Sir Richard (of Hawley) sees his third album hit the grand old age of 20. Time for a new appreciation of Coles Corner.

HAWLEY’S BEST?

Coles Corner 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 live performances, hard work paid off on an album that’s 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, alongside Hawley, Coles Corner featured Shez Sheridan (guitars), Jon Trier (keyboards), Jonny Wood (upright bass) and Andy Cook (drums). They conjured up an exquisite album inspired by Hawley’s love of vintage ‘40s and ‘50s sounds, chamber pop, country, blues, and rock ‘n roll, on a set of intimate love songs full of nostalgia, regret, sadness and a bittersweet atmosphere, on a collection that would reinforce Hawley’s abiding love and passion for his hometown of Sheffield.

THE SOUND OF FALLING IN LOVE

Some call listening to Richard Hawley ‘the sound of falling in love’. Coles Corner is one perfect example. The title track is named after a former department store in the city which was a popular meeting place for couples. Like many of his album sleeves, he immortalises the legendary landmark on a song full of with its sweeping strings and swooning chorus, on a paean to the loneliness of the city at night.

Other beautiful 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 the driving Just Like The Rain. The album’s most epic song and, to this day, a fan favourite often played live as a setlist finale, 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 Richard’s best vocals; all yearning and urgency as it builds to its crescendo.

Often falling under the radar, the final three tracks sit in the missing gems in the Hawley catalogue. Leading to the coda of Last Orders, Wading Through The Waters Of My Time sees his influences worn proudly on his sleeve and the lullaby of Who’s Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Feet is a hold your breath four minutes.

‘IMPOSSIBLY LOVELY’

Coles Corner is a cornerstone in the outstanding catalogue of one of the most creative and outstanding UK singer-songwriters of the past two decades. In the words of WORD magazine – “impossibly lovely“. In the bard’s own words – Know what I mean?

This collection edition picture disc features images from the Coles Corner video and previously unseen images from the Coles Corner cover photoshoot. Play the record and film the spinning disc to reveal the animation.

The Coles Corner shop

TOUR DATES….

5 September – Gilderdrome, Boston, Lincs.

6 September – Portmeirion Village, Wales

12 September – Ballroom, Blackpool Tower

26 September – Regent’s Park Theatre, London

27 September – Regent’s Park Theatre, London

3 October – Hall By The Sea, Dreamland, Margate SOLD OUT

4 October – Assembly Hall, Worthing  SOLD OUT

10 October – The Grand Pier, Weston-Super-Mare SOLD OUT

22 October – 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin

23 October – Mandela Hall, Belfast

Richard Hawley online: Official Website / Facebook /X – formerly Twitter / Instagram

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