Eleanor McEvoy

Country of origin:

Ireland

Type of music generally:

Mainstream pop

Status:

Most recent release, The Thomas Moore Project (2017)

See also:

Eleanor McEvoy's site

Eleanor McEvoy's Facebook page

Wikipedia's entry on Eleanor McEvoy

Comparisons:

Other 90s/00s pop singers with folk streaks

Covers/own material:

Own and co-written

General comments:

She isn't the most riveting artist, but she does have some fair pop tunes (and I keep comparing her album from 1998 to Dido's, although Dido's is better). Plus, she's a very sweet person. (paul2k@aol.com)

I adored Eleanor's self-titled album, but wasn't very interested in the pure pop makeover that I saw from a video for the follow-up (which I didn't buy). (neal)

Comments about live performance:

A few years ago, I had a chance to see Eleanor McEvoy perform in Washington, DC when she was doing a tour for Snapshots. It was a noisy pub, but McEvoy put on a great show nonetheless. (c. 2002, paul2k@aol.com)

This Irishwoman is a great guitarist, violinist, pianist, organist, lyricist, vocalist—woman! Equally adept at ballads and rockers, and superb at between-songs patter. She owned the audience from the start, myself included. (1997, beckwith@ime.net)

She puts on a fine show. Some of her songs, such as "Did You Tell Him?" from her most recent CD, are pretty good. (10/00, billonline@adlerbooks.com)

Recommended first album:

Eleanor McEvoy or Yola

Recordings:

• Eleanor McEvoy (1993)
• What's Following Me? (1996)
• Snapshots (1999)
• Yola (2001)
• Portrait of a Songwriter (compilation, 2003)
• Early Hours (2004)
• Out There (2006)
• Love Must Be Tough (2008)
• Singled Out (compilation, 2009)
• I'd Rather Go Blonde (2010)
• Alone (2011/2012)
• If You Leave (2013)
• Stuff (2014)
• Naked Music (2016)
• The Thomas Moore Project (2017)

What's Following Me?

Release info:

1996

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Comments:

Nice album of upbeat pop-rock songs. I really like "The Fire Overhead" with its traditional Irish sound. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Snapshots

Release info:

1999—Columbia—CK 494598.2

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Produced by:

Rupert Hine

Comments:

Beautiful, clean compositions all the way through capturing McEvoy's keen songwriting talent like no album she has done before. Songs are painted lavishly with a synth-heavy, drum loopy finish. Nearly every song has a 12" feel (meaning possible remixes) with "Did You Tell Him?," "She Had It All" and my personal favorites, "To One Who Didn't Know You" and "Wrapping Me Up in Luxury" being pure pop pleasures. (thecritics@earthlink.net)

Nice album of better-than-pop songs, many of them story songs. Love the opening track "There's More to This Woman." (JoAnn Whetsell)

Best song on Snapshots: "Did You Tell Him?" (paul2k@aol.com)

Beautiful, clean compositions all the way through capturing McEvoy's keen songwriting talent like no album she has done before. Songs are painted lavishly with a synth-heavy, drum loopy finish. Nearly every song has a 12" feel (meaning possible remixes) with "Did You Tell Him?," "She Had It All" and my personal favorites, "To One Who Didn't Know You" and "Wrapping Me Up in Luxury" being pure pop pleasures. (thecritics@earthlink.net)

Yola

Release info:

2001—Blue Dandelion/Mosco—EMCD1

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Eleanor McEvoy—vocals, backing vocals, guitars, violins

Guest artists:

Brian Connor—Steinway piano, keyboards
Liam Bradley—drums, percussion, vocals
Eoghan O'Neill—bass

Produced by:

Eleanor McEvoy and Brian Connor

Comments:

Yola's an excellent album! Strong lyrics, terrific sounding music. (billonline@adlerbooks.com)

I liked her first two albums and was disappointed with the third (Snapshots). This album returns to the softer sound of the first album. (cdavis@tir.com)

Softer sound than her previous two albums. Some of it reminds me of Susan Werner, especially Susan's jazz-flavored songs. (JoAnn Whetsell)

I really dig the sparse, organic sound of the album. It seems very free, live, barebones, and intimate. Some of the songs (especially the first one) are, *ahem*, da bomb; but there are others that make me cringe. I think it's the lyrics that do me in. (paul2k@aol.com)

I'd Rather Go Blonde

Release info:

2010

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Comments:

Upbeat folky pop with humor and attitude. My favorite of Eleanor's albums. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Alone

Release info:

2011—Moscodisc—MOSCD 409

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Comments:

These acoustic re-recordings are nicely done, but I find the album a little boring. I do really like "Harbour" and the "Eve of Destruction" cover. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Further info:

Tracks only available on compilations include:

• a live version of "Only a Woman's Heart" on Celtic Music: Live From Mountain Stage (1997)
• "Where Did My Life Go?" on People on the Highway: A Bert Jansch Encomium (2000)
• "Little Look" on Celtic Woman 3 (2008)
• "I Hear You Breathing In" on A Woman's Heart: Then and Now (2010)

Collaborations include:

• the "Christmas Card" single with Brad Parker (2001)
• "Bithbhuan (Rolling Home)" with Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin on his album Imíonn an Tam, Rogha Amhrán: Selected Songs (2006)
• "The Driver" with David Rotheray and Mary Coughlan on Homespun's album Short Stories From East Yorkshire (2008)
• "Lovers Chapel" with David Rotheray and Homepsun on Homespun's album Short Stories From East Yorkshire (2008)
• "Almost Beautiful" with David Rotheray on his album The Life of Birds (2010)
• "Travel the World" with Mike Marlin on his album Man on the Ground (2012)

Eleanor McEvoy's song "Only a Woman's Heart" has been covered by several artists including:

• Jette Torp on Here I Am (1998)
• Micah Marah with Margriet Hermans on Voyage (1998)
• Jack Hallam on Celtic Ambiance (2011)
• Celtic Woman on Believe (2012)
• Deborah Henriksson on The Heart's Cry (2012)

Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.