Margie Adam
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
New Age/Folk/Cabaret
Status:
Most recent release, Portal (CD/DCD, 2005); most recent album of new material, Avalon (2001)
See also:
Margie Adam's site
Comparisons:
As a solo pianist, Margie could be compared to Jim Brickman or George Winston, though her music tends to be a little less new-agey. As a singer-songwriter, she reminds me of an older Catie Curtis with a piano instead of a guitar. (jjhanson@att.net)
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Margie Adam is well known in womyn's music circles for both her solo piano works, her beautiful voice, and her songwriting. Her recording history covers over 25 years. (jjhanson@att.net)
Recommended first album:
Another Place
Recordings:
- Margie Adam. Songwriter. (1976)
- Naked Keys (1980)
- We Shall Go Forth! (1982)
- Here Is A Love Song (1983)
- Best Of Margie Adam (1990, 1997, 2005)
- Another Place (1993)
- Soon and Again (1995)
- Avalon (2001)
- Portal (CD/DCD, 2005)
Another Place
Release info:
1993—Pleiades Records-YB2751
Availability:
See website for availability
Ecto priority:
Low
Group members:
Margie Adam—vocals, piano, and synthesizers
Guest artists:
Barbara Borden—drums, percussion
Mary Fettig—alto flute,tenor saxophone
Sue Fink—back-up vocals
Nina Gerber—electric guitar
Michelle Goerlitz—percussion
Susan Herrick—back-up vocals
Karen Horner—acoustic bass
Diane Lindsay—electric bass
Libby McLaren—back-up vocals
Michelle Sell—harp
Adrienne Torf—synthesizers
Produced by:
Margie Adam, Leslie Ann Jones, and Donna A. Korones
Comments:
Another Place contains beautiful, optimistic, and sometimes even political songs totally devoid of angst. Unlike some ecto artists that are described as "beautiful and fierce", Margie's songs are simply beautiful. Margie's website describes it as "love songs, commentary, and whimsy." For some ecto listeners, the music may seem too bland and the lyrics too overt, but for listeners who appreciate this genre, Margie is one of the best. Her beautiful piano playing, lush arrangements, and haunting voice are truly captivating—especially on songs such as the title track and "Los Caldones". However, on songs like "Wake-up Call", "My Mind is Out to Get Me", and "Ranting and Raving", her more whimsical (and unwaveringly optimistic) pieces, I can't help but think of her as a new-age Barney for adult women. (jjhanson@att.net)
Soon and Again
Release info:
1995—Pleiades Records—YB2752
Availability:
See website for availability
Ecto priority:
Low
Group members:
Margie Adam—piano
Produced by:
Barbara Higbie and Margie Adam
Comments:
Margie's solo piano work is beautiful and rhythmic. I'd classify it as New Age, but it's more optimistic and less haunting than most New Age music (or at least the New Age music I listen to). The songs are often quite catchy, and you find them growing on you the more you listen, your toe tapping along or your mind making up lyrics as it plays. (jjhanson@att.net)
Avalon
Release info:
2001—Pleiades Records—YB2753
Availability:
See website for availability
Ecto priority:
Medium
Group members:
Margia Adam—lead vocals, piano
Guest artists:
Melanie DeMore—background vocals
Freyda Epstein—violin, viola, background vocals
May Fettig—soprano flute, alto flute, alto sax, tenor sax
Sue Fink—background vocals
Barbara Higbie—violin
Dian Lindsay—electric bass
Libby McLaren—background vocals
Michelle Sell—harp
Jeanette Wrate—drums, percussion, vibraphone
Produced by:
Margie Adam
Comments:
Margie Adam's latest release, Avalon, is a nice blending of her solo piano work, her original songs with vocals, and a tasteful cover of Carole King's "Will You Love Me Tommorow?" featuring some nice tenor sax work by Mary Fettig.
While still firmly entrenched in the womyn's music genre, this album is very accessible and more personal than political, featuring songs of falling in love ("I'll Be Right Over"), declaring one's love ("Woman of My Heart"), and most prevalently, finding and maintaining one's true spritual self among the world's craziness ("Avalon", "Make Believe", "Woman in the Mirror"). "A Woman's Work is Never Done" is a tribute to women throughout time, for constantly "building a fire from just an ember".
The opening track, "Avalon", is one of the prettiest tracks on the album, and is featured with vocals. An instrumental version of the song closes the album. Avalon seems to represent the ancient, magical place of peace that is calling us home, that we can retreat to when we need to escape the world's craziness.
"Eyrie", "Waves",and the instrumental version of "Avalon" are all soothing, haunting pieces. This is a quiet, soothing album, a great album to play when retreating from the world into your own personal Avalon. (jjhanson@att.net)
Thanks to jjhanson@att.net for work on this entry.
