The Girl Who Ate Herself

The Girl Who Ate Herself is the debut album by the American-born singer-songwriter Betsy Cook. It was released in 1992 by EastWest Records.

The Girl Who Ate Herself
Studio album by
Betsy Cook
Released1992
GenrePop, Synthpop
Length46:17
LabelEastWest (Warner Music UK)
ProducerBruce Woolley, Stephen Lipson, Trevor Horn, Betsy Cook, Ian Stanley, Hugh Murphy, Nico Ramsdem, Stuart Elliot

Background

Prior to the release of the album, Cook was a songwriter, session musician and backing vocalist for other artists, and had worked with Paul Young, George Michael, Marc Almond, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Seal and Gerry Rafferty.[1] Cook had actually started recording her own material as early as 1984,[2] when she recorded and co-produced versions of her songs "Nothing Ventured" and "Wonderland" with her then-husband Hugh Murphy (who had been Gerry Rafferty's producer). "Wonderland" was then recorded by Paul Young in 1986, with Cook on backing vocals, and became a Top 30 hit.[3] Cook was eventually offered a recording deal of her own, and she recorded several more tracks and also re-recorded elements of the two songs that she had originally recorded with her husband in the mid-1980s.[2]

Although the album (and its singles) failed to make any commercial impact, the material gained enough prominence to be covered by more established artists in later years. The track "Love Is The Groove" was later recorded by Cher for her 1998 album Believe.[4] The track "Docklands" was later recorded by Stevie Nicks for her 1994 album Street Angel.[5]

The album's cover portrait was taken by Cook herself, with inner portraits taken by the photographer Kate Garner (former singer with the band Haysi Fantayzee).[2]

Following the album's release, Cook did not release any further recordings of her own, but continued to work with producers Horn, Lipson and Woolley as a writer and session musician on other projects.

Track listing

  1. "Love Is The Groove" (Betsy Cook, Bruce Woolley)
  2. "How Can I Believe?" (Betsy Cook, Clyde Lieberman)
  3. "Docklands" (Betsy Cook, Trevor Horn)
  4. "Exchange Some Energy" (Betsy Cook)
  5. "Look To Yourself" (Betsy Cook, Bruce Wooley)
  6. "Wonderland" (Betsy Cook)
  7. "Hold Me Tight" (Betsy Cook)
  8. "Nothing Ventured" (Betsy Cook)
  9. "Diving" (Betsy Cook, Jonathan Nash)
  10. "Hand On My Shoulder" (Betsy Cook)
  11. "Love Is The Groove" (reprise)

Singles

Single Year Formats Track Listing
Love Is the Groove 1991 7-inch, 12-inch, Cassingle, CD-Single
  • Love Is The Groove (single mix) (4:40) (7-inch, 12-inch, CASS, CDS)
  • Diving (5:35) (7-inch, CASS, CDS)
  • Love Is The Groove (Heavens To Betsy mix) (7:17) (12-inch, CDS)
  • Love Is The Groove (Funky Phantom mix) (6:41) (12-inch, CDS)
  • Love Is The Groove (Cookie Monster mix) (6:33) (12-inch)
How Can I Believe? 1992 7-inch, CD-Single
  • How Can I Believe? (4:01) (7-inch, CDS)
  • Look To Yourself (4:04) (7-inch, CDS)
  • Upper Hand (3:33) (CDS)
  • Babel (2:55) (CDS)
Docklands 1992 7-inch, CD-Single
  • Docklands (4:37) (7-inch, CDS)
  • Nothing Ventured (3:54) (7-inch, CDS)
  • Hand On My Shoulder (4:02) (CDS)

Personnel

All tracks arranged and performed by Betsy Cook, with:[2]

Stephen Lipson: guitars (tracks 1,2,8), drums (1,2)
Bruce Woolley: drums (1), harmonics (1), backing vocals (1), guitar (5)
Luís Jardim: percussion (2)
Tony Phillips: drums (1)
Wil Malone: string arrangements (2), piano and idiosyncrasies (4), "interesting noises" (1)
Gavin Wright: strings leader (2)
Dave Defries: trumpet (4)
Felix Kirsh: bass (5)
Andy Duncan: drums (5)
Richard Brunton: guitar (6)
Stuart Elliot: drums(6 8)
Nico Ramsdem: guitar (7)
Mark Smith: percussion (7)
Jonathan Nash: piano (9)
Ian Stanley: drums and "vibey vibes" (10)

Mixed by: Stephen Lipson (2,4), Tony Phillips (1,3), Ren Swan (1), Paul Gomershall (5,6,7), Ross Cullum (10).

References

  1. AllMusic - Betsy Cook credits
  2. Betsy Cook The Girl Who Ate Herself (9031-76429-2) - CD liner notes
  3. Official Charts Company - Paul Young "Wonderland" (1986)
  4. Cher - "Believe" (CD liner credits)
  5. Stevie Nicks - "Street Angel" (CD liner credits)
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