Native Place
Studio album by
Released1990
StudioTownhouse, Battery (London)
LabelVirgin[1]
ProducerSteve Lovell, Steve Power
The Railway Children chronology
Recurrence
(1988)
Native Place
(1990)
Radio One Evening Sessions
(1993)

Native Place is an album by the English band the Railway Children, released in 1990.[2][3] The band broke up after the album's release, in part due to EMI's acquisition of Virgin Records.[4]

The album peaked at No. 59 on the UK Albums Chart.[5] "Every Beat of the Heart" peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.[6] The band promoted the album by touring with the Heart Throbs.[7][8]

Production

The album was produced by Steve Lovell and Steve Power.[9] It was recorded over a period of four months, to the annoyance of chief songwriter Gary Newby.[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[12]
Select[13]

Trouser Press wrote: "No longer an unassuming pop group, the Railway Children are growing into dance-oriented chart hacks."[14] The Washington Post opined that "Native Place is not brave or powerful or important, but it's seriously listenable."[15]

The Daily Breeze determined that the album "leans more toward guitar-oriented pop, boasting strong melodies, airy textures and a sunny optimism."[10] The Dayton Daily News stated that "the group's sound recalls the jangling guitars of the Byrds combined with a sweeping keyboard sound from the early '80s."[16]

AllMusic wrote that "the slick production and sunny synths couldn't leech the buoyancy and emotional impact from the poetic, romantic songwriting and warm harmonies of Gary Newby."[11] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide deemed Native Place "one of the definitive pop albums of the early '90s ... Newby's gentle vocals are flawless."[9]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Gary Newby

No.TitleLength
1."Every Beat of the Heart"4:08
2."Music Stop"4:00
3."You're Young"4:32
4."Because"4:45
5."Cotton Counting"1:59
6."It's Heaven"3:34
7."Something So Good"4:14
8."Collide"4:16
9."Native Place"3:53
10."Fall On"1:27
11."Harbour Force"3:58
12."Blue Sky"4:06

Personnel

The Railway Children
  • Gary Newby - vocals, lead guitar, keyboards, artwork, sleeve design
  • Brian Bateman - rhythm guitar
  • Stephen Hull - bass
  • Guy Keegan - drums, percussion

with:

  • Matt Irving - additional keyboards, accordion
  • Matthew Taylor - saxophone on "Because"

References

  1. "The Railway Children Native Place Virgin". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Entertainment. August 19, 1990. p. 2.
  2. "Railway Children Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. Simpson, Dave (Jul 7, 1990). "Album: The Railway Children". Melody Maker. 66 (27): 38.
  4. Nowell, Andrew (March 11, 2016). "Railway Children are back on track". Wigan Evening Post. Arts Culture and Entertainment.
  5. "RAILWAY CHILDREN | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  6. Whitburn, Joel (March 27, 2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780898201741 via Google Books.
  7. Eichenberger, Bill (November 8, 1990). "'THE HEART THROBS' EVOKE MIXED EMOTIONS". The Columbus Dispatch. Weekender. p. 8.
  8. Brown, G. (9 Nov 1990). "Heart Throbs' sound garnering accolades". The Denver Post. p. 19F.
  9. 1 2 MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 916.
  10. 1 2 Okamoto, Shari (November 2, 1990). "Railway Children on track with 'Native Place' album". Daily Breeze. p. E10.
  11. 1 2 "Native Place - Railway Children | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" via www.allmusic.com.
  12. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 745.
  13. Terry, Nick (July 1990). "Tunnel Vision". Select. p. 85.
  14. "Railway Children". Trouser Press. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  15. Jenkins, Mark (23 Nov 1990). "Railway Children Cut Tuneful Tracks". The Washington Post. p. N20.
  16. Larsen, Dave (November 11, 1990). "MANCHESTER PLAYS HOME TO NEW ENGLISH SOUNDS - '60S INFLUENCE FLOWS THROUGH EMERGING POP STYLE". Dayton Daily News. p. 1C.
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