List of music releases from Fame Academy contestants
Encyclopedia
Fame Academy
is a British television programme that ran for two series, in 2002 and 2004. The show was produced for the BBC
in a reality television
format. The winners of the show, David Sneddon
and Alex Parks
, were awarded music recording contracts to allow them to release music and live like top recording artists for a year. Sneddon had a run of three top-20 hits, including his debut single "Stop Living the Lie
", which peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart
in January 2003.
David Sneddon
signed to major music publisher Sony/ATV Music Publishing
in 2009 as a songwriter
.
Parks' debut single "Maybe That's What It Takes
" charted at number three in November 2003.
In addition to Sneddon and Parks, several other contestants have gone on to have successful music careers, while others were given record deals and released several songs before leaving the music industry. The runner-up from the first series, Sinéad Quinn
, signed a record deal with Mercury Records
, the same company as Sneddon, and released her debut single "I Can't Break Down
" in February 2003. The song charted at number two on the UK Singles Chart. Her second single, "What You Need Is...
" peaked in top 20 in June 2003. Ainslie Henderson
's debut, and thus far only single "Keep Me A Secret
" ranked number five in February 2003. Malachi
and Alistair Griffin
released self-penned songs in 2003 but were subsequently dropped from their record labels. James Fox
was chosen as the United Kingdom's representative
for the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest; he sang "Hold Onto Our Love", which charted at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart in April 2003, and received 29 points for his performance.
Lemar
, who finished in third place in the first series, has been the most successful contestant from the show. He released his first single, "Dance (With U)", which charted at number-two on the UK Singles Chart, in August 2003; he has since recorded nine further top 40 hit singles, including six that charted in the top 10. He has released four studio albums; The Truth About Love is the most successful, charting at number three on the UK Albums Chart in 2006.
As of July 2009, Fame Academy contestants have released 26 charting singles and 10 charting albums. Of the 19 singles that reached the top twenty, 12 were top-ten hits. Only one album missed out on a place in the top 40 and seven of the ten releases peaked inside the top 20. Lemar is the only artist who is still releasing music.
are included in this list.
songs.
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|Fame Academy Bee Gees Special || Polydor Records
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|Fame Academy - The Finalists || Polydor Records
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Fame Academy
Fame Academy is a televised competition to search for and educate new musical talents. The winner received a chance to become a successful music artist. The prize consisted of a £1m recording contract with a major record company, plus the use of a luxury apartment in London and a sports car for one...
is a British television programme that ran for two series, in 2002 and 2004. The show was produced for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in a reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
format. The winners of the show, David Sneddon
David Sneddon
David Sneddon is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter.He has performed on British television, radio and theatre. Sneddon won the first BBC UK series of Fame Academy in 2002...
and Alex Parks
Alex Parks
Alex Parks is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known for winning Fame Academy in 2003, for her singles, and for the albums, Introduction and Honesty.-Biography:...
, were awarded music recording contracts to allow them to release music and live like top recording artists for a year. Sneddon had a run of three top-20 hits, including his debut single "Stop Living the Lie
Stop Living the Lie
Stop Living the Lie was written by musician, singer and songwriter David Sneddon, and was his No 1 debut release single 2003. The single was released on January 13, 2003 and during its first week it charted at number one in the UK singles chart, as well as reaching number seven in Ireland. The...
", which peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in January 2003.
David Sneddon
David Sneddon
David Sneddon is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter.He has performed on British television, radio and theatre. Sneddon won the first BBC UK series of Fame Academy in 2002...
signed to major music publisher Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing is a music publishing company co-owned by The Michael Jackson Family Trust and Sony. The organisation was originally founded as Associated TeleVision in 1955 by Lew Grade. In 1957, ATV acquired Pye Records as a wholly owned subsidiary...
in 2009 as a songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
.
Parks' debut single "Maybe That's What It Takes
Maybe That's What It Takes
"Maybe That's What It Takes" is a song by Alex Parks, taken from her debut album Introduction. It was released as a single on 17 November 2003, shortly after she won the second series of Fame Academy, and peaked at number three in the UK Singles Chart....
" charted at number three in November 2003.
In addition to Sneddon and Parks, several other contestants have gone on to have successful music careers, while others were given record deals and released several songs before leaving the music industry. The runner-up from the first series, Sinéad Quinn
Sinéad Quinn
Sinéad Quinn and graduate of the University of Hull was a contestant in the first series of the UK BBC TV series Fame Academy in 2002. She later went on to sign a recording contract, released an album, and had a #2 UK single. She is married to Paul Stewart, drummer with The Feeling...
, signed a record deal with Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, the same company as Sneddon, and released her debut single "I Can't Break Down
I Can't Break Down
"I Can't Break Down" is a song written by Sinéad Quinn, Pete Glenister and Deni Lew and produced by Glenister and Lew for Quinn's debut album, Ready to Run. It was released as her debut single from the album in March 2003 and reached a peak position of number two in the UK Singles Chart, losing out...
" in February 2003. The song charted at number two on the UK Singles Chart. Her second single, "What You Need Is...
What You Need Is...
"What You Need Is..." is the second and final single from Sinéad Quinn's debut album "Ready To Run". It did not do as well as her first single "I Can't Break Down", and reached #19 in the UK singles chart.-Track listing:CD1#"What You Need Is..."...
" peaked in top 20 in June 2003. Ainslie Henderson
Ainslie Henderson
Ainslie Thomas Henderson is a Scottish singer-songwriter. He is best known for his appearance on the BBC's television programme, Fame Academy, and his subsequent Top 5 UK single, "Keep Me A Secret"...
's debut, and thus far only single "Keep Me A Secret
Keep Me A Secret
Keep Me A Secret is the debut single from Scottish singer Ainslie Henderson. The single charted at #5 in the UK....
" ranked number five in February 2003. Malachi
Malachi
Malachi, Malachias or Mal'achi was a Jewish prophet in the Hebrew Bible. He had two brothers, Nathaniel and Josiah. Malachi was the writer of the Book of Malachi, the last book of the Neviim section in the Jewish Tanakh...
and Alistair Griffin
Alistair Griffin
Alistair Richard Griffin is an English singer/songwriter and musician. Already an established songwriter, he first became famous as a solo artist through his appearances on the BBC television show Fame Academy 2 in 2003, where he was "spotted" and championed by Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees...
released self-penned songs in 2003 but were subsequently dropped from their record labels. James Fox
James Fox (singer)
James Fox, real name . is a pop music singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist. He represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 in Istanbul...
was chosen as the United Kingdom's representative
United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004
The United Kingdom held a national preselection to choose the song that would go to the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. It was held on February 28, 2004 and presented by Terry Wogan and Gaby Roslin...
for the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest; he sang "Hold Onto Our Love", which charted at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart in April 2003, and received 29 points for his performance.
Lemar
Lemar
Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia...
, who finished in third place in the first series, has been the most successful contestant from the show. He released his first single, "Dance (With U)", which charted at number-two on the UK Singles Chart, in August 2003; he has since recorded nine further top 40 hit singles, including six that charted in the top 10. He has released four studio albums; The Truth About Love is the most successful, charting at number three on the UK Albums Chart in 2006.
As of July 2009, Fame Academy contestants have released 26 charting singles and 10 charting albums. Of the 19 singles that reached the top twenty, 12 were top-ten hits. Only one album missed out on a place in the top 40 and seven of the ten releases peaked inside the top 20. Lemar is the only artist who is still releasing music.
Singles
| Artist | Series | Position in show | Song title | Release date | UK peak chart position | 1 | "Stop Living the Lie Stop Living the Lie Stop Living the Lie was written by musician, singer and songwriter David Sneddon, and was his No 1 debut release single 2003. The single was released on January 13, 2003 and during its first week it charted at number one in the UK singles chart, as well as reaching number seven in Ireland. The... " |
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| 1 | "I Can't Break Down I Can't Break Down "I Can't Break Down" is a song written by Sinéad Quinn, Pete Glenister and Deni Lew and produced by Glenister and Lew for Quinn's debut album, Ready to Run. It was released as her debut single from the album in March 2003 and reached a peak position of number two in the UK Singles Chart, losing out... " |
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| 1 | "Keep Me A Secret Keep Me A Secret Keep Me A Secret is the debut single from Scottish singer Ainslie Henderson. The single charted at #5 in the UK.... " |
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| 1 | "Just Say You Love Me Just Say You Love Me "Just Say You Love Me" is a song written by Fame Academy contestant Malachi Cush, Cliff Masterson and Nigel Lowis in 2003. The song was included on Malachi's eponymous debut album and was released as a single on 7 April 2003. The single charted at number 49 in the UK Singles Chart and spent only... " |
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| 1 | "Don't Let Go Don't Let Go (David Sneddon song) "Don't Let Go" is a pop song, written by musician, singer and songwriter David Sneddon and Scott MacAlister, and released as a single on April 21, 2003 when in made No.3 in the UK Singles Chart. It was the second single and follow up to his debut number-one hit, "Stop Living the Lie".The song was... " |
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| 1 | "What You Need Is... What You Need Is... "What You Need Is..." is the second and final single from Sinéad Quinn's debut album "Ready To Run". It did not do as well as her first single "I Can't Break Down", and reached #19 in the UK singles chart.-Track listing:CD1#"What You Need Is..."... " |
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| 1 | "Best of Order Best of Order "Best of Order" is a song by Scottish musician, singer and songwriter David Sneddon. It was released as the third single from his debut album, Seven Years - Ten Weeks, on 11 August 2003 in the United Kingdom. It charted at No. 18 in the UK Singles Chart.... " |
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| Lemar Lemar Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia... |
1 | "Dance (With U) Dance (With U) "Dance " is the second single from British R&B singer Lemar and his first for Sony Music after coming third place in the BBC show Fame Academy.The single became a huge hit in the UK, peaking at #2 in the UK singles chart in 2003.-Track listings:... " |
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| 1 | "Baby Get Higher Baby Get Higher Baby Get Higher is a song written by Scottish musician, singer and songwriter David Sneddon. This song was his fourth single release and it was not featured on his debut album Seven Years - Ten Weeks... " |
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| Lemar Lemar Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia... |
1 | "50/50" / "Lullaby" | |||||||||
| 2 | "Maybe That's What It Takes Maybe That's What It Takes "Maybe That's What It Takes" is a song by Alex Parks, taken from her debut album Introduction. It was released as a single on 17 November 2003, shortly after she won the second series of Fame Academy, and peaked at number three in the UK Singles Chart.... " |
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| 2 | "Bring It On" / "My Lover's Prayer Bring It On/My Lover's Prayer "Bring It On" is the self-penned debut single from British singer/songwriter Alistair Griffin, and is also the title track and first release from his debut album, Bring It On... " |
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| Lemar Lemar Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia... |
1 | "Another Day Another Day (Lemar song) "Another Day" is the third and final single released from British R&B singer Lemar's debut album Dedicated.The single became Lemar's third consecutive top ten hit in the UK, peaking at number nine in February 2004.-Track listings:... " |
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| 2 | "Cry Cry (Alex Parks song) "Cry" is the second and final single from Alex Parks' debut album Introduction. It was released in February 2004 and peaked at #13 in the UK Singles Chart.-Track listing:# "Cry" # "Maybe That's What It Takes"... " |
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| 2 | "You and Me (Tonight) You and Me (Tonight) You and Me is the second single release from English singer Alistair Griffin from his debut album Bring It On ."You and Me" was a romantic ballad, originally written several years earlier by Griffin and Ultra bandmate Jon O'Mahony. Griffin had never intended to record the song himself, and it was... " |
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| 2 | "Hold Onto Our Love" | ||||||||||
| Lemar Lemar Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia... |
1 | "If There's Any Justice If There's Any Justice "If There's Any Justice" is the first single taken from British R&B singer Lemar's second album Time to Grow.The single became another top 10 hit for Lemar, peaking at #3 in the UK singles chart, his fourth in a row to reach the top ten... " |
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| Lemar Lemar Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia... |
1 | "Time to Grow Time To Grow (song) "Time to Grow" is the second single and title track of British R&B singer Lemar's second album Time To Grow.The single became Lemar's sixth top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at #9 in the UK singles chart.... " |
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| Lemar Lemar Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia... |
1 | "Don't Give It Up" | |||||||||
| 2 | "Honesty" | ||||||||||
| Lemar Lemar Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia... |
1 | "It's Not That Easy It's Not That Easy "It's Not That Easy" is the first single taken from British R&B singer Lemar's third album The Truth About Love.Before the single's release, "It's Not That Easy" made the top 3 of the UK radio airplay chart and the top 10 of the TV airplay chart. The week prior to the single's physical release,... " |
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| Lemar Lemar Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia... |
1 | "Someone Should Tell You Someone Should Tell You "Someone Should Tell You" was the second single taken from British R&B singer Lemar's third album The Truth About Love.Before the single's release, "Someone Should Tell You" followed the success of "It's Not That Easy" in the UK airplay charts by climbing into the top 10, peaking at #10... " |
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| Lemar Lemar Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia... |
1 | "Tick Tock Tick Tock (song) "Tick Tock" is the third single taken from British R&B singer Lemar's third album The Truth About Love. The single was confirmed for release by music retailer HMV UK and was released on 19 March 2007.... " |
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| 1 | "Bluebirds Flying High Bluebirds Flying High Bluebirds Flying High is a song written by British singer-songwriter James Fox. It was recorded as Cardiff City F.C.'s official song for the 2008 FA Cup Final. It was released as a single in May 2008 and charted at a peak position of number 15 in the UK Singles Chart... " |
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| Lemar Lemar Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia... |
1 | "If She Knew If She Knew "If She Knew" is a song by British R&B singer Lemar, released as the first single from his fourth album, The Reason.The song has been a further top 20 success for Lemar; it was C-listed on BBC Radio 1, entering the UK Singles Chart at #61 after just two full days of download sales, and then... " |
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| Lemar Lemar Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia... |
1 | "Weight of the World Weight of the World (Lemar song) "Weight of the World" is the second and final single taken from British R&B singer Lemar's fourth studio album, The Reason."Weight of the World" is co-produced by Jim Jonsin and Louis Biancaniello, while Lemar and Sam Watters co-wrote the lyrics. "Weight of the World" was released on 2 March 2009.... " |
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| 2 | "Just Drive Just Drive "Just Drive" is a song recorded by British singer/songwriter Alistair Griffin. It is his first official single since "You and Me " in 2004. It was released as a single in November 2010.... " |
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Albums
Only albums that charted in the Top 100 of the UK albums chartUK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
are included in this list.
| Artist | Album title | Release date | UK peak chart position | Malachi Malachi (album) Malachi is the eponymous debut album released by Fame Academy contestant Malachi Cush. The album was released on 24 March 2003 and features his debut single "Just Say You Love Me", along with some cover versions that he performed on Fame Academy... | |||
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| Seven Years - Ten Weeks Seven Years - Ten Weeks Seven Years - Ten Weeks is the debut album from Fame Academy winner David Sneddon, released on April 28, 2003 , a week after his second single Don't Let Go. The album reached No 5 in the UK Album Chart before falling to No 11... |
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| Ready to Run Ready to Run (album) Ready To Run is the debut and only album by former Fame Academy contestant Sinéad Quinn. It was poorly received and charted at #48 on the UK albums chart, which led to her being dropped by her record label.-Track listing:... |
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| Lemar Lemar Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia... |
Dedicated Dedicated (Lemar album) Dedicated is the debut album by English soul/R&B singer Lemar.-Making of the album:Sony Music signed Lemar to a five-record deal after his success on the BBC Television program Fame Academy in 2002. His first single "Dance With U" was written with Fitzgerald Scott who had previously worked with... |
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| Bring It On Bring It On (Alistair Griffin album) Bring It On is the debut album by British singer/songwriter Alistair Griffin. Released in January 2004 on the UMTV label, it reached # 12 in the UK album charts.... |
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| Introduction Introduction (Alex Parks album) Introduction is Alex Parks' debut album, released on 24 November 2003. Recorded and released within only two weeks of Parks winning the BBC's Fame Academy, it included seven original compositions, mostly co-written with songwriters Helen Boulding, Gary Clark and Boo Hewerdine, as well as six cover... |
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| Lemar Lemar Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia... |
Time to Grow Time To Grow Time to Grow is the second studio album by English soul/R&B singer Lemar. The album has been certified double platinum by the BPI.-Track listing:#"Soulman" - 3:18#"Better Than This" - 3:22#"I Don't Mind That" - 3:34#"What If?" - 4:28... |
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| Honesty | |||||||
| Lemar Lemar Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia... |
The Truth About Love | ||||||
| Lemar Lemar Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia... |
The Reason |
Fame Academy albums
At the end of both series, a compilation album was released featuring cover versions from the contestants. The first album reached number two on the UK Compilation Chart. A third album, Bee Gees Special, was released during the show's broadcast and featured cover versions of Bee GeesBee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
songs.
| Album title | Record label | Series | Release date | UK peak chart position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fame Academy | Mercury Records Mercury Records Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal... |
1 |
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|Fame Academy Bee Gees Special || Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
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|Fame Academy - The Finalists || Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
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Other releases
- Alistair Griffin released a cover version of "Hallelujah" called "Hallelujah Mark VidukaMark VidukaMark Anthony Viduka is a former Australian soccer player who played as a centre forward. He captained the Australian national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany to the last 16.-Melbourne Croatia:...
" through iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
. - Malachi Cush has released four further albums that have failed to chart: Celtic Heartbeat (Where the Heart Is) (2005) and Two Sides of Malachi and New Day (both 2007) and Timeless (2009).
- James Fox released an EP entitled Six Strings and an album that failed to chart called Rocking Chairs and Lemonade. He released a single "Higher" in 2008.
- Alex Parks released "Looking for WaterLooking for Water (Alex Parks song)"Looking for Water" the first single from Alex Parks' second album Honesty. It was written by Parks, Judie Tzuke and Graham Kearns. A physical single was cancelled a few weeks before the release date, so it was only released as a digital download, and could not survive on downloads alone and had a...
" as a download-only single but the song only peaked at number 250.