. (rlovejoy@comcast.net)
Songs of Mass Destruction
Release info:
2007—Arista—88697
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Annie Lennox—vocals, keyboards, piano
Guest artists:
Eddie Baytos—accordion
Sean Hurley—bass
Blair Sinta—drums
Joel Shearer—guitar
Glen Ballard—keyboards
Mike Stevens—keyboards
Randy Kerber—keyboards, piano
Zac Raeon—keyboards
Piano — Randy Kerber
Nadirah X—rap on "Womankind"
The Generics, Anastacia, Angelique Kidjo, Beth Gibbons (Portishead), Beth Orton, Beverley Knight, Bonnie Raitt, Celine Dion, Dido, Faith Hill, Fergie, Gladys Knight, Isobel Campbell, Joss Stone, kd lang, KT Tunstall, Madonna, Martha Wainwright, Melissa Etheridge, Pink, Sarah McLachlan, Shakira, Shingai Shoniwa, Sugababes
Produced by:
Glen Ballard
Comments:
Another of my all-time favorite singers, I'm always glad to hear new material, and this album really holds up well. Comparable to the last couple of Eurythmics albums, but still fresh. The great vocal choir of 29 astounding female vocals is a bit wasted on "Sing"—I would have liked to hear a little more differentiation in the voices but I know that wasn't the artistic intent. But still, why use celebrities if they sound no different en masse than a choir of backup singers? (jjhanson@att.net)Stellar. It's a big, all—encompassing album, and I'm going to play it a lot trying to take it all in. (jzitt@humansystems.com)
A Christmas Cornucopia
Release info:
2010—Decca Records—B0014992-02
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Annie Lennox—vocals, vocal percussion, piano, panpipes, triangle, whispers, whistle, reed organ, santur, ullation, harmonium, flutes, Rhodes, keyboard kora, ewe drum, dulcimer, African drum, guitar keyboard, accordion, African percussion, vibraphone, Wurlitzer, pipe organ, marimba, percussion, keys, arrangements; orchestral arrangements (1, 11); string arrangement (12)
Guest artists:
Mike Stevens—bass, keys, programming, oud, drone, acoustic guitars, church organ, nylon guitar, strings, glockenspiel, music box, Hammond organ, arrangements; orchestral arrangements (1, 5, 11); string arrangements (3, 12)
Mark Stevens—percussion (1-4, 6, 7, 12); African drums (4)
Barry van Zyl—percussion (2, 4, 6, 9); African drums (4)
Rod Dunk—orchestra conductor
Tim Warburton—orchestra leader
The African Children's Choir—choir (4, 6, 7, 9-12)
Dave Robbins—children's choir conductor
Produced by:
Annie Lennox and Mike Stevens
Comments:
When I first heard that Annie Lennox was releasing a Christmas album, I thought, okay, that's weird. But I listened to a few clips, and I was so impressed I bought the album as soon as I could. And I'm so glad I did. I LOVE this album.
For one thing, the songs are generally less recorded (though hardly obscure) ones. And I really like the intensity, even darkness, with which she approaches them. That is really striking and makes the album one of the more ectoish ones out there. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Nostalgia
Release info:
2014—Blue Note Records—B002176702
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Annie Lennox—vocals, pianos, Fender Rhodes, flute, percussion
Guest artists:
Stephen Hussey—violin, viola, orchestration
Ivan Hussey—cello
Mike Stevens—guitars, Hammond organ, accordion, harmonica, vibraphone, keys, programming
Neal Wilkinson—drums
Chris Hill—double bass, bass guitar
Nichol Thomson—trombone
Simon Finch—trumpet
Richard Brook—percussion
Produced by:
Mike Stevens and Annie Lennox
Comments:
I love her voice but am not big on the idea of reworking standards. Rating: 48/100. Best tracks: "I Put a Spell on You," "You Belong to Me." (raschee@gmail.com)
Further info:
Annie Lennox has released several videos:
Annie has contributed songs to many compilations. Tracks only available on compilations include:
- Diva (1992)
- Live in Central Park (1995)
- Totally Diva (2000)
- Nostalgia: An Evening with Annie Lennox (2015)
Collaborations include:
- Oscar-winning "Into the West" on the Lord of the Rings—The Return of the King soundtrack (2003)
- "Ladies of the Canyon" on A Tribute to Joni Mitchell (2007)
- "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" on Peace One Day—The Album (2009)
- "Love Comes" with Jimmy Cliff on his album Black Magic (2004)
- a cover of Paula Cole's "Hush, Hush, Hush" with Herbie Hancock on his album Possibilities (2005) and on her own Collection (2009)
- "Full Steam" with David Gray on his album Draw the Line (2009)
- "Is Tu Fuil 'o Mo Chuislean" with David Walsh, Cait Lennox, Sue Robertson, and Allan Scott-Douglas on David Walsh's album Outlander—The Musical (2010)
Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.
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