Ancient Heart by Tanita Takiram

I can remember that when I first saw this LP in the Salt Lake City Library I did not know the artist but I liked the picture on the album.  I was drawn to it.  I still don't know very much about her but apparently she is a British artist who was born in Germany.  Ancient Heart was Takiram's debut album and had some really excellent musicians playing on the album like Mark Isham, Rod Argent, and Rod Argent produced the album. 

Tanita Takiram had immediate success and her first album rose to number 3 in the UK. 

Track listing
All words and music by Tanita Tikaram.

1. "Good Tradition" A kind of an up beat music with violin and brass.  The violin played by Helen O'Hara who was the violinist in Dexy's Midnight Runners The chorus is There's a good tradition of love and hate staying by the fireside
   There's a good tradition of love and hate staying by the fireside
   
   And though the rain may fall - your father's calling you
   You still feel safe inside
   And though your ma's too proud - your brother's ignoring you
   You still feel safe inside
   
   Oh, was this solo?
   Was this yesterday?
   Was this true for you?
   'Cos while all the rest have taken time
   This didn't do a lot for you
2. "Cathedral Song"

You saw me from the cathedral
Well I'm an ancient heart
Yes, you saw me from the cathedral
Well here we are just falling apart

You catch me
I am tired
I want all that you are

3  Sighing Innocents"
And if you walk
I might just tag along
It only be shop talk, some
Well that's something to do

Or I might take a walk down
By the river, baby
But no I won't
No I won't be waiting for you

No, this ain't sighing innocents
This ain't sighing innocents
No this ain't sighing innocents
I'm just trying to follow you


4."I Love You"
I love you
I love you
I love you

But is it possible, possible, possible babe?
Is it possible for you and me?

Gold and waves and Betty Blue
Are the images that lead to the clues of why
I can't love you
I can't love you
I can't love you
It isn't possible

5,"World Outside Your Window" Rod Argent's organ work is so good. It reminds me of his work with the Zombies.
Tell me if, you want to see
A world outside your window
A world outside your window isn't free
And tell me if you wanna catch that feeling of redemption
That feeling of redemption doesn't do much for me

6. "For All These Years" Mark Isham plays flugelhorn on this track. Tanita was only 18 when she recorded this album.
 I was nearly 16 years old
You were only 17, life isn't so complicated
But then life isn't 'sposed to be
For all these years
For all these years

Could somebody tell them
To hurry on, hurry on down
Would somebody tell them to hurry on, hurry on down
7: "Twist in My Sobriety" was her second single from the album and was a big hit in Europe. The first line comes from the title of a book by Maya Angelou "All God's children need travelling shoes"
Look my eyes are just holograms
Look your love has drawn red from my hands
From my hands you know you'll never be
More than twist in my sobriety
More than twist in my sobriety
More than twist in my sobriety

8. "Poor Cow"
All the boys are weary now
listening to the family sing song
Family say so

Must carve, must carve poor cow
Slice her, slice her up, poor cow
Slice her, slice her up, poor cow
Slice her, slice her up, poor cow

9. "He Likes the Sun"
He likes the way I'm true
But I know inside
This is a real life sham - but that's okay
And this song can't be sued
I assume - you get up and renew yourself

He likes the sun
See the cornered clown
He likes the sun
Let us waste this town
And when it rains
You feel the click in his heart
And that's when the pain in mine will start
And that's when the pain in mine will start

10. "Valentine Heart" a plaintive song done with an excellent arrangement for a string quartet.
If I was a Londoner, rich with complaint
Would you take me back to your house
Which is sainted with lust and the listless shade
If I could have held you once more with that light
It's nothing to you, but it keeps me alive
Like a Valentine's Day, it's a Valentine's heart, anyway

The king and the ages, they fall by the plan
It's always the tired and the ordinary man
(It's the) challenge it's funny and such
I want to see you again
I want to see you again
It's so simple and plain
But I'll come back and see you again

11 "Preyed Upon"
Safe with us to serenade
To hang around your black scarf and black ways
I have "no idea" he said, "no idea of what I'll do"

And talking less - it chases home
It chases dreams - but I have really no reason, no goal and so
If you "wanna" play real basic
If you "wanna" help us make it
Don't forget you're alone
Unless it's all alone
Don't forget you're alone
Unless it's all alone

You get preyed upon
Ohh oh
Other than the first song and Valentine's heart a really forgettable album.  She was only eighteen.  According to some source she wrote this to relax as she prepared for exams.  Good relaxation material.   Some good musicians playing with her