Rab Noakes
Rab Noakes | |
---|---|
St Andrews, Fife, Scotland | |
Died | 11 November 2022 Glasgow, Scotland | (aged 75)
Genres | Folk, country |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician, record producer |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, keyboards |
Years active | 1970–2022 |
Labels | Neon Media production |
Website | Official website |
Robert Ogilvie Noakes (13 May 1947 – 11 November 2022) was a Scottish singer-songwriter. He was at the forefront of Scottish folk music for over 50 years and recorded over 19[further explanation needed] studio albums. He toured folk clubs and often performed at the Glasgow music festival Celtic Connections.
In 1970. Noakes released his first album ,Do You See the Lights, a blend of easy-going country rock which included the songs "Too Old to Die", "Together Forever" and "Somebody Counts on Me". In 1971, he was a founding member of the folk rock band
Biography
Noakes was born in
In 1963, Noakes moved to London and worked for the Civil Service, where he played folk clubs at night. He returned to Scotland in 1967 and began a duo with Robin McKidd. They played their first gig at the Glasgow Folk centre. In the same year he secured a month's residency in Denmark.
Noakes released his first album ,Do You See The Lights, in 1970,[1] with a line-up that included McKidd on electric guitar and the Scottish jazz bassist[ambiguous] Ronnie Rae. This recording included the songs "Too Old to Die", "Together Forever" and "Somebody Counts on Me".
Noakes was a founding member in 1971 of the folk rock band Stealers Wheel, along with Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan. He sang backing vocals and played on Rafferty's first solo album, Can I Have My Money Back, most notably on "Mary Skeffington", a song about Rafferty's mother. After these sessions, he became an early member of Stealers Wheel, but left them before the release of the band's first album.[1]
Noakes recorded and performed with Lindisfarne, whom he supported on a national tour in 1972, and recorded his songs "Turn a Deaf Ear" on their first album, Nicely Out of Tune, and "Together Forever" on their second, Fog on the Tyne. Barbara Dickson recorded "Turn a Deaf Ear" on her album Do Right Woman, on which Noakes performed.
In May 1972, the British music magazine
The album Restless (1978) was produced by
Later career and albums
Noakes became the senior producer for music programmes on BBC Radio Scotland.[1] He left to create the production company Neon.[1]
In November 2007, his album Unlimited Mileage, again with the Varaflames, was released. In 2012, CDs of Standing Up Again' '(made in 2009) and Just in Case (recorded in 2007) were made available, having only been available to download until then.
In 2015, he released the album I'm Walking Here. It was his 19th solo album and many of the songs tell the story of his working life as a songwriter and performer. It is a double album containing 26 songs. The first set consists of new compositions that show his gift for melody and love of
On 20 July 2017, he appeared on the BBC quiz programme
Personal life
In 1988, he met Stephanie Pordage and they married in 1998. She became his muse, manager and collaborator. They both left the
Noakes died on 11 November 2022, suddenly, at the age of 75, in hospital in Glasgow.[2][7]
Albums (including reissues)
Date | Artist | Label | Cat. # | Name |
1970 | Rab Noakes | Decca | SKL 5061 | Do You See The Lights? |
1972 | Rab Noakes | A&M | AMLS 68119 | Rab Noakes |
1974 | Rab Noakes | Warner Brothers
|
BS 2777 | Red Pump Special |
1975 | Rab Noakes | Warner Brothers | K56114 | Never Too Late |
1978 | Rab Noakes | Ringo O' | 2339 201 | Restless |
1980 | Rab Noakes | MCA | MCAC 3251 | Rab Noakes |
1984 | Rab Noakes | Black Crow | (CD)CRO 207 | Under The Rain |
1988 | Black Crow | (CD)CRO 217 | Woody Lives! | |
1995 | Rab Noakes | Mediart Music | MDMCD 003 | Standing Up |
2000 | The Varaflames | Neon | NEONCD001 | Throwing Shapes |
2001 | Rab Noakes With Fraser Speirs | Neon | NEONCD002 | Lights Back On |
2002 | Rab Noakes | Neon | NEONCD004 | Demos And Rarities Volume 1 |
2004 | Rab Noakes | River Records | RIVERCD003 | The River Sessions |
2004 | The Varaflames | River Records | RIVERCD042 | Throwing Shapes (Re-issue) |
2004 | Rab Noakes With Fraser Speirs | River Records | RIVERCD043 | Lights Back On (Re-issue) |
2007 | Rab Noakes | Neon | NEONCD007 | Standing Up (Re-issue) |
2007 | Rab Noakes and the Varaflames | Neon | NEONCD009 | Unlimited Mileage |
2008 | Rab Noakes | Neon | NEONCD010 | Do You See The Lights? (Re-Issue) |
2012 | Rab Noakes | Neon | NEONCD011 | Just in Case Songs Of Boudleaux & Felice Bryant |
2012 | Rab Noakes | Neon | NEONCD012 | Live at the Reid Hall Edinburgh 2005 |
2012 | Rab Noakes | Neon | NEONCD013 | Standing Up Again |
2013 | Rab Noakes | Warner | WPCR15119 | Red Pump Special (Re-issue) |
2013 | Rab Noakes | Warner | WPCR15120 | Never Too Late |
2013 | Rab Noakes | Neon | NEONCD014 | Demos And Rarities Volume 2 Adventures with Gerry Rafferty |
2013 | Rab Noakes | Neon | NEONCD015 | Red Pump Special – 40th Anniversary Edition |
2013 | Rab Noakes | Universal | UICY75904 | Rab Noakes (1972 Album Re-issue) |
2014 | Barbara Dickson & Rab Noakes | Neon | NEONCD016 | Reunited EP |
2015 | Rab Noakes | Neon | NEONCD017 | I'm Walkin' Here |
2018 | Rab Noakes | Neon | NEONCD021 | Welcome to Anniversaryville |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Harris, Craig. "Rab Noakes". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
- ^ a b Denselow, Robin (21 November 2022). "Rab Noakes obituary". The Guardian.
- Shepherd, Fiona (21 November 2022). "Rab Noakes, respected Scottish singer-songwriter". The Scotsman. - ^ "Rab Noakes". Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame. Hands Up for Trad project. 26 September 2017.
- ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 238. CN 5585.
- ^ Denselow, Robin (15 October 2015). "Rab Noakes: I'm Walkin' Here review – effortlessly connecting pop and folk". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ^ "BBC Two - Eggheads, Series 19, Episode 13". BBC. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ MacDonald, Ben (11 November 2022). "Rab Noakes tributes paid as Fife music legend dies". The Courier. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
External links
- Official website
Media related to Rab Noakes at Wikimedia Commons
- Rab Noakes at Allmusic
- Rab Noakes discography at Discogs
- Rab Noakes at IMDb