Album Notes

Vanessa Haynes – Debut Album “Stay With Me”

From time to time, there appears on the scene a talent that makes music lovers sit up and take note. A voice that stops you in your tracks and makes you want to listen.
Such a talent is Vanessa Haynes.

Currently the Lead Singer in INCOGNITO.
She previously been on tour with Van Morrison, in the USA, as one his backing vocalists.

When she came to the attention of Paul Carmichael, MD for Change of Weather records he knew he had work with her. She had no deal and was completely unknown, but was beginning to make waves wherever she sang. Not only was she getting all the musicians excited, but also she had that other rare quality, so often lacking in introverted talents – she had great charisma and contact with the audience. In instinctive interaction.
We decided to make the album based around songs from 3 writers – Vanessa Haynes, Paul Carmichael, and Paul’s colleague Jeff Young, who plays keyboards with such artists as Jackson Browne, Sting, and Donald Fagen. We flew Jeff over, and went into Eastcote studio with the great drummer Richard Bailey (Incognito, Jeff Beck), and recorded live rhythm tracks, featuring Jeff’s outstanding Wurlitzer Piano, and Hammond Organ skills. We added Dave Ital (Curently touring with Craig David) on guitar to complete the basic tracks.
In the course of overdubs we used some of London’s great players such as Tim Cansfield (Guitar on Seal, Beegees) Matt Johnson (Keyboards Jamiroquai) Jeff Scantlebury (percussion brand New Heavies) – our direction was always a commitment to passionate playing. In many ways we were recalling the days of Chess Records, although we took full advantage of modern recording techniques with Pro-Tools, to give us clarity.
We returned to Eastcote Studios to mix the album and used Tristan Powell (Georgie Fame Band) whose long experience in mixing helped us to bring it all together.
Change of Weather Records, being one of the new breed of DIY independents (and not having the corporate marketing machines of the majors) we are circulating the release out to dedicated DJs and enthusiast in the UK R&B/soul scene, and already several DJs are sticking it on their shows, and giving us glowing feedback.

It is on a Vanessa Haynes live show, that the true power of her talent can be seen and heard(www.vanessahaynes.com)