Multi-million selling recording artist Barbara Dickson releases her new album Time Is Going Faster on October 30, 2020. Produced by Nick Holland, the album features ten tracks including three new songs written by Barbara, a cover of Gerry Rafferty’s Look Over The Hill and a new version of Tell Me It’s Not True from Willy Russell’s iconic musical Blood Brothers.
Born in Dunfermline, Barbara began her career as a singer on the Scottish and English folk circuit of the late 60’s and early 70’s, alongside contemporaries including Billy Connolly, Gerry Rafferty, Archie Fisher and Rab Noakes. Her first pop hit, the classic Answer Me, in 1976 was followed by Another Suitcase in Another Hall from the musical Evita, Caravan Song, January February and the million-selling number one single, I Know Him So Well, with Elaine Paige. In 2002 Barbara was bestowed with an OBE by her Majesty the Queen for her Services to Music and Drama.
Barbara’s Olivier Award winning acting career has included the West End hit musicals ‘John Paul George Ringo… & Bert’, Willy Russell’s ‘Blood Brothers’ (starring as the original Mrs Johnstone) and playing the infamous Pools winner Viv Nicholson in Spend Spend Spend.
Time Is Going Faster is preceded by the release of the digital single Where Shadows Meet The Light, which is available on iTunes , while on October 30th the paperback release of Barbara’s updated autobiography A Shirt Box Full of Songs will be available via her website and from all good stockists.
Of the new release, Barbara says “Time Is Going Faster has been over a year in the making and I am inordinately proud of it. During the early years of my pop career in the late 70s and 80s, I was a reasonably prolific songwriter, but I haven’t really written for the best part of thirty years now. It’s something which I have gradually started to get back into and there are three new songs of mine on the album: Where Shadows Meet The Light, Goodnight, I’m Going Home and the title track. They have been really well-received and I can’t wait for people to hear them. I originally recorded Tell Me It’s Not True for the cast album of Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers back in the 80s, but we have completely re-worked it for the new album and I’m delighted with the new arrangement.”
Andy Howells recently put questions to Barbara about the music that has influenced her life.
What was the first song that made an impact on you?
Let it be Me, by the Everly Brothers
What was the first single you bought?
Travelling Light by Cliff Richard
What was the first album you owned?
Please Please Me, the first Beatles album
What’s your constant go to track?
Cryin’ in my Sleep by Jimmy Webb.
What’s your constant go to album?
The Unseen Stream, by Troy Donockley
Who’s your latest music discovery?
My son, Archie Cookson, who’s a marvellous musician.
What’s your own track that best defines you as an artist?
Probably ‘Goodnight I’m Going Home’ from the new album. It’s autobiographical.
What’s the track that best defines you as a person?
‘The Right Moment’ by Gerry Rafferty.
- Barbara Dickson will be touring in 2021, for full details visit her official website.
- Photograph of Barbara Dickson by Brian Aris.