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Elly Roberts reviews
Rockferry: 
Top of the download chart. Top of the singles chart. Top of the album chart.
Thats how things are right now for Welsh sensation Duffy.
On Wednesday 5 March, Wrexhams Central Station played host to Britains topsinger, which must be a record for the venue and town, and it was he first gigsince the release of the album Rockferry. This gorgeous 23 yearold has got the lot the looks, the music, the voice. And what an incredible voice it is.
Comparisons are regularly made with Dusty Springfield and Amy Winehouse (whoshes just knocked off the album top spot), with 180,000 copies of her debutalbum Rockferry shifted in a week, making it the fastest selling CD album of2008.
Before this prestigious gig, I had the pleasure of meeting this delightful babeat the rear of the venue mid-afternoon. Speaking with her in her native tongue,there was no hesitation in signing copies of the album, single and a magazinepicture. She was so pleasant and friendly, and stressed how grateful she wasfor my support.
Later that night, 500 fans packed the intimate venue to show their collectivesupport too. In just under an hour, Amy Ann Duffy dazzled everyone by givinga truly stunning vocal masterclass belting out sweet soul music. Arrivingwith “a bag of songs and a heavy heart”, this remarkable singer showedwhy shes managed to get to the top so rapidly.
Stints on Radio 2 and Later with Jools Holland gave us and insight aswell as a recent sold out residency at Piccadillys Pigalle Club have all playedtheir part in her recent meteoric rise to fame. Little did we, or she, Im sure,think things would move so fast, though single Mercy, the best of 2008so far, made it all possible.
It’s always a good sign for the future when youve got a mixed age crowd, whowent nuts when she appeared on home turf saying, “Syt dy chi yma? Hows itgoing?” – knowing she couldnt go wrong. “Its nice to be close to home.”– Nefyn in Gwynedd north west Wales she meant. “The weather I see is still fine here. Anyway Im Duffy”
Shouts of “We love you Duffy!” rang out, bringing a beaming smile, soshe was quick to add, “Thank you. I am single, which is good right now. Weregonna start with a song called Rockferry. Here we go.”
Looking fab in skin-tight jeans, red and white top and red stilettos, her 5 4tiny frame hid what was to be unleashed. I dont think anyone was quite readyfor what was to come. Duffy casually warmed up those incredible pipes, grinning,pouting and shimmying throughout this mournful song. Shes never been to Rockferryon the Wirral, which she jokingly imagines is made of marshmallows, with the bandand singer who were incredibly loud engulfed the venue, with Duffys lungs atbursting point and every lyric crystal clear.
Next came the smooth love-lorn gem Warwick Avenue followed by the early’70s soul of Serious, a song about good times.
Midway the band, except for guitarist John Green left the stage.
Duffy and Green tackled the Southern Soul-inflected beauty Syrup And Honeywith great skill, with the songs highlight, “Baby baby baby”, drawinggasps from the fans and one of the biggest cheers of the night. The firstof two non-album songs Breaking My Own Heart, another superb bluesy-soulclassic (download only) was delivered with typical class and style.
Innocently, she confessed before singing ’60s-tinged ballad Stepping Stonethat, “I think Ive been in love once, once I think, but I never told him.I wrote this from the heart”, as she dug deep to get the achingly beautifullyrics to register, bringing out goose pimples.
Then came the one we all wanted – Mercy. The opening beat set the venuedancing as it was intended to, while the blonde bombshell grooved on stagewith the opening line, “I love you” bouncing off the walls.
She left the stage with “Thank you Wrexham.. diolch yn fawr”, in thatsweet north Walian lilt.
We knew shed be back for more, and the best was saved till last DistantDreamer. “I know it might be sloppy, but I really do want to thank youfor your support”, which prefixed this stunning opus. Once again she gotthose goose pimples popping up on the greatest vocal display Ive ever heardfrom any British singer.
Leaving again, and not to return, Duffy excitedly said, “Thank you so much.Ill be back, with my next album.”
I hope she keeps her promises before she becomes a world superstar, becauseshes set to be just that.
As for those comparisons with Dusty and Amy Winehouse?
Well, truth is, neither would live with Duffy on stage. Sadly Dusty isntwith us any longer, but Winehouse must be quaking in her beehive.
File under: Unbelievable !
For more of Duffy, check out the following:
- Duffy on GMTV – interview and performance of “Mercy” (18.02.08)
- Duffy on The Culture Show – interview and performance of “Mercy” (23.02.08)
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.