The Violin Player is the first synth-pop album by classical and pop musician Vanessa-Mae, released in 1995. It is the first album Vanessa-Mae released on the EMI label. The album was mostly produced by Mike Batt.

Content The Violin Player features a varied blend of music – covers of classical music (J.S. Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor), remakes of old favourites (including American composer Mason Williams' "Classical Gas"), original compositions (seven tracks composed by British musician and songwriter Mike Batt), and one original track by Vanessa-Mae herself, co-written with Ian Wherry ("Red Hot").

Singles Three singles were released from the album: "Toccata and Fugue", which reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart, "Red Hot", which reached number 37 and "Classical Gas", which reached number 41.

Commercial performance The Violin Player reached number 11 in the UK Albums Chart in February 1995, and was certified Gold by the BPI in June 1995. It has sold over 1.2 million copies worldwide. The album has been reissued as a multi-channel hybrid SACD by EMI Music Hong Kong.

Track listing

Personnel Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

Musicians Vanessa-Mae – violin Mike Batt – keyboards (tracks 1–9) Gareth Cousins – synthesisers (tracks 1–9) Martin Bliss – guitars (track 10) Clem Clempson – guitars (tracks 1–9) Dick Morgan – oboe (track 1) Maurice Murphy – trumpet (track 1) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – orchestra; conducted by Mike Batt Phil Todd – saxophones Vasko Vassilev – violin/viola section (track 10) Ian Wherry – keyboards (track 10)

Production Tracks 1–9 produced and arranged by Mike Batt Tracks 1-9 engineered by Gareth Cousins Track 10 produced and arranged by Ian Wherry and Vanessa-Mae Track 10 programmed by Ian Wherry; mix engineer: Ben Robbins Mastered by Ray Staff Music typesetting: John Zaradin Photography: John Paul Sleeve by Stuart @ Peacock Marketing Design Recorded and engineered by Gareth Cousins at Abbey Road Studios and Whitfield Street Recording Studios, London

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995)PeakpositionAustralian Albums Chart2Austrian Albums Chart1Dutch Albums Chart47Finnish Albums Chart2German Albums Chart20Hungarian Albums Chart12New Zealand Albums Chart2Norwegian Albums Chart28Swedish Albums Chart52Swiss Albums Chart14UK Albums Chart11

Year-end charts Chart (1996)PositionGerman Albums Chart83

Certifications

References