Sharon's album finished!

[DazedOblivion]

Sharon just tweeted the following messages:

I'm looking forward to finding out how it turned out. ;D

[DazedOblivion]

A couple more tweets from Sharon before she headed off to celebrate:

At 51 minutes, 50 seconds, it's longer than Forgiven Not Forgotten. ;D I believe she says that it will have 12 or 13 tracks.

[cw]

From what Gavin has hinted, there was quite a celebaration afterwards. Knowing the reputation of some of those involved with the project, the drinks bill was likely to be sizeable !!

Still, given every glimpse/hearing that we've been given, Sharon should have every reason to feel proud of what she has produced. Her commitment & sheer love of what she's doing has been infectious and palpabably obvious to even the most casual observer.

Indeed, it has been that confidence in her own artistic identity & judgement that has stood in stark contrast to Andrea's Ten Feet High. Rather than abdicate artistic & executive control to someone else, Sharon has backed herself with this project. More importantly, she has put together her own "team"; the core of whom have been her "musical family" or trusted collaborators. The commitment of some of THESE people has also been obvious & has been seen with the recruitment of THEIR associates as guests.

I suspect the release will be in the New Year, clear of all the Christmas rush. One only hopes she gets the necessary openings to promote in a number of intl markets as I feel this could be a sneaky success in some parts of the world IF people can get to hear it !!

So congratulations to Sharon. One hopes that many people were the recipients of some major hugs especially the likes of Billy Farrell, Anto, Fiachra Trench, Tim Martin, Keith & Jace, Gerry O'Connor .... and I s'pose even that husband of hers !!

UPDATE: Further to my enquiry regarding size of the bar bill, his response was:
"Full album bash yet to come. Yesterday merely some light training for the onslaught."

[DazedOblivion]

It's been a fun journey for the fans because Sharon and Gavin have been so open about the process, even going so far as to invite opinions and suggestions on occasion. In the past with Andea's album and previous Corrs albums, fans were out of the loop. I have vivid memories of reading spurious reports about Home (false release date off by half a year) and Ten Feet High (where Wikipedia had a bogus track listing).

Because I have been able to witness Sharon's album taking form, I haven't felt the same level of impatience and frustration as before. Again, I state my hope that the fans will return the favour by buying the album in droves.

[cw]

The following was posted on Shaz official forum by Peter the site admin. Think it speaks for itself.

Hey guys,

I just wanted to give a semi-official response and update.

First off, Sharon hears you! She checks the forum and sees your Facebook comments and tweets almost every day and she really, really appreciates everyone's support and patience.

To give you a bit of background on the timelines - I think everybody understands the changes that came about at the end of last year. The opportunities to record with brilliant artists like Jeff Beck, Stuart Cable and Alex Ubago were just too good to pass up. I've heard the recordings before and after and I can honestly say that the album is much better because of it. I don't think anybody minds about this point because, at the end of the day, it has made the album even better than it already was. That's good news for everybody

As some people have pointed out, there was a huge amount of buzz and activity last year. Sharon was playing gigs, we were making EPKs and working hard to get the news out. Sharon wouldn't have gone to all that effort if she didn't expect to launch the album at the time, and she definitely wouldn't have delayed it if not for all the right reasons.

I was talking to Sharon today and I'm feeling really positive about the progress that's being made. As most of you saw from Twitter, the album finished recording late last year and after mastering etc. has been pretty much ready since the start of the year. Since then all of Sharon's time has been spent working out the best way to get the album into your hands!

Unlike most new artists who grow fans as they move from country to country releasing their music, you guys are everywhere!! (if you'd all move to Ireland, this would be much easier ;D ). So although we could put the album up on iTunes fairly quickly, Sharon has been passionate about making the physical album available to buy for as many fans all over the world as possible. I knew this was something she wanted, but I've only recently realised that this is really, really important to her. No fan left album-less!

And this is where the delays and lawyers come in! Because it's still in progress I can't talk too much about that, but I can say that distribution agreements for a worldwide release is a lengthy process to orchestrate and negotiate. I can promise that there has been absolutely no "waiting" or anything like that. Even though things have seemed a bit quiet, Sharon has been working day and night to find a way to get this album to as many fans as possible when it's released.

And now to the future...

As some of you noticed, Alex did indeed say June on stage. We're not going to confirm that, because we know we've said "soon" too many times. We're going to wait until it's written in stone to make a definite announcement!

So even though we don't have definite dates yet, the website is officially going back into "album launch mode"! 'Team Sharon' will be back in action, we'll get regular video updates up and running again, (starting with some backstage footage from Madrid at the weekend) and I hope to get some more fun stuff for the "projects and competitions" section of the website very soon.

So, to summarise:

1. Sharon has been like a swan, elegant (as always) on the surface, but working passionately in the background to make a fantastic album for as many fans as possible.
2. We don't want to say "soon", but hopefully very soon we can say "soon"
3. Get excited! I know I am

[DazedOblivion]

Sharon, if you or Gavin read this forum, let me just say "thank you" for taking into account your worldwide fans and wanting to release a physical CD in many places.

I, for one, don't mind the delay and understand that many fortuitous connections were made during the process of creating this album. I understand that the opportunities to participate in Children in Need, to work with Alex Ubago, Jeff Beck, the other musicians from Moving Hearts, the Horslips, etc., were too good to pass up and led to more talent being applied in the creative process. I, for one, do not mind waiting longer for the album because of all these wonderful developments. As Corrs fans, we have mastered the art of WAITING, but that wait has been softened so much by the fantastic way in which Sharon and Gavin have engaged the fan base and made the fan base feel, in some ways, part of the journey. It's been a lot of fun to be let in on the process and to share in the "side-journeys".

Once upon a time, there was nothing but the dreary COW to keep us informed. We dreamed of a better official website. What we got was far better: thanks to Twitter, the YouTube channel, the new Sharon forum, and the close coordination with fan groups like COL, we got direct communication from the Bonnars. I'm very grateful for that.

Sharon and Gavin, THANK YOU!

[Hideaway]

This is great news! I can't wait to hear the album! ;D

[DazedOblivion]

I sure hope the album comes out soon.

The H.I.N. is getting to be as bitterly political as his brother-in-law. Experience has shown me that music unites, politics divides. Still, he's entitled to his opinions just as Jim is.

[DazedOblivion]

I agree with Gavin 100% about the stealing of music.

Through the generosity of Sharon and Gavin, we've been let in on how much work has gone into the album and we've been made aware of how many outstanding artists have contributed their talents. Even so, I'm sure that there are so many more people behind the scenes who have worked hard to make this project a reality. It's absolutely wrong for anyone to obtain Sharon's music without properly compensating all these people for all that work.

It makes me incensed that so much of this stealing of music is going on. I happen to be a fan of a Dutch musician named Bertolf Lentink, who recently released an album called Snakes & Ladders. The other day I was looking for information on the album and I did a search on Google and found the entire first page of search results consisting of places to steal his music using MegaUpload & RapidShare and other torrent downloads. It made me sick, knowing the work he's been doing to make a living as a singer/songwriter.

Even from a purely selfish standpoint musically, one has to understand that, if illegal downloading and file sharing rob Sharon's project of its profit, will she bother to ever do it again?

If you read and ponder this TWEET by Sharon and consider the now, well over two years of effort put in by Sharon on this album, AND still you make the decision to obtain her music via illegal downloading then I say, "a pox upon you for an unfeeling criminal! May karma find its way back to you."

Well done, Gavin, for fighting this battle.

[Andypandy]

Glad to hear the news-thanks everyone for keeping us informed. Has the EPK been released yet? I agree with dazed that it's great to see the concern on Sharon's part to give us a physical album.

[DazedOblivion]

Jun 5, 2010 18:23:33 GMT 1 Andypandy said:

Glad to hear the news-thanks everyone for keeping us informed. Has the EPK been released yet? I agree with dazed that it's great to see the concern on Sharon's part to give us a physical album.

The "EPK" consists of the four videos at YouTube:





There are still only four, right?

[cw]

Correct Steve, there have only been the 4 EPK's. Since then, Shaz has looked at posting short v-logs on such items as her band, album guests despite the ineptitude of her cameraman .... who currently seems to be on the receiving end ( on Twitter at least) from Herself.

On a sadder note, news reports have came in that Stuart Cable (former Stereophonics drummer & Radio Wales host) has died. Not only did Stuart interview Sharon on Radio Wales (as evidenced in a v-log clip) but he also played as a guest on her album.

Further news on the Shaz front:

1. Advance event publicity indicates she will be performing at the Noches en San Benito festival in Valladolid in Spain on 3rd July
www.fmcva.org/ae-ns/0000009d8c0cfff0a.html

2. As part of last year's Children In Need appeal; one of the auction items was a "joint" show by Sharon, Hayley Westenra & Aled Jones. It is beleived that it will be a "private" show although who knows what the full story may be. Have came across a little Twitter traffic on this over past few weeks with an indication this MAY take place over the coming month or so.

3. Sharon has also submitted herself to an interview by the "Tweeting Times" which should be released shortly and also kindly served as "covergirl". Notably they got her Twitter ID wrong but this was swiftly corrected due to prompt attention by Shaz's devoted fanbase. There has been a little speculation regarding the "little known black sheep" of the family ... but longer term followers should be able to twig as to the identity of the "missing sister" & Sharon's uncontrollable jealousy


POSTSCRIPT
Sharon has posted the following on her site with regards to the passing of Stuart Cable

"I just cannot believe the sad, tragic news about the death of Stuart Cable. What a great guy he was. A fun loving guy. A rockin’ good drummer and the life and soul of the studio when we worked together.

I first met Stuart last summer doing promotion for Its Not A Dream at BBC Wales. He was such fun to be around and I am so glad that I got the chance to work with him when later in the year I asked him to come to Dublin to drum on ‘So Long Ago.’ We had such a lovely time. I expected and really looked forward to seeing him this year.

My heart goes out to Rachel, his mother Mabel, and all his family and friends.

Rest in peace, Stuart.

Sharon x"

We can only hope that the track proves to be a fitting tribute to the collaboration of Sharon & Stuart. Thoughts are with his family & those who were close to him.

[Andypandy]

Thanks for the updates-Great EPK! The Brazil fans should be happy to hear she wants to play there.

[cw]

Latest & mixed news.

The Valledolid gig is a NO. Peter from Sharon's site has confirmed that Sharon never agreed to this gig.

The private gig with Aled Jones & Hayley Westenra IS a go, however. Hayley just Tweeted "Going over music for a gig this Friday with the lovely @sharon_corr & Aled Jones. We were auctioned off 4 Children In Need by @bbc_Radio_2 !"
The auction was won by a gentleman in Dumfriesshire in Scotland. Would actually love to be present at this one as, despite their differing genres, they could meld together well musically, especially with Sharon's violin. Interesting if they use Sharon's band (they could do far worse); would love to hear Hayley sing "Both Sides Now" with Sharon on violin & Anto on acoustic. Bonnar ..... get us a recording !!

UPDATE: Mr Bonnar has subsequently Tweeted Hayley "u'll be glad to know I can hear @sharon_corr rehearsing in the next room, with the very talented Anto Drennan! Have fun Fri."
Asked Ireland's most downtrodden husband whether Anto would be "dragged along" by Herself on Friday and received the following "oh yes. He's sounding pretty darn good too. Never ages that guy..it's wrong. Must be a hell of a portrait in his attic...."
Not sure about the ageing .... perhaps he'll claim it's the beer !! Beautiful women clearly love working with him, that is for certain.

[DazedOblivion]

To be honest, I hadn't been paying much attention to the gig in Valledolid. I had just assumed that it was something that Sharon had actually planned and the Spanish were very lucky and was happy for them. I never realized that Sharon had never given the event her blessing by agreeing to be there!

I'll start another topic about the gig with Hayley Westenra.