Patricia O’Callaghan – Naked Beauty

I first heard of O’Callaghan through her covers of Leonard Cohen (there are two, here, as well). Her jazzy run-throughs of cover tunes and traditionals are beautiful. Good clean fun listening that evokes a lazy summer Sunday afternoon in the 40s, just with updated recording technology… or maybe a cabaret club somewhere, small stage and cigarette smoke hanging in the air… This lady can really sing!

This is also a bit of a CanCon feast – Steven Page (of Barenaked Ladies) is here, on vocals, as songwriter, and in producer role. Also producing tracks were Michael-Phillip Wojewoda and Kurt Swinghammer (who also plays guitar on some tracks). Kevin Hearn (of BNL) plays on tracks too. And have a look at the track list (below). You may recognize a few other names…

This copy I have here is autographed by O’Callaghan, signed to some guy named Ron. So Ron, if you’re reading this, you’re a goof for giving up this great album! And a personalized copy, at that. Goofy Ron.

This isn’t the only album of hers I own, though it seems to be the first I’ve reviewed. But it won’t be the last – I truly enjoy listening to her work!

Hit It Or Quit It? Hit!

Tracks (Original Artist/Writer):

Dayton, Ohio 1903 (Randy Newman)
Naked Beauty (Joel Kroeker)
The Smokey Life (Leonard Cohen) *duet with Steven Page
Cry Me A River (Arthur Hamilton)
I Believe In You (Neil Young)
Yo m’enamori d’un Aire (trad. arr O’Callaghan)
Tonight We Fly (Neil Hannon)
The Book Of Love (Stephen Merritt)
The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan (Sheldon Silverstein)
Noches, Noches (trad. arr O’Callaghan)
Sad Boy (Patricia O’Callaghan/Steven Page)
True Love Leaves No Traces (Leonard Cohen) *duet with Steven Page
Lost In The Stars (Kurt Weill/Maxwell Anderson)