Deep Pockets Dana Gillespie

£12.56

Genre:
Blues
Label:
Ace Records
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDCHD 1600

This product is also available in these versions:
Deep Pockets, LP (£20.13)
Deep Pockets (MP3), MP3 (£7.99)

Dana Gillespie’s affair with the blues shows not the slightest sign of flagging. Who could have predicted it would be in her sixth decade of music-making that she’d be creating her finest work? So far, 2021 has been a banner year for the 72-year-old personality. It began with the publication of her memoir, Weren’t Born A Man. This was followed by a successful YouTube reboot of her popular radio show, Globetrotting With Gillespie. The memoir, co-written with David Shasha, is a full account of Dana’s remarkable life, from her folk singles on Pye Records and her late 60s albums for Decca to her pivotal role in the original London cast of Jesus Christ Superstar and her memorable explosion onto the glam scene as part of the Bowie/DeFries/MainMan/RCA empire, her side-sojourns in film, and her long-lasting union with Ace Records as one of the UK’s leading blues artists.

"Deep Pockets”, the follow-up to 2019’s “Under My Bed”, is a collection of 12 Gillespie originals, mostly written with long-standing lead guitarist Jake Zaitz. It is a reflective album, born of Covid lockdown: “The moment the first one happened and everyone was in a state of doom and gloom and nobody went anywhere, I was on my own and began writing lyrics.” 

If ever there were a Gillespie mission statement, it could be encapsulated by ‘Beat Of My Own Drum’. “I feel strongly that all through my life I’ve danced to my own beat,” says Dana, “not to some commercial one.” Meanwhile, ‘The Truth About Lying’ is a song she could only have written now. Coming from a new artist, it might simply sound reproving, but from someone who’s really lived, its unequivocal warnings about the corrosive effects of dishonesty are chillingly plausible. Although there are moments that touch on loss, such as the haunting elegy ‘Now You’re Stardust’, the overall guiding spirit of the album could be summarised as ‘be happy, play the game’, the wisdom of the late Sri Sathya Sai Baba for whose philosophy Dana has long been a worldwide ambassador. This is never more apparent than in the touching song of universal empathy ‘We Share The Same Sky’. 

“Deep Pockets” has arrived earlier than scheduled. After the first UK lockdown prompted a rush of industry from Dana and an album’s worth of songs, she and her band flew off to play the Lugano Blues Festival. With a house on Lake Maggiore at their disposal and no way of knowing when the London studios might reopen or close again, recording impromptu suddenly seemed like a good idea. Everything you hear was captured in that dazzling summer setting over just four days, in either one or two takes; that’s why the music has such a distinctive heat, zest and spontaneity. Nothing’s been overworked or unduly titivated, and Dana’s voice, unerring in its pitch and as expressive as ever, is just how it sounds in a live show.

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We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

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