Stolen losses is the debut album from songwriter, Ann Mathews, featuring a collection of self penned material that explores the human condition mainly from the woman's point of view.

As well as her excellent writing, Ann also has a voice of phenomenal range and texture which makes it no wonder that clubs and festivals from Wales to Wareham are waking up to the fact that a very fine talent is emerging.

1) Butterflies - A romantic song for a doomed romance.

2) Sailor's Wife - Inspired by my mother and my early childhood as the daughter of a sailor.

3) What the Tall Ships Bring - Began with a warm evening sea breeze and grew from there.

4) Lost at Sea - The sad song of the seals on the wind and the many portents that wives of seamen fear.

5) Homesick Blues - Expresses my feelings for my home town of Plymouth.

6) Longest Night - Written as my entry for the Christmas songwriting competition at St Denys Folk Club in Southampton which just happened to fall on December 21^s4

7) Soldier, Soldier - Sailors' wives were not the only ones with something to worry about.

8) Stolen Kisses - Not autobiographical but an affair from a borrowed novel brought up to date.

9) Lodestone - A song for a beautiful impossibility.

10) The Power of The Song - For all the "Middle Bar" singers who will know a modification to the third line, "There isn't a stranger here in the Middle Bar".

11) Willow Tree - Another song of the dangers of a life at sea.

12) If You Play With Fire - The morning after the night before is always the same, isn't it?

13) Slushy Love Song - To Dave with love xxxxxxx

14) May Song - A contribution to the whole host of celebration of this wonderful time of year.

15) Glass of Red Wine - The hope that a fading relationship might be revived

16) Widow Spider - Written on the sea front at Sidmouth just in time for the "Doom, Gloom & Despondency" session .

All words and music © Ann Mathews 2002

Recorded, mixed & mastered at Corn Mill Studio, Roseworthy, Cornwall  (comilistudio @ aol.com)

Engineered by Steve Nunn

Produced by Jon Heslop

Arranged by Ann Mathews

Additional harmony on "Butterflies", Kathy Wallis

Additional voices on "Power of the Song", The Corn Mill Chorus

Additional guitars, Jon Heslop

Other instrumentation, Steve Nunn

Cover design and sleeve notes by Red Herring Music Services

Thanks to Steve for all his hard work, skill and patience, coffee and cake. To Jon and Kathy for their unstinting hospitality

And especially to Jon without whose support and encouragement, this recording would not have happened.

Red Herring Music Services. 3, Durbar Villas, Station Road, Kelly Bray, Callington, Cornwall. PL17 8ES

(01579) 383794 (e-mail: redherring @ unisonfree.net)

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