Flyaway

Description

Flyaway is the sophomore album by the British folk-pop trio Nutshell featuring Paul Field, released on Myrrh Records in 1977, a division of Word. The album was recorded by Dave Harris at Sound Associates Studios in London, England; with the rhythm tracks recorded at Morgan Studios in London. Produced by Jon Miller, Rod Edwards and Roger Hand for Triumvirate Production, with strings arranged by Edwards and Hand. Mixed by Roger Wake. All songs composed by band member Paul Field (including “Sara”, a song written following the suicide of a college friend).

Featuring Nutshell – Heather Barlow on vocals, Pam Thiele on vocals and autoharp, and Paul Field on vocals, guitar and piano – backed by a session band consisting of Rod Edwards on acoustic and electric piano, Clavinet and synthesizers, John G. Perry on bass, Mike Giles on drums, as well as Tony Carr on percussion.

December 1977 Nutshell announced that Heather Barlow and Pam Thiele would leave the band on January 14 after a farewell concert with Paul Field. Their replacements would be Mo McCafferty and Annie McCaig, formerly members of Brightwinter.

Flyaway would introduce Nutshell’s soft folky string-orchestrated style and oh-so-mellow harmonies to American ears (Myrrh MSA 6592). Slightly more polished at times than In Your Eyes, nevertheless a pleasant mix of ballads («Sara», «Conversation Pieces»), playful lighthearted folk («Moonlight»), acoustic soft rock («For Each Other») and pop (the title track). «Walking Into The Wind» and «Feel Like A River» are two of their loveliest most endearing songs, both delicately enriched by Pam’s autoharp. Also of note is the closing «Bedsitter/Sometimes», a climatic eight-minute ballad that builds with artful use of synthesizer. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Walking Into The Wind” – 3:46
A2. “Sara” – 4:27
A3. “Moonlight” – 2:33
A4. “Conversation Pieces” – 4:19
A5. “Flyaway” – 4:07

Side Two
B1. “Feel Like A River” – 5:09
B2. “Safe and Sound” – 2:30
B3. “For Each Other” – 3:41
B4. “Bedsitter/Sometimes” – 7:58

Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP (MYR 1056) by Myrrh Records. Re-issued on CD by Hugo-Montes Production ‎in 2004, including six tracks from Begin Again; “Love With No Limit, “Caroline”, “In The Father’s Hand”, “Starry Eyed And Laughing”, “The Dancer”, and “Heaven In Your Heart”. Available at Paul Field’s Bandcamp website: https://paulfield.bandcamp.com/album/flyaway

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