''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 Helen Boulding (born 1 December 1978) is an English, London-based singer-songwriter, originally from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Her first album, ''New Red Dress'', was released in February 2008. Biography Boulding grew up in Sheff ...

, Gary Clark and Boo Hewerdine, as well as six cover songs from

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...

Tears for Fears Tears for Fears are an English pop rock band formed in Bath, England, in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, Tears for Fears were associated with the new w ...

, R.E.M.,

Christina Aguilera Christina María Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice o ...

, Eurythmics and

Coldplay Coldplay are a British Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer Will Champion and creative director Phil Harvey (manager), Phil H ...

. The album reached number 5 in the UK Top 40 Album charts. It has been classified

platinum Platinum is a chemical element with the symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a dense, malleable, ductile, highly unreactive, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name originates from Spanish , a diminutive of "silver". Pla ...

in the UK. ''Introduction'' includes rock influences on "Dirty Pretty Words" and "Wandering Soul", as well as a folk pop acoustic track, "Not Your Average Kind of Girl". The lead single " Maybe That's What It Takes" was released on 17 November 2003 and peaked at number 3 in the UK Top 40 the following week. The second single "

Cry Crying is the dropping of tears (or welling of tears in the eyes) in response to an emotional state, or pain. Emotions that can lead to crying include sadness, anger, and even happiness. The act of crying has been defined as "a complex secreto ...

" was released on 16 February 2004, and charted at number 13. The song "Stones & Feathers" was adapted in French under the title "De l'Eau" (Some Water) and used as the debut single of Elodie Frégé, winner of the third season of " Star Academy".

Track listing

#" Maybe That's What It Takes" - 3:54 ( Alex Parks,

) #"

" - 3:49 (Parks, Gary Clark, Boo Hewerdine) #"Dirty Pretty Words" - 3:10 (Parks, Clark, Hewerdine) #" Imagine" - 3:13 (

) #"Not Your Average Kind of Girl" - 3:37 (Parks,

Carolynne Good Carolynne Willey (née Good; born 5 August 1980) is a British singer-songwriter, actress and former model from Leeds, England. She is a founding member of the Carolynne Good Band, based in Leeds and London. She is best known for finishing i ...

, James Fox) #" Mad World" - 3:03 ( Roland Orzabal) #" Everybody Hurts" - 5:44 ( Bill Berry,

Mike Mills Michael Edward Mills (born December 17, 1958) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer who was a founding member of the alternative rock band R.E.M. Though known primarily as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist of R.E.M., ...

Peter Buck Peter Lawrence Buck (born December 6, 1956) is an American musician and songwriter. He was a co-founder and the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band R.E.M. He also plays the banjo and mandolin on several R.E.M. songs. Throughout his c ...

Michael Stipe John Michael Stipe (; born January 4, 1960) is an American singer-songwriter and artist, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of alternative rock band R.E.M. He is known for his vocal quality, poetic lyrics and unique stage presence. Po ...

) #" Beautiful" - 3:59 (

Linda Perry Linda Perry (born April 15, 1965) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. She was the lead singer and primary songwriter of 4 Non Blondes, and has since founded two record labels and composed and produced hit songs for s ...

) #"Stones & Feathers" - 3:07 (Justin Gray, Blair MacKichan, Stefan Skarbek, Parks) #" Here Comes the Rain Again" - 3:20 (

Annie Lennox Ann Lennox (born 25 December 1954) is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving moderate success in the late 1970s as part of the New wave music, new wave band the Tourists, she and fellow musician D ...

, David A Stewart) #"

Yellow Yellow is the color between green and orange on the spectrum of light. It is evoked by light with a dominant wavelength of roughly 575585 nm. It is a primary color in subtractive color systems, used in painting or color printing. In ...

" - 4:30 ( Guy Berryman, Jon Buckland, Will Champion,

Chris Martin Christopher Anthony John Martin (born 2 March 1977) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist, pianist, rhythm guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Coldplay. Born in Exeter, Devon, he went to Uni ...

) #"Wandering Soul" - 3:31 (Parks, Clark, Hewerdine) #"Over Conscious" - 3:37 (Parks, Glenn Skinner, Luciana Caporaso)

Chart performance

In the United Kingdom, ''Introduction'' debuted at #5.

Certifications

References

External links

Allmusic - Alex ParksRadiohead praise Alex Parks, Feb 2004Shakenstir - INTRODUCTION album reviewPlaylouder - INTRODUCTION album review
{{Authority control 2003 debut albums Alex Parks albums Polydor Records albums