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Does anyone know when her album comes out?  I remember she said early 2014.

Haven't heard any updates recently - just checked Twitter, nothing there. Her website still says "early" 2014.

Thanks.  Hopefully there'll be some news about it soon.

I just looked on iTunes.  Mairead has a new single coming out Jan 20.  It's "Let the River Run" with Damian McGinty!!!!!  So that hopefully means the album release isn't too far away!

This is just a song she did on TV awhile ago and is all over youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzma4_Am3iw

So im not sure but im not thinking that's her new album

Do you think there's a chance David would include this song in the spring tour? Would love to hear her sing this with CW. It's a great song for them, I think - especially with a David arrangement.

I didn't say it was her new album.  I know it was from Sons & Daughters but it MIGHT be on her new album (not saying so for sure).  I'm just saying this might mean her album release isn't too far off...

Mairéad's new single was released today. It's on iTunes, and is also available on Amazon here:

http://tinyurl.com/ktoez9q

This was posted on Mairéad's facebook page (she said on Twitter once it's run by someone else):

(https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/p403x403/1725399_597618596983619_2109590369_n.jpg)

A new single, perhaps?

Here's the song, if case people haven't heard it yet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUQt_paLNe8

The song and the photo are beautiful.   :-*

Still no word yet on a release date....

I know..."Early 2014" is getting kind of late.   ;)    Waiting on Mairéad's Songbook...waiting on Emerald...always waiting.   :P

  At   least  we  know  that  pour  CD/DVD  package  is  on  it's  way  soon.   8)

Any word on Mairead's solo album yet? Because its LONG past Early 2014! Just saying. And I'm honestly hoping and wishing and praying Scarlet Ribbons is on there! PLEASE!

Actually, if you go to her website's home page, they have removed the word "early." Now it just says "due for release in 2014."

Oh how wonderful. Semantics. *sigh* Waiting game my old friend! I certainly have NOT been missing you!

I'm actually on her website right now.. and it says early 2014
Mairead's beautiful debut album ‘Songbook’ is due for release early 2014.

  Cool !  Thanks  Sarah ....  ;)

It's not actually "early 2014" though.. I mean I was expecting like January or February..
but maybe that's just me?

Me too. Perhaps they're planning to release it in the Celtic Woman Presents series and is that the reason it's delayed. After Lynn's first album was released they also released it again in that series. It's just guessing though.

that's a good point :)
It's just so hard to wait that long.. haha

Agreed. Tomorrow would not be soon enough.   ;D

Do we actually know for sure when it's coming out?

I hope this will be on the album:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NPwTekve78&feature=youtu.be

Lovely.

Agreed, absolutely stunning

WOW, WOW, WOW!!  I am so glad that I joined her forum.  8)

I hope this song is on it too (granted, it appeared before on the latest Rugby World Cup album, but still...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZaEmcFNbt4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZaEmcFNbt4)

Ok I will share what I know as being her forum admin. I asked her right out when and she said not right now as she wants to devote 100% of herself to Celtic Woman so she doesn't even have any idea as to when it will come out. It is all done and just waiting for her to say release it. Hope this helps

Thank you. :)

   This  is  off  topic, Tiffany, but  congrats  on your  fine  performance   of   "The  Star  Spangled  Banner" .....   ;)   

It does help Glen. I understand and respect her decision. Thanks for telling us. No wonder she never responded to my question regarding the release date on Twitter. :D

Hoping it doesn't end up in the same place as Lisa's solo DVD, however, I totally support her decision. Yet the selfish part of me just wants to listen to it right now!

In a recent tweet she indicated that "Songbook" doesn't even belong to her (presumably it belongs to the label) so it's not even hers to release.  She herself doesn't even own a copy.   

Yes her album will not be released she is no longer with that record label. Im the one she was telling she didn't own it and she don't even have a copy of it when I asked her if I could get a copy but her old label has trashed the cd so that's on we will never here

  That's  a  shame.  Was  looking  forward.    :( 

That makes me really sad. :( Well I hope she records another one in the future.

Mairéad HAS an upcoming album . but it#s not Songbook. In fact, it's an album with songs by Don Black.

Do you know him? He's a lyricist who worked a lot with Andrew Lloyd Webber (interestingly, Mai's singing teacher is ALW's collegue and conductor and she's close friends with ALW's son) and wrote lyrics for his musicals Tell Me An A Sunday, Aspects Of Love, Sunset Boulevard and Stephen Ward. He also wrote James ond themes and a song for (or with) Hayley.

Mai just released a clip of recording on of the songs in Australia, with Mái N:
https://instagram.com/p/7wg26PMl37/?taken-by=maireadcarlinsings

Saw the Instagram clip. Didn't know she was doing an album! Exciting!

Well, she said she did an album with some other artists but I think she does her own, too. Both with Don Black songs. Also, she mentioned recording a song for a Hollywood movie.

OMG that makes me EXCITED AND HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to hear the album!

She has just posted on FB and Twitter that an album has been released WITHOUT HER PERMISSION.  She signed away the rights and so has no control over this one.   :(

I saw this post. She seemed upset that the old album was being released (ostensibly because she feels that the songs don't truly reflect her own personal style and tastes as a musician) and also upset (rightly so, if you ask me) that it was being released without her permission. At the same time, I couldn't help but feel a semblance of pride for our girl! She was upset it was released without her permission but also took responsibility in admitting that she shouldn't have signed away the rights to it. She owned her mistake and took the time to warn others about it and to request that we not purchase it so the label doesn't make money off of her name and her voice.

I personally WILL NOT buy the album in my show of support for Mairead. I hope others (seeing as I'm not even on Facebook because I just don't have time for that) will help advocate a boycott of that album from we, Mairead's fans.

Also very excited by the prospect of her recording her own solo album. She says she wants to get into studio after this tour during the summer and create her own solo album. I will wait for it patiently and will purchase it when it's ready to go!

In the meantime, YOU GO MAIREAD! We love you and will always support you!

Yes, I was the one who alerted her by posting it to her page, wondering if it could be a mistake or a trick and asking her to confirm whether this was in fact happening.  Turns out she was none too pleased, and I don't blame her, since apparently the label took advantage of the fact that she was pretty young.  I am not sure how to feel about this, but I suppose she would have found out eventually, maybe after its release.  The worst thing that would have happened would be if someone buttonholed her post-concert and asked her to sign a copy.  I didn't order it, I don't think I will, it's clearly not what MC wants.  I don't know about boycotting, that sounds too close to white knighting, and will not score anyone points with MC (which fans shouldn't be trying to do in the first place).  What I will say is that now it's out there, and anyone who does buy it should know all the facts, and if you do buy it, don't go looking for her to sign it.       

Reminds me of what MGM used to do to young actresses in the 30s/40s...

Bringing up this discussion again as the album has now been released and some advertisers (via Twitter and maybe Facebook) are trying to get CW fans to buy it.

I didn't want to say this, because I was afraid I would get swormed by a lot of offended people, but I bought the CD on iTunes. I know it isn't a reflectin of who Mairead is today, and that it was released without her knowledge. I hate that she's not making anything off of it, and I will be buying her new CD when it comes out. But I wanted that CD. I was sad when I heard that it wouldn't be released back in 2014, because I was really looking forward to it. I have listened to every track on the CD, and it's AWESOME! Like I said, I am fully aware of all the information about the CD, and Mairead signing away her rights to it. However, even so, I can tell she put her heart and soul into all the songs. The whole CD is beautiful and relaxing. When I played it for my family, my mom said it almost put her to sleep, because the music and Mairead's voice was so soft.

I really love the CD, and she did an awesome job with it, even if it doesn't reflect who she is now. I can still tell that she put her all into it. I can't wait to get her NEW CD when she releases it.

I understand Tiffany. I've listened to the entire thing, and I like it. It's really good.

Tiffany, I agree with you completely.

I felt horrible about getting it after what happened to her and the last thing I wanted to do is disrespect her or her other fans. But after listening to what was available on YouTube (while it was there), it was just too good. It's honestly one of the best of all the solo albums, in my opinion. Like you said, she put her heart and soul into it and even though it's sad she doesn't profit from all her hard work, I still thinking her work deserves to be appreciated.

I totally respect anyone that honoured the boycott. I know you folks wanted to listen to it too and it was incredibly loyal to show restraint.

So in summary, I understand, Tiffany and I appreciate your courage and love for great music.

You don't have to feel bad about getting it though. It's a beautiful CD. I'm obsessed with it. Again I hate that she's not getting anything out of it after all her hard work but I'm sure knowing that it brings joy to people when they listen makes her feel good.

As a musician myself, if I had recorded an album, and then signed my rights away for whatever reason, even though I wouldn't be making any money off of it, I would still want my fans to enjoy it. Even if the album didn't reflect who I am today, knowing that people still enjoy listening to it would make me very happy.

 :D :D :D :D

One other thing I need to say about this...
Mairead had mentioned that this work was from her early career and that it's not representative of her as a singer today.

I do think she's grown a lot as a singer since this was recorded. She had a soft, pretty voice then and it's gotten stronger and even more beautiful in the intervening years.

On a side-note: the arrangements and instrumental accompaniments are absolutely top notch, some of the most beautiful I've ever heard.

With that said, here are my favorites:

• Oft In The Stilly Night
• Scarlet Ribbons
• You Belong To Me

I also really loved Can't Help Falling In Love a title which sums up exactly how I feel about her music.

For me, my favorites are:
Scarlett Ribbons
Only You
Daisy
Wild Mountain Thyme
Can't Help Falling in Love
You Belong to Me
Oft in the Stilly Night

Although I love the whole album, but those are the songs I listen to the most. XD

Have you heard her sing "Streets of London?"

It was on the European release I believe, but not on the North American release.

I heard it a few times on YouTube courtesy of Orchard Enterprises before it got taken down. I liked it!

Yep I've heard it and it's on the iTunes version of the CD. :)

Oh boy, now I feel bad again.

A fan just waited since the pre-order and finally received it. He was really happy and shared a really nice pic of the album with Mairead Carlin.

He had missed Mairead's post about her being out of the loop and basically devastated about the album. I didn't want to see Mairead get offended, so I brought it up. Well, I basically ruined this moment for the fan. So ... lose / lose.

I feel horrible now.  :'(

But who should really feel horrible is the folks that basically stole the album away from her. Shame on them for ruining such a beautiful thing for so many people. >:(

Ok, so a couple of us asked Mairead about Songbook and one of us got a reply.

She wasn't upset that the songs themselves got released. She was only upset that they were released under the pretense that she was still involved.

She gave the go-ahead to post about the songs or the album.

She's not offended if anyone does.

For me personally, this is a pretty big weight lifted off my shoulders and I hope it's a relief to many others who either:

• Got the album and felt really guilty about it, or
• Didn't get the album and felt bad they wouldn't get to hear Mairead's music.

For anyone that still doesn't want to buy the album because they're personally offended by what they did to Mairead...

Here's a link to a playlist of the music from Songbook:
http://www.maireadcarlinforum.com/index.php?topic=501.0

I listened to small parts of it on Spotify. But really, I don't really care to have it. I like each song of it, and Mairéad's voice is lovely, but it is nonetheless a very weak album. Compared to the standard of contemporary pop and crossover, it's good, but by CW solo standard, it's boring, and by the standard of other music I usually listen to, it's the same. Every single song is nice on its own - with The Parting Glass, Scarlet Ribbons, and One More Today standing out - but they make an overused track list. The arrangements are bland, and Mairéad uses about one quarter of her ability, without showing the versatility she is capable of. The whispery style is lovely for a couple of songs, but doesn't fill 45 minutes. In fact, I think the album is a bit exhausting to listen to, because there is some kind of monotony about it. I don't want to - by any means - insult Mairéad. She's doing a great job, but the people behind the album wasted the great talent of a wonderful artist and I am very eager to listen to Mairéad's future works! I love her with CW, I love her contribution to Stay Away From Stars, I think she's fabulous in The Little Prince and I love the small recordings she shows on YT and Instagram. Mairéad herself stated that she grew out of the music she did on Songbook - which I fully understand - and I am very excited for her future, real album, aswell as her upcoming movie song. The whole Songbook incident reminds me, as I have said before, of the contracts MGM used for young actresses in the 40s. The whole album is generally pretty and pleasant, but underwhelming considering what it could have been.

Thank's for posting. That's an interesting perspective.

I agree her voice was underutilized, but I loved it anyways. In spite of all the controversy too. Personally, I thought the whispery style was sort of unique.

I'm very much looking forward to her to new album though knowing she won't be held back.

I love her soft voice in the album too. It's almost like a fluffy sweater! :) And it really does take a lot of effort and talent to be able to sing like that, especially the high notes.

My mother listened to the album and she said it was very relaxing, that it could lull her to sleep. :)

I like the style a lot - but not for a full album. For individual songs, yes. But I don't think it's unique, in fact, I think it seems to be the standard in pop for sopranros and higher mezzos right now.

Were the songs besides Scarlet Ribbons and Parting Glass written by Mairead or they all covers?

Covers, definitely. Here's the list :

Scarlet Ribbons (Evelyn Dantzig / Jack Segal)
Only You (Vince Clark, made popular by Yazoo)
Daisy (can't find the authors)
And I love you so (Dn McLean, made popular by a lot of singers, including Shirley Bassey)
Wild Mountain Thyme (traditional, also covered by a lot of artists, including Judy Collins)
Miracles (Can't find the author)
Can't help falling in love (that one is an Elvis Presley song, one of his most famous)
One More Today (Paul Brady)
Last orders (Jon Allen)
You Belong to me (song from 1952, already covered by quite a few artists, including Vonda Sheppard in "Ally McBeal)
Streets of London (Ralph McTell)
Be My Love (Cahn / Brodszky, made famous by Mario Lanza and Katherine Grayson)
Oft in the stilly Night (Thomas Moore (already covered by many artists)
The Parrting Glass

I think Daisy was by Karine Polwart.