"Kentish Town Waltz" | ||||
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Single by Imelda May | ||||
from the album Mayhem | ||||
B-side | "Kentish Town Waltz" (featuring Lou Reed)/"Eternity" | |||
Released | 15 November 2010 | |||
Format | Digital download, 7" vinyl | |||
Recorded | May 2010 — June 2010 at Embassy Studios in Basingstoke, United Kingdom and September 2010 in New York City, United States | |||
Genre | Ballad | |||
Length | 4:50 | |||
Label | Decca | |||
Writer(s) | Imelda May | |||
Producer(s) | Imelda May, Andy Wright, Gavin Goldberg | |||
Imelda May singles chronology | ||||
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"Kentish Town Waltz" is a song by Irish rockabilly singer Imelda May. Written solely by May, the song was released as her fifth single on 15 November 2010 and the third single from her third studio album, Mayhem. The song, which has been described as "the standout song" of the album, is one of May's autobiographical songs and was also rerecorded in New York City with iconic musician Lou Reed.
The song was originally recorded during the Mayhem sessions at Embassy Studios, a sixteen track analogue recording studio in a converted cow shed, near Basingstoke, United Kingdom in mid-2010. It was eventually featured as the fourth track on Mayhem. American record producer Tony Visconti became a fan of the song soon after its release and forwarded the song to former Velvet Underground frontman Lou Reed who then invited May to fly to New York City to specifically rerecord the song. May has also admitted that she found it strange to work with a musician as iconic as Reed stating that ""It was weird asking, 'Would you mind doing that line again, Mr Reed, please?'. And he was like, 'Sure! It's your song!'" May has also said that in-studio she and Reed "got on like a house on fire."
"Kentish Town Waltz" is considered one of May's more abstract songs due to its lack of rockabilly sound or influence and its focus on a more folk and blues-inspired sound. In comparison to its upbeat predecessor "Mayhem", the song is mellow and follows standard chord progressions throughout with the verses being composed of two chords (G-D), the bridge being composed of two main chords (C-Am) and finishing with a major lift (D) and the chorus slightly alternating (C-G-D). There is also little emphasis on the drums in the album version of the song which May describes as being reminiscent of the album's "soft times."