Introduction | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 24 November 2003 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 48:35 | |||
Label | Polydor | |||
Producer |
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Alex Parks chronology | ||||
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Introduction is Alex Parks' debut album, released on 24 November 2003. Recorded and released within only two weeks of Parks winning the BBC's Fame Academy , it included seven original compositions, mostly co-written with songwriters Helen Boulding, Gary Clark and Boo Hewerdine, as well as six cover songs from John Lennon, Tears for Fears, R.E.M., Christina Aguilera, Eurythmics and Coldplay.
The album reached number 5 in the UK Top 40 Album charts. It has been classified platinum in the UK.
Introduction includes rock influences on "Dirty Pretty Words" and "Wandering Soul", as well as a folk pop acoustic track, "Not Your Average Kind of Girl".
The lead single "Maybe That's What It Takes" was released on 17 November 2003 and peaked at number 3 in the UK Top 40 the following week. The second single "Cry" was released on 16 February 2004, and charted at number 13.
The song "Stones & Feathers" was adapted in French under the title "De l'Eau" (Some Water) and used as the debut single of Elodie Frégé, winner of the third season of "Star Academy".
In the United Kingdom, Introduction debuted at #5. [1]
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [2] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Alexandra Rebecca Parks is an English singer-songwriter. Parks was entered into the BBC Television programme, Fame Academy by her father. It was a show that she went on to win. Soon after winning Fame Academy, she released her first album entitled Introduction, which went double platinum in the United Kingdom and gold in several other European countries. In 2005 she released her second album, Honesty. Parks was dropped by her label, Polydor, on 8 February 2006. Parks claimed that the move was a mutual decision and that things had not worked out.
Mark "Boo" Hewerdine is an English singer-songwriter and record producer. His work includes lead singer and creative force behind The Bible, formed in the 1980s, and reformed in 1994, as well as solo recordings and work for film. He has also produced records by several artists, including a long association with Eddi Reader. He has been described as "one of Britain's most consistently accomplished songwriters".
Carl Ashley Raphael Barât is a British musician and actor, best known for being the co-frontman with Pete Doherty of the garage rock band The Libertines. He was the frontman and lead guitarist of Dirty Pretty Things, and in 2010 debuted a solo album. In 2014 he announced the creation of his new band, The Jackals.
"Come Together" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is the opening track on their 1969 album Abbey Road and was also released as a single coupled with "Something". The song reached the top of the charts in the United States and peaked at No. 4 in the United Kingdom.
Danny Wilson was a Scottish pop band formed in Dundee in 1984. The band was best known for its 1988 UK number 3 hit single "Mary's Prayer".
Angels with Dirty Faces is the second studio album by British girl group Sugababes. It was released by Island Records in the UK on 26 August 2002 and in most European territories by September 2002. The album marked the band's debut on the Island label following their split with London Records in 2001 and was their first regular release to be recorded under the second line-up, including new member Heidi Range, who replaced founding member Siobhán Donaghy.
The Bible are an English rock band. The band released two critically acclaimed albums in the mid-1980s and are best known for the independent chart hits "Graceland" and "Mahalia". Since The Bible's first split in 1990, lead singer Boo Hewerdine has maintained a solo career while the band itself has been intermittently active.
Kathryn Williams is an English singer-songwriter who to date has released 14 studio albums, written and arranged for a multitude of artists, and was nominated for the 2000 Mercury Music Prize.
Honesty is Alex Parks' second album, co-written with producers Greg Wells, Alan Branch, John Reynolds and Peter-John Vettese, as well as songwriters Judie Tzuke, Karen Poole and Marcella Detroit. It was released on 24 October 2005.
This second series of Fame Academy was broadcast in the UK over thirteen weeks from July to October 2003. It was won by Alex Parks. The judging panel of the show consisted of Richard Park, Carrie Grant, David Grant and Robin Gibb during the live shows. Jonathan Ross was a judge on the final giving his opinions on the acts.
Helen Boulding is an English, London-based singer-songwriter, originally from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Her first album, New Red Dress, was released in February 2008.
Dirty Pretty Things were an English band fronted by Carl Barât, a member of The Libertines. The formation of the band was announced in September 2005, after a dispute between Barât and Pete Doherty led to the breakup of The Libertines in 2004. Barât had worked with Vertigo Records and had previously revealed that his new project was with the label. Didz Hammond announced he was leaving the Cooper Temple Clause to join the band alongside Libertines drummer Gary Powell and guitarist Anthony Rossomando, who had filled in for Doherty following his departure from The Libertines. They played their first shows in October 2005 in Italy and Paris, France. They announced their split on 1 October 2008 and played their final shows during November that year.
10 is the fifth studio album by Scottish pop-rock quartet Wet Wet Wet. Released on 31 March 1997, the album marked a decade since the release of the band's debut album, Popped in Souled Out.
My Own Way is the second studio album by British Contemporary R&B singer Jay Sean, released 12 May 2008 on Jayded Records and 2Point9 Records. Recording sessions took place from 2006 to 2009. Production was handled by Jay Sean and several other recording producers, including Jared Cotter, J remy, and DJ Swivel, including others. The album peaked at number six on the UK Albums Chart. It produced three singles and the deluxe edition had one more single. Upon its release, My Own Way has received mixed reviews from critics.
Simple Soul is the fifth studio album by Eddi Reader released in the UK on 29 January 2001.
"Maybe That's What It Takes" is a song by English singer-songwriter Alex Parks, taken from her debut album, Introduction (2003). It was released as her debut single on 17 November 2003, shortly after she won the second series of Fame Academy, and peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and number 26 in Ireland.
"Cry" is the second and final single from English singer-songwriter Alex Parks' debut album, Introduction (2003). The song was released on 16 February 2004, peaking at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and number 32 on the Irish Singles Chart.
Driftwood is the sixth studio album by Eddi Reader released in the UK on 8 October 2001.
"Soul Destruction" is a song by British band T'Pau, released as the third single from their 1991 third studio album The Promise. The song was written by vocalist Carol Decker and rhythm guitarist Ron Rogers. It was produced by Andy Richards.
"Joke " is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Eddi Reader, which was released in 1994 as the second single from her second studio album Eddi Reader. It was written by Boo Hewerdine and produced by Greg Penny. "Joke " reached No. 42 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for three weeks.