People Move On
Encyclopedia
People Move On is the debut album from English singer Bernard Butler
released in 1998.
Following his split from soul singer David McAlmont
in 1995 and a three-year absence from the public eye, Butler re-emerged on Alan McGee
's Creation
label for his debut solo album. A year earlier McGee had, in fact, dubbed him the "Neil Young
of the Nineties". Butler wrote all the songs, produced the album and played all the instruments, except drums and strings, which were played by Makoto Sakamoto and The Brilliant Strings respectively.
People Move On echoes the early Seventies cool rock singer/songwriting era in its heartfelt sentiment and warm, melodic approach. Though Butler has stressed that it isn't a "retro record". The record has a Spector-esque
feel, which displays an "old-fashioned big-pop-production quality of the songs."
The album received moderate praise, though some critics felt that Butler's vocals were rather thin. One reviewer felt that "his voice doesn't carry enough weight to give the songs a killer instinct." In response to the criticism Butler stated: "I'm not claiming I'm a technically talented singer, and I'm certainly not some kind of tortured poet who sits with a notebook under trees pondering the meaning of life, but my voice allowed me to express a part of me I had found very difficult to express in conversation before."
Simon Evans of the Birmingham Post
highly praised the album. He felt that, "...Butler has at last delivered the kind of high-grade solo album he always seemed capable of when he finally gave up the celebrity sessioning." He then compared the album to the last output by his creation labelmates Oasis
, saying "...this is the kind of tuneful, fun, album Oasis should have made after Morning Glory
, until their ambitions expanded exponentially with their egos."
Singles released from the album were "Stay
", "Not Alone
" and "A Change of Heart". The album peaked at #11 on the UK Albums Chart
, "Stay" was the highest charting single, peaking at #12 in early 1998.
.
Bernard Butler
Bernard Joseph Butler is an English musician and record producer. He first emerged in the early Britpop era with Suede. He has been hailed by some critics as the greatest guitarist of his generation, as well as one of Britain's most original and influential guitarists...
released in 1998.
Following his split from soul singer David McAlmont
David McAlmont
David McAlmont is a British vocalist and songwriter.-Early years and Thieves:...
in 1995 and a three-year absence from the public eye, Butler re-emerged on Alan McGee
Alan McGee
Alan McGee has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for The Guardian.McGee is best-known for co-forming and running the independent Creation Records label from 1983–1999, and then Poptones from 1999-2007...
's Creation
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
label for his debut solo album. A year earlier McGee had, in fact, dubbed him the "Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
of the Nineties". Butler wrote all the songs, produced the album and played all the instruments, except drums and strings, which were played by Makoto Sakamoto and The Brilliant Strings respectively.
People Move On echoes the early Seventies cool rock singer/songwriting era in its heartfelt sentiment and warm, melodic approach. Though Butler has stressed that it isn't a "retro record". The record has a Spector-esque
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
feel, which displays an "old-fashioned big-pop-production quality of the songs."
The album received moderate praise, though some critics felt that Butler's vocals were rather thin. One reviewer felt that "his voice doesn't carry enough weight to give the songs a killer instinct." In response to the criticism Butler stated: "I'm not claiming I'm a technically talented singer, and I'm certainly not some kind of tortured poet who sits with a notebook under trees pondering the meaning of life, but my voice allowed me to express a part of me I had found very difficult to express in conversation before."
Simon Evans of the Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
The Birmingham Post newspaper was originally published under the name Daily Post in Birmingham, England, in 1857 by John Frederick Feeney. It was the largest selling broadsheet in the West Midlands, though it faced little if any competition in this category. It changed to tabloid size in 2008...
highly praised the album. He felt that, "...Butler has at last delivered the kind of high-grade solo album he always seemed capable of when he finally gave up the celebrity sessioning." He then compared the album to the last output by his creation labelmates Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
, saying "...this is the kind of tuneful, fun, album Oasis should have made after Morning Glory
(What's the Story) Morning Glory?
Morning Glory? is the second studio album by the English rock band Oasis. It was released on 2 October 1995 through Creation Records. The album was Oasis' most enduring commercial success, charting at number one in the UK and number four in the U.S...
, until their ambitions expanded exponentially with their egos."
Singles released from the album were "Stay
Stay (Bernard Butler song)
"Stay" is the debut single from Bernard Butler released in January 1998. It was taken from the album People Move On and charted at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart....
", "Not Alone
Not Alone (song)
"Not Alone" is the second single from Bernard Butler released in March 1998. It was taken from the album People Move On and charted at number 27 on the UK Singles Chart....
" and "A Change of Heart". The album peaked at #11 on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
, "Stay" was the highest charting single, peaking at #12 in early 1998.
Track listing
All songs written by Bernard ButlerBernard Butler
Bernard Joseph Butler is an English musician and record producer. He first emerged in the early Britpop era with Suede. He has been hailed by some critics as the greatest guitarist of his generation, as well as one of Britain's most original and influential guitarists...
.
- "Woman I Know" - 7:51
- "You Just Know" - 4:39
- "People Move On" - 4:39
- "A Change of Heart" - 4:41
- "Autograph" - 8:45
- "You Light the Fire" - 3:53
- "Not Alone" - 3:52
- "When You Grow" - 5:25
- "You've Got What It Takes" - 4:50
- "Stay" - 5:15
- "In Vain" - 4:55
- "I'm Tired" - 4:54