REVIEWS

Reviews of OLD HAT'S RETURN

OLD HAT'S RETURN-Anthony J.Quinn (RMMCD02)

Featuring Chris Hatt,Johnny Larsen,Mark Reader and Moira Witter


Anthony J.Quinn is a singer/songwriter from Merseyside who has just released his second album "Old Hat's Return".It is a real melting pot of different musical styles.It kicks off with the title-track and could be construed as Anthony J. boldly announcing his return to the music business.More pertinently he seems to be poking fun at ageing rock stars with egos as big as their bank balances!The arrangement impresses right from the off and Mark Reader's mandolin riffs that kick in at the first bridge are very effective.Anthony J's voice is genuinely distinctive and positively resonates with character.It cannot be compared to anybody and I think that is a plus in his favour-although some of you may hear a bit of Van Morrison,Ray Davies and possibly(in its darker moments)Nick Cave in there.

Track2 "Toxteth Girl" tells a story from the pubs and clubs of Liverpool of a girl with a big voice and big dreams-I guess in the 'here and now' she would be there on the X-factor!.The instrumentation on this track features the first of some very fine piano playing by Johnny Larsen whose tasteful organ and keyboards are interspersed throughout the album.He has a lovely feel and playing style that enriches Anthony J's songs.

The two songs in the middle of the album are really moving."Last Summer's Champagne" is a gorgeous waltz-this time Johnny Larsen plays some superb accordion.You really taste the taste the sentiment and fine vintage in Anthony J's voice.Then comes "Sorry Mr Tandy"-a lovely song written it seems about a recently dead schoolteacher/mentor.The finger picking and Mark Reader's mellow synth bring out the best in a song with some interesting chords and a subtle middle eight.

Tracks 8 and 10 are simply stunning! "Mood Swings" sounds like Dylan's "Oh Mercy" meets Nick Cave with a rasping band approach highlighted by Chris Hatt's lurid saxophone.Anthony J growls some great couplets "I never know what's coming next,you're such a chameleon you're so complex!".The closing track "Dawn 'Til Dusk"(nothing to do with the Terentino flick) is in complete contrast but equally as compelling-a hymn.Moira Witter's female classical voice(almost medieval boy voice?) is perfect for a song which could be a classic-I can imagine it making waves in a period film.Lovely lyrics,stunning piano(again) and when the organ kicks in half way through I defy it not to send a shiver down your spine.

Anthony J. is also a budding performance poet and the penultimate track "People Just Wanna Flirt On Friday Nights" reminded me of stoned soul poet Roy Harper.The acerbic northen wit certainly shines through as he "dishes" the values of the hollow consumerist bubble in which we exist.Shades also perhaps of an English Ginsberg-great stuff!

In summation Anthony J. has up to six great tracks on this album.On perhaps a few of the others he is still finding his niche but there's enough good material here to make one believe that Anthony J. Quinn is Merseyside's Ray Davies.I recommenend that you buy this album without delay,immerse yourself in the world of Anthony J and judge wether you think I'm right.It's different from anything you'll hear at H.M.V. but the honesty in his voice and a fantastic "wall of sound" he has created along with Chris Hatt,Johnny Larsen,Mark Reader and Moira Witter give this album a great chance of being a hit.
 

Andy Smythe-Traditional Music Magazine
 

Albums by Widnes singer-songwriter Anthony J.Quinn are not exactly an annual occurence.His new release 'Old Hat's Return' comes fourteen years after his debut 'In A Foreign Part Of The Town' You may conclude that the title alludes to himself it seems more likely however that he is lampooning veteran mega-stars(Elton? Rod? Macca?) in the song which kick-starts the album in fine style.'"Some say his facelift was a success/some say the surgeon made his face a mess"-might be construed as a reference to Wacko Jacko also.
As the quoted couplet suggests there is much emphasis on Oscar Wilde like phrases and the poetical-in that sense 'Old Hat's Return' carries on from where 'In A Foreign Part Of The Town' left off.Indeed,Anthony J. treats us at the back-end of the album to a five-minute plus poetry recital 'People Just Wanna Flirt On Friday Nights' which castigates our indifference to the world's myriad problems.
Elsewhere however there is excellent music aplenty and Anthony J.tips his old hat to his studio band Chris Hatt,Johnny Larsen and Mark Reader(who also produced the album)by including pictures of them on the front cover.He also ackowledeges their excellent musicianship in the introductory notes "I played the acoustic guitar only" he modestly concedes.He actually plays it very well as demonstrated particularly on the one sole acoustic performance only here "Where Are They Now Those Famous Faces?"
What has changed since 'In A Foreign Part Of The Town' is the voice.The strained,grating voice(pre-dating James Blunt by a decade)which blemished parts of his debut is replaced by one that sounds accessible and comfortable-especially on the slower tracks the haunting 'End Up In Heartbreak',the lovely and romantic 'Last Summer's Champagne' and the poignant 'Sorry Mr Tandy'
Even on the faster songs Anthony J's vocal is well in control..The humerous 'Misanthropist's Song' and even more humerous 'Mood Swings' and of course the best track of all the wonderful 'Toxteth Girl' "Toxteth Girl come up to the fore/imagine the polite applause is a palladium encore/is it the starry night or the stardom you desire/come on set the stage alight and set the night on fire" Phew! eat your heart out Roger Mc Gough!
Despite the more confident vocal however Anthony J. hands over to Moira Witter to conclude the album with a spiritual song 'Dawn Til Dusk'-a sequel perhaps to 'Song For The Second Millennium' which closed 'In A Foreign Part Of The Town'
Old Hat Anthony J. is back alright and unlike the caricature in his song he's by no means out of date or out of tune.He's back in style.Let's hope we don't have wait another fourteen years for the follow up.

Mark Jones- St Helens Music Magazine

PRESS QUOTES


"Quinn's lyrics are insightful and droll-his voice has an engaging quality"
Mike Wilson-Folking.com

"Anthony is in a similar mould to some of the Liverpool street poets
Lewis Jones-Folk North West

"Anthony J.Quinn is Merseyside's Ray Davies"
Andy Smythe-Traditional Music Maker

" 'Toxteth Girl' is comparable with any Lennon/Mc Cartney standard 'Old Hat's Return' is worth purchasing for this song alone' "
C.D.Baby