Rebecca Pidgeon - The Raven
Original Release Date: June 23, 1994
Label: Chesky (High Resolution Technology)
Total time: 46:01
Bitrate: 320 kbps

Few people realize that the actress Rebecca Pidgeon had been quietly persuing a sucessful singing career prior to her noteriety as an actress. Though she was born in the Boston area, Pidgeon grew up in Scotland and studied acting at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, which has trained some of the finest classical British stage actors. 'The Raven' is Ms. Pidgeon's first and finest solo effort, was recorded in 1994, a few years after she appeared in the Broadway production of hard edged playwright David Mamet's 'The Old Neighborhood.' She married Mamet and became the frequent leading lady in Mamet's excellent ensemble driven films. Prior to the 'The Old Neighborhood', she sang in the group, Ruby Blue. She married Mamet and put her singing career on the back burner. Had it not been for involvement with Mamet, Pidgeon could probably have had Norah Jones' career, because sh
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Rebecca Pidgeon - The Raven
Original Release Date: June 23, 1994
Label: Chesky (High Resolution Technology)
Total time: 46:01
Bitrate: 320 kbps

Few people realize that the actress Rebecca Pidgeon had been quietly persuing a sucessful singing career prior to her noteriety as an actress. Though she was born in the Boston area, Pidgeon grew up in Scotland and studied acting at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, which has trained some of the finest classical British stage actors. 'The Raven' is Ms. Pidgeon's first and finest solo effort, was recorded in 1994, a few years after she appeared in the Broadway production of hard edged playwright David Mamet's 'The Old Neighborhood.' She married Mamet and became the frequent leading lady in Mamet's excellent ensemble driven films. Prior to the 'The Old Neighborhood', she sang in the group, Ruby Blue. She married Mamet and put her singing career on the back burner. Had it not been for involvement with Mamet, Pidgeon could probably have had Norah Jones' career, because she was performing the same kind of ecclectic mix of jazz, folk and popular standards that has become Nora Jones' signature. Rebecca Pidgeon's vocals have the same grace, verve and well nuanced phrasing as the ubiquitous Ms. Jones. A single listen to her rendition of 'Spanish Harlem' will convince even the most skeptical, that Pidgeon has all the makings of a great vocal stylist. The most intriguing part of her vocals is her ability to take her deeply rooted Celtic influences and blend them with the best elements of old school jazz to create her own highly stylized musical signature. The production quality is crystal clear and the arrangements are kept engagingly sparse, so Ms. Pidgeon's enticing voice isn't upstaged by a lot of superfluous overblown arrangements. If you are a fan of Norah Jones or Eva Cassidy, then Rebecca Pidgeon should be on your required music purchase list. ~ Gavin B., Amazon.com

Reflective, yet contemporary, Rebecca's enchanting voice rings with honest, unpretentious confidence and vivid tenderness. While her Celtic melodies set the mood, her lyrics tell stories, full, rich, textured, and openhearted. She explores varying subject matter: love, loss, life, death, excavating her imagination and expressing it with wit, charm, warmth, and near tangible vulnerability. The Raven, Rebecca Pidgeon's explosive debut pop release reveals the remarkable talents of a new musical artist while introducing Chesky Record's most significant contribution to the advancement of recorded sound.... High resolution technology. ~ acoustic sounds website

Four long years had to pass, before THE most pleasant voice would curl its way into my ears again, and spellbind me once more. The sound of ex-folk/rock-group 'Ruby Blue' lead-singer Rebecca Pidgeon left an impression on me nine years ago, and the many different characteristics are still there. Through-out this album. -This is one high-quality song-writer. Check out 'Her Man Leaves Town', 'The Height Of Land' or the title-track, previously recorded by 'Ruby Blue'. The folky stuff, like this album, is where Pidgeon is the most at home, I think. I really wouldn't mind if she'd only make records like this one, but variety is a good thing, so I'm sure I'll enjoy whatever she decides to do in the future. ~ Birthe Jrgensen

Personnel:
Rebecca Pidgeon (Vocals and Guitar)
Joel Diamond (Piano)
Anthony Coote (Guitar and Backing Vocals)
George Naha (Guitar)
Mitch Margold (Synthesizer)
David Finck (Bass)
Gary Burke (Percussion)
Coco Kallis (Backing Vocals)
Paul Miller (Backing Vocals)
Stephanie Smothers (Backing Vocals) - 5,13
Elise Morris (Backing Vocals) - 5,13
Juliet Haffner (Viola)
Eric Friedlander (Cello)
Laura Seaton (Violin)
Robert Chausow (Violin)

Rebecca Pidgeon - The Raven Tracks:
01 Kalerka (Rebecca Pidgeon) 3:02
02 The Witch (Rebecca Pidgeon) 2:47
03 The Raven (Rebecca Pidgeon/David Mamet) 2:51
04 You Need Me There (Rebecca Pidgeon) 3:40
05 Grandmother (Rebecca Pidgeon) 6:34
06 You Got Me (Rebecca Pidgeon/Anthony Coote/David Mamet) 3:01
07 Heart And Mind (Rebecca Pidgeon/David Mamet) 3:16
08 Her Man Leaves Town (Rebecca Pidgeon) 3:32
09 Seven Hours (Rebecca Pidgeon/David Mamet) 4:00
10 Wendy's Style Shop (Rebecca Pidgeon) 3:29
11 The Height Of Land (Rebecca Pidgeon/David Mamet) 3:43
12 Spanish Harlem (Phil Spector) 3:35
13 Remember Me (Rebecca Pidgeon) 2:31