Rebecca Pidgeon - The Raven
Rebecca Pidgeon – The Raven

“Originally released in 1994, The Raven was the solo recording debut of actress and singer-songwriter Rebecca Pidgeon. … With a pure, breathy soprano, Pidgeon is reminiscent of both early Joni Mitchell as well as Sandy Denny, and the mostly self-penned tunes on The Raven — some were co-writtten by her husband, David Mamet — encompass a range of pop, folk, and jazz-inflected styles. Yet for many listeners, the standout tune here is Pidgeon’s excellent cover of Phil Spector’s “Spanish Harlem.” Newly mastered by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound and plated and pressed at QRP, The Raven holds up very well musically, and the minimally-miked recording, using a custom 128x  oversampling DAC and tube gear designed by George Kaye, is outstanding in a natural as opposed to a spectacular way. Pidgeon’s lovely, somewhat delicate voice is very nicely captured and surrounded by cushions of studio air.” — Music = 4/5; Sonics = 4.5/5 — Wayne Garcia, The Absolute Sound, April 2017.

Rebecca Pidgeon, the acclaimed Scottish actress, has also displayed her gift as a singer/songwriter on her several well-received albums. Taking elements from folk, pop, jazz, and Celtic traditions, Pidgeon crafts lilting, intimate poetry. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she later moved to Edinburgh, Scotland with her family at the age of 5.

As a teenager in Scotland, she sang along with the radio and her parents’ Beatles and Joni Mitchell records as a light escape from her demanding acting studies. Eventually, she enrolled in London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art at 18 where she studied drama, music, and voice.

Pidgeon’s first Chesky release, The Raven, featured Pidgeon’s stunning version of “Spanish Harlem.” The Raven went on to become an audiophile classic, thanks to Pidgeon’s crystalline voice and Chesky’s high-fidelity recording techniques. Her second album, The New York Girls’ Club, brought her unique singing and songwriting to more music lovers.

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