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The Conversation (Texas album)

The Conversation
Studio album by
Released20 May 2013
Recorded2013 Glasgow, London
Richard Hawley's studio, Sheffield
GenreAlternative rock
Length1:18:01
LabelPIAS Recordings
ProducerJohnny McElhone
except "Big World" - Bernard Butler
Texas chronology
The BBC Sessions
(2007)
The Conversation
(2013)
Texas 25
(2015)
Singles from The Conversation
  1. "The Conversation"
    Released: 25 March 2013
  2. "Detroit City"
    Released: 12 August 2013
  3. "Dry Your Eyes"
    Released: 18 November 2013
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Liverpool Sound and Vision[1]

The Conversation is the eighth album from Scottish rock band Texas. It was released on 20 May 2013. Tracks are written mainly by Sharleen Spiteri and Johnny McElhone, with Richard Hawley and Bernard Butler as collaborators. The Conversation is the group's first studio album of new material since Red Book in 2005. The title track "The Conversation" was released as the first single from the album in April 2013, followed by up-beat Pop Rock "Detroit City", both of which received a decent amount of UK airplay, including on BBC Radio 2's playlist.

Their third single from the album "Dry Your Eyes", was released in November 2013.

Background

On 8 September 2009, band member Ally McErlaine was hospitalized after he collapsed with a massive brain aneurysm at the age of 40.[2][3] By February 2010, he was recovering well as reported by bandmate Sharleen Spiteri in The Sunday Mail: "Ally is the most stubborn person I have ever come across, and I think his sheer pigheadedness is the reason he's still here! When he asked what was happening with Texas, I said it was up to him. He told me he wanted to get back into the studio".

After McErlaine survived his collapse - which kills in 80% of cases - Texas reunited for the first time since 2005. The band embarked on a tour in the summer of 2011 and lead singer Spiteri appeared on Popstar to Operastar on 12 June 2011 singing a version of the band's hit "Say What You Want".[4] Prior to this, Texas had played at the Den Fynske Landsby Festival in Denmark. At the festival, they debuted a new track "The Conversation" which marked the first time the track has been played outside their native Glasgow.[5]

Spiteri was also invited to make a series of cameo appearances at different events, all of which involved film scores. She sang Yvonne Elliman's "If I Can't Have You" for a Saturday Night Fever tribute concert and duetted with Italian singer Mauro Gioia on the "Love Theme from The Godfather".

Karen Overton, who co-wrote five songs, is better known as Karen Anne, singer of the defunct band, Girl Called Johnny, which was the opening act on Texas' "The Conversation Tour". She released the song "Tell that Girl" before Texas published it on their album Jump on Board.[6] She also released an earlier version of the song "Detroit City" originally named "New York City", with her former band Ramona.[7]

In February 2013, Music Week[8] announced the band had signed to PIAS Recordings; the album The Conversation was released in May 2013. The deluxe edition includes a second disc of a selection of hits recorded live at the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival in 2011.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Conversation"Sharleen Spiteri, Johnny McElhone, Karen Overton, Amanda Ghost, Ian Dench2:44
2."Dry Your Eyes"Spiteri, McElhone, Richard Hawley2:41
3."If This isn't Real"Spiteri, McElhone, Overton, Jack McElhone3:17
4."Detroit City"Spiteri, McElhone, Overton, Robert Hodgens3:42
5."I Will Always"Spiteri, McElhone, Hawley2:26
6."Talk About Love"Spiteri, McElhone, Hawley3:28
7."Hid From the Light"Spiteri, McElhone, Hawley3:32
8."Be True"Spiteri, McElhone, Hawley3:15
9."Maybe I"Spiteri, McElhone, Hawley2:38
10."Hearts Are Made to Stray"Spiteri, McElhone, Overton2:45
11."Big World"Spiteri, McElhone, Bernard Butler, Overton3:21
12."I Need Time"Spiteri, McElhone, Hawley3:20
iTunes bonus track[9]
No.TitleLength
13."Where Do You Go"3:43
Deluxe edition bonus disc – Live in Scotland
No.TitleLength
1."I Don't Want a Lover"5:33
2."Summer Son"4:09
3."Halo"3:53
4."In Demand"4:22
5."The Conversation"3:06
6."When We Are Together"3:55
7."In Our Lifetime"4:06
8."Say What You Want"3:45
9."Black Eyed Boy"4:03
10."Inner Smile"4:22

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[29] Platinum 130,000[28]
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Gold 100,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

In 2016, it was awarded a diamond certification from the Independent Music Companies Association,[31] which indicated sales of at least 200,000 copies+ throughout Europe.[32][33]

References

  1. ^ Hall, Ian D. (20 May 2013). "The Conversation - Texas". Liverpoolsoundandvision.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Texas guitar player Ally McErlaine in hospital after fall in London". Nme.com. UK. 12 September 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas Guatarist in critical conditions after brain hemorrhage". Contactmusic.com. 12 September 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  4. ^ "Joy for Sharleen Spiteri as Texas reunite after guitarist wins fight for life". The Daily Record. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  5. ^ "Sharleen Spiteri | Unofficial Fan Site". Sharleenspiteri.co.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Girl Called Johnny (Live @ La Riviera, Madrid 9/10/2013)". Retrieved 29 March 2022 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ ABOUD, ABOUD + (24 May 2011). "RAMONA-NEW YORK CITY LIVE ACOUSTIC". Vimeo.com. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  8. ^ "[PIAS] set to release new Texas LP | News | Music Week". Musicweek.com. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  9. ^ "iTunes - Music - The Conversation by Texas". Itunes.apple.com. 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  10. ^ "Ultratop.be – texas – the conversation" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  11. ^ "Ultratop.be – texas – the conversation" (in French). Hung Medien.
  12. ^ "Lescharts.com – Texas – The Conversation". Hung Medien.
  13. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – texas – the conversation" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  14. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – texas – the conversation" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – texas – the conversation". Hung Medien.
  16. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – texas – the conversation". Hung Medien.
  18. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – texas – the conversation". Hung Medien.
  19. ^ "Swisscharts.com – texas – the conversation". Hung Medien.
  20. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  21. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  22. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  23. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2013". Ultratop. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  24. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2013". Ultratop. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  25. ^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2013" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  26. ^ "End of Year 2013" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  27. ^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2014" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  28. ^ "Clip "Let's Work It Out" : Texas sort la boule disco avec Thierry Henry". Chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  29. ^ "French album certifications – Texas – The Conversation" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  30. ^ "British album certifications – Texas – The Conversation". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  31. ^ "Photographic image of record sales data" (PNG). Impalalmusic.org. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  32. ^ "Independents going strong - IMPALA Sales Awards clock up another 10m units | Impala". Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  33. ^ "Awards - IMPALA". Impalamusic.org. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2022.