Alan West

Devon’s Alan West has built up a strong following over the years for his original interpretations of ‘classic’ American singer songwriters.
For the last 40 odd years West has plied his trade and for this record he travelled to Nashville where the record was produced by Pat McInerney, and to Alan’s credit he has steered away from the usual suspects on this predominantly ‘covers’ record.
Alan has bravely chosen songs by Chris Knight ‘Framed’, Darden Smith ‘By My Side’, Hugh Moffat ‘How Could I Lover Her So Much’, Dave Loggins ‘Please Come To Boston’ plus ‘The Streets of London’ and Steve Earle’s ‘I Don’t Wanna Lose You Yet’. There is one original song co-written with Steve Black ‘You’d Be Wrong’.
On two levels this is an excellent record - firstly as an introduction to some of these lesser known songwriters, and secondly you can hear Alan West’s voice and start seeking out his back catalogue.
Andy Riggs
- www.americana.com

“It is one good production, recording, arrangement, musicicalititous groove, and vocal performance. Good job, but I'm sure ya don't need me ta tell ya that.” - Rido Records

There are so many British artists who, year in, year out, tirelessly hot-foot the length and breath of the country playing clubs and pubs, earning a virtual pittance which, after meeting their expenses, leaves little to invest in anything but an album recorded on a shoestring budget. Alan West, a talented musician and singer, started out in the business in 1978, but he has never settled on releasing an inferior album. This is only his fourth release and, by his own admission, has taken in the region of two years to complete. Despite what a number of British artists claim, that there is no real advantage in spending a lot of money by recording in Nashville, West disproves that notion by doing precisely that, and the results show that, provided one has the talent, Nashville does have a lot to offer. SONGS FROM A NEOPHYTE was produced by Pat McInerney, recorded at the Mountainside Studios and engineered by Bill VornDick. West worked tirelessly for three weeks with musicians like Thom Jutz, (guitar), the man who has recently relocated to Nashville but who had previously worked on so many of Richard Dobson’s albums in Germany, Mike Daly, (Dobro and lap steel), Michael Webb, (keyboards), Deanie Richardson, (mandolin and fiddle), a player who recorded with The New Coon Creek Girls and who has appeared on numerous albums by major artists, and Pat McInerney, (drums and percussion). All the tracks were recorded in Nashville although a few were further enhanced at Mirage Music studios in Cleveland, engineered by John Taylor and featuring Sarah Jory on pedal steel and harmony vocals.
West has the type of voice ideally suited to country music. There is not a trace of a pseudo-Trans Atlantic accent, yet he does not sound patently ‘British’ either. Although not a prolific writer, he is a great interpreter of songs. He does, however contribute one number, You’d Be Wrong, which he co-wrote with Steve Black. The remaining ten tracks will be largely familiar to those who take an interest in the singer/songwriter scene. The album opens with the driving Framed, written by Chris Knight. Included is another Knight original, The Jealous Kind. There are two Jim Almand contributions, The Likes Of You and Song For A Neophyte, the soulful Dave Loggins number, Please Come To Boston, recorded in the past by David Allan Coe and Joan Baez, among others, and more recently revived by Kenny Chesney, Hugh Moffatt’s plaintive How Could I Love Her So Much, with Guy Clark’s doleful The Partner Nobody Chose added to the mix. Finally, there’s a number from Steve Earle’s catalogue, I Don’t Wanna Lose You Yet, with the closing track, By My Side, coming courtesy of Darden Smith. Interestingly, West has selected Ralph McTell’s Streets Of London, but he has approached this in his own way giving it a whole new lease of life.
SONGS FROM A NEOPHYTE is a ‘songwriter’s showcase’; strong material, ideal backing, extremely well produced and delivered by one of Britain’s more stylish solo performers. It is an album well worth checking out.
- Maverick Magazine