Length 44:20 Radio Musicola
(1986) The Works
(1989) Release date 24 October 1986 | Producer Nik Kershaw Artist Nik Kershaw Label MCA Records | |
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Released 24 October 1986 (1986-10-24) Studio Swanyard Studios, London Genres Rock music, Electropop, New wave, Pop rock Similar To Be Frank, You've Got to Laugh, The Best of Nik Kershaw, Human Racing, The Works | ||
Nik kershaw radio musicola
Radio Musicola is the third studio album by the English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw. It was originally released in October 1986, on the label MCA Records, two and a half years after Kershaw's successful album, The Riddle. It was the first album to be produced by Kershaw. It features guest backing vocalists, including Icehouse's Iva Davies, and Night's Stevie Lange, and Miriam Stockley.
Contents
- Nik kershaw radio musicola
- Nik kershaw radio musicola official musicvideo
- Background
- Release and chart performance
- Track listing
- Personnel
- Chart performance
- Songs
- References
The album was released to critical acclaim, but wasn't as successful as Kershaw's previous albums, it went on to peak at #47 on the UK Albums Chart and reached #92 on the Australian ARIA Charts, which marked the beginning of a downturn in Kershaw's fortunes on the album charts. Four singles were issued from Radio Musicola: "When a Heart Beats", "Nobody Knows", "Radio Musicola", and James Cagney, but none of them reached the Top 20, a first for Kershaw. However, Kershaw did find some minor success with the aforementioned single "When a Heart Beats" (which was not featured on the LP release, only on the cassette and CD versions of the album). The album (to date) remains Kershaw's last album to make the Top 75, and was his last to receive a certification, being certified silver by the BPI.
After the original release, the album remained out-of-print on any format for many years. However, the album became available via online MP3 download on major sites such as Amazon, and iTunes.
Nik kershaw radio musicola official musicvideo
Background
The album showcased Kershaw's frustration at the time, with subjects of integrity – media scepticism (particularly towards tabloid journalism), privacy, insecurity and mass-produced run-of-the-mill pop music ("Why can't you let us do it like Joni does it? There you go again, giving it your very best - trying so hard to make it sound like all the rest"). The subject is reflected in the cover artwork's concept. The LP record release featured 1950's style spoof advertisements with the song titles woven in, some of which were replicated in the compact disc's booklet.
Release and chart performance
The album's first single in the United Kingdom was "When a Heart Beats", which peaked at #27 upon its release, the first time that a lead single from a Kershaw album failed to hit the Top 20 in the UK. It became a bigger hit in Ireland, peaking at #14. Further singles from the album were "Nobody Knows" and the title track "Radio Musicola", which peaked at #44, and #43 respectively.
When Kershaw was asked about the poor sales of the album he said:
"I didn't keep their attention – two albums in nine months was a stupid idea because the next one took two and a half years and a lot of people lost interest and went elsewhere, which is fair enough. And the music changed a little bit as well and I produced it myself so that might have been a reason."
Track listing
All tracks written by Nik Kershaw.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.
Chart performance
Songs
1Radio Musicola5:53
2Nobody Knows4:22
3LABATYD4:15