I’m Not Anyone isn’t the only covers album Almond has been involved with recently: he also co-produced veteran blues singer Dana Gillespie’s latest LP First Love with Marc’s regular associate, Tris Penna. Dana’s song Stardom Road was the title track of Almond’s 2007 album. Marc enthuses: “Dana is one of the last great bohemian ladies of rock, who’s made about 70 albums. She mostly makes quite dirty blues, and I said to Tris: ‘We’ve got to do something with her, but a more pop-based album.”
First Love covers everyone from Green Day to Lana Del Rey. “Even now, Dana’s pitch is great,” says Almond. “The way she sings Morrissey’s song Spent The Day In Bed is wicked and mischievous.”
That was the album’s first single, as Marc explains: “I know Morrissey is controversial, but he just writes great songs. He sent a very nice note saying how much he loves the record – he really gets it, and it was nice to have his sanction.”