Stardom Road

Stardom Road
Studio album by Marc Almond
Released 4 June 2007
Recorded Townhouse Studios, Olympic Studios, Angel Studios, Strongroom Studios, M&I Recording Studios, Helicon Mountain Studios
Genre Pop
Length 54:15
Label Sanctuary
Producer Tris Penna, Marius de Vries
Marc Almond chronology
Heart on Snow
(2003)		 Stardom Road
(2007)		 Orpheus in Exile
(2009)

Stardom Road is the thirteenth solo studio album by the British singer/songwriter Marc Almond. It was released by Sanctuary Records on 4 June 2007.

Background

Stardom Road was Almond's first new album after his involvement in a near-fatal traffic accident in October 2004.[1] It is an album composed mostly of cover versions, a fact borne out of necessity as Almond found himself unable to write following the accident.[2] Almond told Time Out that the album is intended as "a trip down memory lane, a musical journey from the 1950s to where he finds himself today".[3]

The album features collaborations with Sarah Cracknell, Antony Hegarty and Jools Holland, with some of the tracks also featuring members of Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Record Collector[5]
The Guardian[2]

The album was well received by critics overall. Thom Jurek in his AllMusic review calls Stardom Road Almond's "finest studio moment as a solo artist" and describes Almond's voice as having "never been less histrionic, yet more expressive".[4] Record Collector critic Joel McIver calls Stardom Road "the campest album ever released" and summarises that it is "entertaining rather than cutting edge".[5] The Manchester Evening News review notes the autobiographical concept and calls the album "a great comeback" that is "kitsch, camp, melodramatic, yet full of heartfelt emotion".[6]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Original Artist (and song) Length
1. "I Have Lived"  Charles Aznavour, Al Kasha, Joel HirschhornCharles Aznavour 3:45
2. "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten" (featuring Sarah Cracknell)Clive WestlakeDusty Springfield - "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten" 4:05
3. "Bedsitter Images"  Al StewartAl Stewart 3:57
4. "The London Boys"  David BowieDavid Bowie - "The London Boys" 3:28
5. "Strangers in the Night"  Bert Kaempfert, Charles Singleton, Eddie SnyderFrank Sinatra - "Strangers in the Night" 4:39
6. "The Ballad of the Sad Young Men" (featuring Antony Hegarty)Fran Landesman, Tommy WolfRoberta Flack 4:37
7. "Stardom Road"  James Stamp, Jim AveryThird World War 4:56
8. "Kitsch"  Paul RyanBarry Ryan 5:30
9. "Backstage (I'm Lonely)" (featuring Jools Holland & Kiki Dee)Fred Anisfield, Willie Denson, Marc AlmondGene Pitney 3:39
10. "Dream Lover"  Bobby DarinBobby Darin - "Dream Lover" 3:24
11. "Happy Heart"  James Last, Jackie Rae, Fred WeyrithAndy Williams - "Happy Heart" 3:54
12. "Redeem Me (Beauty Will Redeem the World)"  Almond, Marius de Vries(not a cover version) 4:31
13. "The Curtain Falls" (featuring Igor Outkine)Sol WeinsteinBobby Darin 3:10

Personnel

Chart performance

Chart (2007) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[7] 53

References

  1. ↑ "Marc Almond on the mend". NME. 28 October 2004. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 Caroline Sullivan (25 May 2007). "Marc Almond - Stardom Road". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Paul Burston (29 May 2007). "Marc Almond: Interview". Time Out. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  4. 1 2 Thom Jurek. "Stardom Road". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 McIver, Joel (July 2007). "Marc Almond - Stardom Road". Record Collector. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Marc Almond - Stardom Road". Manchester Evening News. 1 June 2007. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  7. ↑ "Marc Almond | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart Retrieved 13 April 2015.
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