Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends showcases a wide variety of Anne's favorite female vocalists. Among the album’s tracks and collaborating artists are "Snowbird" with Sarah Brightman, "You Needed Me" with Shania Twain, "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do" with Anne’s daughter Dawn Langstroth, "Danny's Song" with Martina McBride, “Another Pot O’ Tea” with Emmylou Harris, “A Little Good News” with Indigo Girls, “Cotton Jenny" with Olivia Newton-John, “Could I Have This Dance” with Amy Grant, “Daydream Believer” with Nelly Furtado, “A Love Song” with k.d. lang, “Time Don’t Run Out On Me” with the song’s writer, Carole King, and more.
In 1979, Anne and Dusty Springfield each recorded the song "I Just Fall In Love Again." Anne's version became a hit single that garnered her Canada’s Juno Award for "Single of the Year" in 1980. Anne and Dusty remained friends until Dusty’s passing in 1999, and for Anne, releasing an album with this type of sisterly theme wouldn't seem complete without Dusty's inclusion. With the blessing of the Springfield family and estate, a new version pairing Dusty's original with Anne’s newly recorded vocals is featured on the album.
Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends was produced by one of the most respected music producers in the world, Phil Ramone (Tony Bennett, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel), who counts 14 Grammy Awards and 32 Grammy nominations among his many honors. Together, Anne and Phil decided they would treat the songs on their own terms and not adhere rigidly to the arrangements of Anne’s classic versions. While Anne had designs on how she imagined the arrangements, she gave Phil free rein to rework the songs.
“We approached the sessions as if we were just handed these songs and told to make this record,” explains Ramone. “While arrangements were changed, there are also licks on some songs that I didn’t mess with. We stayed true to the song.”
Working with Anne for the first time, Ramone adds, was an easy task. “What I love about Anne is there are no words minced about whatever she feels,” he says. “This is not a person you have to think, ‘Will she tell me the truth?’ When we met for a few hours in Michigan before we started, we agreed we wanted to bring some daring ideas and some freshness to this album.”
“I said to Phil,” joked Anne, “The only reason I asked you was that I’m the only singer left that you haven’t worked with!”
“I’ve done duets throughout my career,” Anne says. “I did duets when I started out on (CBC Television’s) ‘Singalong Jubilee.’ I did a duets album in 1971 with Glen Campbell. Growing up I did lot of group singing at school and sang with my brothers. I’ve always loved singing harmony.”
Since releasing her debut album in 1967, Anne Murray has been honored with a spectacular number of awards. She is the proud recipient of four Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, three Country Music Association Awards, three Canadian Country Music Association Awards and twenty-four Juno Awards. Anne has also been honored with the Legacy Award from the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2006), the East Coast Music Association Directors' Special Achievement Award (2001), induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame (2002), and induction into the Juno Hall of Fame (1993).
Anne Murray will tour to several U.S. cities in February and March 2008 (confirmed tour dates listed below). For updates and additional information, visit Anne Murray’s official Website: www.annemurray.com
In 2011, Billboard ranked her 10th on their list of the 50 Biggest Adult Contemporary Artists Ever, and on July 1, 2017, in celebration of Canada’s 150th Anniversary, the Toronto Sun listed Anne at #1 in Canada’s Top 160 Influences that helped define Canadian culture!
The First Noel
Anne Murray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
And by the light of that same star
Three Wise men came from country far
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
This star drew nigh to the northwest
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both Pause and stay
Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Then entered in those Wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
"The First Noel" is a widely renowned Christmas carol that recounts the story of the Nativity, which is the birth of Jesus Christ. The lyrics vividly describe the appearance of an angel who declares to shepherds in the fields that Jesus has been born. The word "Noel" is sung throughout the piece, and it can be interpreted to mean "Christmas" or "Good news." The chorus of the song declares that the birth of Jesus means that the King of Israel has arrived, which is the purpose of the Nativity.
The lyrics go on to describe the arrival of the Wise Men who journeyed to Bethlehem following a star in the East. The Wise Men traveled from lands far away and intended to seek out the newborn king, and the chorus repeats that He has indeed been born in Israel. When the star led them to the manger of Jesus, they presented Him with gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense in reverence of His royalty. The song concludes with an exhortation for all to celebrate the birth of Jesus and give thanks to God for His miraculous work in creating the universe and redeeming humanity through the blood of His Son.
Line by Line Meaning
The First Noel, the Angels did say
The very first Christmas, the Angels declared to certain poor shepherds
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
On fields where they were tending the sheep
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
Shepherds kept watch over their flocks on this holy night
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
The night was dark, silent and still amidst the freezing winter
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Noel, a French word which signifies joyous celebration and mentioning four times to emphasize the occasion
Born is the King of Israel!
The King of Israel, who is none other than Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is born
They looked up and saw a star
The shepherds looked up when they saw a bright star
Shining in the East beyond them far
The bright star was shining from the east, far away from the shepherds
And to the earth it gave great light
It illuminated the earth with a great light
And so it continued both day and night.
The star continued to shine both day and night
And by the light of that same star
The three wise men followed the light shining from the same star
Three Wise men came from country far
Three wise men came from a faraway country
To seek for a King was their intent
Their intention was to find the newborn King
And to follow the star wherever it went.
They followed the star wherever it led them
This star drew nigh to the northwest
The star led the wise men towards the northwest
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
And it came to rest over Bethlehem
And there it did both Pause and stay
The star came to a stop and stayed over the place where Jesus was born
Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.
It shone directly over the birthplace of Jesus
Then entered in those Wise men three
The three wise men entered the place of Jesus' birth
Full reverently upon their knee
They knelt in deep respect and reverence
And offered there in His presence
In His presence, they offered three gifts – gold, myrrh, and frankincense
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
They offered expensive and symbolic gifts to Jesus as a sign of reverence
Then let us all with one accord
Let us all join hands and hearts together in unity
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
And sing praises and thanksgiving to our Lord in heaven
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
Our Almighty God, who created the heavens and the earth out of nothingness
And with his blood mankind has bought.
And redeemed mankind with His bloodshed on the cross
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Born is the King of Israel!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Charles Calello
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Thompson
on Me Too
Lyrics found here are completely wrong; completely different song.