Sharleen Spiteri gives a track by track rundown of her debut solo album

May 10 2008 Exclusive by Rick Fulton

SHARLEEN Spiteri becomes a solo star in July - releasing her debut solo album after 20 years fronting Texas.

Her first album on her own is called Melody and will be out on July 21, with debut solo single All The Times I Cried out on July 7.

She wrote and produced it herself, apart from one track which was co-produced by ex-Suede guitarist Bernard Butler at Edwyn Collins' London studio.

The sultry 40-year-old claims the album was her way of bouncing back after splitting with boyfriend Ashley Heath, the father of her daughter Misty Kyd.

Here, she gives us a track by track rundown.



IT WAS YOU

Of the James Bond-tinged northern soul opener, Sharleen says: "The lyrics are pretty hardcore. 'Something inside just died - it was YOU.' That's quite tough.

"When I told Bernard it was going to be the first track, he said, 'You're brave'. But I don't think it is because it says a lot about what the album is about.

"I'm proud of the fact it sounds very 'now' but it still sounds different because it's coming from an older woman's perspective."

ALL THE TIMES I CRIED

This lush ballad sees Sharleen slip into Dusty Springfield mode.

"The Dusty thing came unconsciously," Sharleen said, "but anybody who knows me will tell you what a big influence she's been on me."

STOP, I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE

A storming Supremes homage, Sharleen said: "I can even see its own Supremes' dance routine. Well, I'm working on it."

MELODY

Melody's title track is a tune based on Jane B, the B-side of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin's 1969 Je T'Aime Moi Non Plus.

She said: "It's about me finding salvation through this record. Coming out of a long relationship, made me rethink my life and the one thing that kept me going was music."

I WONDER

Sharleen said: "My mum was a big gospel fan, so there's some of that in I Wonder. I wanted it to be a gentler track."

I'M GOING TO HAUNT YOU

Sharleen said: "This song and It Was You tie together. This is more the playful side. Being older, there's a brass-neck that comes with experience."

DON'T KEEP ME WAITING

Sounding like the Shangri-Las, Sharleen said: "It's a more hopeful song. It's about coming out of the end of heartbreak and getting on with life."

YOU LET ME DOWN

A stripped-back fragile song, Sharleen said: "This was the only song where I thought, 'I'm not sure I want anybody else to hear this.' But I knew it had to go on."

WHERE DID IT GO WRONG?

Sharleen says: "Making this record was therapeutic for me. A lot of these songs were me dealing with some painful events, but you move on to the next chapter."

DAY TRIPPING

This Elvis in Las Vegas ballad is on the album thanks to comedian Peter Kay. She said: "I was still making my mind up about the track listing when I played it to Peter. Then Peter said, 'That's not going on? Are ye deaf?'"

FRANCOISE

A homage to Sixties singer Francoise Hardy. Sharleen said: "It's saying, 'You tried to take something from me, you maybe took it for a second, but you never really stole it'. It's the obvious song to round the album off."

She looks like Imbruglia in that first pic.

Yeah, she does a bit.

I like this artwork. Very simple and retro.

Yeah it's lovely. She's beautiful. How's the music?

Well we only have a couple of live tracks and a radio rip so far. This is the single as performed on Jools Holland's BBC show this week. She also performed "It Was You", but it hasn't made its way on to YouTube yet. It sounded really good! Very dramatic.

Here's the single anyway...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWrG1unl1iQ

If she manages to sneak in there with the Duffy crowd, and Radio 2 supports her, I see no reason why she shouldn't do ok with this stuff.

Gorgeous covers.

I'm glad she tries at last to take advantage of her beautiful looks. For many years it seemed she wanted to be ugly. No Xenomania this time? They made such a good work with Redbook, but it sold so poorly... what a pity.

Ooh I love those covers.

However, I have NO idea who this woman is. Is there a particular album that I should find to be introduced to her music?

oh, you don't know Texas? Maybe they aren't famous in USA.

OMG!

She's the lead singer in a wonderful band called Texas! Check out the videos for:

Summer Son

and

Black Eyed Boy

They're my faves!

My all time favourite is

In My Heart

"Halo" was always my favourite Texas track.

She has a gorgeous voice.

Dreadful!

I can't stand their first album.

Yeah, "Halo" is a stunner.

Great choice! All this Texas nostalgia has made me dig out White On Blonde and The Hush; both stand up very well all these years on.

I'm loving the covers for the new Sharleen album and single!

It's from their second album.

The one i can't stand is the third one, because they were in loads in interview complaining about the 2nd. album, while in fact is so beautiful. I felt cold with Texas until they released Say What You Want.

Wow, I only just found out that they had THREE albums before "White On Blonde". I hated their sound before WOB.

She's gone for the retro look thing I see

*sigh*

There's always one.

:rolleyes:

So Duffy

Who cares.

:chuckle:

No, really, as long as the music's good who gives a shit?

Yeah, because nobody dressed in a retro style before Duffy. :lmao:

WHo's saying anything against that?

Seriously though, to suggest that she's copying Duffy...that's just too much.

People have been dressing in a 60s style for years. The music has that retro sound. Why *wouldn't* she adopt that image?

Not copying Duffy as such but it's a certain whif of jumping on the wagon

I suppose people have been dressing in the 60s style since the 60s really.... go them :alexz:

What an odd sales career Texas have had!

Southside (1989) UK #3 (Gold)
Mothers Heaven (1991) UK #32
Ricks Road (1993) UK #18 (Gold)
White on Blonde (1996) UK #1 (6x Platinum)
The Hush (1999) UK #1 (3x Platinum)
The Greatest Hits (2000) UK #1 (6x Platinum)
Careful What You Wish For (2003) UK #5 (Gold)
Red Book (2005) UK #16 (Gold)

I think you mean Dusty :wink:

Brad, please give the 'jumping on the wagon'-tirade a FUCKING rest. If that's what people wanna do, then that's what people do. Just listen to it or don't.

I think Sharleen has had this solo album in the making for at least as long as Duffy's been on the market.

Oh he much too young for that, isn't he?

EDIT: I forgot I'm about the same age :shy:

:lmao:

Jeez, people are so up their own arses. Just breathe :srkisrle1:

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

Ditto.

:chuckle: