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Monday, April 29, 2019

Here's Annie!

Annie Lennox - Why

Perhaps our greatest singer of the period (and anytime actually) and I followed all her work from the Eurythmics onward. Not sure if I bought this though when it came out and it may have been another bargain bin ex-jukebox purchase! Beautiful song and breathtakingly sung, one cannot help but think she is singing to her ex-partner Dave Stewart here. 
One of the most affecting songs that says 'Sorry' . . . . . . . . 



On this day in music history: April 28, 1992 - “Diva”, the debut solo album by Annie Lennox is released (UK release is on April 6, 1992). Produced by Stephen Lipson, it is recorded at Mayfair Studios and The Church in London from Mid 1991 - Early 1992. After ten years together in the groundbreaking and influential duo Eurythmics, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart part ways. That intense and highly creative period when the pair had been both lovers and band mates, produces eight albums in eight years, bringing them fame, wealth and acclaim beyond what either had envisioned. Though by 1990, their relationship becomes strained and agree to take an extended hiatus to pursue other musical projects. Stewart composes film soundtracks, forms The Spiritual Cowboys, as well as landing a huge hit internationally with the single “Lily Was Here” with Dutch saxophonist Candy Dulfer. During the same time, Lennox who is now remarried gives birth to her first child, and takes more than a year off from the music business. In 1991, Annie works on her first solo project with former Trevor Horn (Yes, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Rod Stewart) associate Stephen Lipson. Lennox composes nine of the eleven songs on her first album alone, with two others written with the band The Blue Nile and Jethro Tull keyboardist Peter-John Vettese. Always writing from a personal and intimate perspective, the songs join often pensive lyrics to uplifting melodies. The first single “Why” (#5 UK, #34 US Pop, #6 US AC) reflects this mood, which is followed (in the US) by “Walking On Broken Glass” (#6 UK, #14 US Pop, #6 US AC). The video for “Broken Glass” which is based on the period drama “Dangerous Liasons”, features Lennox with actors Hugh Laurie and John Malkovich. Giving it the “cheeky” title “Diva”, the album cover photo features Lennox wearing a head dress (also seen some of the music videos) originally used as a prop in the James Bond film"Octopussy". The album is a major critical and commercial success worldwide, spinning off a total of five singles. It also spins off an accompanying long form video album (also titled “Diva”), featuring clips directed by Sophie Muller (Sade), which wins a Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Long Form in 1993. It also receives two additional Grammy nominations including Album Of The Year. Along with the standard CD release, “Diva” is also issued as a limited edition package in a die cut slip case (with decorative feathers) and digi-pak, with the cover artwork silkscreen printed on to the CD. This version also includes a second disc featuring a BBC Radio interview with the singer recorded on March 26, 1992. “Diva” spends one week at number one of the UK album chart, peaking at number twenty three on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified 2x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.
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