SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ANNE MURRAY – HERE YOU ARE

ANNE MURRAY
HERE YOU ARE
UNIVERSAL MUSIC

I grew up in the 1970s, and to be honest I have always had a big soft spot for Anne Murray. I could never admit it at the time, but I always loved her voice and choice of songs. She was huge in the 1970s and 1980s, hit after hit, and not just in Canada. She is a worldwide icon. She was the first Canadian female solo artist to reach No.1 on the U.S. charts (“You Needed Me”, 1978), the first Canadian female to earn a U.S. Gold record (“Snowbird”, 1970) and the first woman to win ‘Album of the Year’ at the Country Music Awards in Nashville for A Little Good News (1983). These were and are huge accomplishments.

She has been missed over the last decade and half. She is being given credit by a number of young artists, but she has not been around. It has been a long while since her last studio album, 2007’s Duets: Friends and Legends, so Here You Are, a compilation of never before released tracks, feels like visiting an old friend. No need to explain the long absence, just sit down, have a cup of tea and pick up where you left off.

That is how Here You Are is. Anne Murray is back with her familiar voice, and the production is exactly the sound of an Anne Murray album. The 11 tracks on Here You Are were recorded between 1978 and 1995, Murray’s commercial peak. It is an interesting time frame because, although she had been recording since the late 1960s, she really came into her own during this time. Even more surprising is that these songs were left off albums. The title track, for example, honestly brings a tear to your eye. “Here You Are” is not maudlin, but it is sentimental and a great song about loss.

Other songs, like “How About Goodbye” or “Heaven In My Heart” would have shot to number one had they been released in 1978. These are well-crafted pop songs with a tinge of country in them. In the old days these would have been called middle of the road, but the truth is, these are just really good pop songs, sung by an incredible singer. Other songs are more country, such as the beautiful “Rest Easy (In My Love)”, produced by Kyle Lehning. Murray sounds comfortable tackling country, probably because that is where she got her start.

Her cover of “Straight From The Heart” is fantastic. Sure, it is over-produced and has the loud 1980s big drum sounds, but it sounds great. Producer Jim Ed Norman adds pedal steel (played by her nephew Dale) and new backing vocals from Murray and her daughter Dawn, which really works. It was originally recorded in 1984 with some new tinkering. Norman also produced the odd “I Lost My Dog”, which is a welcome addition to the album.

Murray tackles the country music classic, “Gone” (a hit for Ferlin Huskey in 1957). The album ends with the astounding “Gone”, complete with a Dixieland style break and fantastic backing vocals. Written by Alan O’Day (for those of you around in the late 1970s, he wrote “Undercover Angel”), it is the perfect way to the album.

It is time to reassess Anne Murray. It is too easy to neglect her true talent, as a singer and interpreter of songs. She also knew how to choose her material. It is hard to believe that these songs were cut from albums over the years, but I am glad they are available now. The title of the album, Here You Are, is pretty perfect too. Everything falls into place for Here You Are, and I am glad it has been released. There is something very comforting listening to this album, as someone who grew up with her music. And, like talking with an old friend, it is like picking up the conversation where we left off nearly 20 years ago. Welcome back, Ms. Murray.

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