 |
| Beverley Craven | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 1990 (UK) | |||
| Recorded | 1989–1990 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Producer | Paul Samwell-Smith | |||
| Beverley Craven chronology | ||||
| ||||
Beverley Craven is the debut album by British singer-songwriter Beverley Craven, released in July 1990. The album was fully written by Craven herself and features her biggest hit single and signature song, "Promise Me".
Craven signed to Epic Records in 1988, and initially recorded the album with American producer Stewart Levine (of Simply Red fame). The initial results, however, were not of Craven's liking and, with the agreement of her label, she restarted from scratch working with Paul Samwell-Smith, who eventually produced the whole album. Levine's production of her songs were eventually released as b-sides to some of her singles, under the label "West Coast Version".
Released in July 1990, the album and its singles initially failed to reach the charts in the UK. She found however some success around continental Europe in 1990 and toured there to support the release. Craven made her first UK tour in early 1991, which was successful. In April 1991, the original lead single "Promise Me" was re-released, and this time it was heavily promoted. Appearances on British TV led to exposure of the single and it eventually peaked at #3 in the UK in May 1991, becoming her biggest hit.
On the back of the success of the single, the album re-entered the charts (it had previously charted at #53 in March 1991), and peaked at #3 in the UK. It spent almost a whole year in the UK charts. Craven's appearance at the 1992 Brit Awards (where she won the Best Newcomer award), propelled the album back into the UK top ten, at #7. The album eventually went double platinum in the UK and sold over 1.2 million copies worldwide.
Six singles were released to promote the album. The first four singles, released in 1990, failed to chart. With the successful re-release of "Promise Me", previous singles were reissued as its follow-ups: "Holding On" (re-released in July 1991), and "Woman to Woman" (re-released in October 1991), both of which charted within the UK top 40. A new single, "Memories", was released in December 1991. In some countries of continental Europe, "You're Not the First" was also released as a single.
All songs written by Beverley Craven.
Judie Tzuke is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known for her 1979 hit "Stay with Me till Dawn", which reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.
Julia Fordham is a British singer-songwriter. Her professional career started in the early 1980s, under the name "Jules Fordham", as a backing singer for Mari Wilson and Kim Wilde, before signing a recording contract of her own later that decade. Fordham is now based in California.
Have You Seen Me Lately is the 15th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Arista Records, on September 25, 1990.
Beverley Craven is a British singer-songwriter best known for her 1991 UK hit single "Promise Me". Her album Change of Heart was released in 2014 and Mixed Emotions in 1999.
"Piece of My Heart" is a romantic soul love song written by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns, originally recorded by Erma Franklin in 1967. Franklin's single peaked in December 1967 at number 10 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart in the United States.
Turning Stones is the title of the seventh album by the British singer-songwriter Judie Tzuke, released in April 1989. It peaked at no.57 on the UK Albums Chart and was Tzuke's last album to reach the UK Top 100 until 2018 when her collaboration with Beverley Craven and Julia Fordham, Woman to Woman, reached no.42 on the chart.
"Kiss Me" is a song originally released in 1982 by the British band Tin Tin. The song was allegedly written within 24 hours after the band had signed a record deal with WEA Records. The single failed to chart in the UK Singles Chart. In 1983 it was released on Sire Records in the U.S., where it made the Billboard dance chart. The lead singer and guitarist in Tin Tin, Stephen Duffy, later re-recorded the song twice and released it as a solo single using the name of Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy. The first re-recording was released as a single only in the West Midlands region in 1984. Another version was recorded in late 1984 and released as a single on 25 February 1985. This version peaked at number 4 in March, selling more than 250,000 copies within three weeks and thus being certified silver.
"Move It" is a song written by Ian Samwell and recorded by Cliff Richard and the Drifters. Originally intended as the B-side to "Schoolboy Crush", it was released as Richard's debut single on 29 August 1958 and became his first hit record, reaching number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. It is credited with being one of the first authentic rock and roll songs produced outside the United States. "Schoolboy Crush", written by Aaron Schroeder and Sharon Gilbert, had already been recorded in the US by Bobby Helms. Cliff Richard and the Drifters recorded their own version, which was intended to be the A-side of their debut single. However, when producer Jack Good heard "Move It", he insisted that Richard would have to sing that if he was to appear on Good's TV show Oh Boy! On the planned single, "Move It" was flipped to be the A-side and it went to number 2 in the charts, starting Cliff Richard on a career which included British hits through six decades.
Love Scenes is the second studio album by British singer Beverley Craven, released in September 1993 through Epic Records.
Mixed Emotions is the third studio album by Beverley Craven, released in 1999. The album was released after a 5-year hiatus, in which Craven gave birth to two daughters and took time off to take care of her three children.
The Very Best Of Beverley Craven is a compilation album by Beverley Craven, released in 2004 through Epic Records.
Carol Jiani is a Nigerian-born singer based in the United Kingdom, best known for her 1981 hit "Hit 'N Run Lover".
Legends is a compilation album by Beverley Craven, released in 2005 through Epic Records. The album was issued in a 3-CD box set and includes Craven's first three albums and a selection of B-sides and live tracks.
"Promise Me" is a 1990 hit song by British singer Beverley Craven. A ballad, it has become Craven's signature song and best known hit.
"Holding On" is a ballad by British singer Beverley Craven. The song was released as the album's fourth single in late 1990. This was Craven's first entry in the UK charts, peaking at a low #95 in February 1991. After the success of "Promise Me" in May 1991, "Holding On" was re-released as the follow-up single in July 1991, peaking at #32. The song also hit some European charts, and was also Craven's sole chart entry in the USA charts.
"Woman to Woman" is a song by British singer Beverley Craven, included on her self-titled debut album.
"Mollie's Song" is a song by British singer Beverley Craven from her second album, Love Scenes.
"Love Scenes" is a song by British singer-songwriter Beverley Craven, released in September 1993 as the title track and first single from her second album, Love Scenes (1993). The song peaked at number 34 in the UK and spent four weeks on the charts, becoming Craven's last UK top-40 hit.
"I Miss You" is a ballad performed by British singer Beverley Craven, from her third album Mixed Emotions.
Woman to Woman is a collaborative album by English singers Beverley Craven, Judie Tzuke and Julia Fordham, released in 2018. It features a selection of each of the trio's own past solo songs being sung together in harmony, along with new material. The album was accompanied by a UK tour.
