barry lawton
Crewe, England, United Kingdom | SELF
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Singer songwriter Barry Lawton from Crewe has produced a very nice collection of ten demos. There is a real passion to his down to earth songs, which sound much closer to finished products than many demos do.
Lawton has built a solid reputation in the North West as a live performer. But with two self financed albums behind him, he is still looking for a publishing deal. Hopefully these recordings will form the basis of a new album, as they deserve to be heard.
From Here To The Past, with which Lawton reached the semi final stages of the UK Songwriting contest for 2010, kicks things off. It is piano based, unlike most of these demos which were largely recorded with acoustic guitar backing, and showcases Lawton’s strong and even vocals nicely.
Remembrance Sunday brings the first political input, its anti war lyrics quoting George Orwell. And the deaths keep coming, but, “nobody blinks now as our boys come home boxed beneath the flag”.
Only Wants To Be With New is a tender rendition of an ode to new love, citing the magic of two souls bound together.
The Night She Bit The Bullet feels more like a finished song than a demo. It’s another love song, this time with a full band production.
Maybe I’m Wrong sounds a little different from most of the tracks here, with its more wistful vocals and tender lyrics.
The pace increases with Bigger Than Us All, with jangling chords that suggest there will be a more rock feel to the final versions.
Jobs For Life is another political song, mourning the death of traditional industries and the effects on the men made redundant “from the mines, steel, docks and rail”.
Always Tomorrow tells of the crushing grind of everyday life, with chilling lyrics that tell of those, ” beaten before conception before they ever drew breath, as they cling to believe that there's another chance after death”.
Grow Together is a much more optimistic song, looking to good times ahead.
Alone closes things in very strong fashion. This defiant story of a woman struggling with life while putting on a positive face for the world is perhaps a little rough, but it has great promise.
There is a Weller-esque feel to much of Barry Lawton’s songwriting, and indeed to his vocal delivery, which is quite a compliment. With meaning in his lyrics and passionate delivery throughout, Lawton clearly has talent. I hope he gets the chance to prove me right.
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- glasswerk
songwriter Barry Lawton above
Crewe's passionate, emotional and classic songwriter BARRY LAWTON joins us next with his second track to be featured on a Matchbox compilation. This truly spine chilling track " Grow Together" features some of the most emotional and touching vocals we have ever heard. This is seriously emotive, sensitive and deep thinking real music that touches the soul and showcases the life of a true artist. Barry is from the Paul Weller, George Harrison school of music showing a serious talent for writing songs that are dreamy, classic and very touching. This piano ballad is full of lovely dreamy 60's esq chords and lyrics that tell a brave tale. Barry really bares his soul on this one as his vocals soar way past any of Weller's or Harrison's. It's a sad world when an artist as original and soulful as this is not getting national Radio coverage and selling millions of records. Perhaps the nation does prefer karaoke stars or perhaps they are deaf. Both ways we are proud and Barry's music will last forever. You can buy his album Brown Lipstick from our online shop now. Truly exceptional.
- matchbox recordings
Brown Lipstick " is the second album from Crewe's prolific, passionate and melodic singer songwriter " Barry Lawton". This album is full of class with great classic songs and a heartfelt and melodic feel. Featuring songs like the catchy and poppy " Alone" and " Climbers" and the wonderful " Falling" and "Paths Unlaid". Barry shows off his sensitive side with the most wonderful piano parts and very smooth dreamy Weller/Lennon-esq vocals heard for a while . Also featuring the Harrison-esq pop stomper " Slip of a Girl" and the bluesy rocker " The Night She Bit the Bullet". Generally a laid back album featuring proper songs made with thought, emotion, and a lot of raw talent. Sometimes meloncholy ,sometimes poppy ,jazzy and classic. A good mix of styles and ideas. Excellent, buy it now.
- matchbox recordings
Discography
as mentioned above, two lps' plus various songs that can be downloaded/bought at either myspace.com or itunes or napster
Photos
Bio
Barry lawton is a singer song-writer from crewe,cheshire,uk. To date he's released two self financed albums entitled'enough to go around' and'brown lipstick' in 2001 and 2003 respectively. both albums consisted of a nucleus of 3 players: barry lawton guitars & vocals, chris gaskill keyboards, norman barratt doing everything else!!.
'enough' had a mainly acoustic/demoish feel to it, but produced Lawton standards such as 'Prettiest Face' the haunting 'beautiful' and set regular 'grow together'. 'lipstick' had a more polished and rounded feel to it. the songs ranged from a modern day bluesy'the night she bit the bullet' acoustic pop of 'paths unlaid' to the plaintive vocal/piano closer'from here to the past'.
live, Lawton is a raw uncomprimising performer, where the emphasis is geared towards feel rather then perfection. to date, barry has performed in various cities of england, closed the bar stage of the solway festival in 2006, and has supported former Inspiral carpets front man tom hingley and the wonderstuff's miles hunt.
the song 'From Here To The Past' reached the semi final stages of the uk songwriting contest for 2010.
Barry is constantly looking to write and play whenever and whereever possible
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