Helen Watson (singer-songwriter)
Encyclopedia
Helen Watson is an English
singer-songwriter
. Her music encompasses blues
, soul
, jazz
, pop
and folk
.
. During the 1970s and 80s she was a singer with blues band Loose Lips and a member of the Manchester quartet Well Knit Frames, which also included Martin McGroarty (who would become her regular writing partner). Watson was also a backing singer with Carmel
on an extensive world tour.
Watson made a demo tape with McGroarty which found its way to Keith Hopwood
at Pluto Music. Hopwood signed Watson and introduced her to music publisher and manager Deke Arlon
. Soon afterwards, Watson signed with EMI Records
, releasing her debut album Blue Slipper
in 1987. Produced by Glyn Johns
, the record featured contributions from various notable musicians including Bill Payne
, Richie Hayward
, Paul Barrere
, George Hawkins
, Michael Landau
, Steve Lukather
and Bernie Leadon
(the first time that members of Little Feat
had played together since the death of Lowell George
).
A second album, The Weather Inside
, came out in 1989, again produced by Glyn Johns
with the same cast of session musicians and featuring Andy Fairweather-Low
. Whilst signed to EMI
, Watson toured supporting Joe Cocker
and Black.
Watson signed to RCA
for 1992's Companion Gal
, which was recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios
in Wales
. Andy Fairweather-Low
once again lent his talents, as did Brinsley Schwarz
. In support of the album, Watson played shows at the Half Moon in Putney
, the Band on the Wall
and London's Tenor Clef. Lack of interest at the record company meant Watson's days working with major labels came to an end shortly afterwards. She spent the next three years working with Christine Collister
, Barb Jungr
and Michael Parker as part of Hell Bent Heaven Bound
, which toured the USA, Canada and Europe (and released an album of songs from the show in 1993). Watson also formed an all-female group called Daphne's Flight, (with Christine Collister
, Melanie Harrold, Julie Matthews
and Chris While
), releasing an eponymous album in 1995.
In the ensuing decade, Watson would release several albums which were mostly acoustic folk music, and toured the UK regularly. She continued to work with other artists, notably Emmylou Harris
and Linda Ronstadt
on their 1999 album Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions
. Watson also produced Christine Collister
's 1996 album Blue Aconite and appeared on releases by Ashley Hutchings.
In December 2006, Watson completed another tour of the UK's more intimate venues, including shows with David Hughes and Christine Collister
. From March to May 2007, she toured as singer with Snake Davis
's band Burden of Paradise before returning to solo shows in July of that year.
In 2008, she released the album Headrest.
In 2010 she released an EP, Fiver with 5 original songs.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. Her music encompasses blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
.
Biography
Watson began performing on the folk-club circuit during the late 1960s whilst working as a teacher in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. During the 1970s and 80s she was a singer with blues band Loose Lips and a member of the Manchester quartet Well Knit Frames, which also included Martin McGroarty (who would become her regular writing partner). Watson was also a backing singer with Carmel
Carmel (singer)
Carmel is a British female singer, her eponymous band Carmel uniting bassist Jim Parris, and drummer Gerry Darby.-Biography of Carmel McCourt:...
on an extensive world tour.
Watson made a demo tape with McGroarty which found its way to Keith Hopwood
Keith Hopwood
Keith Hopwood is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer, businessman and record producer, who served as the rhythm guitarist and backing vocals for the 1960s pop band, Herman's Hermits...
at Pluto Music. Hopwood signed Watson and introduced her to music publisher and manager Deke Arlon
Deke Arlon
Deke Arlon is a British music publisher and music manager whose clients included Kenny Young, Sheena Easton, Ron Grainer, Elaine Paige, Dennis Waterman, Helen Watson, and Marti Pellow.-Early career:...
. Soon afterwards, Watson signed with EMI Records
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
, releasing her debut album Blue Slipper
Blue Slipper
Blue Slipper is the 1987 debut album by Helen Watson.Like its follow up The Weather Inside the album is notable for its stellar cast of session musicians including Richie Hayward, George Hawkins, Paul Barrere, Michael Landau, Ethan Johns, Bill Payne, Bernie Leadon, Jerry Donahue and Steve Lukather...
in 1987. Produced by Glyn Johns
Glyn Johns
Glyn Johns is a musician, recording engineer and record producer.-Career:He has worked with such artists as Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Easybeats, The Band, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Eagles, Eric Clapton, The Clash, The Steve Miller Band, Small Faces, Spooky Tooth, The Ozark...
, the record featured contributions from various notable musicians including Bill Payne
Bill Payne
Bill Payne is a founding member of American rock band Little Feat. He is considered by many other piano rock musicians, including Elton John, to be one of the finest American piano rock and blues music artists...
, Richie Hayward
Richie Hayward
Richie Hayward was a drummer best known as a founding member and drummer in the band Little Feat. He performed with several bands and worked as a session player...
, Paul Barrere
Paul Barrere
Paul Barrere is a current member of the band Little Feat, having joined the band in 1974...
, George Hawkins
George Hawkins
George Hawkins may refer to:* George Hawkins , British Olympic athlete* George Sydney Hawkins , US Representative from Florida* George Hawkins , New Zealand politician* George Hawkins...
, Michael Landau
Michael Landau
Michael Landau is a prolific session musician and guitarist who has played on a large number of albums since the early 1980s with artists as varied as Seal, James Taylor, Helen Watson, Richard Marx, Steve Perry, Pink Floyd and Miles Davis...
, Steve Lukather
Steve Lukather
Steve "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer best known for his work with the rock band Toto. Lukather has played with many artists, released several solo albums, and worked as a composer, arranger, and session guitarist on more than 1,500 albums...
and Bernie Leadon
Bernie Leadon
Bernard Mathew "Bernie" Leadon, III is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Prior to the Eagles, he was a member of two pioneering and highly influential country rock bands, Dillard & Clark and the Flying Burrito Brothers...
(the first time that members of Little Feat
Little Feat
Little Feat is an American rock band formed by singer-songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles....
had played together since the death of Lowell George
Lowell George
Lowell Thomas George was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, who was the main guitarist and songwriter for the rock band Little Feat.- Early years :...
).
A second album, The Weather Inside
The Weather Inside
The Weather Inside is the second album by Helen Watson released in 1989.The album is notable for its stellar cast of session musicians including Andy Fairweather-Low, Richie Hayward, George Hawkins, Michael Landau, Ethan Johns, Bill Payne, Bernie Leadon and Albert Lee...
, came out in 1989, again produced by Glyn Johns
Glyn Johns
Glyn Johns is a musician, recording engineer and record producer.-Career:He has worked with such artists as Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Easybeats, The Band, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Eagles, Eric Clapton, The Clash, The Steve Miller Band, Small Faces, Spooky Tooth, The Ozark...
with the same cast of session musicians and featuring Andy Fairweather-Low
Andy Fairweather-Low
Andrew Fairweather Low is a Welsh guitarist, songwriter and vocalist. He was a founding member of 1960s British pop band, Amen Corner, and in recent years has toured extensively with Roger Waters, Eric Clapton and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings.-Early career:Fairweather Low first found fame as a...
. Whilst signed to EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, Watson toured supporting Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
and Black.
Watson signed to RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
for 1992's Companion Gal
Companion Gal
Companion Gal is the third album by Helen Watson, released in 1992.The album was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, South Wales and at The Mill in Cookham....
, which was recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios
Rockfield Studios
Rockfield Studios, near Monmouth in Wales and just outside the village of Rockfield, Monmouthshire are where many of British rock music’s most successful recordings have been made.-History:...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Andy Fairweather-Low
Andy Fairweather-Low
Andrew Fairweather Low is a Welsh guitarist, songwriter and vocalist. He was a founding member of 1960s British pop band, Amen Corner, and in recent years has toured extensively with Roger Waters, Eric Clapton and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings.-Early career:Fairweather Low first found fame as a...
once again lent his talents, as did Brinsley Schwarz
Brinsley Schwarz
Brinsley Schwarz were a 1970s English pub rock band, named after their guitarist Brinsley Schwarz. With Nick Lowe on bass and vocals, keyboardist Bob Andrews and drummer Billy Rankin, the band evolved from the 1960s pop band Kippington Lodge.-Formation:...
. In support of the album, Watson played shows at the Half Moon in Putney
Putney
Putney is a district in south-west London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, the Band on the Wall
Band on the Wall
Band on the Wall is a live music venue at 25 Swan Street in the Northern Quarter area of Manchester city centre.-Early history:The building dates back to around 1862 when a local brewery, the McKenna Brothers, built it as the flagship pub of their operation. It was called the George and Dragon; the...
and London's Tenor Clef. Lack of interest at the record company meant Watson's days working with major labels came to an end shortly afterwards. She spent the next three years working with Christine Collister
Christine Collister
Christine Collister is a Manx folk, blues and jazz singer-songwriter. She was born and grew up on the Isle of Man and first came to public attention in 1986 as the singer of the theme song for the BBC's television adaptation of Fay Weldon's book The Life and Loves of a She-Devil.Prior to this, in...
, Barb Jungr
Barb Jungr
Barb Jungr is an English singer-songwriter, composer and writer, of Czech and German parentage. She is perhaps best known as a chansonnière, or singer of chansons—in the sense of classic, lyric-driven French songs; in the broader sense of European songs in the cabaret style; and in the even...
and Michael Parker as part of Hell Bent Heaven Bound
Hell Bent Heaven Bound II: Money the £inal £rontier
-Track listing:#"You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two" – 4:11#"Ain't Nothin' Goin' On but the Rent" – 4:16#"Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You?" – 2:26#"Your Cash Ain't Nothin' but Trash" – 3:29...
, which toured the USA, Canada and Europe (and released an album of songs from the show in 1993). Watson also formed an all-female group called Daphne's Flight, (with Christine Collister
Christine Collister
Christine Collister is a Manx folk, blues and jazz singer-songwriter. She was born and grew up on the Isle of Man and first came to public attention in 1986 as the singer of the theme song for the BBC's television adaptation of Fay Weldon's book The Life and Loves of a She-Devil.Prior to this, in...
, Melanie Harrold, Julie Matthews
Julie Matthews
Julie Matthews is an award-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. She has been a member of some of the most influential British folk duos and groups and is acknowledged internationally as a major songwriter, with her work being covered by a wide range of artists and...
and Chris While
Chris While
Chris While is an award-winning songwriter, singer and musician, known particularly for her powerful and moving vocals and the quality of her compositions and live performances. She has enjoyed success both as a solo artist, a songwriter and as a member of a number of notable and influential...
), releasing an eponymous album in 1995.
In the ensuing decade, Watson would release several albums which were mostly acoustic folk music, and toured the UK regularly. She continued to work with other artists, notably Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
and Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
on their 1999 album Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions
Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions
Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions is a 1999 album by American singer/songwriter/producer Linda Ronstadt and singer/songwriter/guitarist Emmylou Harris.The album was well-received critically and landed on several year-end Top Ten lists...
. Watson also produced Christine Collister
Christine Collister
Christine Collister is a Manx folk, blues and jazz singer-songwriter. She was born and grew up on the Isle of Man and first came to public attention in 1986 as the singer of the theme song for the BBC's television adaptation of Fay Weldon's book The Life and Loves of a She-Devil.Prior to this, in...
's 1996 album Blue Aconite and appeared on releases by Ashley Hutchings.
In December 2006, Watson completed another tour of the UK's more intimate venues, including shows with David Hughes and Christine Collister
Christine Collister
Christine Collister is a Manx folk, blues and jazz singer-songwriter. She was born and grew up on the Isle of Man and first came to public attention in 1986 as the singer of the theme song for the BBC's television adaptation of Fay Weldon's book The Life and Loves of a She-Devil.Prior to this, in...
. From March to May 2007, she toured as singer with Snake Davis
Snake Davis
Snake Davis is a session musician who has played with some of the worlds biggest artists. In the 1980s he fronted York band Zoot and the Roots....
's band Burden of Paradise before returning to solo shows in July of that year.
In 2008, she released the album Headrest.
In 2010 she released an EP, Fiver with 5 original songs.
Solo discography
- Blue SlipperBlue SlipperBlue Slipper is the 1987 debut album by Helen Watson.Like its follow up The Weather Inside the album is notable for its stellar cast of session musicians including Richie Hayward, George Hawkins, Paul Barrere, Michael Landau, Ethan Johns, Bill Payne, Bernie Leadon, Jerry Donahue and Steve Lukather...
(EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
/ColumbiaColumbia Graphophone CompanyThe Columbia Graphophone Company was one of the earliest gramophone companies in the United Kingdom. Under EMI, as Columbia Records, it became a very successful label in the 1950s and 1960s...
) (1987) - The Weather InsideThe Weather InsideThe Weather Inside is the second album by Helen Watson released in 1989.The album is notable for its stellar cast of session musicians including Andy Fairweather-Low, Richie Hayward, George Hawkins, Michael Landau, Ethan Johns, Bill Payne, Bernie Leadon and Albert Lee...
(EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
/ColumbiaColumbia Graphophone CompanyThe Columbia Graphophone Company was one of the earliest gramophone companies in the United Kingdom. Under EMI, as Columbia Records, it became a very successful label in the 1950s and 1960s...
) (1989) - Companion GalCompanion GalCompanion Gal is the third album by Helen Watson, released in 1992.The album was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, South Wales and at The Mill in Cookham....
(RCARCARCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
) (1992) - Notes On DesireNotes on DesireNotes On Desire is the fourth album by Helen Watson, released in 1997.The album was recorded at Cavalier Studios in Stockport and at Out Of The Blues Studios in Manchester....
(Building) (1995) - Somersault (Fledg'ling RecordsFledg'ling RecordsFledg'ling Records is a British independent record label founded in 1991. The label has re-released some albums previously issued by Hokey Pokey Records which was also run by the Fledg'ling founder - David Suff. David Suff having been half of the team running the Richard Thompson fanzine - "Hokey...
) (1997) - Doffing (Fledg'ling RecordsFledg'ling RecordsFledg'ling Records is a British independent record label founded in 1991. The label has re-released some albums previously issued by Hokey Pokey Records which was also run by the Fledg'ling founder - David Suff. David Suff having been half of the team running the Richard Thompson fanzine - "Hokey...
) (1999) - Lifesize (Fledg'ling RecordsFledg'ling RecordsFledg'ling Records is a British independent record label founded in 1991. The label has re-released some albums previously issued by Hokey Pokey Records which was also run by the Fledg'ling founder - David Suff. David Suff having been half of the team running the Richard Thompson fanzine - "Hokey...
) (2002) - Headrest (Independent) (2008)
- Fiver (Corvax Mewsic) (2010)