Skyscraping | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 24 March 1997 [1] | |||
Genre | Pop [2] [3] | |||
Length | 51:11 | |||
Label |
| |||
Producer |
| |||
ABC chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
Skyscraping is the seventh studio album by the English pop band ABC, released in March 1997 by Blatant and Deconstruction. The album was produced as a homage to lead vocalist Martin Fry's several musical heroes, including David Bowie, Roxy Music and the Sex Pistols.[ citation needed ]
It is their first album without founding member, keyboardist and guitarist Mark White, who had up until that point been heavily involved in the composition and production of their work. As the line-up of ABC without White consisted solely of Fry, Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17 and Keith Lowndes were brought in as songwriting and performance collaborators. The album was met with positive reviews from critics but little commercial success.
Three singles were released: "Stranger Things", "Skyscraping" and "Rolling Sevens". An expanded 2CD edition of the album was released by Cherry Red Records on 23 September 2013. [5]
In September 2022, the album was finally released on Spotify and other digital platforms.
It was released on vinyl for the first time in 2024, as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on white and blue marble vinyl.
All songs written and composed by Martin Fry, Glenn Gregory, and Keith Lowndes except where indicated.
Chart (1997) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Albums Chart [6] | 97 |
ABC
Musicians
Production and artwork
ABC are an English pop band that originated in Sheffield in 1980, evolving from the earlier ensemble Vice Versa. The band's classic formation featured Martin Fry as the lead vocalist, Mark White on guitar and keyboards, Stephen Singleton playing the saxophone, and David Palmer behind the drums.
Frank is a studio album by new wave group Squeeze, released in 1989. The album sold poorly, and Squeeze was dropped by A&M Records while on tour. Forced to take offers from different major labels for the first time in their career, the band soon signed with Reprise Records and began working on their next studio album, Play.
Martin David Fry is an English singer, songwriter, composer, musician, and record producer.
Lionel Richie is the debut solo studio album by American singer Lionel Richie, released on October 6, 1982, on Motown Records. Originally intended as a side project at the suggestion of Motown, it was recorded and released while Richie was still a member of the Commodores; he left the group shortly after the album's release. The first single from the album, "Truly", topped the Billboard Hot 100. Follow-up single "You Are" reached number four, and "My Love" reached number five. The album reached number one on the Cashbox albums chart on December 11, 1982.
All Things New is the twelfth studio album by Steven Curtis Chapman. It was released on September 9, 2004, by Sparrow Records.
How to Be a ... Zillionaire! is the third studio album by English pop band ABC. It was originally released in October 1985, on the labels Neutron, Mercury and Vertigo. The album peaked at No. 28 on the UK Albums Chart and at No. 30 on the Billboard 200. Four singles were released from the album, "(How to Be A) Millionaire", "Be Near Me", "Vanity Kills", and the fourth was "Ocean Blue",. It is the group's only album to feature founder members Martin Fry and Mark White flanked by new members Eden and David Yarritu, the latter two credited merely as "performers" with effectively no or limited musical contribution to the album. The four-piece was also presented in a cartoon form for the album's artwork and promotional videos, and wore outrageous costumes and played false instruments for "live" promotional performances.
Carried Along is the second album by American singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson, released in 2000.
The Lexicon of Live is a live album released by pop group ABC. Although Martin Fry was the only original member left, he had a backing band, and performed in his trademark gold suit.
Honeyroot is an ambient dance collaboration between Glenn Gregory and Keith Lowndes, signed to the independent record label Just Music.
Martina is the seventh studio album by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was released in September 2003 by RCA Nashville. It was a number one on the country album charts and number seven on the US album charts. The album produced four singles on the country charts: "This One's for the Girls" at #3, "In My Daughter's Eyes" at #4, "How Far" at #12 and "God's Will" at #16. "This One's for the Girls", which featured backing vocals from Faith Hill, Carolyn Dawn Johnson and McBride's two daughters, was also McBride's first and only Number One hit on the Adult Contemporary charts. The album was certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Real Live Woman is the eighth studio album by American country music singer Trisha Yearwood, released on March 28, 2000.
In Pictures is the sixteenth studio album by American country music band Alabama, released in 1995. It included the singles "She Ain't Your Ordinary Girl", "In Pictures", "It Works", "Say I" and "The Maker Said Take Her", which respectively reached No. 2, No. 4, No. 19, No. 38 and No. 4 on the Hot Country Songs charts. Making it the first album of their career not to produce a number one hit. The title track was originally recorded by Linda Davis on her 1994 album Shoot for the Moon. The album peaked at No. 100 on the Billboard 200 album charts and No. 12 on the Billboard Country Albums chart.
Christmas Vol. II is the second Christmas album of American country music band Alabama. It was released on September 17, 1996.
I Prefer the Moonlight is the twentieth studio album by American country music singer Kenny Rogers, released in 1987. The album was Rogers' final studio album for RCA Records. It peaked at number 18 on the US country charts and number 163 in the Billboard 200. It contained three top five singles: the title track, the Grammy-winning duet with Ronnie Milsap, "Make No Mistake, She's Mine" and "The Factory".
Something Inside So Strong is the twenty-first studio album by American country music singer Kenny Rogers, released in 1989. The album includes the singles "When You Put Your Heart in It", "Planet Texas", "The Vows Go Unbroken", "Something Inside So Strong", and "Maybe". Gladys Knight, Anne Murray, Holly Dunn, and Ronald Isley are featured as duet partners. Jim Ed Norman produced the album, with additional production from Steve Dorff on "If I Ever Fall in Love Again".
Stranger Things Have Happened is the nineteenth studio album by American country music artist Ronnie Milsap, released in 1989. The album produced four singles, two of which claimed the top spot on the Billboard country singles chart, including "A Woman in Love" and "Don't You Ever Get Tired ." The other singles, included "Houston Solution" and the title track, which peaked at #4 and #2 respectively. Of especial note is the song "You Snap Your Fingers ", which made an appearance once before in his career on his album from 13 years prior.
Two Lanes of Freedom is the twelfth studio album by the American country music singer Tim McGraw. It was released on February 5, 2013, as his first album for Big Machine Records following twenty years with Curb Records. He co-produced the album with Byron Gallimore, the producer of his previously released albums. The album includes the singles "Truck Yeah", "One of Those Nights", "Highway Don't Care" with Taylor Swift and "Southern Girl".
Sundown Heaven Town is the thirteenth studio album by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released on September 16, 2014 by Big Machine Records.
Home is the fourth studio album by American bluegrass musician Billy Strings, released on September 27, 2019, through Rounder Records. The album charted on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart for 77 weeks, peaking at number one and being the first studio album by Billy Strings to do so. The album was titled Home as Strings was starting to "feel at home" in his Nashville residence and in the music industry at the time of the album's release.
Mercy is the seventeenth studio album by the Welsh musician and composer John Cale. It was released on 20 January 2023 by Double Six Records, making it Cale's first album of new songs in over a decade. It features collaborations with Tony Allen, Laurel Halo, Weyes Blood, Tei Shi, Animal Collective's Avey Tare and Panda Bear, Dev Hynes, Sylvan Esso, Actress, and Fat White Family. It was inspired by current events such as Donald Trump's presidency, Brexit, COVID-19, climate change, civil rights, and right-wing extremism.