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Yep...it's the hometown of Atomic Kitten and Liverpool can
be proud of their massive music export! So, what's this
article all about then? Liverpool, of course! Read on
and find out more about this great city in England!
Liverpool is the city, seaport and
administrative capital of Merseyside in northwest
England. Population is 448,300 (1991). It was the major
textile exporter of nearby counties: Lancashire and
Yorkshire in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, it
still boasts being a major seafaring town as it represents
the UK's chief Atlantic port. Along the River Mersey on
which the city is based are numerous merchant quays.
Manufacturing goods exports and other exports from the
city have declined but the city remains a major sea
departure point.
 Click map to
enlarge
Local produce in the city includes food, electrical
goods and pharmaceuticals. On the outskirts of the city,
Liverpool has seen the development of motor vehicle
manufacture plants, oil refineries and new port
facilities.
Liverpool also includes a number of fine landmarks.
The Royal Liver Building represents a marvel of
architecture and is one of five grade-one listed buildings
that line the city's Albert Dock. It is characterised by
the famous Liver Birds that top the building. The Albert
Dock itself was opened by Prince Albert in 1846 and from
this stemmed the major development of Liverpool into a
crucial seaport. From 1890, the Dock was unable to house
new steamships developed at this time and it fell into
disuse until its final closure in 1972. Recently, the
Dock was regenerated and is now a focal point for
tourists.
The Albert Dock boasts a number of cafés, restaurants,
shops and bars. Within the city is the Liverpool
Cathedral, being one of two cathedrals in the city dating
from the last century. Of note at this cathedral are the
bells - being the heaviest and highest in the world. It
also has high arches, vault and organ. There are two
universities in the city. Theatres include the Playhouse
at Williamson Square, Everyman on Hope Street and the
Liverpool Empire on Lime Street. Liverpool is home of two
major football teams: Liverpool at Anfield Road and
Everton at Goodison Park.
Places of interest in Liverpool include: the Tate
Gallery Liverpool on the Albert Dock. It is a gallery of
modern art. The Walker Art Gallery towards the north side
of the city is home of an extensive collection of European
art since 1300. St. George's Hall on Lime Street has a
colonnaded façade. Within the city centre on Elliot
Street is an illuminated 450ft tower, St. John's Beacon.
There is also the Liverpool Museum and Planetarium
located on William Brown Street, the Museum Of Labour
History charting working class life on Merseyside since
1840 on Islington and the Merseyside Maritime Museum on
the Albert Dock. Speke Hall is located in Speke about 8
miles southeast from Liverpool, and is of Tudor origin.
Liverpool also has its own airport. This is also located
in Speke.
The Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts is now
on the site once occupied by the Liverpool Institute. It
was here that the Beatles members, Paul McCartney and
George Harrison attended school.
The River Mersey
The River Mersey itself is 112km long. It forms from the
Rivers Etherow and Goyt and takes a westward course to
flow into the Irish Sea at Liverpool. The Manchester Ship
Canal built 1894 has a link with the River Mersey.
Merseyside
Merseyside has an area of 650sq km and a population of
1,376,800 (1991). |
The
a-side is that side of the record that includes the music
artist's intended hit. The b-side (or 'reverse' or 'flip'
side) features one or more other tracks. B-sides may
never end up on an album. In the age of CDs, sides of a
disc are somewhat nonsense - although, it's still true to
use a-side for the intended hit and b-side(s) for all
other included track(s) on the CD.
Simple
term. Just means the recording of a track by an artist
other than the original. Best examples! Atomic Kitten
doing 'The Tide Is High (Get The Feeling)' ('The Tide Is
High' once a hit for Blondie) and 'Eternal Flame' (once a
hit for the Bangles - the original artist) and what a
great job they've done!!!
This is
short for 'demonstration record'. It originates from the
early recordings of tracks by publishers that are heard by
music producers and music artists themselves. These songs
may then be recorded. Recently, a demo represents a seed
in a hopeful future music career in which a new artist can
record their own material so that they may clinch that
vital record contract. You can find a demo of 'Right Now'
on CD#2 of the Kittens' first single!
In
1973, the successful entrepreneur, Richard Branson
established the Virgin record label. This followed on
from the success of his retail stores. Virgin's first
release was 'Tubular Bells' by the top artist, Mike
Oldfield. This album set a firm foundation for the Virgin
record label doing excellently by selling well over 5
million copies. Virgin became the caretaker for English
rock bands like Robert Wyatt and Hatfield & The North. By
1977, Virgin were signing up the popular Sex Pistols.
Other big names like XTC came along. The record company
has seen a diverse range of music styles being catered
for. By the start of the 1980's, Virgin became the record
label for key acts of the decade such as Culture Club,
Heaven 17, Simple Minds and Human League. Great soloists:
Phil Collins (pictured left), Paul McCartney (pictured
right) and Elton John represented the best of Virgin.
Subsidiaries including Virgin America were signed up with
big names such as Lenny Kravitz. In 1992, Virgin Records
was sold to Thorn EMI. 
Innocent,
a record label of Virgin Record Company as well as
currently signing up Atomic Kitten have also signed up
other top name artists like Blue (pictured).
