The Pink & the Lily

Untitled

The Pink & The Lily is the second studio album by the UK singer Sandi Thom, released in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland on May 26 2008 (see 2008 in music) by RCA Records. The album had been released on i tunes on the 24th May 2008. The album is a mix of pop and folk songs — written by Thom herself, alongside other writers including her boyfriend, Jake Field, and Tom Gilbert, and produced by Jake Field and Duncan Thompson, who work under the alias of The Mighty Vibrations.

The album's first single, "The Devil's Beat," was released on May 12 2008, and charted at #59 in the official UK singles chart on download sales; after the single's physical release on May 19 2008, it reached #58; it then dropped out of the chart.

The album entered the UK Albums Chart at #25, and then dropped to #65 before leaving the Top 75. The album to date did not enter the Ireland charts nor did the first single taken from it. After the chart-topping success of Smile... It Confuses People, this can be seen as an underperformance along with the unsuccessful single The Devils Beat. This is possibly due to the lack of promotion by Thom's label RCA Records, although there was some TV advertising. Sandi promoted the album herself with personal appearances at record stores in Scotland, followed by a short tour of small venues.

The album's title is a reference to a pub in Lacey Green, Buckinghamshire, originally owned by two ex-employees of the local Hampden family, the butler Mr Pink and the chambermaid Miss Lilie. They had to flee after Miss Lilie fell pregnant and the family shunned them - their illegitimate son set up the pub and named it after her parents. Thom has said in interviews that the story inspired the title track of the album.

Thom says the album represents her wider music tastes, including Fleetwood Mac and country influences; it is notable that she is now routinely pictured with an electric guitar.

The album has received poor reviews; critics note that although a range of styles are attempted there are few memorable tracks.

Tracklisting

1. "The Devil's Beat" (Sandi Thom) 2:25
2. "Shape I'm In" (Sandi Thom, Marcus Bonfanti) 3:59
3. "Wounded Hearts" (Sandi Thom) 3:25
4. "Saturday Night" (Sandi Thom) 3:15
5. "Beatbox" (Sandi Thom, Tom Gilbert) 3:15
6. "Remote Control Me" (Sandi Thom, Jake Field) 2:48
7. "Success's Ladder" (Sandi Thom, Jake Field) 3:10
8. "Mirrors" (Sandi Thom, Tom Gilbert) 3:58
9. "Music In My Soul" (Sandi Thom, Rick Knowles) 4:10
10. "The Pink & The Lily" (Sandi Thom, Tom Gilbert) 3:22
11. "I'm A Human Being" (Sandi Thom, Jake Field) 3:02
12. "The Last Picturehouse" (Sandi Thom, Jake Field) 4:29
13. "My Ungrateful Heart" (Sandi Thom, Jake Field) 3:09

Promotion

To promote the album Thom has travelled around her home country, Scotland, appearing in HMV branches in Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth and Edinburgh, performing tracks from her new album and signing records. This was followed by the Pink & Lily Tour to promote the new release, although the initial leg in Ireland has been cancelled. The UK tour of small venues failed to sell out but was enthusiastically received by those who attended.

Release details

Country	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
United Kingdom	2008-05-26	RCA Records	CD	86972994024