Book of Celebration

colin vearncombe

I've been a huge fan of Colin's music since I first purchased the 'ugly man' label version of Wonderful Life in 1986. The 'Wonderful Life' album on A&M continued the journey with 'Paradise', 'Roses' & 'Sweetest Smile', through 'Comedy' with the beautiful 'You're a big girl now' and 'Black' with so many favourites 'Listen', 'Too many times' 'She's my best friend' etc.. These albums formed the soundtrack to my late 80's and early 90's. One more album and things went quiet, until 'Accused' when I rediscovered Colin Vearncombe all over again. I absolutely love that album and it mirrored part of my life, particularly the beautiful 'How she was before' plus stunning tracks 'better letting go', 'number one', 'storm cloud catherine'


His incredible voice, the luxurious song arrangements, the quality of his songwriting, all brought him to prominence within my record collection and put him in my top 5 artists of all time category, that's a 5 with the Beatles at Number 1 and Colin at number 2

I saw Colin play live around this time and I revisited this a number of times over the next few years

It was a priviledge to welcome him to my music store a couple of years ago where he played a short set ahead of his evening gig. So generous of him. He played a new track which I instantly adored 'Someone new' plus an unexpected cover 'diamonds are forever' which was fantastic. I asked Kerry what to get him to say thank you and the suggestion was a bottle of whisky so whisky it was!

I followed 'Blind Faith' (as it became) from the onset and was excited that a new album was on the way. Whilst watching the videos and following the progress of the new album, I learnt more about the man and saw what a decent, humble, honest chap he was. I found the album a return to form and was so looking forward to seeing him perform again, perhaps with a full band as the anniversary of his hit album approached

This was not to be. The only other time I've felt this empty and emotional by the loss of an artist that I admired was in 1980 with John Lennon and I was only 16 then so in a completely different place. This time, it's been unbearably sad. I cannot imagine how his family have coped over the last few weeks, I send them my love

I did thank Colin personally for his music and he will always be there for me and the countless fans all over the world that feel the same as I do

rip Colin, you were a one off X

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A sad loss. My thoughts are with the family & loved ones.

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Deserved greater recognition and credit. A guilty pleasure, lost too soon.

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Stars pass by but there light illuminate the universe as long as it exits

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Dear Colin, your music guided my life and it still will do. You left much too early. It's a waste of talent and it is not fair, that you had to leave.
Thanks for all...

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I think my heart must be made of clay 'cause every one said it would be broken some day... Thank you so much Colin for all your beautiful songs throug the years until now. You will be missed.

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I am sure his music will survive to give pleasure to future generations.

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So sad that such a talented and under rated artist should be taken from us. Colin's music has been with me throughout the years and will continue to do so. This is Life

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I had planned to travel up to Liverpool but in view of the unlikelihood that I can, I wanted to share in other fans' sadness at the loss of Colin. In the 1980s I was in awe of his voice and years later working in radio afforded me the chance to get to know him. As well as treating me and colleague Artur so warmly at a small gig in London I was amazed at how warm and expressive he was to be interviewed in our Ealing studios. It was an honour to meet and speak to him like I was a mate he'd known for a decade. Incredible voice and super composer. He even played piano in the studio. I hope you won't mind me sending you the link here as a tribute of the 2010 interview: http://www.orla.fm/colin-vearncombe-tribute/ Colin, you will never be forgotten. Our deepest sympathies to your family.

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I remember first hearing Colin very well indeed. It seems strange to recall now, but it was that time when Wonderful Life was yet to be a big hit and yet to be known to the wider public. It had instant classic status I my ears. Then came “Sweetest Smile” and that first album. Here was a singer-songwriter I could identify with. I thought a career of big hits and pop stardom was certain to follow. But I should have known that the reason I identified so closely with Colin’s music lay in that authentic vision and voice that is always ill at ease with stardom. Colin more than redeemed the promise he showed in those early records, not in pop hits but where it really counts, in making beautiful music. Colin was getting better and better as a singer and as a songwriter, he was really coming into his stride with a powerful, mature, take on life and its living. From that youthful classic first album to “Blind Faith”, all life is in there, in Colin’s songs of innocence and experience. Colin Vearncombe is one of the finest singers and songwriters that we have ever heard, and he left a solid body of work that the world will be exploring and appreciating for years to come. More than that, Colin was a wonderfully rounded human being, someone who struck such a deep chord with so many on account of his knowing that a full human life was an experience of the dark as well as the light, the painful as well as the joyous. He lived his life with love and affection and filled his music with the full range of human emotions: love and regret, loss and separation, heartbreak and loneliness, and union and love again. Colin was a beautiful soul. I have been reading Colin's words in the sleeve notes to his final CD, the marvellous Blind Faith: "In the modern world it is all too easy to feel alone in a crowded room. I don't feel alone anymore." Those words are so sad, so poignant. You are not alone, Colin. And even in the days when you thought you were, there were people like me out there somewhere, feeling alone with everybody, listening, hearing a familiar voice, and taking solace in having found a kindred spirit. A soul friend for always, Anam Cara.

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