Anthems (Kerry Ellis album)
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Anthems is the debut studio album by English stage actress and singer Kerry Ellis. It was released on 13 September 2010 by Decca Records. The album, comprising eleven tracks, was produced by Brian May – lead guitarist of the band Queen.
After a previously released "teaser" extended play, Wicked in Rock (2008), Anthems is its follow-up but also signifies Ellis' first mainstream release. Ellis refers to the album as one that tries "to tap into all the different areas that [she has] been part of" in her professional career over the years 2000-10. Photography for the album's artwork was done by Paul Rider with design and art direction by Tourist.
The album's lead single "I'm Not that Girl" was released on 6 September 2010 alongside a B-side of "Dangerland". Its second single "Anthem" was released on 12 December 2010.
The album peaked at number fifteen on the UK Albums Chart and remained on the chart for two weeks. Despite its limited success on the chart, it was received postively by critics.
Background and development
Anthems is the follow-up album to a previously released teaser extended play (EP) Wicked in Rock (2008), which was also produced and arranged by Brian May.[1] This studio album features the three songs from that teaser EP, new arrangements of personal favourites and some completely original material – all produced and arranged by both May, and musician, Steve Sidwell[2] while Don Black, English lyricist, especially adapted the song "Diamonds are Forever" for Ellis.[3]
Release
Anthems was released as a CD on 13 September 2010 in the United Kingdom through Decca,[4] and in the United States on 28 September 2010[5] through Decca's parent company, Universal. It was made available to pre-order at online retailers like Amazon and Play.com in April 2010, and later on the UK's iTunes music store in August 2010.
An exclusive box set of Anthems was released exclusively online through Ellis' official online store.[6] The box set version of Anthems contains the full album, a 5 x 7 art print, a four page booklet with images and a personal message from Ellis, logo badges, postcards and a bonus DVD with featurettes upon the development of Anthems.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dangerland" (*) | Brian May | 5:59 |
| 2. | "Anthem" (from the musical Chess) | Benny Andersson, Brian May, Tim Rice, Björn Ulvaeus | 3:15 |
| 3. | "I Can't Be Your Friend (This Can't Be Over)" (*) | Don Black, Brian May | 3:55 |
| 4. | "Defying Gravity" (from the musical Wicked) | Brian May, Stephen Schwartz | 4:15 |
| 5. | "I'm Not that Girl" (from the musical Wicked) | Brian May, Stephen Schwartz | 3:47 |
| 6. | "You Have to Be There" (from the musical Kristina) | Benny Andersson, Herbert Kretzmer, Brian May, Björn Ulvaeus | 4:27 |
| 7. | "Love It When You Call" (originally by The Feeling) | Ciaran Jeremiah, Kevin Jeremiah, Richard Jones, Brian May, Dan Gillespie Sells, Paul Stewart | 3:34 |
| 8. | "Save Me" (†) | Brian May | 3:58 |
| 9. | "Diamonds are Forever" (from the 1971 James Bond film of the same name) | John Barry, Don Black, Brian May | 3:04 |
| 10. | "No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)" (†) | Brian May | 5:18 |
| 11. | "I Loved a Butterfly" (†) | Brian May | 3:09 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kerry & Brian in the studio (Part 1)" | 07:47 |
| 2. | "Kerry & Brian in the studio (Part 2)" | 04:09 |
| 3. | "Photoshoot - Behind the scenes" | 01:18 |
Notes
- (*) Tracks that were specifically written for this album.
- (†) Tracks that were originally songs by Queen.
- Tracks 4, 5 and 10 were originally featured on Ellis' teaser album, Wicked in Rock.
Chart performance
Anthems debuted at number fifteen on the UK Albums Chart[7] in the week ending 25 September 2010; but fell to number seventy-eight the week later.[8] The album failed to secure a chart position the following week, thus spent a total number of two weeks on the UK Albums Chart.
Singles
"I'm Not that Girl" was released as the album's lead single as a digital download on 6 September 2010, with a B-side of "Dangerland".[9]
"Anthem" was released as the album's second single on 12 December 2010.[10]
Promotion
Radio promotion consisted of an interview on BBC Radio 2's The Arts Show with Claudia Winkleman on 6 August 2010;[11] an appearance on BBC Radio 5 Live with Richard Bacon on 17 August 2010;[12] an interview on Gaydar Radio on 5 September 2010,[13] which marked the debut of her version of the song "Diamonds are Forever"; and an appearance on Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4 on 6 September 2010.[14]
Television spots included a performance on Saturday night entertainment television programme, Tonight's the Night, on BBC One on 21 August 2010;[15] an interview with Michael Ball on his debut chat-show on 2 September 2010;[16] an appearance on ITV1's This Morning on 7 September 2010,[17] where on all three occasions Ellis performed the song, "Anthem", with Brian May; an interview on BBC Breakfast on BBC One on 10 September 2010;[18] an appearance on Sky News on 13 September 2010;[19] and an interview on The Wright Stuff on Five on 14 September 2010.[20]
Live performances include an appearance on Weekend Wogan on BBC Radio 2 on 15 August 2010[21] where Ellis, joined by Brian May, performed songs "Save Me", "I'm Not that Girl" and "I Loved a Butterfly" from the album at the BBC Radio Theatre in London; a performance at BBC Proms in the Park on 11 September 2010 in London's Hyde Park,[22] where Ellis, again accompanied by Brian May, performed songs "Dangerland", "I'm Not that Girl", "Anthem" from the album and a medley of Queen songs "We Will Rock You" / "We Are the Champions"; and an appearance at London nightclub, G-A-Y, on 18 September 2010.[23]
Upon release, Ellis gave two album signings for Anthems. The first – held at HMV Oxford Circus on 13 September 2010. The second – at London theatre and showbiz merchandise shop, Dress Circle, on 18 September 2010.[24]
Anthems: The Concert and tour
Scheduled charity performances, titled Anthems: The Concert, at the Royal Albert Hall will support this debut studio album. These performances (matinée and evening), in aid of the charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, are scheduled on 1 May 2011 and will see Ellis accompanied by Brian May, American performer Adam Pascal and a host of various other musicians, orchestras and dancers.
In an interview with Broadway.com, Ellis stated that her plan was "to have a tour to promote" Anthems.[25] In November 2010, she announced on Twitter that the plans for a tour are to go ahead with details to follow. In January 2011, it was reported that she is scheduled to partake in a fifteen-date tour of the United Kingdom which will visit Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh. Dates and other cities are "still being decided."[26]
On February 14th 2011, it was announced that Ellis will tour with Brian May, taking in 12 dates across the UK in May. [27]
Credits and personnel
- Kerry Ellis - lead vocals, backing vocals
- Brian May - arrangement, backing vocals, bass, guitars, piano, keyboards, production
- Steve Sidwell - arrangement, orchestra conductor
- John Miceli - drums on tracks 1-3
- Taylor Hawkins - drums on tracks 4 & 5
- Rufus Taylor - drums on tracks 6-9
- Roger Taylor - drums (sticks) on track 10
- Keith Prior - drums (brushes) on track 10
- Chris Chaney - bass on track 5
- Justin Shirley-Smith - co-producer, engineer
- Kris Fredriksson - co-producer, engineer
Source:[28]
Chart performance
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart | 15 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Edition(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 13 September 2010 | CD, digital download | Decca | Standard, box-set |
| United States | Digital download | Universal | Standard | |
| 28 September 2010 | CD |
See also
Notes
- ^ "...arranged and produced by Brian May, features Taylor Hawkins ... a 60+ piece orchestra, and ... Kerry Ellis..." DressCircle.co.uk.
- ^ "Infused with ... May's legendary guitar-playing ... arranged by May and Steve Sidwell..." QueenOnline.com.
- ^ "Don Black ... adapted ... Diamonds Are Forever especially for Kerry". EADT.co.uk.
- ^ "...Anthems will be released on 13th September 2010". KerryEllis.co.uk.
- ^ "...release date: 9/28/2010..." DeccaRecords-US.com.
- ^ "To celebrate her debut release, we've put together this exclusive box set. Strictly limited edition". Universal Music.
- ^ "UK Album Chart Archive - 25th September 2010". The Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Chart Stats - Kerry Ellis - Anthems". ChartStats.co.uk.
- ^ "I'm Not That Girl - Single by Kerry Ellis". iTunes.
- ^ "Anthem - Single by Kerry Ellis". iTunes. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
- ^ "...tune in to BBC Radio 2's Arts Show ... to hear Kerry in the studio". KerryEllis.co.uk.
- ^ "Kerry is doing an interview with Richard Bacon on BBC Radio 5..." KerryEllis.co.uk.
- ^ "Tune into Gaydar Radio ... to listen to a new interview with Kerry". KerryEllis.co.uk.
- ^ "6 September - Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4, 10am (GMT)". KerryEllis.co.uk.
- ^ "West End star Kerry Ellis performs two duets - one with a fan and one with Queen guitarist Brian May". BBC.
- ^ "Michael's joined by guests ... Brian May and ... Kerry Ellis". ITV.
- ^ "...West End performer Kerry Ellis and Queen legend Brian May performed live on the show today..." ITV.
- ^ "In full: Kerry Ellis and Brian May". BBC.
- ^ "...live interview on Sunrise Sky News..." BrianMay.com.
- ^ "Kerry ... on The Wright Stuff on Tuesday 14th September..." KerryEllis.co.uk.
- ^ "Kerry ... on Weekend Wogan live this Sunday..." KerryEllis.co.uk.
- ^ "Sir Terry Wogan presents ... West End phenomenon Kerry Ellis and legendary Queen guitarist Brian May". BBC.
- ^ "G-A-Y / News / Sat 18th Sept – KERRY ELLIS". G-A-Y.co.uk.
- ^ "Kerry will be giving two album signings for new album Anthems". KerryEllis.co.uk.
- ^ "...the plan is to have a tour to promote it". Broadway.com.
- ^ Bamigboye, Baz (14 January 2010). "Jude Law's a Donmar dazzler". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
- ^ http://www.queenonline.com/en/news-archive/press-release-brian-may-kerry-ellis-tour-and-new-single/
- ^ Anthems (Liner Notes) Decca Records (2010)
External links
