Alfie Boe – Trust: Best Ever Album Due for US Release

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Alfie Boe’s latest album, Trust, hit UK stores in November 2013 and quickly went gold. For US fans, their chance to own Trust comes towards the end of April when Capitol releases the album in America. The promo team are currently ensuring Alfie’s usually hectic promotional schedule is as busy as ever with several interviews already in the bag. Alfie is also due to perform on a several TV shows (click here) as well as singing the National Anthem before the LA Dodgers game on 22 April.
So, what do I think of the album? Having listened to Trust a lot since the release date, I can honestly say that I think this is Alfie’s best album to date. Long term fans will know that Alfie has been heading in this musical direction for a while now. The last three tracks of the previous album, Storyteller, are imbued with a blues, country and gospel sound that leads straight into Trust, particularly the glorious Glory, Glory Hallelujah and Rosie. My favourite songs are Keep Me In Your Heart and Glory Glory although there is a special place in my heart for Trust, the first song on any album to written especially for Alfie. Fans have long voiced the opinion that original material would be wonderful and it is definitely worth the wait.
There are a few songs on the album that are completely new to me but I love having my musical knowledge challenged and broadened by Alfie and have enjoying getting to know Forever Young and God Give Me Strength. Dimming of the Day is beautifully sung by Shawn Colvin, an artist I am enjoying getting to know but I have to confess a sneaking wish for the lovely tones of Emilia Mitiku, who sang with Alfie on his 2013 tour.
To give you a taste of the tracks, the video below was taken by Linda Wellington at the Huwawei Winter Concert at the Royal Festival Hall on 1 December 2013:

Since I first heard the first snippets from Alfie Boe’s latest album “Trust” two tracks stood out for me: Rosie and Glory, Glory. I defy anyone to sit still and not dance to Glory, Glory, in particular.  From talking to other fans, it was obvious that I was not alone in the opinion that those were the two tracks we wanted to hear live, above all others.  Well, it seems that good things happen to those who wait (in this case, we didn’t have to wait very long) as Alfie treated us to Rosie and Glory, Glory.  Playing the entire second act, Alfie and his extremely talented band (Murray Gould, Matt White, Richard Causon et al) burst into Rosie first off before moving easily into the album title song.  Rosie was everything we had hoped it would be, a fabulously foot tapping gospel infused number.  On this evidence, Rosie will remain a favourite for the live shows for some time.

Short but Sweet – Alfie’s flying UK visit

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Out of the ashes of the fated US tour, Alfie Boe rises again – at least for a few days to promote Trust (best ever album!) and his forthcoming appearance in Mr Selfridge.  At this point in time, we all know that Alfie should be at the beginning of a sellout tour of the USA. Sadly, it was not to be and instead, the UK fans got to see him on the Alan Titchmarsh TV this week. Now, some US fans were a little put out about this but all is not lost as Alfie said he is flying back to America this weekend in order to promote the US release of Trust!

For those of you who don’t know the Alan Titchmarsh set up, it’s a daily, live TV show broadcast from the ITV studios in London.  I applied for tickets, not really expecting I would get them and lo and behold, I got two tickets! Unfortunately, I knew straight away I wouldn’t be able to go as it clashed with work so Linda Wellington (she of the wonderful photos and videos, aka one of The Two Linda’s) went with my mum, Iris. The day and journey didn’t start too well as there was a tube strike and as usual, rain and big gusts of wind. However, they met up as planned and had a fabulous time, ending up in the front row.  For those of you who know Linda, this is not unusual! Alfie was on the show the whole time which caused some hilarity involving beach balls and leaf blowers.  My mum was particularly pleased that she caught one of Alfie’s balls!

The show closed with Alfie singing “God Give Me Strength” which is, I think, one of his favourites from the album as he always picks this if asked to choose (frequent occurrence on radio).  Linda was thrilled to see guitarist Murray Gould  – when I watched the show later, I was almost as thrilled to see Murray as Alfie!

Alfie also mentioned he may do more Neapolitan songs on the “Trust” tour later this year, so in anticipation, here is Alfie singing Chitarra Romana at the Royal Albert Hall in April 2013:

<As ever, thanks for reading – I’ve been writing for 6 months now and you beautiful people have visited over 3,000 times. Thank you so much xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

2013 – What a Fa-boe-lous year with Alfie Boe!

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So, as the end of 2013 rolls around and before we look ahead to the  delights of 2014, this blog is all about the best bits of the year with Alfie Boe and his wonderful fans, some of which I’m proud to say have become my dearest friends over these past twelve months.
This time last year, I had yet to meet Sally, Janet, and Margie, to name but a few and now these wonderful women have become firm friends, along with The Two Linda’s and Cecelia.  Margie and The Two Linda’s have featured in their very own blog posts and Sally and Cecelia will be seen here very “soon”, to coin a word close to Alfie’s heart but not to ours!!! Pauline and Paul from Jersey also deserve a mention, not least for heroically putting up with my 7yo over dinner on two occasions.  Others, I am looking forward to meeting over the next twelve months.

Best moments with Alfie Boe in 2013…so many, not sure I can do them justice but I have managed to narrow them down to my top 3, so here goes (in no particular order – guess where I borrowed that phrase from x):
Hearing songs from Trust at Alfie’s concert at The Royal Festival Hall in December – did not expect to hear those fabulous songs sung live so soon after the album release. Highlights were Rosie and Glory Glory Hallelujah.
Seeing Alfie at the Classic Brits in October, having the opportunity to give him a birthday card and then seeing that same card tweeted by the man himself with a thank you to “all the beautiful arrows”.  I’m not sure I’ve fully recovered from the excitement yet!
Seeing Alfie perform at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Storyteller tour and a very special duet on Bring Him Home with John Owen Jones.
All these events and many more were enjoyed with many lovely friends who have become a very special part of my life and given me the confidence to do so many new things, not least to start this blog. To all of you, thank you xx

To round off, I’ve included three photos that make me smile whenever I look at them – my three favourites of 2013. Two taken by Linda Wellington and one by Annie Lloyd on Linda’s camera (she is in the picture!)

Happy New Year – wishing you all a very happy, peaceful and prosperous 2014 xxx

 

Hallelujah – Alfie Boe and his band showcase “Trust”

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Since I first heard the first snippets from Alfie Boe’s latest album “Trust” two tracks stood out for me: Rosie and Glory, Glory.  Upon hearing the full length versions for the first time when Trust was released in November, those two songs quickly became my favourites.  I defy anyone to sit still and not dance to Glory, Glory, in particular.  From talking to other fans, it was obvious that I was not alone in the opinion that those were the two tracks we wanted to hear live, above all others.  Well, it seems that good things happen to those who wait (in this case, we didn’t have to wait very long) as Alfie treated us to Rosie and Glory, Glory at the Huawei Winter Concert on 1 December.  Playing the entire second act, Alfie and his extremely talented band (Murray Gould, Matt White, Richard Causon et al) burst into Rosie first off before moving easily into the album title song.  Rosie was everything we ad hope it would be, a fabulously foot tapping gospel infused number.  On this evidence, Rosie will remain a favourite for the live shows for some time.  Once again, thank you to the lovely Linda Wellington for sharing the video

Glory, Glory rounded off the evening, before an encore of Forever Young, and in typical Alfie style, half the audience ended up dancing on the stage!  This really was glorious and we should all say Hallelujah for its inclusion on the album – absolutely loved it.  Another live show favourite for sure.

Other songs from the evening included Trust, Wayfaring Stranger, If You Go Away and Keep Me In Your Heart, all beautifully sung but the highlight for me (Rosie and Glory, Glory notwithstanding) was Dimming of the Day with Laura Wright.  Finishing off the first half in style, Alfie and Laura’s voices blended wonderfully to showcase this lovely song we first heard on the Storyteller tour earlier this year.  Laura performed throughout the first half with the London Philarmonic Orchestra and the Tiffin Boys Choir and was at times, breath taking.

Alfie is off on tour in America in January 2014 – fans are certainly in for a treat if Rosie and Glory Glory make it onto the set list.

Thank you for reading and Merry Christmas!

 

 

Trust – Alfie Boe’s Best Ever Album

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check out the amazing new site – click the link and find all your favourite Alfie Boe posts!

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Alfie Boe’s latest album, Trust, hit stores on Monday 11th November and is currently gracing the number 11 spot in the charts as we speak, having gone straight into the top 10 in the first week. Of course, lots of those sales were in pre-orders. Some fans even have more than one copy already (don’t tell anyone, but I picked up my third copy at the HMV Oxford Street CD signing)!
So, what do I think of the album? Having listened pretty much non stop to Trust since the release date, I can honestly say that I think this is Alfie’s best album to date. Long term fans will know that Alfie has been heading in this musical direction for a while now. The last three tracks of the previous album, Storyteller, are imbued with a blues, country and gospel sound that leads straight into Trust, particularly the glorious Glory, Glory Hallelujah and Rosie. So far, my favourite songs are Keep Me In Your Heart and Glory Glory although there is a special place in my heart for Trust, the first song on any album to written especially for Alfie. Fans have long voiced the opinion that original material would be wonderful and it is definitely worth the wait.
There are a few songs on the album that are completely new to me but I love having my musical knowledge challenged and broadened by Alfie and am enjoying getting to know Forever Young and God Give Me Strength. Dimming of the Day is beautifully sung by Shawn Colvin, an artist I am enjoying getting to know but I have to confess a sneaking wish for the lovely tones of Emilia Mitiku.

We are blessed with Alfie appearances on TV and radio at the moment and one of the most wonderful things about this is the opportunity to spend time with the lovely friends I’ve made – you know who you are! One friend in particular has a very soft spot for Murray Gould so this video was included especially for lovely Linda (one half of The two Linda’s) – enjoy!