Julie Covington – The Beautiful Changes

Name: Julie Covington - The Beautiful Changes
Rating: 4 (9 reviews)

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Tracklist

A1	The Magic Wasn't There Drums – Clem Cattini Piano – Nick Harrison	3:13
A2	Ice-Cream Man Piano – Pete Atkin	2:50
A3	If I Had My Time Again Bass – Tony Campo Sitar, Flute – Lyn Dobson	2:37
A4	He Just Don't Appeal To Me Guitar – Brian Daly Trumpet – Alan Franks Tuba – Russell Davies (2)	3:38
A5	Winter Kept Us Warm	2:03
A6	The Beautiful Changes	2:22
B1	Queen Of Lights Bass – Dave Bell (3) Drums – Kenny Clare Guitar – Brian Daly Piano – Mike Maran	2:37
B2	For Instance Bass – Steve Cook (2) Drums – Mike Travis Guitar, Piano – Pete Atkin	2:51
B3	The Standards Of Today Bass – Dave Bell (3) Drums – Kenny Clare Guitar – Brian Daly Piano – Mike Maran	2:14
B4	The Original, Original Honky Tonk Night Train Blues Backing Vocals – Russell Davies (2) Bass – Dave Bell (3) Drums – Kenny Clare Guitar – Brian Daly Piano – Mike Maran	2:04
B5	Don't Bother Me Now Bass – Herbie Flowers Drums – Clem Cattini Guitar – Brian Daly	4:58
B6	Friendly Island Song Bass – Steve Cook (2) Bass Clarinet – Henry McKenzie Drums – Mike Travis Flugelhorn – Duncan Campbell Piano – Pete Atkin Tuba – Russell Davies (2)	2:04
B7	My Silks And Fine Array Bass – Herbie Flowers Drums – Barry Morgan Guitar – Alan Parker Organ – Alan Hawkshaw	4:58

Textured sleeve.

	Title (Format)	Label	Cat#	Country	Year
Recently Edited	The Beautiful Changes...Plus (CD, Album, Reissue)	See For Miles Records Ltd.	SEECD 687	UK	1999
New Submission	The Beautiful Changes (CD, Album, Reissue)	Cherry Tree	CRTREE011	UK	2012

Ackaraga Aug 7, 2023
Before becoming a darling of the London stage in the 70s and beyond, Julie was an award-winning Shakespearean actress, beginning a singing career by performing the songs of Pete Atkin and Clive James, which make up the bulk of this album. This fine record on Columbia (UK EMI) is somehow a culmination of all of those things, being a lovely and eclectic album of theatrical songs, tastefully and thoughtfully produced with immaculate backing from the usual A1 Brit session band. There are some serious highlights on this album that go from moody folky songs to baroque ballads and one dark rocker, "Queen of Lights" that's probably the best track along with the closer "My Silks And Fine Array". A couple of tracks let it down (notably the skippable "He Just Don't Appeal to Me"), but this is a near-masterpiece of English songbook perfection and one of my personal favourites in the collection.