FEATURE:
The Iconic '90s
Spotlighting National Album Day 2023
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AN exciting time of year…
PHOTO CREDIT: cottonbro studio/Pexels
National Album Day takes place on 14th October. I guess, in line with a lot of nostalgia round the '90s and more of the decade’s sounds making their way into new music – either as samples or new artists inspired by that period. I think the past couple of years has been noted because of the rise of physical music sales. This is not people buying singles or E.P.s. Largely, these are music lovers getting albums – either on vinyl or C.D. It is great that we get to celebrate the album as a format. The 1990s is, arguably, the most diverse, important and greatest decade for music ever. Many might say the '70s and '80s are better. Those that say there were more revolutions and evolutions in the 1960s. It is a subjective measure, though there is truth in the fact the 1990s gave us some iconic, classic albums. National Album Day will celebrate this. I am going to get to a playlist where I have selected a track from each of the iconic '90s albums that are being re-issues as limited editions for 14th October. Here is some more news:
“National Album Day today announces the exclusive list of limited edition 90s albums that are being released for the annual event celebrating the art of the album on Saturday 14th October. The special titles will be available to purchase in retailers across the UK on NAD itself, and can also be pre-ordered from 9am on Wednesday 13th September.
Held on Saturday 14th October, National Album Day will celebrate the 90s and the milestone of 75 years of the album format. National Album Day is presented in association with official audio partner Bowers & Wilkins and official broadcast partner BBC Sounds. Last week, music icons Gabrielle, Declan McKenna, Tricky and Nuno Bettencourt were announced as this year’s NAD artist ambassadors.
One of the UK’s most successful and beloved artists, National Album Day ambassador Gabrielle has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence in recent years. To mark the start of her huge ‘30 Years of Dreaming’ headline tour, Gabrielle’s No.1 third solo album Rise is being reissued on vinyl. A huge commercial success, the album spent three weeks at No.1 on the UK Albums Chart and achieved 4× Platinum status, with the iconic title track also topping the UK Singles Chart.
You've Come a Long Way, Baby proved to be Fatboy Slim’s global breakthrough album on its release in October 1998, peaking at No.1 on the UK Albums Chart and earning him a Brit Award. To mark its 25th anniversary, the album has been remastered at half speed in the best available audio quality possible for National Album Day.
It’s been 30 years since the release of blur’s second studio album Modern Life Is Rubbish, regarded as one of the defining releases of the era which saw the band continue to revolutionise the sound of English popular music. This National Album Day, fans can get their hands on a special limited edition of the record on 2LP transparent orange vinyl.
R.E.M.’s eighth studio album Automatic for the People received widespread critical acclaim upon release in 1992, when it reached No. 1 in the UK and went on to top the UK Albums Chart a further three times the following year. The record produced some of the band’s best-known songs including ‘Everybody Hurts,’ ‘Man on the Moon,’ and ‘Nightswimming’. A limited edition 180-gram yellow LP reissue of the album will be released exclusively on National Album Day.
Originally released in 1997, Time Out of Mind is hailed as one of Bob Dylan's best albums, going on to win three Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year in 1998. The record will be re-released on limited edition 2LP clear gold vinyl.
Garbage’s second studio album Version 2.0 was heralded as a bold progression from their self-titled debut album upon its release in 1998, and went on to sell over four million copies worldwide, matching the success of its predecessor. This 2LP Gatefold Vinyl comes as an exclusive for National Album Day, and is the first time the record has been pressed on transparent blue coloured vinyl.
Dannii Minogue’s hit third studio album Girl, which featured the UK Dance Chart topping singles ‘All I Wanna Do’, ‘Everything I Wanted’ and ‘Disremembrance’, has been remastered and reissued for National Album Day, and will be available on 2LP and as an expanded CD box set, featuring a wealth of exclusive material.
Pop group S Club are releasing a picture disc edition of their platinum selling debut album ‘S Club’ on vinyl for the very first time, featuring the smash hit singles ‘Bring It All Back’, ‘S Club Party’ & ‘Two In A Million / You’re My Number One’.
Dinosaur Jr. celebrate the 30th anniversary of the indie rock classic Where You Been with an exclusive limited edition reissue on double splatter vinyl. It received widespread critical acclaim on release and was the band’s first UK Top 10 album.
Grace is the only studio album by American singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley, originally released on August 23, 1994. Frequently cited by critics as one of the greatest albums of all time, it features Buckley’s definitive cover of Hallelujah. The album will be reissued on lilac wine coloured vinyl.
Legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan released their iconic debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) on November 9, 1993. Its gritty, distinctive sound created a blueprint for hardcore hip-hop during the 1990s and is regarded as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. The record is being pressed on limited edition gold marbled vinyl for its 30th anniversary,
Full list of National Album Day titles below:
808 state - ex:el (2LP)
Ace Of Base - Happy Nation (Picture Disc Vinyl)
Babybird - Ugly Beautiful (2LP)
Belinda Carlisle - Live Your Life Be Free (Picture Disc Vinyl)
Blur - Modern Life Is Rubbish (2LP Transparent Orange Vinyl)
Bob Dylan - Time Out Of Mind (2LP Clear Gold Vinyl)
Catatonia - International Velvet (1LP Recycled Colour Vinyl)
Dannii - Girl (2XLP / 4CD Box Set)
Dinosaur Jr. - Where You Been (Limited Edition Double Splatter Vinyl)
Duster - Stratosphere (25th Anniversary Edition) (1LP Clear & Black Splatter Vinyl)
Eternal - Always and Forever (1LP Recycled Colour Vinyl)
Fatboy Slim - You've Come A Long Way Baby (2LP Half-Speed Remaster)
Gabrielle - Rise (1LP)
Garbage - Version 2.0 (2LP Blue Colour Vinyl)
Ginuwine - The Bachelor (2LP Red Vinyl)
Hole - Live Through This (1LP)
Idlewild - Captain (1LP Recycled Colour Vinyl)
James - Laid (2LP)
James - Gold Mother (2LP)
Jeff Buckley - Grace (1LP Lilac Wine Vinyl)
Leftfield - Leftism (2LP White & Black Marbled Vinyl)
Lighthouse Family - Ocean Drive
Marc Almond - Tenement Symphony (2LP / Deluxe 6CD/DVD)
Melanie C - Northern Star (1LP)
Nas - It Was Written (2LP Gold & Black Vinyl)
Neneh Cherry - Man (1LP)
Paul Weller - Wild Wood (1LP)
REM - Automatic For The People (1LP Yellow Vinyl)
Robert Miles - Dreamland (2LP)
S Club - S Club (1LP)
Shola Ama - Much Love (2LP Recycled Colour Vinyl)
Simply Red - Blue (1LP Blue Vinyl)
Siouxsie - The Rapture (2LP)
Songs: Ohia - Songs: Ohia (Colour Vinyl)
Songs: Ohia - Axxess & Ace (Colour Vinyl)
Stereophonics - Performance & Cocktails (1LP)
Stone Temple Pilots - Purple (1LP Recycled Colour Vinyl)
Stone Temple Pilots - Core (1LP Recycled Colour Vinyl)
Teenage Fanclub - Bandwagonesque (1LP Transparent Yellow Vinyl)
The Corrs - Forgiven, Not Forgotten (1LP Recycled Colour Vinyl)
The Cranberries - Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1LP)
Tricky - Maxinquaye (3LP, 1LP & 2CD) *Released Friday 13th October*
Various Artists - The Virgin Suicides (Music From The Motion Picture) (1LP Recycled Colour Vinyl)
Various Artists - HELP (12”)
Various/V4 Visions - V4 Visions: Of Love & Androids (2LP Clear Smoke Vinyl)
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers) (1LP Gold Marbled Vinyl)
Now in its sixth edition, National Album Day sees the music community come together each year to celebrate and promote the art of the album. This year’s 90s theme will look to shine a light on a profoundly rich decade for music and album making that skipped between Britpop, Dance and Hip Hop; gave us national treasures Take That and global phenomenon the Spice Girls; and saw diverse genres ranging from dance, house and techno to R&B, rap and reggae and to grunge and industrial rock, among many others, rise to reach their full cultural expression – in the UK and globally.
National Album Day is again presented in association with official audio partner Bowers & Wilkins and official broadcast partner BBC Sounds, and will pay tribute to artists who tell their stories behind these significant and influential bodies of work. Artist ambassadors tied into the theme – both those that came to the fore during the 1990s and current new and emerging talent that are inspired by its music; specially reissued albums and new releases; and promotional events and other activities will be announced in due course alongside further updates.
Since its launch in 2018, NAD has been supported by a broad range of artist ambassadors, including Kylie Minogue, Joy Crookes, Sharleen Spiteri, Lewis Capaldi, Mark Ronson, La Roux, Elbow, Paloma Faith, Blossoms, Alice Cooper, Novelist, Tom Odell, Mahalia, Toyah Willcox and Jazzie B. Last year Franz Ferdinand, India Arkin, KSI, The Mysterines, Sam Ryder, and The Staves were the latest talents to add their voices as passionate advocates of the long player.
Typically benefitting from around a week-long build up, NAD has hosted a variety of activities such as listening events with album platforms including Classic Album Sundays, Pitchblack Playback, The Record Club, Tape Notes and Tim’s Listening Party; live performances; in-store artist appearances and record store promotions, street art murals; and album sleeve artwork exhibitions.
Renowned audio brand, Bowers & Wilkins, continues its support for National Album Day as official audio partner. Built on a passion for music, Bowers & Wilkins has been on an unrelenting pursuit of the highest quality listening experiences for music fans for over 60 years, always delivering sound that remains true to how the artist intended their album to be heard”.
I am grabbing from the official website. It is important to highlight the Ambassadors for this year’s National Album Day. We will all embrace and look forward to National Album Day. Having some high-profile and respected artists backing the day and showing their support means that the news and excellence of this yearly celebration spreads further and wider:
“National Album Day today announces music icons Gabrielle, Declan McKenna, Tricky and Nuno Bettencourt as this year’s artist ambassadors. National Album Day, held on Saturday 14th October, will celebrate the 90s this year and 75 years of the album format. National Album Day is presented in association with official audio partner Bowers & Wilkins and official broadcast partner BBC Sounds.
From the early 90s, Gabrielle has been one of the UK’s most successful and beloved artists. With two unforgettable #1 smashes (‘Dreams’ and ‘Rise’), a back catalogue full of Top 10 hits, two albums which reached 4 x Platinum status, two BRIT Awards, two MOBOs and an Ivor Novello, everything she touched seemed to turn to gold. Gabrielle has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence in recent years, one that proves that timeless, empowering songwriting and a distinctive voice that is the very definition of soul will never go out of fashion. This autumn will see Gabrielle embark upon the ‘30 Years of Dreaming’ headline tour which has been extended to a phenomenal 33 dates following overwhelming public demand.
Gabrielle says: “I am thrilled to be an ambassador for National Album Day. I released my album Rise in the 90s and it is the one I am most proud of. I’ve recently started collecting albums on vinyl myself and really enjoy that they encourage you to listen to a body of work in its entirety.”
Known for being the lead guitarist in Boston rock band, Extreme, Nuno Bettencourt has been making his mark on the music industry since 1985. Extreme released six studio albums, including the acclaimed ‘Pornograffitti’ in 1990, which featured the global smash, ‘More Than Words’. In 1997 Nuno shared his debut solo album ‘Schizophonic’, the band’s most recent album ‘Six’ was released in June of this year. Alongside Extreme, he has also played for some of the world’s biggest music stars, including Rihanna.
Nuno says: “I never wanted to put any music out for the sake of putting music out. When you listen to an Extreme album, you’re getting something that we’re really proud of. Albums are a labour of love. They are a snapshot of a time in the artist’s life. A story needing to be told. When I think of my favourite artists, I think of the records that I wore out. The experience of getting lost in the music and taking a journey with the band. I’m excited to be an Official Ambassador for National Album Day because that is what rock is about. The body of work. The connection with the listener. Experimenting and taking chances. Expressing yourself and connecting with the listener. So put on your favourite record, or put on something new and take that journey with the artist. The way it was meant to be.”
After winning the Glastonbury Festival's Emerging Talent Competition in 2015, Declan McKenna has made an unforgettable impression on the music industry with his creatively ambitious songwriting. Following his debut single ‘Brazil’, Declan has released two albums, including the best seller ‘Zeros’. Since then, the singer-songwriter has been out on the road across the US touring, and is ready for a late summer return to the UK for Reading & Leeds Festival.
Declan says: “Albums are still the best way for fans to connect with the true intention of art, and to enjoy and understand the vision of an artist. They create true artists and in turn create true fans. The 90s was a time of huge change in the world of music, the recording process was evolving to something closer to the accessibility that exists today, and so it has a legacy containing many records that are completely timeless, and many others that feel at the least somewhat stuck in their time, this is what happens when artists push things forward and why the 90s has so many niches that belong to it. It’s a beautifully varied era of music.”
Tricky is one of the most groundbreaking UK artists of all time. Relentlessly creative, his career
started as part of Massive Attack before going solo and releasing ‘Maxinquaye’ - a peerless album seen as one of the most important and revolutionary of the past 40 years. Tricky has recently revisited the record, completely reworking six tracks. ‘Maxinquaye (Reincarnated)’ which features a remastered version of the album as well unreleased remixes and of course the ‘reincarnated’ tracks. With a career now spanning over 30 years, his hunger for creativity has not waned and he continues to perform live all over the world.
Tricky says: “I’m very happy to be an ambassador for National Album Day as the album holds such an important place in an artist’s career. In today's world where so much is designed around short form or bite size content the album format is an important antidote. It provides the artist with the opportunity to work without compromise and create something truly enduring.
IN THIS PHOTO: Spice Girls circa 1996/PHOTO CREDIT: Universal Music Group
Now in its sixth edition, National Album Day sees the music community come together each year to celebrate and promote the art of the album. This year’s 90s theme will look to shine a light on a profoundly rich decade for music and album making that skipped between Britpop, Dance and Hip Hop; gave us national treasures Take That and global phenomenon the Spice Girls; and saw diverse genres ranging from dance, house and techno to R&B, rap and reggae and to grunge and industrial rock, among many others, rise to reach their full cultural expression – in the UK and globally.
National Album Day is again presented in association with official audio partner Bowers & Wilkins and official broadcast partner BBC Sounds, and will pay tribute to artists who tell their stories behind these significant and influential bodies of work. Artist ambassadors tied into the theme – both those that came to the fore during the 1990s and current new and emerging talent that are inspired by its music; specially reissued albums and new releases; and promotional events and other activities will be announced in due course alongside further updates.
Since its launch in 2018, NAD has been supported by a broad range of artist ambassadors, including Kylie Minogue, Joy Crookes, Sharleen Spiteri, Lewis Capaldi, Mark Ronson, La Roux, Elbow, Paloma Faith, Blossoms, Alice Cooper, Novelist, Tom Odell, Mahalia, Toyah Willcox and Jazzie B. Last year Franz Ferdinand, India Arkin, KSI, The Mysterines, Sam Ryder, and The Staves were the latest talents to add their voices as passionate advocates of the long player.
IN THIS PHOTO: The Staves (Emily, Jessica (centre), and Camilla Staveley-Taylor)/PHOTO CREDIT: Sequoia Ziff
Typically benefitting from around a week-long build up, NAD has hosted a variety of activities such as listening events with album platforms including Classic Album Sundays, Pitchblack Playback, The Record Club, Tape Notes and Tim’s Listening Party; live performances; in-store artist appearances and record store promotions, street art murals; and album sleeve artwork exhibitions.
Renowned audio brand, Bowers & Wilkins, continues its support for National Album Day as official audio partner. Built on a passion for music, Bowers & Wilkins has been on an unrelenting pursuit of the highest quality listening experiences for music fans for over 60 years, always delivering sound that remains true to how the artist intended their album to be heard.
National Album Day will announce an extensive list of exclusive 90s albums on 13th September that are being released or reissued on vinyl and CD to coincide with this annual event celebrating the art of the album”.
PHOTO CREDIT: Alax Matias/Pexels
I am going to wrap things up in a bit. I do like National Album Day. Like Record Store Day, it brings more people into record shops. Sales go up, and it means people get to discover new albums – either by new or older artists – and they make some unexpected finds. I think that the theme of the 1990s is a good one for this year. There have been other decades marked before. Women in music. Debut albums. Great and interesting themes with plenty of scope and depth. Many people might be fed up with the '90s being mentioned at the moment. One cannot deny that it is vital and hugely influential to new artists. There are some iconic albums from that wonderful decade that people around at the time will want; those who are younger will connect with a great album. I will wrap up with some further thoughts. Here is a bit more from National Album Day about them saluting the '90s:
“National Album Day returns on Saturday 14th October and this year will be themed around The 90s, following previous celebrations that included The 80s, Women in Music, and, just last year, Debut Albums. It will also help to honour 75 years of the album LP format.
Now in its sixth edition, National Album Day sees the music community come together each year to celebrate and promote the art of the album. This year’s 90s theme will look to shine a light on a profoundly rich decade for music and album making that skipped between Britpop, Trip Hop and Hip Hop; gave us national treasures Take That and global phenomenon the Spice Girls; and saw diverse genres ranging from dance, house and techno to R&B, rap and reggae and to grunge and industrial rock, among many others, rise to reach their full cultural expression – in the UK and globally”.
The 1990s was a time where certain genres were born or evolved to new heights. Not dated or selective, there is still a tonne of love for so much music of that time. Some of the truly great albums from the 1990s are inspiring artists today. It is important to recognise that time. Sophie Jones, BPI Chief Strategy Officer & Interim CEO talks about the art of the album and the pleasure of listening to that selection of songs as a single experience. Kim Bayley, Chief Executive ERA points out, as the album is seventy-five this year, it is a great celebration of classic albums from the 1990s, in addition to some lesser-heard gems. You can follow National Album Day and keep abreast of news via their Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. With national and international politics weighing on our minds and creating a stress and sense of depression, music is a real outlet and source of comfort. Any celebration of music and albums is much needed. The brilliant National Album Day, taking place on 14th October, is…
SOMETHING to look forward to.