Stunning listeners with his virtuoso playing and arresting melodies for almost six decades, Gordon Giltrap defies expectations, which apparently makes anthologizing the British musician’s oeuvre quite a challenge. There have been a couple of collections issued over the years, including the “Time To Reflect” comp assembled by Gordon himself on four discs back in 2015, yet now the veteran is taking such a personal approach a few notches higher. On February 19th, a ten-CD box set titled “Heartsongs” will be out to present Giltrap’s favorite albums and add a new entry to his canon.
It’s no wonder that "Visionary," "Perilous Journey" and "Fear Of The Dark" are here, although the absence of “The Peacock Party” may raise some questions – but it’s fascinating to see Gordon’s other choices. Who’d have thought Giltrap would pick “One To One” on which he collaborated with Ric Sanders, or the studio half of “Drifter”? What makes this box set even more special, however, is “A New Light”: an array of fresh recordings – recent pieces next to classic ones given a reworking – as well as a new version of the title track featuring stellar fans Brian May, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, Midge Ure and Neil Murray.
With detailed annotations by the artist himself and a hand-signed print in the limited edition, it’s a thing of beauty. If only there were bonuses that the previous reissues boasted…
Heartsongs
CD 1 – Visionary (1976):
1. Awakening
2. Robes And Crowns
3. From The Four Winds
4. Lucifer’s Cage
5. Revelation
6. The Price Of Experience
7. The Dance Of Albion
8. The Tyger
9. The Ecchoing Green
10. London
11. Night
CD 2 – Perilous Journey (1977):
1. Quest
2. The Deserter
3. Pastoral
4. Morbio Gorge
5. Heartsong
6. Reflections & Despair
7. Cascade
8. To The High Throne
9. Vision
CD 3 – Fear Of The Dark (1978):
1. Roots (Parts One And Two)
2. Nightrider
3. Inner Dream
4. Weary Eyes
5. Fast Approaching
6. Melancholy Lullaby
7. Fear Of The Dark
8. Visitation
CD 4 – The Peacock Party (1979):
1. Headwind – The Eagle
2. Magpie Rag
3. Hocus Pocus
4. Turkey Trot – A Country Bluff
5. Tailor Bird
6. Black Rose – The Raven
7. Birds Of A Feather
8. Jester’s Jig
9. Gypsy Lane
10. Party Piece
11. Chanticleer
12. Dodo’s Dream
CD 5 – Live (1981):
1. Awakening
2. Robes And Crowns
3. Quest
4. The Deserter
5. Fast Approaching
6. Catwalk Blues
7. Roots 1 & 2
8. Nightrider
9. Inner Dream
10. Fear Of The Dark
11. Visitation
12. Heartsong
13. Lucifer’s Cage
CD 6 – with Ric Sanders – One To One (1989):
1. Calling On
2. Following On
3. Work
4. Portmeirion
5. All Blues
6. The Poacher
7. St Martha’s Hill
8. Roots
9. Spring Dance
10. The Rose Hip
11. Heartsong
12. PDC
13. A Christmas Carol
CD 7 – Troubadour (1998):
1. A Misunderstood Man / Be With Me Always
2. Rain In The Doorway
3. On Camber Sands
4. The Lord’s Seat
5. Rainbow Kites
6. Who Knows Where Tomorrow Goes
7. Isabella’s Wedding (Heathcliff’s Wedding Song)
8. Quest For Nonsuch
9. A Dublin Day
10. Down The River
11. The Picnic
12. Daisy Chain
13. Nursery Chimes
14. The Kerry Dancers
CD 8 – Drifter (2004):
1. Mrs. Singer’s Waltz
2. Maddie Goes West
3. Lakeland Memories
4. Drifter
5. James’ Jig
6. Ravensbourn
7. Three Legged Horse
8. The Long Road Home
9. Deco Echo
10. Circle Of Friends
11. Triple Echo
12. On Reflection
13. Those Who Bring Sunshine
14. Greensleeves
15. On Tiptoe
16. A Hint Of Blue
17. John’s Deckchair
Heartsongs
CD 9 – Shining Morn (2010):
1. Shining Morn
2. Rachel’s Reflections
3. Prayer For Phillippa
4. Five Dollar Guitar
5. Lazy Sunday
6. Simply Margaret
7. Joy Ride
8. Ladies Of Lichfield
9. The Passing Of A Queen
10. The Dodo’s Dream
11. Em’s Tune
12. A Tapestry Of Tears
13. Forever Gold
14. Fairlight Down
15. Night
16. Tiggie’s Tune
17. By Angle Tarn
18. Minus One
19. Ive’s Horizon
20. Paula’s Passion
21. Roseberry Topping
22. Ring Of Kerry
23. Tears Of Joy
24. Shining Morn (Extended Version)
CD 10 – with Mark Guyatt – A New Light (2026):
1. A New Light
2. Appalachian Dreaming (Re-imagined)
3. Loren (Re-imagined)
4. Heartsong (Re-imagined)
5. Plas Oriel (Re-imagined)
6. Small Pockets Of Joy
7. A Christmas Carol (Re-imagined)
8. Sadie In May (Re-imagined)
9. Come To Me In Dreams
10. Mrs. Singer’s Waltz (Re-imagined)
11. The Fox At Dawn
12. Chair On The Porch
13. For Christine
14. Basket Of Memories
15. The Lord’s Seat (Re-imagined)
16. A New Light (Solo)
