Barb Jungr

Barb Jungr's first album of Bob Dylan songs has deservedly become known as a cult classic and has won her a dedicated fan base around the world.  The album even has celebrity fans, with Jeremy Irons naming it as one of the must-have albums on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.

This incredible album established Barb as 'the foremost interpreter of Bob Dylan's back catalogue' (The Independent) - creating standout versions which bring insight and depth to songs which are part of the modern songbook.  In 2005 Barb was chosen to appear alongside Billy Bragg, Odetta and K.T. Tunstall as part of a Tribute to Bob Dylan at The Barbican, in London and she has continued to promote the songs of Bob Dylan including tracks in all of her follow up albums. 

This album has appeal for die-hard Dylan fans, who will find new life breathed into their favourite tracks, as well as those new to Dylan or those who simply cannot take his unique vocal style.  Barb's passion for the material and her clever musicality ensure that everyone will find something to enjoy on this brilliant album.

Booklet notes 

"Last summer I was walking on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. I went up inside the corrie on the side of the Cuillin Hills, which lead down to Glen Brittle and up beyond the Fairy Pools. This was above the spot I had been in exactly ten years ago when I saw a black snake by the river.

The sun was setting; the sky was the most extraordinary array of colours; the air was clear. There was no one to be seen and not any sound of cars. There, inside the mountains I had an incredible urge to sing a song and that song was Every Grain of Sand.

Some months later while I was touring in Norway, my promoter’s partner took me to his favourite place. This was a small sacred island off the coast of Ålesund (the most western point of Scandinavia), where the Gulf Stream meets the Siberian winds blowing down from the frozen Arctic. I jumped out of the car and watched the sky rapidly change formation – one minute it was clear and sunny and the next it was charcoal grey and hailing huge lumps of white stone. Again I was filled with an amazing urge to sing Every Grain of Sand. I shall sing that song in every wonderful place I go to, and like the other terrific songs on this album, I doubt I will ever tire from singing it.

One night about eighteen months ago, I was watching the television after having done a gig when a voice came to me as clear as a bell and said, “You must sing the songs of Bob Dylan.” I actually laughed out loud as I only knew a small portion of Dylan’s work, and I had only come to appreciate Dylan quite late on in my listening life (although I always knew Blind Willie McTell was a work of genius). When a voice comes out of the blue like that, I do as I am told and diligently researched like crazy and absorbed masses of recordings that long-time fans of the great American songwriter gave me. I started to realise what a mammoth task I had undertaken. How was I going to search through so much utterly brilliant material?

Eventually certain songs emerged which spoke directly to me, and my list whittled down to what is largely here on this collection. It is not meant to be any kind of statement about the quality or relevance of the particular songs, but these were the ones that just wouldn’t let me go. I had such a wonderful team of musicians and arrangers and Calum’s recording brilliance, and somehow things just kept falling into place. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it." Barb Jungr, January 2002

Recording information

Recorded at Mark Angel Studios 7 - 9th October 2001
Engineered by Calum Malcolm
A&R Howard Thompson

All vocals & vocal arrangements: Barb Jungr
All Piano: Simon Wallace except Ring Them Bells, I Want You and Tangled up in Blue Russell Churney.

Julie Walkington: double bass
Sonia Oakes Stuart: cello
Sonya Fairburn: violin
Kim Burton: accordion
Gary Hammond: percussion
Mark Lockheart: soprano & tenor saxophones
Barb Jungr: harmonica

Arrangements: Simon Wallace, James Tomalin, Barb Jungr, Russell Churney, Julie Walkington and Sonia Oakes Stuart.