Richard Ashcroft
Encyclopedia
Richard Paul Ashcroft is an English
singer-songwriter
. He was the lead singer and occasional guitarist of alternative rock
band The Verve
from their formation in 1990 until their split in 1999, and continues as a lead vocalist working with guitars and keyboards. He became a successful solo artist in his own right, releasing three UK top three solo albums. The Verve reformed in 2007 but again broke up by summer 2009. Ashcroft then founded a new band, RPA & The United Nations of Sound (which is a pseudonym more than a real band), and released a new album on 19 July 2010.
s.
Ashcroft attended Up Holland High School
, along with future bandmates Simon Jones
, Peter Salisbury
and Simon Tong
, and then attended Winstanley College
, where he met Nick McCabe
. His teachers referred to him as "the cancer of the class", though one member of staff recalled him being "incredibly intelligent". Ashcroft was an avid football
player, playing junior football for Wigan Athletic
. For some time Ashcroft wanted to be a professional football player, idolising George Best
, but as he grew older he lost interest in this, turning to music instead.
Richard channels his love of football with the occasional run out for The Legends and is confirmed to be playing in the upcoming Celtic FC vs Man U - The Legends at Celtic Park on 9 August 2011.The Scottish Sun, 27 July 2011
. Ashcroft was at the forefront of the band's popularity, receiving an Ivor Novello Award for his songwriting and being referred to by the press as "the unmistakable face of the Number One rock band in England". However, the pressures of touring and the tensions within the band led to McCabe's departure in mid-1998 and the announcement of the band's break-up in April 1999.
In early 2007, Ashcroft made peace with McCabe and Jones and The Verve's reunion was announced in June. The band played gigs later that year and continued touring in 2008, headlining at several festivals around the world. A new album, Forth
, was released in August.
In August 2009 it was announced by The Guardian
that The Verve had broken up for the third time.
", peaked at #3 in the UK charts in April. It was followed by the single "Money To Burn
" which reached the UK Top 20 at #17. The album, Alone with Everybody
, was released in June, reaching number 1 and receiving platinum status in the UK. Album reviews were generally positive. In September, a third single was released – "C'mon People (We're Making It Now)
" – entering the charts at #21. Richard does not publish the lyrics to his songs in the inlay cards of his albums or singles as he feels they are personal to him.
Ashcroft began work on his second album Human Conditions
in 2002. The lead single, "Check the Meaning
", was released in early October, and peaked at #11 on the UK Singles Chart. The album was released later that month and reached #3 in the UK Album Chart. Reception to the album was largely negative. Despite the general panning, Coldplay
's Chris Martin
- a fan of both Ashcroft and The Verve - defended the album's merits which "made an impression" on Ashcroft. The appreciation shown would later result in a support slot for Ashcroft, serving as the opening act for Coldplay during a European tour. The album's second single, "Science of Silence
", was released the following January and charted at #14 in the UK. On 26 March, Ashcroft made his first live appearance of 2003 at London's Royal Albert Hall
as part of the third annual Teenage Cancer Trust
charity fundraising event, before "Buy It in Bottles
", the third and final single to be taken from the album, was released on 7 April, charting at #26.
Aside from a limited number of appearances in 2003, Ashcroft was absent from the music business for about two years. He later explained this in 2006, stating that "[e]veryone got it into their heads over the last few years that I was in my ivory tower like Lennon
, baking bread all day. The fact of the matter was that I was bringing up kids".
concert in Hyde Park
, Coldplay
invited him to perform with them during their set. They performed The Verve's hit "Bitter Sweet Symphony
", after having previously rehearsed the song in Crystal Palace. Ashcroft's performance of the song was introduced by Chris Martin
as "the best song ever written, sung by the best singer in the world", helping to create renewed interest in Ashcroft. At Christmas 2005, a documentary entitled Live 8: A Bitter Sweet Symphony was aired on the BBC
reliving moments of the day featuring a portion of Ashcroft's performance as the show's opening soundtrack.
After the disintegration of Hut Records
in 2004, Ashcroft signed to Parlophone
where he released his third solo album, Keys to the World
, on 23 January 2006. The first single from the album, "Break the Night with Colour
", was released on 9 January 2006, and entered the UK Singles Chart
at number 3. Following his performance at Live 8, Ashcroft was booked as a support act for Coldplay's Twisted Logic Tour
throughout North America
and the UK, which started on 14 March in Ottawa
, Canada
. Ashcroft saw the support slot as "a good chance to play to a significant amount of people and say, ‘I’m back. And this is what I do’".
The album's second single, "Music Is Power
", charted at number 20. On 18 April 2006, he recorded the Live from London EP, the ninth in a series of EPs released exclusively as digital downloads from Apple's iTunes Store. The EP was released just 6 days later on 24 April. With the release of Keys to the World, the general consensus was that Ashcroft was "back at the top of his musical game", as he announced his largest UK tour for years for May 2006, culminating in three nights at London's Brixton Academy. Following the tour, Ashcroft had hoped to perform two "Homecoming" shows at Wigan Athletic
's 25,000 seater JJB Stadium
in June 2006, but was unable to do so as the proposed venue lacked the "appropriate licence". As a consequence, he chose to play at Lancashire County Cricket Club
in Manchester
, in what was to be his biggest solo show to date. He was supported at the gig by acts such as Razorlight
and The Feeling
, whilst DJ Shadow
joined Richard on stage during his set to perform "Lonely Soul", their UNKLE
collaboration from 1998's Psyence Fiction
LP. Another UK tour followed five months later, culminating in a show at Manchester's M.E.N. Arena on 30 November. Ashcroft did not tour Keys To The World outside of Europe.
Ashcroft hinted at the possible release of a new version of his previous single "C'mon People (We're Making It Now)" for the Bobby Moore
Cancer Fund, which would coincide with England
's participation in the 2006 Football World Cup, but the single never materialised. Instead, his next release was "Words Just Get in the Way
", which charted lower than his previous single, peaking at #40 in the UK Singles Chart. On 4 December, the double a-side "Why Not Nothing" / "Sweet Brother Malcolm"
was released on limited edition 7" vinyl.
On 11 December 2006, Ashcroft recorded a live performance for Live From Abbey Road. The programme was broadcast in the UK on Channel 4
in March 2007, and in the USA on the Sundance Channel in June 2007.
. The Verve broke up for a third time sometime between the last rehearsals in late 2008 and the summer of 2009. It was announced in August 2009 by a band's friend.
A b-side compilation was considered a possibility, as Richard's team has asked the fans through his site about their feelings on such an album, but it's now very unlikely. In December 2009, Richard contributed the lead soundtrack song for the documentary The Journey. The song, available for purchase at iTunes
can be streamed and a video was posted at Ashcroft's site. Also, through his blog BRAIN, he has stated that he will release a new album in 2010. Sources reveal he has worked on some 20-30 new songs in New York, Los Angeles and London with producer No I.D.
, who Richard sought after because he liked his work in the Jay-Z
song "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
" and read an interview where he states how many producers destroy records in order to boost sales.
Ashcroft is currently working with a new band called RPA & The United Nations of Sound, whom have released a promo single from the upcoming album called "Are You Ready?", which was premiered exclusively on the NME
website on 18 January 2010. From 9 April 2010 an exclusive RPA Club-only track, "Third Eye (Colombus Circle)", is also available as a download on his official website. The album "United Nations of Sound" (former working title "Redemption") and the first proper single "Born Again" were released on 19 July 2010. The full album leaked on 15 July and the NME started streaming the album the following day. The new sound seems to emulate many of Richard's influences described over the years in interviews and seems to close a circle for his solo career. Strings, beats, rock-guitar-riffs, voice-loops, ballads and heroic-choir-anthems are the core of the album's sound with Ashcroft's craft for pop tunes and unique melody-making. Also found in the songs are the ever-present spiritual lyrics for Richard, although here in fuller form.
After two months of silence, on 15 October Ashcroft released through his website a second fanclub-only track, "Here We Go Again". On the same day the song "Are You Ready?" was released as the first official single from the new album in the United States
. During the same month Ashcroft had signed with the record company Razor & Tie
in the United States
. The radio edit of "Are You Ready?" is available for free on the US version of Richard's website.
The album United Nations of Sound
was released across the Atlantic on 22 March 2011 under the name "Richard Ashcroft" and the lead single "Are You Ready?" was featured over the closing credits of the film The Adjustment Bureau
in March 2011, along with the new song "Future's Bright", written and performed specifically for the film's opening by Richard and ten-time Oscar-nominated composer Thomas Newman
.
For the US release of "Are You Ready?", Richard Ashcroft and Big Life Management commissioned Giorgio Testi for the promo – to be created out of live footage from a show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire. The video premiered on 7 February on the official website of Pulse Films, the production company.
On 1 March the song "Future's Bright" was premiered on Stereogum
. On the official website of the movie The Adjustment Bureau
there is also a video created for the song by director George Nolfi
.
, a former member of Spiritualized
. They married in 1995 and it was years before it was publicly revealed that the pair had married. Together, they have two sons: Sonny, born in 2000, and Cassius, born in 2004. The family live in Ledbury
in Herefordshire
. Ashcroft is a Manchester United fan.
He is good friends with Oasis
' Noel Gallagher
, Liam Gallagher
and Coldplay
's Chris Martin
(whom Ashcroft once thanked for "letting me be myself again"). The Gallagher brothers for a long time have expressed the greatest of respect to Ashcroft, with Noel fondly nicknaming Ashcroft 'Captain Rock'. The Oasis track "Cast No Shadow", included in the successful 1995 album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
is dedicated to him, and it is believed that Ashcroft dedicated the title track of A Northern Soul
to Gallagher as a response. Ashcroft also provided backing vocals on the Oasis song "All Around the World
" in 1997, for Oasis' Be Here Now.
In a 2006 interview, Ashcroft mentioned taking Prozac to help him with clinical depression
, but said that they didn't help, referring to the pills as "very, very synthetic." Ashcroft has said that he's always been "a depressive, someone who suffers from depression", and that music and creativity help him cope with his illness.
", on which Ashcroft is the sole band member to share a co-writing credit. The song uses a sample of Andrew Oldham Orchestra's recording of The Rolling Stones
' 1965 song "The Last Time
". The Verve had negotiated this legally, however The Rolling Stones' record company
successfully sued and argued that they had used "too much". The Verve was subsequently forced to give ABKCO 100 percent of the royalties
from "Bitter Sweet Symphony", and Mick Jagger
and Keith Richards
were given songwriting credits along with Ashcroft.
In 2006, he was arrested in Wiltshire
after coming into a youth centre and asking to work with the teenagers present at the club. He refused to leave and employees called the police, resulting in Ashcroft being arrested and fined £80 for disorderly conduct
.
Ashcroft stormed off stage after only one song at Australia's 2010 Splendour in the Grass festival at Woodford, apparently angry at the lack of attendance at his stage. He had been scheduled as one of three headliners but attendees mainly filled the stages of the other two headliners, alternative rockers The Pixies and local Australian dance act Empire of the Sun
. A statement from Ashcroft's management posted on Richardashcroft.co.uk blamed the cancellation on his voice giving out. "After three gigs in two days, including a two-hour show in Sydney on Saturday night, we knew Richard would have to look after his voice for the Splendour In The Grass set so we cancelled all promotional activity for Sunday," the statement said. It continued: "It wasn't until he got on stage on Sunday night at Splendour that he realised his voice wouldn't make it through the set."
Ashcroft was reportedly "ordered not to speak or sing for 72 hours" by a doctor.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. He was the lead singer and occasional guitarist of alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band The Verve
The Verve
The Verve were an English rock band formed in 1989 in Wigan by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones, and drummer Peter Salisbury. Guitarist and keyboardist Simon Tong later became a member. Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to shoegazing and space...
from their formation in 1990 until their split in 1999, and continues as a lead vocalist working with guitars and keyboards. He became a successful solo artist in his own right, releasing three UK top three solo albums. The Verve reformed in 2007 but again broke up by summer 2009. Ashcroft then founded a new band, RPA & The United Nations of Sound (which is a pseudonym more than a real band), and released a new album on 19 July 2010.
Early life
Ashcroft was the only son of office worker Frank and hairdresser Margaret; he also has two younger sisters. When Ashcroft was 11, his father died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage. Ashcroft soon "fell under the influence of his stepfather", who belonged to the RosicrucianRosicrucian
Rosicrucianism is a philosophical secret society, said to have been founded in late medieval Germany by Christian Rosenkreuz. It holds a doctrine or theology "built on esoteric truths of the ancient past", which, "concealed from the average man, provide insight into nature, the physical universe...
s.
Ashcroft attended Up Holland High School
Up Holland High School
Upholland High School is a secondary school in Upholland, England. It is a comprehensive school of non-denominational religion and holds dual specialist Music College and Maths and Computing College status...
, along with future bandmates Simon Jones
Simon Jones (musician)
Simon Jones is an English bass player. He played bass and provided occasional backing vocals for the English band, The Verve.-Personal life:...
, Peter Salisbury
Peter Salisbury
Peter Salisbury is best known as the drummer of The Verve, which he joined as a founding member in 1989.- Personal life :...
and Simon Tong
Simon Tong
Simon Tong is a guitarist and keyboardist who was a member of The Verve between 1996 and 1999 and is currently a member of Erland and the Carnival and Transmission. He has also played on tour with Blur, Gorillaz and the unnamed supergroup responsible for The Good, the Bad & the Queen...
, and then attended Winstanley College
Winstanley College
Winstanley College is a sixth form college in the Billinge Higher End area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester.-Admissions:In the academic year 2007–08 it had 1,803 full time students...
, where he met Nick McCabe
Nick McCabe
Nick McCabe is a musician best known as the lead guitarist of The Verve.-Early life:Nick McCabe was the son of a bus driver and has two older brothers, Alan and Paul...
. His teachers referred to him as "the cancer of the class", though one member of staff recalled him being "incredibly intelligent". Ashcroft was an avid football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player, playing junior football for Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
. For some time Ashcroft wanted to be a professional football player, idolising George Best
George Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
, but as he grew older he lost interest in this, turning to music instead.
Richard channels his love of football with the occasional run out for The Legends and is confirmed to be playing in the upcoming Celtic FC vs Man U - The Legends at Celtic Park on 9 August 2011.The Scottish Sun, 27 July 2011
The Verve
Ashcroft formed The Verve (originally just Verve) in 1990 with McCabe, Jones and Salisbury. The band signed to Hut Records and became well known for their appetite for both psychedelic music and drugs. They also became a part of the Britpop movement. The band split in 1995, and around this time Ashcroft wrote a collection of songs he intended to release as his first solo album. However, by 1997 he had changed his mind and asked McCabe to return (alongside new member Tong), reforming The Verve and releasing the very successful album Urban HymnsUrban Hymns
Urban Hymns is the third album by English rock band The Verve, released on 29 September 1997 on Hut Recordings. It earned nearly unanimous critical praise upon its release, and went on to become the band's best-selling release and one of the biggest selling albums of the year...
. Ashcroft was at the forefront of the band's popularity, receiving an Ivor Novello Award for his songwriting and being referred to by the press as "the unmistakable face of the Number One rock band in England". However, the pressures of touring and the tensions within the band led to McCabe's departure in mid-1998 and the announcement of the band's break-up in April 1999.
In early 2007, Ashcroft made peace with McCabe and Jones and The Verve's reunion was announced in June. The band played gigs later that year and continued touring in 2008, headlining at several festivals around the world. A new album, Forth
Forth (The Verve album)
Forth is the fourth and final studio album by the English rock band The Verve. It was released internationally on 25 August 2008 on EMI, and a day later in North America on the On Your Own label. The band reformed in 2007, having broken up in 1999...
, was released in August.
In August 2009 it was announced by The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
that The Verve had broken up for the third time.
Alone with Everybody and Human Conditions: 2000-2004
Ashcroft's first solo single, "A Song for the LoversA Song for the Lovers
"A Song for the Lovers" is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is the opening track on his 2000 album, Alone with Everybody. The song was also released on April 3, 2000 as the first single from that album in the United Kingdom...
", peaked at #3 in the UK charts in April. It was followed by the single "Money To Burn
Money to Burn
"Money to Burn" is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is the eighth track on his 2000 album Alone with Everybody. The song was also released on June 12, 2000 as the second single from that album in the United Kingdom...
" which reached the UK Top 20 at #17. The album, Alone with Everybody
Alone with Everybody
Alone with Everybody is the first solo album by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft, released via Hut Records in June 2000 ....
, was released in June, reaching number 1 and receiving platinum status in the UK. Album reviews were generally positive. In September, a third single was released – "C'mon People (We're Making It Now)
C'mon People (We're Making It Now)
"C'mon People " is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is the tenth track on his 2000 album Alone with Everybody. The song was also released on September 11, 2000 as the third single from that album in the United Kingdom...
" – entering the charts at #21. Richard does not publish the lyrics to his songs in the inlay cards of his albums or singles as he feels they are personal to him.
Ashcroft began work on his second album Human Conditions
Human Conditions
Human Conditions is the second solo album by English singer-songwriter, Richard Ashcroft, released in October 2002 .-Release and reception:Human Conditions generally received negative reviews...
in 2002. The lead single, "Check the Meaning
Check the Meaning
"Check the Meaning" is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is the opening track on his 2002 album Human Conditions. The song was also released on October 7, 2002 as the first single from that album in the United Kingdom...
", was released in early October, and peaked at #11 on the UK Singles Chart. The album was released later that month and reached #3 in the UK Album Chart. Reception to the album was largely negative. Despite the general panning, Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
's Chris Martin
Chris Martin
Christopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
- a fan of both Ashcroft and The Verve - defended the album's merits which "made an impression" on Ashcroft. The appreciation shown would later result in a support slot for Ashcroft, serving as the opening act for Coldplay during a European tour. The album's second single, "Science of Silence
Science of Silence
"Science of Silence" is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is the sixth track on his 2002 album Human Conditions. The song was also released on January 6, 2003 as the second single from that album in the United Kingdom...
", was released the following January and charted at #14 in the UK. On 26 March, Ashcroft made his first live appearance of 2003 at London's Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
as part of the third annual Teenage Cancer Trust
Teenage Cancer Trust
Teenage Cancer Trust is a charity that focuses on the needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer, leukaemia, Hodgkin’s and related diseases by providing specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals. The units are dedicated areas for teenage patients, who are involved in their concept and creation...
charity fundraising event, before "Buy It in Bottles
Buy It in Bottles
"Buy It in Bottles" is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is the second track on his 2002 album Human Conditions. The song was also released as the third and final single from that album in the United Kingdom on April 7, 2003, peaking at #26 in the UK Singles Chart .-Track...
", the third and final single to be taken from the album, was released on 7 April, charting at #26.
Aside from a limited number of appearances in 2003, Ashcroft was absent from the music business for about two years. He later explained this in 2006, stating that "[e]veryone got it into their heads over the last few years that I was in my ivory tower like Lennon
Lennon
The name Lennon can refer to one of several individuals or groups:* John Lennon, singer, musician, poet and songwriter famous as a member of The Beatles** Cynthia Lennon, John Lennon's first wife...
, baking bread all day. The fact of the matter was that I was bringing up kids".
Live 8 and Keys to the World: 2005-2007
Ashcroft began playing gigs again in mid-2005, and, on 2 July at the Live 8Live 8
Live 8 was a string of benefit concerts that took place on 2 July 2005, in the G8 states and in South Africa. They were timed to precede the G8 Conference and summit held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland from 6–8 July 2005; they also coincided with the 20th anniversary of Live Aid...
concert in Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
, Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
invited him to perform with them during their set. They performed The Verve's hit "Bitter Sweet Symphony
Bitter Sweet Symphony
"Bitter Sweet Symphony" is a song by English alternative rock band The Verve, the lead track on their third album, Urban Hymns. It is based on music from an Andrew Loog Oldham adaptation of a Rolling Stones song, "The Last Time". It was released on 16 June 1997 by Hut Recordings as the first single...
", after having previously rehearsed the song in Crystal Palace. Ashcroft's performance of the song was introduced by Chris Martin
Chris Martin
Christopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
as "the best song ever written, sung by the best singer in the world", helping to create renewed interest in Ashcroft. At Christmas 2005, a documentary entitled Live 8: A Bitter Sweet Symphony was aired on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
reliving moments of the day featuring a portion of Ashcroft's performance as the show's opening soundtrack.
After the disintegration of Hut Records
Hut Records
VC Recordings trading as Hut Records was a British record label brand which was started in 1990 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Virgin Records...
in 2004, Ashcroft signed to Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
where he released his third solo album, Keys to the World
Keys to the World
Keys to the World is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft. It was released 23 January 2006, reaching number 2 in the UK Albums Chart . Ashcroft worked at the album at State of the Ark studios and Julian Kershaw wrote string arrangements for some of the songs later...
, on 23 January 2006. The first single from the album, "Break the Night with Colour
Break the Night with Colour
"Break the Night with Colour" is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is the third track on his 2006 album Keys to the World...
", was released on 9 January 2006, and entered the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at number 3. Following his performance at Live 8, Ashcroft was booked as a support act for Coldplay's Twisted Logic Tour
Twisted Logic Tour
The Twisted Logic Tour was a global concert tour in support of Coldplay's third album, X&Y. The year-long tour took the band across Europe and their native United Kingdom, as well as to the United States and Canada. The tour concluded in July 2006 with dates in Australia, South East Asia and Japan...
throughout North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and the UK, which started on 14 March in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Ashcroft saw the support slot as "a good chance to play to a significant amount of people and say, ‘I’m back. And this is what I do’".
The album's second single, "Music Is Power
Music Is Power
"Music Is Power" is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is the second track on his 2006 album Keys to the World. The song features a sample from Walter Jackson's "It's All Over", written by Curtis Mayfield. It was also released as the second single from that album on 17 April...
", charted at number 20. On 18 April 2006, he recorded the Live from London EP, the ninth in a series of EPs released exclusively as digital downloads from Apple's iTunes Store. The EP was released just 6 days later on 24 April. With the release of Keys to the World, the general consensus was that Ashcroft was "back at the top of his musical game", as he announced his largest UK tour for years for May 2006, culminating in three nights at London's Brixton Academy. Following the tour, Ashcroft had hoped to perform two "Homecoming" shows at Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
's 25,000 seater JJB Stadium
JJB Stadium
The DW Stadium is a sports stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, that is home to Wigan Athletic football club and Wigan Warriors rugby league club....
in June 2006, but was unable to do so as the proposed venue lacked the "appropriate licence". As a consequence, he chose to play at Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, in what was to be his biggest solo show to date. He was supported at the gig by acts such as Razorlight
Razorlight
Razorlight are a UK based indie rock band formed in 2002. They are primarily known in the UK, having topped the charts with the 2006 single "America" and its parent self-titled album, their second...
and The Feeling
The Feeling
The Feeling are a BRIT award-nominated English pop band from West Sussex and London. The band categorise their music as "pop".Following a limited release of their first single "Fill My Little World" in late 2005, the band entered the UK Singles Chart at #7 with their first full release "Sewn" in...
, whilst DJ Shadow
DJ Shadow
Joshua Paul Davis better known as DJ Shadow is an American music producer, DJ and songwriter. He is considered a prominent figure in the development of instrumental hip hop and first gained notice with the release of his highly acclaimed debut album Endtroducing....., which was constructed...
joined Richard on stage during his set to perform "Lonely Soul", their UNKLE
UNKLE
Unkle are a British musical outfit founded in 1994 by school friends James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy. Originally categorized as trip-hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a variety of guest artists and producers.-First incarnation :Lavelle and Goldsworthy were joined...
collaboration from 1998's Psyence Fiction
Psyence Fiction
-Samples:*"Intro "**Quannum MCs – "Blue Flames"**Massive Attack – "Teardrop"**Air – "All I Need"**Invisibl Skratch Piklz – "Invisibl Skratch Piklz vs...
LP. Another UK tour followed five months later, culminating in a show at Manchester's M.E.N. Arena on 30 November. Ashcroft did not tour Keys To The World outside of Europe.
Ashcroft hinted at the possible release of a new version of his previous single "C'mon People (We're Making It Now)" for the Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore
Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore, OBE was an English footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup...
Cancer Fund, which would coincide with England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
's participation in the 2006 Football World Cup, but the single never materialised. Instead, his next release was "Words Just Get in the Way
Words Just Get in the Way
"Words Just Get in the Way" is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is featured on his 2006 album, Keys to the World. It was released 10 July 2006 as the third single from that album, charting at #40 in the UK Singles Chart .The music video features footage of Richard's...
", which charted lower than his previous single, peaking at #40 in the UK Singles Chart. On 4 December, the double a-side "Why Not Nothing" / "Sweet Brother Malcolm"
Why Not Nothing? / Sweet Brother Malcolm
"Why Not Nothing?" and "Sweet Brother Malcolm" are songs by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and are featured on his 2006 album, Keys to the World...
was released on limited edition 7" vinyl.
On 11 December 2006, Ashcroft recorded a live performance for Live From Abbey Road. The programme was broadcast in the UK on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
in March 2007, and in the USA on the Sundance Channel in June 2007.
RPA & The United Nations of Sound: 2009-present
Ashcroft is contractually obligated to record another album for Parlophone. Ashcroft played a solo gig on 25 August 2008 as part of the Last Days of Summer Festival in BuckinghamBuckingham
Buckingham is a town situated in north Buckinghamshire, England, close to the borders of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire. The town has a population of 11,572 ,...
. The Verve broke up for a third time sometime between the last rehearsals in late 2008 and the summer of 2009. It was announced in August 2009 by a band's friend.
A b-side compilation was considered a possibility, as Richard's team has asked the fans through his site about their feelings on such an album, but it's now very unlikely. In December 2009, Richard contributed the lead soundtrack song for the documentary The Journey. The song, available for purchase at iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
can be streamed and a video was posted at Ashcroft's site. Also, through his blog BRAIN, he has stated that he will release a new album in 2010. Sources reveal he has worked on some 20-30 new songs in New York, Los Angeles and London with producer No I.D.
No I.D.
No I.D., officially known as Immenslope and also known as Ernest Wilson , is a hip hop and R&B record producer, also the vice-president of Def Jam Recordings, best known for his early work with Chicago rapper Common and is known as "The Godfather of Chicago hip hop".. The nickname No I.D...
, who Richard sought after because he liked his work in the Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
song "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
"D.O.A. " is a song written by American rapper Jay-Z. It was produced by No I.D. The song was released as a digital download on June 23, 2009, and as the first single from Jay-Z's 11th studio album, The Blueprint 3. The song made its world premiere on the New York radio station Hot 97 on June 5...
" and read an interview where he states how many producers destroy records in order to boost sales.
Ashcroft is currently working with a new band called RPA & The United Nations of Sound, whom have released a promo single from the upcoming album called "Are You Ready?", which was premiered exclusively on the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
website on 18 January 2010. From 9 April 2010 an exclusive RPA Club-only track, "Third Eye (Colombus Circle)", is also available as a download on his official website. The album "United Nations of Sound" (former working title "Redemption") and the first proper single "Born Again" were released on 19 July 2010. The full album leaked on 15 July and the NME started streaming the album the following day. The new sound seems to emulate many of Richard's influences described over the years in interviews and seems to close a circle for his solo career. Strings, beats, rock-guitar-riffs, voice-loops, ballads and heroic-choir-anthems are the core of the album's sound with Ashcroft's craft for pop tunes and unique melody-making. Also found in the songs are the ever-present spiritual lyrics for Richard, although here in fuller form.
After two months of silence, on 15 October Ashcroft released through his website a second fanclub-only track, "Here We Go Again". On the same day the song "Are You Ready?" was released as the first official single from the new album in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. During the same month Ashcroft had signed with the record company Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie is a New York-based corporation founded in 1990 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam. The company encompasses a record label with major label distribution , a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a marketing, promotion and sales team, and a direct...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The radio edit of "Are You Ready?" is available for free on the US version of Richard's website.
The album United Nations of Sound
United Nations of Sound (album)
United Nations of Sound is the debut album by British alternative rock band RPA & The United Nations of Sound , released on 19 July 2010 through Parlophone...
was released across the Atlantic on 22 March 2011 under the name "Richard Ashcroft" and the lead single "Are You Ready?" was featured over the closing credits of the film The Adjustment Bureau
The Adjustment Bureau
The Adjustment Bureau is a 2011 American fantasy romantic thriller film loosely based on the Philip K. Dick short story, "Adjustment Team". The film was written and directed by George Nolfi and stars Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. The cast also includes Anthony Mackie, John Slattery, Michael Kelly,...
in March 2011, along with the new song "Future's Bright", written and performed specifically for the film's opening by Richard and ten-time Oscar-nominated composer Thomas Newman
Thomas Newman
Thomas Montgomery Newman is an American composer and conductor, best known for his many film scores. He is one of the more respected and recognized composers for modern film and has scored over fifty feature films in a career which spans nearly three decades.Newman has received a total of ten...
.
For the US release of "Are You Ready?", Richard Ashcroft and Big Life Management commissioned Giorgio Testi for the promo – to be created out of live footage from a show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire. The video premiered on 7 February on the official website of Pulse Films, the production company.
On 1 March the song "Future's Bright" was premiered on Stereogum
Stereogum
Stereogum was one of the first MP3 blogs. It was created by Scott Lapatine in January 2002 with a focus on independent and alternative music news, downloads, videos, and gossip. Stereogum has received several awards and citations, including the 2008 Plug Award for best music blog, Blender's...
. On the official website of the movie The Adjustment Bureau
The Adjustment Bureau
The Adjustment Bureau is a 2011 American fantasy romantic thriller film loosely based on the Philip K. Dick short story, "Adjustment Team". The film was written and directed by George Nolfi and stars Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. The cast also includes Anthony Mackie, John Slattery, Michael Kelly,...
there is also a video created for the song by director George Nolfi
George Nolfi
George Nolfi is an American screenwriter. He directed the 2011 film The Adjustment Bureau, which he also wrote .- Life and career :...
.
Personal life
Ashcroft is married to Kate RadleyKate Radley
Kate Radley was a keyboard player for the British rock band Spiritualized, and was, for part of her tenure with the band, in a long-term relationship with the band's frontman and principal creative force, Jason Pierce...
, a former member of Spiritualized
Spiritualized
Spiritualized are an English space rock band formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce after the demise of his previous outfit, space-rockers Spacemen 3...
. They married in 1995 and it was years before it was publicly revealed that the pair had married. Together, they have two sons: Sonny, born in 2000, and Cassius, born in 2004. The family live in Ledbury
Ledbury
Ledbury is a town in Herefordshire, England, lying east of Hereford, and south of the Malvern Hills.Today, Ledbury is a thriving market town in rural England. The town has a large number of timber framed buildings, in particular along Church Lane and High Street. One of Ledbury's most outstanding...
in Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
. Ashcroft is a Manchester United fan.
He is good friends with 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...
' Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
, Liam Gallagher
Liam Gallagher
William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, the former frontman of the English rock band Oasis and currently of the band Beady Eye. Gallagher's erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press...
and Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
's Chris Martin
Chris Martin
Christopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
(whom Ashcroft once thanked for "letting me be myself again"). The Gallagher brothers for a long time have expressed the greatest of respect to Ashcroft, with Noel fondly nicknaming Ashcroft 'Captain Rock'. The Oasis track "Cast No Shadow", included in the successful 1995 album (What's the Story) 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...
is dedicated to him, and it is believed that Ashcroft dedicated the title track of A Northern Soul
A Northern Soul
A Northern Soul is the second studio album by English alternative rock band The Verve. The album was released in the United States on 20 June 1995 on the Hut label and in the United Kingdom on 3 July 1995 on Vernon Yard Records...
to Gallagher as a response. Ashcroft also provided backing vocals on the Oasis song "All Around the World
All Around the World (Oasis song)
"All Around the World" is a song by the English rock band Oasis, written by the band's lead guitarist and principal songwriter Noel Gallagher. Released on 12 January 1998, the track peaked at number one in the UK Singles Chart; it is the longest single ever to do so...
" in 1997, for Oasis' Be Here Now.
In a 2006 interview, Ashcroft mentioned taking Prozac to help him with clinical depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
, but said that they didn't help, referring to the pills as "very, very synthetic." Ashcroft has said that he's always been "a depressive, someone who suffers from depression", and that music and creativity help him cope with his illness.
Controversy
Controversy exists over The Verve's biggest hit, "Bitter Sweet SymphonyBitter Sweet Symphony
"Bitter Sweet Symphony" is a song by English alternative rock band The Verve, the lead track on their third album, Urban Hymns. It is based on music from an Andrew Loog Oldham adaptation of a Rolling Stones song, "The Last Time". It was released on 16 June 1997 by Hut Recordings as the first single...
", on which Ashcroft is the sole band member to share a co-writing credit. The song uses a sample of Andrew Oldham Orchestra's recording of The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
' 1965 song "The Last Time
The Last Time (song)
In 1967, after the imprisonment of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, on drugs charges, The Who recorded covers of "The Last Time" and "Under My Thumb" as a single. The intention was to help Jagger and Richards make bail, but by the time the single was made available, they had been released. The...
". The Verve had negotiated this legally, however The Rolling Stones' record company
ABKCO Records
ABKCO Music & Records, Inc. is a major independent record label, music publisher, and film and video production company. It owns and or administers the rights to music by Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Herman's Hermits, Marianne Faithfull, The Kinks as well as the Cameo Parkway label,...
successfully sued and argued that they had used "too much". The Verve was subsequently forced to give ABKCO 100 percent of the royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
from "Bitter Sweet Symphony", and Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
and Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
were given songwriting credits along with Ashcroft.
In 2006, he was arrested in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
after coming into a youth centre and asking to work with the teenagers present at the club. He refused to leave and employees called the police, resulting in Ashcroft being arrested and fined £80 for disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct is a criminal charge in most jurisdictions in the United States. Typically, disorderly conduct makes it a crime to be drunk in public, to "disturb the peace", or to loiter in certain areas. Many types of unruly conduct may fit the definition of disorderly conduct, as such...
.
Ashcroft stormed off stage after only one song at Australia's 2010 Splendour in the Grass festival at Woodford, apparently angry at the lack of attendance at his stage. He had been scheduled as one of three headliners but attendees mainly filled the stages of the other two headliners, alternative rockers The Pixies and local Australian dance act Empire of the Sun
Empire of the Sun (band)
Empire of the Sun is an Australian electronic music duo that formed in 2008. The duo is composed of Luke Steele of The Sleepy Jackson and Nick Littlemore of Pnau. The two met in 2000 after both being signed to the same record label. Luke and Nick knew that they instantly had a chemistry like no other...
. A statement from Ashcroft's management posted on Richardashcroft.co.uk blamed the cancellation on his voice giving out. "After three gigs in two days, including a two-hour show in Sydney on Saturday night, we knew Richard would have to look after his voice for the Splendour In The Grass set so we cancelled all promotional activity for Sunday," the statement said. It continued: "It wasn't until he got on stage on Sunday night at Splendour that he realised his voice wouldn't make it through the set."
Ashcroft was reportedly "ordered not to speak or sing for 72 hours" by a doctor.
Albums
| Release date | Title | Peak chart position | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
IRL Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
GER Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
ITA Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
NL MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
SWI Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
AUT Austria Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the... |
FRA France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
SWE Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
NO Norway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... |
FIN Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... |
BEL (VL) Flemish Region The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system... |
BEL (WA) |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
NZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Heats. Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
|||
| 26 June 2000 | Alone with Everybody Alone with Everybody Alone with Everybody is the first solo album by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft, released via Hut Records in June 2000 .... |
1 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 41 | 39 | 18 | 28 | 17 | 12 | 14 | - | - | 10 | 26 | 127 | 2 |
|
| 21 October 2002 | Human Conditions Human Conditions Human Conditions is the second solo album by English singer-songwriter, Richard Ashcroft, released in October 2002 .-Release and reception:Human Conditions generally received negative reviews... |
3 | 11 | 14 | - | - | 51 | 48 | 67 | 52 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 19 |
British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... : Gold |
| 23 January 2006 | Keys to the World Keys to the World Keys to the World is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft. It was released 23 January 2006, reaching number 2 in the UK Albums Chart . Ashcroft worked at the album at State of the Ark studios and Julian Kershaw wrote string arrangements for some of the songs later... |
2 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 49 | 7 | 7 | 78 | - | - | - | 10 | 45 | - | - | - | - |
British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... : Platinum |
| 19 July 2010 | United Nations of Sound United Nations of Sound (album) United Nations of Sound is the debut album by British alternative rock band RPA & The United Nations of Sound , released on 19 July 2010 through Parlophone... (under the name RPA & The United Nations of Sound) |
20 | - | 49 | - | - | 50 | 63 | - | - | - | - | 100 | - | - | - | - | - | |
Singles
| Release date | Title | Peak chart position | Album | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
IRL Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
GER Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
ITA Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
NL |
SWI Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
AUT Austria Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the... |
NZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
|||
| 3 April 2000 | "A Song for the Lovers A Song for the Lovers "A Song for the Lovers" is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is the opening track on his 2000 album, Alone with Everybody. The song was also released on April 3, 2000 as the first single from that album in the United Kingdom... " |
3 | 11 | 82 | 9 | 83 | 78 | - | 42 | Alone with Everybody Alone with Everybody Alone with Everybody is the first solo album by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft, released via Hut Records in June 2000 .... |
| 12 June 2000 | "Money to Burn Money to Burn "Money to Burn" is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is the eighth track on his 2000 album Alone with Everybody. The song was also released on June 12, 2000 as the second single from that album in the United Kingdom... " |
17 | 38 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 11 September 2000 | "C'mon People (We're Making It Now) C'mon People (We're Making It Now) "C'mon People " is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is the tenth track on his 2000 album Alone with Everybody. The song was also released on September 11, 2000 as the third single from that album in the United Kingdom... " |
21 | - | 82 | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 22 April 2002 | "Come with Us"/"The Test Come with Us/The Test "Come with Us"/"The Test" is a double A-side single from The Chemical Brothers' 2002 album Come with Us. The vocals in "The Test" are performed by Richard Ashcroft.... " (The Chemical Brothers The Chemical Brothers The Chemical Brothers are a British electronic music duo comprising Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons. Originating in Manchester in 1991, along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Crystal Method, and fellow acts, they were pioneers at bringing the big beat genre to the forefront of pop culture.- Background... double A-side A-side and B-side A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or... single - Richard Ashcroft vocals on "The Test") |
14 | 36 | - | - | - | - | - | - | Come with Us Come with Us Come with Us is the fourth studio album by British big beat duo The Chemical Brothers, released on 28 January 2002. It features Richard Ashcroft and Beth Orton as guest vocalists. The album debuted at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart... (The Chemical Brothers The Chemical Brothers The Chemical Brothers are a British electronic music duo comprising Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons. Originating in Manchester in 1991, along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Crystal Method, and fellow acts, they were pioneers at bringing the big beat genre to the forefront of pop culture.- Background... ) |
| 7 October 2002 | "Check the Meaning Check the Meaning "Check the Meaning" is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is the opening track on his 2002 album Human Conditions. The song was also released on October 7, 2002 as the first single from that album in the United Kingdom... " |
11 | 19 | 94 | 13 | - | - | - | - | Human Conditions Human Conditions Human Conditions is the second solo album by English singer-songwriter, Richard Ashcroft, released in October 2002 .-Release and reception:Human Conditions generally received negative reviews... |
| 6 January 2003 | "Science of Silence Science of Silence "Science of Silence" is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is the sixth track on his 2002 album Human Conditions. The song was also released on January 6, 2003 as the second single from that album in the United Kingdom... " |
14 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 7 April 2003 | "Buy It in Bottles Buy It in Bottles "Buy It in Bottles" is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is the second track on his 2002 album Human Conditions. The song was also released as the third and final single from that album in the United Kingdom on April 7, 2003, peaking at #26 in the UK Singles Chart .-Track... " |
26 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 9 January 2006 | "Break the Night with Colour Break the Night with Colour "Break the Night with Colour" is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is the third track on his 2006 album Keys to the World... " |
3 | 10 | 45 | 3 | 90 | 55 | 17 | - | Keys to the World Keys to the World Keys to the World is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft. It was released 23 January 2006, reaching number 2 in the UK Albums Chart . Ashcroft worked at the album at State of the Ark studios and Julian Kershaw wrote string arrangements for some of the songs later... |
| 17 April 2006 | "Music Is Power Music Is Power "Music Is Power" is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is the second track on his 2006 album Keys to the World. The song features a sample from Walter Jackson's "It's All Over", written by Curtis Mayfield. It was also released as the second single from that album on 17 April... " |
20 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 10 July 2006 | "Words Just Get in the Way Words Just Get in the Way "Words Just Get in the Way" is a song by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and is featured on his 2006 album, Keys to the World. It was released 10 July 2006 as the third single from that album, charting at #40 in the UK Singles Chart .The music video features footage of Richard's... " |
40 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 4 December 2006 | "Why Not Nothing?" / "Sweet Brother Malcolm Why Not Nothing? / Sweet Brother Malcolm "Why Not Nothing?" and "Sweet Brother Malcolm" are songs by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft and are featured on his 2006 album, Keys to the World... " (limited 7") |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 19 July 2010 | "Born Again" | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | United Nations of Sound United Nations of Sound (album) United Nations of Sound is the debut album by British alternative rock band RPA & The United Nations of Sound , released on 19 July 2010 through Parlophone... (under the name RPA & The United Nations of Sound) |
| 15 October 2010 | "Are You Ready?" (US only) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Promotional singles
| Release date | Single | Notes | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 January 2010 | "Are You Ready?" | Limited Edition UK promo CD and vinyl | United Nations of Sound United Nations of Sound (album) United Nations of Sound is the debut album by British alternative rock band RPA & The United Nations of Sound , released on 19 July 2010 through Parlophone... |
Charity singles
| Release date | Single | Cause | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 December 2009 | "The Journey" (iTunes) | Helen Bamber Helen Bamber Helen Bamber OBE , is a psychotherapist who worked with Holocaust survivors in Germany after the concentration camps were liberated in 1945. In 1947, she returned to Britain and continued her work, helping to establish Amnesty International and later co-founding the Medical Foundation for Care of... Foundation |
Non-album single |
EPs
| Release date | Title |
|---|---|
| 24 April 2006 | "Live from London" (iTunes) |
Cameos
- "Lonely Soul" ~ UNKLEUNKLEUnkle are a British musical outfit founded in 1994 by school friends James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy. Originally categorized as trip-hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a variety of guest artists and producers.-First incarnation :Lavelle and Goldsworthy were joined...
, on the album Psyence FictionPsyence Fiction-Samples:*"Intro "**Quannum MCs – "Blue Flames"**Massive Attack – "Teardrop"**Air – "All I Need"**Invisibl Skratch Piklz – "Invisibl Skratch Piklz vs...
. - "The TestCome with Us/The Test"Come with Us"/"The Test" is a double A-side single from The Chemical Brothers' 2002 album Come with Us. The vocals in "The Test" are performed by Richard Ashcroft....
" ~ The Chemical BrothersThe Chemical BrothersThe Chemical Brothers are a British electronic music duo comprising Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons. Originating in Manchester in 1991, along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Crystal Method, and fellow acts, they were pioneers at bringing the big beat genre to the forefront of pop culture.- Background...
, on the album Come with UsCome with UsCome with Us is the fourth studio album by British big beat duo The Chemical Brothers, released on 28 January 2002. It features Richard Ashcroft and Beth Orton as guest vocalists. The album debuted at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart...
.