Every now and again, the world of music throws up a record that is out of the ordinary, something in its timing, quality and spirit that just feels right.
The Verve’s 1997 album Urban Hymns, released on September 29th 1997, was one such record. It captured the mood and spirit of the times with songs of an emotional and musical depth that touched a raw nerve throughout the world and ensured this band would graduate from highly respected indie favorites to a genuine rock colossus. A certified classic, Urban Hymns is one of the 20 biggest-selling albums ever in the U.K. (now 11 times platinum) and has sold over ten million copies worldwide.
The album spawned three highly successful singles. The first was the epoch-making worldwide smash “Bitter Sweet Symphony,” which trailered the album and became the sound of the summer. It was followed in the U.K. by “The Drugs Don’t Work” (No. 1) and “Lucky Man” (No. 7).
20 years on the strength of the writing, the quality of the ensemble playing and sensitive production ensure the album sounds as riveting as ever and to mark this anniversary, UMe is releasing a remastered version of the album with a bounty of bonus material – all of the accompanying b-sides (The Verve’s b-sides were genuinely something special) plus three hours of powerful, previously unreleased live material, including the full triumphant May 1998 hometown show in front of around 35,000 fans at Haigh Hall, Wigan (on both CD and DVD).
The remastering and mixing work have been undertaken by Urban Hymns’ original co-producer Chris Potter and Metropolis’ Tony Cousins – as it was for the two super deluxe Verve reissues issued last year, A Storm In Heaven and A Northern Soul.
- Audio includes: Original album (remastered) / All the b-sides / Live at Haigh Hall 24.5.98 (previously unreleased) / Plus further (unreleased) live material from 1997/1998, BBC evening session (27.8.97) and more
- DVD includes: Full Haigh Hall concert / 1999 documentary ‘The Video 96–98’ / Later with Jools Holland 1.11.97 / and the promo videos
- Plus: 56-page hard cover book / 24pp Poster / 5 post cards