Mary Black Full Tide

As an album, Full Tide most closely resembles Shine in its breadth and depth. Yeah, that is a good thing. It’s not the shiny production as much as the material itself. Recorded in Ireland and Australia, the album contains some stellar, perhaps career-defining performances of a number of tunes: her readings of Bob Dylan’s “Lay Down Your Weary Tune” and “To Make You Feel My Love” completely reinvent them. The emotion in her voice is a warm fire for the battered soul to rest in. As moving and convincing as these performances are, they are not the true gems in the body of this album. In fact, her version of Sandy Denny’s “Full Moon,” with a pianist, a bassist, and a string quartet, blows them away. Her voice, full and dark, yearns across time and space for the absent one. It’s an elegy to a love, but also to love itself and friendship as well. This is key in that there are a total of four songs here by the late Noel Brazil — Black’s longtime collaborator and favorite songwriter — who passed away in 2001.

The shimmering opener, “The Land of Love,” is where Irish pop combines with traditional Celtic fare and country music of the modern. The hook, the gentle rock of the guitars beginning on the second verse, a whining pedal steel, and Black’s voice seeing into the wonder of this longed-for place that is finally visible all combine to become something breathtaking. Likewise, the soft brokenness in “The Real You” carries the visual into the realms of a yearning so deep that it will accept the beloved without reservation. On this jazzy pop tune, the piano and layered strummed acoustic guitars carry a skeleton for the singer to flesh out. The pedal steel paints flourishing details, and suddenly the desired one is present. There is a bonus track on this set called “Japanese Deluxe,” another Brazil number, and once more scenery, the passage of time, and the wish of the protagonist to hold onto even one more moment with the object of love wind with memory in beautifully ornate piano lines and shuffling, brushed snare drums, painting Black’s voice with the color of memory — impure, imperfect, but so sweet that desire becomes the sum total of present and past. In other words, Black has come up with another winner. It holds only one traditional song in its contents, but that hardly matters; in the grain of her voice these songs become traditional, from the legacy of life in the process of being lived and communicated via — to paraphrase Leonard Cohen — the “tower of song.” From beginning to end, Full Tide is utterly beautiful and moving. And Noel: rest easy friend, and thank you for everything.

AMG/ Thom Jurek

• 180gram 1xLP gatefold sleeve
• Re-mastered by: Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London

• Format Detail: LP Black
• Genre: Jazz
• Internal ID: JIT
• Released: 7/25/18
• Handling Note: **Please allow an additional 5 business days for this item's shipment.**
• Format: Vinyl

Domestic U.S. Standard Shipping: Arrives within 5-7 business days.

International Shipping:  We ship to many countries worldwide. 

Delivery times and costs depend on the destination and the shipping method selected.

Please note, international customers are responsible for any customs, duties and taxes.

Upgraded Shipping services are available upon request.  

Please email mark@musicrecordshop.com for more information. 

Order Processing

Orders are ordinarily handled inside 1-2 business days. You will get a confirmation email upon shipment with a tracking number. 

Shipping Rates

Shipping charges are based on the weight of your order and the selected shipping method at checkout. We strive to offer competitive shipping rates for the best value.

Free Shipping

We offer free standard shipping on domestic orders on selected packs and vinyl offerings. 

Returns and Exchanges

Please contact us with any return or exchange requests.

Email:  mark@musicrecordshop.com

Phone:  314.675.8675

Return Policy

Returns are accepted within 7 days of product delivery.  

New vinyl must be unopened and unplayed, unless there is concealed damage.  

Used vinyl is graded for vinyl and jacket condition.  Please contact us directly if there is a problem. 

Signed vinyl records cannot be returned unless they are damaged or defective.

Sleeves and LP Mailers can be returned within 7 days.  

Please contact us with any return issue.

Email: mark@muscirecordshop.com

Phone:  314.675.8675

Return Process

Contact Us: To initiate a return, email us at mark@musicrecordshop.com or call us at 314.675.8675. Include your order number and product issue.

Ship the Item: Pack the item securely for return. 

Refunds:  A refund will be issued after we receive and inspect your returned item. 

You will receive an email notification of the refund. 

Exchanges: If you need to exchange an item, please contact us.

Email: mark@musicrecordshop.com

Phone: 314.675.8675.

Return Shipping

Customers are responsible for return delivery costs except if the item is damaged. Please contact us if you need a return label.  

Email:  mark@musicrecordshop.com

Phone:  314.675.8675