TANITA TIKARAM - THE SWEET KEEPER

These songs are quite international. They have been written all over the place, all written on tour. I can remember places by the songs I have written.

"WE ALMOST GOT IT TOGETHER" - was written in Dublin - I can remember songs which were written in Norway, Italy, America, Ireland. They are like my souvenirs - I write a song in each country.

This is quite sweet really.

"I OWE ALL TO YOU" - Slightly different to my other songs - it's clearly written about my mother, although unintentionally.

In the studio - we had an opportunity to work with a small string section (a very different sound to a string orchestra because each member of the section can be clearly heard and is, therefore, a little more composed) and Mark Cresswel, the guitarist.

"CONSIDER THE RAIN" - I, wrote this in Rome. Early in the morning before a day's press and promotion. It was wholly unexpected; but the best feeling - a complete bonus.

"LITTLE SISTER LEAVING TOWN" - The Kreisler String Orchestra, piano, bass, guitar, drums - very simple, although the sound is so lush and huge. Sometimes a song calls out for a particular arrangement - as in this case. However, that still presents problems because one's a vision is so clear that one fears disappointment in the studio. Thankfully, this did not happen.

"ONCE & NOT SPEAK" - Written in Bristol, Helen O'Hara and Mark Isham are the featured players - and it was exciting to see how well the very traditional sound of the violin worked with the slightly less familiar trumpet sound that Mark used. Very surprised by how groovy such a combination is.

"THURSDAY'S CHILD" - I can't remember where I wrote this. I do remember feeling very pleased that I did.

"IT ALL CAME BACK TODAY" - I was staying in this strange hotel in San Diego (American tour) - a tort of holiday resort but it wasn't the holiday season. This confused me - I couldn't imagine anyone feeling rested in such a place; no radio, one had to pay a deposit to use the phone etc. However, I wrote this song there - so I suppose I am thankful for that.

"LOVE STORY" - John Giblin on bass, Sonny Landreth on guitar and Rod on keyboards.

"SUNSET'S ARRIVED" - Written in Oslo. A sort of celebratory song I think AND GLORIOUS PIANO!! Personally, I think this grooves rather well, too.

"HARM IN YOUR HANDS" - The Kreisler String Orchestra again - Mark Isham on muted trumpet. I was writing something else but I wrote this instead and was soo-oo chuffed that I forgot the other.

The Sweet Keeper box set 1990