Following the universal acclaim of his Top 5 2024 album, “In This City, They Call You Love“, and the success of the award-winning musical featuring his songs, “Standing At The Sky’s Edge”, Parlophone/Rhino has announced details of special anniversary editions of Richard Hawley’s revered 2005 album “Coles Corner”. The album was Hawley’s third studio album and his first for Mute Records. After five years of garnering praise for his songwriting talents and heart-melting baritone voice, and steadily building a solid fanbase through his outstanding live performances, hard work paid off on an album regarded by many as his best.
Recorded in Sheffield’s Yellow Arch Studios, and co-produced with his long-time bassist Colin Elliot, and Mike Timm, ‘Coles Corner’ featured fellow musicians Shez Sheridan (guitars), Jon Trier (keyboards), Jonny Wood (upright bass) and Andy Cook (drums) it is an album inspired by Hawley’s love of vintage ‘40s and ‘50s sounds, chamber pop, country, blues, and rock ‘n roll. Producing a set of intimate love songs full of nostalgia, regret, sadness and a bittersweet atmosphere it proved to be a collection that would cement Hawley’s abiding love and passion for his hometown of Sheffield.
Nowhere is this exemplified more than on the album’s title track. ‘Coles Corner’, named after a former department store in the city which was a popular meeting place for couples, immortalises the legendary landmark on a song that swells with its sweeping strings and swooning chorus, on a universal paean to the loneliness of the city at night. Other balladry exists in songs such as ‘Born Under a Bad Sign’ and ‘Darlin’ Wait For Me’, while Hawley’s love of country and early rock’n’roll can be heard in ‘Hotel Room’, ‘I Sleep Alone’, and ‘Just Like The Rain’.
Perhaps the most epic song and, to this day, a fan favourite live, is ‘The Ocean’. Written on a family holiday in the shadow of Cornwall’s Minack Theatre (with a video later filmed at the same location), the song features one of the album’s best vocals; all yearning and urgency as it builds to its visceral crescendo.
The “Coles Corner” 20th-anniversary edition will be released on a black vinyl half-speed master housed in a gatefold sleeve, 2CD deluxe edition, and limited edition bundles. You can pre-order here.
Tracklistings:
1. Coles Corner
2. Just Like The Rain
3. Hotel Room
4. Darlin’ Wait For Me
5. The Ocean
6. Born Under a Bad Sign
7. I Sleep Alone
8. Tonight
9. (Wading Through) The Waters of My Time
10. Who’s Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet?
11. Last Orders
CD2: Single Versions, B-Sides and Acoustic Versions:
1. The Ocean – Single Version
2. Just Like The Rain – Single Version
3. Born Under a Bad Sign – Single Version
4. Hotel Room – Single Version
5. Long Black Veil
6. Room With a View
7. I’m Absolutely Hank Marvin
8. Dark Road
9. Kelham Island
10. Some Candy Talking
11. Young and Beautiful
12. I’m Just Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail
13. Can You Hear The Rain Love?
14. Coles Corner – Acoustic Version
15. Hotel Room – Acoustic Version
16. Darlin’ Wait For Me – Acoustic Version
17. I Sleep Alone – ( Live at Sheffield City Hall)
18. A Bird Never Flew On One Wing
To further celebrate the 20th anniversary, Hawley and his band will be joined by a string section at a series of special shows where, for the first time, they will perform the album in full. Tickets are on sale now.
5th Jul – YORK Museum Gardens (on sale now)
5th Sep – BOSTON Gliderdrome
6th Sep – PORTMEIRION Village
12th Sep – BLACKPOOL Tower Ballroom
3rd Oct – MARGATE Dreamland
4th Oct – WORTHING Assembly Hall
10th Oct – WESTON-SUPER-MARE Grand Pier
