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Sally Oldfield: Water Bearer

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Bronze Records
Released: 1978.10.23
Time:
 42:18
Category: Pop/Rock
Producer(s): Sally Oldfield
Rating: *******... (7/10)
Media type: CD
Web address: www.sallyoldfield.com
Appears with:
Purchase date: 1997.10.04
Price in €: 6,99



 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Water bearer (Sally Oldfield) - 6:25
Songs of the quendi:
    [2] Night theme (Sally Oldfield) - 2:52
    [3] Wampum song (Sally Oldfield) - 3:06
    [4] Nenya (Sally Oldfield) - 4:59
    [5] Land of the sun (Sally Oldfield) - 1:52
[6] Mirrors (Sally Oldfield) - 3:17
[7] Weaver (Sally Oldfield) - 3:38
[8] Night of the hunter's moon (Sally Oldfield) - 3:26
[9] Child of Allah (Sally Oldfield) - 3:19
[10] Song of the bow (Sally Oldfield) - 3:37
[11] Fire and honey (Sally Oldfield) - 2:30
[12] Song of the healer (Sally Oldfield) - 3:19

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


WATER BEARER:
SALLY OLDFIELD - Vocals, Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Spanish Guitar, Marimba, Synthesizer, Glockenspiel, Moog Bass
FRANK RICOTTI - Bongos, Cabassa
BRIAN BURROWS - Tenor
JEAN PRICE - Harp
TIM WHEATER - Cymbals

SONGS OF THE QUENDI (tracks [2]-[5]):
SALLY OLDFIELD - Vocals, Piano, Spanish Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Tubaphone, Glockenspiel, Mandolin, Percussion, Synthesizers, Moog Bass, Harpsicord, Pipe Organ
FRANK RICOTTI - Vibes, Bongos
TREVOR SPENCER - Syn Drums
BRIAN BURROWS - Tenor
TIM WHEATER - Cymbals

WEAVER:
SALLY OLDFIELD - Vocals, Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Moog Bass, Synthesizers, Vibes, Spanish Guitar
TREVOR SPENCER - Syn Drums
DAVE LAWSON - String Synthesizer

NIGHT OF THE HUNTER'S MOON:
SALLY OLDFIELD - Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, Moog Bass, Synthesizers
FRANK RICOTTI - Bongos
TREVOR SPENCER - Syn Drums

CHILD OF ALLAH:
SALLY OLDFIELD - Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, Mandolin, Synthesizers, Moog Bass, Percussion
FRANK RICOTTI - Bass Marimba, Congas

SONG OF THE BOW:
SALLY OLDFIELD - Vocals, Piano, Acoustic Guitars, Vibes, Moog Bass, Synthesizers, Percussion, Spanish Guitar, Glockenspiel
TIM WHEATER - Cymbals
DAVE LAWSON - String Synthesizer

FIRE AND HONEY:
SALLY OLDFIELD - Vocals, Piano, Spanish Guitar, Moog Bass, Synthesizers, Glockenspiel
JEAN PRICE - Harp
DAVE LAWSON - String Synthesizer
TIM WHEATER - Cymbals

SONG OF THE HEALER:
SALLY OLDFIELD - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Moog Bass
BRIAN BURROWS - Tenor

SALLY OLDFIELD - Arrangement, Producer, Mixing
DAVE GRINSTEAD - Engineer
ASHLEY HOWE - Add. Engineer, Mixing
MARK DEARNLEY - Add. Engineer
JULIAN COOPER - Mixing Assistants
JONH GALLEN - Mixing Assistants
DAVE LAWSON - Programming of synthesizers
MARTIN POOLE - Art Direction
PAUL WAKEFIELD - Photography
MIKE PRATLEY - Lettering

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


United Kingdom LP BRON 511 Bronze Records 1st, omits "Mirrors", seperate lyrics sheet inside
United Kingdom LP BRON 511 Bronze Records 2nd (also with lyrics sheet inside)
USA LP CHR-1211 Chrysalis

USA LP CHR-1211 Chrysalis promo, omits "Mirrors", lyrics sheet inside
United Kingdom LP CLALP 101 Castle Communications
Germany LP 26447 XOT Bronze Records
Germany LP 26447 XOT Bronze Records with poster "In Concert"
France LP BRO 2030 Bronze Records
Germany Cd ACD 610 164 Bronze Records 1984
United Kingdom CD CLACD 101 Castle Communications 1986
Germany CD CLC-5099 Castle Communications
United Kingdom CD CLAMC 101 Castle Communications
Germany MC 400 509-352 Bronze Records

Recorded at Chipping Norton Studios. May 1978, also at the Roundhouse Studios. May 1978
Mixed at the Roundhouse July 1978.

Quotations from "Lord of the Rings" and "The Silmarillion" by J. R. R. Tolkien reproduced by kind permission of George Allen & Union Limited.

Special thanks to Dave Lawson for programming of synthesizers.
Also to Howard Thompson for general help and encouragement and John Gallen at the Roundhouse for haute cousine.

Trevor Spencer - courtesy of A & M Records.
Tim Wheater - courtesy of Reflection Records Ltd.

CLACD 101 moves some 3 minutes from "Water Bearer" and adds them to "Songs Of The Quendi", and "Song Of The Bow" and "Fire And Honey" share the same track (7).
Also issued in a "3 Originals" box, CLA BX 906 (Castle Communications), containing "Water Bearer" (CLACD 101), "Easy" (CLACD 102) and "Celebration" (CLACD 103).
There is also a "Water Bearer" promo poster for this album.



A J.R.R. Tolkien freak I know tells me that Water Bearer's "Songs of the Quendi," the suite inspired by The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, corresponds almost exactly with the descriptions of music in the books—certainly much more so than the recent Hollywood Lord of the Rings movie score.

I'm no Tolkien expert myself, but Sally Oldfield's otherworldly authenticity doesn't surprise me. On first impression, she'd seem to be part of the piping-soprano/offbeat-British-folk-pop tradition of Claire Hamill and Linda Lewis. But it soon becomes clear that this artist isn't part of any tradition. For one thing, her primary musical motif isn't standard folkie acoustic guitar, but the metronomic rhythm patterns of so-called trance music (Philip Glass, Steve Reich, et al.), sustained by marimba, vibes, glockenspiel, mandolin and various keyboards, synthesizers and percussion. In addition, the strong streak of fantasy that runs through Oldfield's songs dovetails with a subtle sense of Eastern spiritualism à la Richard Thompson. All this combines to make her music a mini world unto itself.

Oldfield (whose brother is Mike "Tubular Bells" Oldfield) wrote, arranged and produced everything on Water Bearer. She plays practically all the instruments, sings in a fluid, wide-ranging voice—from high and breathy to low and husky—and is sometimes joined by operatic tenor Brian Burrows. Her compositions, which sweep through unpredictable changes with dazzling surety, glow with an innocence that's neither saccharine nor overly cute, while her somewhat enigmatic lyrics are nestled in remarkably accessible melodies. The result is an unusual and very beautiful LP, perhaps the finest debut since that of Kate and Anna McGarrigle. (RS 288)

DON SHEWEY
© Copyright 2001 RollingStone.com



The debut album from Mike Oldfield's twin sister that showed the world that talent runs in the family. Based in celtic folk, the whole album flows like one of her brother's albums, only this one is much prettier. Her crystalline voice is a joy to! CLACD 101 moves some 3 minutes from "Water Bearer" and adds them to "Songs Of The Quendi", and "Song Of The Bow" and "Fire And Honey" share the same track (7). Also issued in a "3 Originals" box, CLA BX 906 (Castle Communications), containing "Water Bearer" (CLACD 101), "Easy" (CLACD 102) and "Celebration" (CLACD 103).
 

 L y r i c s


WATER BEARER

Water Bearer! Water bearing one!
Water bearing one! Water bearing one!

I was born under the sign of the sun
Water bearer! Water bearing one!
My mama was young and the skies were rocking
On the day that I first saw the light
Water bearer! Water bearing man!
With the dusty heart of a beggar woman
I'm following you by moonlight
Water-bearer! Water-bearing man!
Now the rain's on fire through the redwood trees
I can feel your blood flowing in me.
Water-bearer! Water-bearing man!
Water-bearer! Water-bearing man!
Water-bearer! Water-bearing man!

I was born under the sign of the sun
Water bearer! Water bearing one!
My mama was young and the skies were rocking
On the day that I first saw the light
Water bearer! Water bearing man!
With the dusty heart of a beggar woman
I'm following you by moonlight
Water-bearer! Water-bearing man!
Now the rain's on fire through the redwood trees
I can feel your blood flowing in me.
Water-bearer! Water-bearing one!
Water-bearer! Water-bearing one!
Water-bearer! Water-bearing one!

Feel like the dry Sahara sand
She cry for rain to cool the land
Cool the flame thats burning me!
Cool the flame thats burning me!
Oh! Water bearer! Water bearing one!

It's dark on the mountain waiting for the sun,
The devil is sleeping and the lord of the light is waking
The dawn is slowly breaking
Hella Kiellessa niovya lo
He ana hella kielleya niova nya

And the morning comes so brave and free!
And the clinging clouds they turn and flee!
There's a rising wind and it's taking me!
Ella galalea kolotya lo
He ana hella kielessa niova nya
It's written on walls of stone in starlight
"There is a path across the night"

It's dark on the mountain waiting for the sun,
The devil is sleeping and the lord of the light is waking
The dawn is slowly breaking
Hella Kiellessa niovya lo
He ana hella kielleya niova nya

And the morning comes so brave and free!
And the clinging clouds they turn and flee!
There's a rising wind and it's taking me!
Ella galalea kolotya lo
He ana hella kielessa niova nya
It's written on walls of stone in starlight
"There is a path across the night"


NIGHT THEME

Come from the shell where you hide!
There is a starry night outside,
Let go the hands that you hold!
They'll just imprison you till you are old,
And you have just one moment more before the night takes you!
Don't be afraid, there is nowhere you can fall
But the power of the earth, the earth will hold you!


WAMPUM SONG

There could be living on this land!
There could be peace for every man
With a woman weaving him wampum
By the light of the crimson sun.

There could be singing beneath the sky!
There could be joy that does not fly
With the children teaching us wisdom
By the wonder in their eyes.
With the children teaching us wisdom
By the wonder in their eyes.

There could be living on this land!
There could be peace for every man
With a woman weaving him wampum
By the light of the crimson sun
Sweet wise woman weaving him wampum
By the light of the crimson sun!


NENYA

Sally:
Three rings for the elven kings!
Three rings for the elven kings!
Three rings for the elven kings!
Three rings for the elven kings!

Three rings for the elven kings!
Three rings for the elven kings!
Three rings for the elven kings!
Three rings for the elven kings!

Brian Burrows:
Three rings for the elven kings!
Three rings for the elven kings!
Three rings for the elven kings!

Sally:
They come from the darkness!

Brian Burrows:
Moriquendi!

Sally:
They come from the green lands!

Brian Burrows:
Laiquendi!

Sally:
They come from the clear light!

Brian Burrows:
Calaquendi!
They are the makers!
They are the makers!
Of the earth and the wind and the light!

Sally:
Three rings for the elven kings under the sky!
Three rings for the elven kings under the sky!
Three rings for the elven kings under the sky!
Wrought of star-fire!

Makers of all things fair under the sky!
Bearers of the silver flame that never dies!
Mirrors of all things true whenever they lie!
Wrought of star-fire!

The strange light of the elven night shines on their faces
A charmed breeze from the elven trees rustles the grasses
Three rings for the elven kings under the sky!
Wrought of star-fire!

The light of the lady is on the land
Fear the starlight hand!

They are strangers from afar seen by the holy!
They bring secrets of the stars to the lost and the lowly!
Three rings for the elven kings under the sky!
Wrought of star-fire!

I've seen them in the darkest night
They are the makers of the light
Through wind and rain and storm they call me home.

Ella kom ye la! I cried unto these ones
I've wandered through the dark so long!
I've waited through the night for the rising sun!

They cried "We who of the earth are born
Will lead you through the healing storm,
It's time to follow the path of the ancient ones!"

It's sunrise and high tide!
In the blue endless space my eyes open wide
There's a land I can see!
There's a land I can see!
There's a land I can see!


LAND OF THE SUN

There is a land I can see
It's where I long to be!
Where the rivers run swiftly
And carry your soul to the farthest star.

There is a land that I know
Where I've lived long ago
Oh! strong comes the voice of the wild-hearted lover
Who is calling to me!

He says there's a land of the sun!
Where all men may come,
Oh! it's not easy to win
It can fade like the spring dew
That runs through your hands.

Come with me tonight!
Now the young moon is bright,
You can feel the earth spinning
Down pathways of starlight that dazzle your sight
There is a land I can see!


MIRRORS

Oh, we are mirrors in the sun and we brightly shine
We are singing and dancing in perfect time
There is nothing in the world that we can do
To stop the light of love come shining through

And the fire of a newborn moment is shining round you
Kiele aloha
Hey, a perfect stranger, a feeling of you,
Kiele aloha
Hey, come be with me for we are, we are, we are

We are perfect mirrors in the sun and we brightly shine
We are singing and dancing in perfect time
There is nothing in the world that we can do
To stop the light of love come shining through

And the fire of a golden light is shining round you
Kiele aloha
Hey, the wind is cold, and I long to hold you
Kiele aloha
Hey, come be with me for we are, we are, we are

We are perfect mirrors in the sun and we brightly shine
We are singing and dancing in perfect time
There is nothing in the world that we can do
To stop the light of love come shining through

And the streets are filled with bells, and the sky was falling
Kiele aloha
There are so many things I long to tell you, can you here me calling
Kiele aloha
Hey, come be with me for we are, we are, we are

We are perfect mirrors in the sun and we brightly shine
We are singing and dancing in perfect time
There is nothing in the world that we can do
To stop the light of love come shining through

We are mirrors in the sun and we brightly shine
We are singing and dancing in perfect time
There is nothing in the world that we can do
To stop the light of love come shining through

We are mirrors in the sun and we brightly shine
We are singing and dancing in perfect time
There is nothing in the world that we can do
To stop the light of love come shining through


WEAVER

Weaver! With your lovers loom,
I have seen you by the light of the moon!
Winking those eyes of green and gold
Dancing, dancing, dancing!
Dancing, dancing, dancing!
Down the silver maze of the Milky Way
And all across the heavens!

Weaver! With your spindle of fire!
I have seen you with the eyes of desire!
Shadow and flame so rich and strange,
Dancing, dancing, dancing!
Dancing, dancing, dancing!
Oh you move towards Orion's sword
To your destination Alpha!

Weaver! With your magical mind,
I hear you calling from an unknown time,
Spinning your light so clear and bright!
Dancing, dancing, dancing!
Dancing, dancing, dancing rain
On the clusters of a starry brain
Like a mirror of creation!

Weaver! with your lover's loom,
I have seen you by the light of the moon!
Spinning your light so clear and bright!
Dancing, dancing, dancing!
Dancing, dancing, dancing!
Down the silver maze of the Milky Way
And all across the heavens!

It's the night of the Hunter
And there is no place to hide or run to!
The spell of the moonlight
Says a love supreme will find your heart this night!


NIGHT OF THE HUNTER'S MOON

Like a star of light on the river
I'm following you
And like the wind on the dusky harbour,
I can hear you tracking me too.

There's a moon of gold and it's dancing on my soul!
I know you want a loving woman, I need a man!
Man of the sun! gonna find you soon
On the night of the hunter's moon!
Man of the sun! gonna find you soon
On the night of the hunter's moon!

I know you want to love me babe, you know you can!
Man of the sun! gonna find you soon
On the night of the hunter's moon!
Man of the sun! gonna find you soon
On the night of the hunter's moon!
There's a moon of gold and it's dancing on my soul!

Like a star of light on the river
I'm following you
And like the wind on the dusky harbour,
I can hear you tracking me too.

There's a moon of gold and it's dancing on my soul!
I know you want a loving woman, I need a man!
Man of the sun! gonna find you soon
On the night of the hunter's moon!
Man of the sun! gonna find you soon
On the night of the hunter's moon!

I know you want to love me babe, you know you can!
Man of the sun! gonna find you soon
On the night of the hunter's moon!
Man of the sun! gonna find you soon
On the night of the hunter's moon!
Man of the sun! gonna find you soon
On the night of the hunter's moon!
Man of the sun! gonna find you soon
On the night of the hunter's moon!
Man of the sun! gonna find you soon
On the night of the hunter's moon!
Man of the sun! gonna find you soon
On the night of the hunter's moon!
Man of the sun! gonna find you soon
On the night of the hunter's moon!


CHILD OF ALLAH

All over the world I can see
A brand new morning breaking
Oh! he touched me! and told me
To sing this song!

Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
And he tell me the kingdom,
That we have fallen from
Is gonna shine, gonna shine again!

He brings the rain, he brings the wild golden grain!
When the wind blows then my heart knows
He's gonna come soon!

Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
And he tell me the kingdom,
That we have fallen from
Is gonna shine, gonna shine again!

Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,
Sweet child of Allah! Gonna be born,


SONG OF THE BOW

Mama told me "Never go walking
Down by the wide and laughing water!"
You may see him with his bow and arrow,
He's seeking for the heart of the river daughter!
He's seeking for the heart of the river daughter!

Darkness is falling and the wild things are calling,
The flames of the fire-flies are burning.
Down among the trees Oh! won't you be a man to me!
The earth for the sun it is yearning!
The earth for the sun it is yearning!

Mama told me "Never go walking
Down by the wide and laughing water!"
You may see him with his bow and arrow,
He's seeking for the heart of the river daughter!
He's seeking for the heart of the river daughter!

There's a sound of a balalaika
Coming through the trees!
Somewhere in the shadow you're waiting!
Man of the earth Oh! I'm down on my knees
I wanna taste the fire and honey you're making!
I wanna taste the fire and honey you're making!
I wanna taste the fire and honey!
Taste the fire and honey!
I wanna taste the fire and honey!
Wanna taste the fire and honey!

Love me now the night is still
And the wind cries "You'd better drink your fill
While the fire and ice and honey's still flowing!"


FIRE AND HONEY

I can still feel the golden glow
Like woodland fires and snowfall,
Like the touch of an unknown hand
Bringing bread to a starving man,

Oh you are strong like this wine!
Made from a warm, wild springtime
Flowing like honey in my mind!

Oh the night is young and fair,
Oh there are revellers everywhere!
But all I really want to do
Is to be alone with you!

For you are strong like this wine
Made from a warm, wild springtime
Flowing like honey in my mind!

Like a homing bird at night
You will be my guiding starlight
And until we meet again
I will be restless like this candle flame

But the clouds are gone!
Oh! Its a crystal spring dawn!
Feels like the day that I was born!
I was born!

Its the sound of the sea,
And the strong salt breeze,
And the feel of the earth beneath my feet!
Oh the light of the sun is healing me!


SONG OF THE HEALER

Sally:
We sail the rivers of the twilight sun
We have no harbour when our fishing's done
We have no home but that of the windy mountain,
Follow the sun till the day is done
And the moon's on fire!
We had a king,
Touched our eyes with healing!

We wander barefoot on the sunset sand,
The summer lingers on our master's hand,
He is a man of love he is a man of wisdom
Rising at dawn, keep the children warm
With his cloak of honey!
We had a king,
Touched our eyes with healing!

Brian Burrows:
We had a king,
Touched our eyes with healing!

We sail the rivers of the twilight sun
We have no harbour when our fishing's done
We have no home but that of the windy mountain,
Follow the sun till the day is done
And the moon's on fire!
We had a king,
Touched our eyes with healing!

We have no master now but the stormy ocean
Wild and free like the man of the sea
Who walked on the water
We had a king,
Touched our eyes with healing!

(This last half verse, appearing on the lyrics sheet,
was actually never included in the song.)

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


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