The Girl Who Ate Herself

The Girl Who Ate Herself
Studio album by Betsy Cook
Released	1992
Genre	Pop, Synthpop
Length	46:17
Label	EastWest (Warner Music UK)
Producer	Bruce Woolley, Stephen Lipson, Trevor Horn, Betsy Cook, Ian Stanley, Hugh Murphy, Nico Ramsdem, Stuart Elliot

The Girl Who Ate Herself is the debut album by the American-born singer-songwriter Betsy Cook. It was released in 1992 by EastWest Records.

Background

Prior to the release of the album, Cook was a songwriter, session musician and backing vocalist for other artists, and had worked with Paul Young, George Michael, Marc Almond, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Seal and Gerry Rafferty.^[1] Cook had actually started recording her own material as early as 1984,^[2] when she recorded and co-produced versions of her songs "Nothing Ventured" and "Wonderland" with her then-husband Hugh Murphy (who had been Gerry Rafferty's producer). "Wonderland" was then recorded by Paul Young in 1986, with Cook on backing vocals, and became a Top 30 hit.^[3] Cook was eventually offered a recording deal of her own, and she recorded several more tracks and also re-recorded elements of the two songs that she had originally recorded with her husband in the mid-1980s.^[2]

Although the album (and its singles) failed to make any commercial impact, the material gained enough prominence to be covered by more established artists in later years. The track "Love Is The Groove" was later recorded by Cher for her 1998 album Believe.^[4] The track "Docklands" was later recorded by Stevie Nicks for her 1994 album Street Angel.^[5]

The album's cover portrait was taken by Cook herself, with inner portraits taken by the photographer Kate Garner (former singer with the band Haysi Fantayzee).^[2]

Following the album's release, Cook did not release any further recordings of her own, but continued to work with producers Horn, Lipson and Woolley as a writer and session musician on other projects.

Track listing

1. "Love Is The Groove" (Betsy Cook, Bruce Woolley)
2. "How Can I Believe?" (Betsy Cook, Clyde Lieberman)
3. "Docklands" (Betsy Cook, Trevor Horn)
4. "Exchange Some Energy" (Betsy Cook)
5. "Look To Yourself" (Betsy Cook, Bruce Wooley)
6. "Wonderland" (Betsy Cook)
7. "Hold Me Tight" (Betsy Cook)
8. "Nothing Ventured" (Betsy Cook)
9. "Diving" (Betsy Cook, Jonathan Nash)
10. "Hand On My Shoulder" (Betsy Cook)
11. "Love Is The Groove" (reprise)

Singles

Single		Year	Formats	Track Listing
	Love Is the Groove	1991	7", 12", Cassingle, CD-Single	Love Is The Groove (single mix) (4:40) (7", 12", CASS, CDS) Diving (5:35) (7", CASS, CDS) Love Is The Groove (Heavens To Betsy mix) (7:17) (12", CDS) Love Is The Groove (Funky Phantom mix) (6:41) (12", CDS) Love Is The Groove (Cookie Monster mix) (6:33) (12")
	How Can I Believe?	1992	7", CD-Single	How Can I Believe? (4:01) (7", CDS) Look To Yourself (4:04) (7", CDS) Upper Hand (3:33) (CDS) Babel (2:55) (CDS)
	Docklands	1992	7", CD-Single	Docklands (4:37) (7", CDS) Nothing Ventured (3:54) (7", CDS) Hand On My Shoulder (4:02) (CDS)

Personnel

All tracks arranged and performed by Betsy Cook, with:^[2]

Stephen Lipson: guitars (tracks 1,2,8), drums (1,2)
Bruce Woolley: drums (1), harmonics (1), backing vocals (1), guitar (5)
Luís Jardim: percussion (2)
Tony Phillips: drums (1)
Wil Malone: string arrangements (2), piano and idiosyncrasies (4), "interesting noises" (1)
Gavin Wright: strings leader (2)
Dave Defries: trumpet (4)
Felix Kirsh: bass (5)
Andy Duncan: drums (5)
Richard Brunton: guitar (6)
Stuart Elliot: drums(6 8)
Nico Ramsdem: guitar (7)
Mark Smith: percussion (7)
Jonathan Nash: piano (9)
Ian Stanley: drums and "vibey vibes" (10)

Mixed by: Stephen Lipson (2,4), Tony Phillips (1,3), Ren Swan (1), Paul Gomershall (5,6,7), Ross Cullum (10).

References

1. AllMusic - Betsy Cook credits
2. Betsy Cook The Girl Who Ate Herself (9031-76429-2) - CD liner notes
3. Chart Stats - Paul Young "Wonderland" (1986)
4. Cher - "Believe" (CD liner credits)
5. Stevie Nicks - "Street Angel" (CD liner credits)