Ballads (Derek Bailey album)
| Ballads | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 23 April 2002 | |||
| Length | 41:31 | |||
| Label | Tzadik | |||
| Producer | Derek Bailey | |||
| Derek Bailey chronology | ||||
| ||||
Ballads is a solo studio album by English guitarist Derek Bailey.[1] It was released on 23 April 2002,[2] through Tzadik.[3] In 2007, The Guardian included the album in their list of "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die".[4]
Background
The album contains Derek Bailey's 14 solo guitar renditions of standard songs.[1] It was recorded by Toby Hrycek-Robinson and mastered by Scott Hull.[5] It was released through John Zorn's American record label Tzadik.[3] Marc Ribot wrote the album's liner notes.[6]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| The Guardian |  [3] |
| Pitchfork | 8.1/10[6] |
Brian Olewnick of AllMusic stated, "Ballads is stunningly gorgeous, lovely melodies like 'Laura' being passionately stroked even as they abut against Bailey's questioning angularities and brusque, impolite commentary."[2] He added, "Whether one is glad or distressed that he chose to dip his toes into these waters, Ballads is a singularly lovely recording, one that certainly stands out in Bailey's oeuvre and one that is nigh impossible not to smile about and linger over."[2] Dominique Leone of Pitchfork commented that "Bailey's improvisations here are at once impenetrable and immediately familiar."[6] He called the album "a fine entryway to the appreciation of Bailey's art."[6]
In 2007, The Guardian included the album in their list of "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die".[4]
Accolades
| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitchfork | Top 50 Albums of 2002 | 40
|
|
| The Wire | 2002 Rewind: 50 Records of the Year | —
|
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Laura" | David Raksin | 2:58 |
| 2. | "What's New" | 1:40 | |
| 3. | "When Your Lover Has Gone" | E. A. Swan | 3:18 |
| 4. | "Stella by Starlight" | 7:21 | |
| 5. | "My Melancholy Baby" | Ernie Burnett | 3:13 |
| 6. | "My Buddy" | Walter Donaldson | 1:13 |
| 7. | "Gone with the Wind" | 2:07 | |
| 8. | "Rockin' Chair" | Hoagy Carmichael | 1:56 |
| 9. | "Body and Soul" | John Green | 5:34 |
| 10. | "Gone with the Wind" |
| 2:29 |
| 11. | "Rockin' Chair" | Carmichael | 2:04 |
| 12. | "You Go to My Head" | J. Fred Coots | 1:47 |
| 13. | "Georgia on My Mind" | Carmichael | 4:58 |
| 14. | "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" | 0:50 | |
| Total length: | 41:31 | ||
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.[9]
- Derek Bailey – guitar, production
- Toby Hrycek-Robinson – recording
- Scott Hull – mastering
- John Zorn – executive production
- Kazunori Sugiyama – associate production
- Heung-Heung Chin – design
- Marc Ribot – liner notes
References
- ^ a b Fordham, John (29 December 2005). "Derek Bailey". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ a b c d Olewnick, Brian. "Ballads - Derek Bailey". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ a b c Fordham, John (10 May 2002). "Shock tactics". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Artists beginning with B (part 1)". The Guardian. 17 November 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Watson, Ben (2004). Derek Bailey and the Story of Free Improvisation. Verso. pp. 364–365. ISBN 1844670031.
- ^ a b c d Leone, Dominique (26 June 2002). "Derek Bailey: Ballads". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ "Top 50 Albums of 2002". Pitchfork. 31 December 2002. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ "2002 Rewind". The Wire. December 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Derek Bailey (2002). Ballads (CD booklet). Tzadik.