Counting down the hours to number 1 event in Liverpool

Jan 18 2008 by Samantha Parker, Liverpool Daily Post

Samantha Parker on Liverpool’s attempt in Capital of Culture year to be the toppermost of the poppermost once again

A HUGE celebration of the musical talent of Liverpool past and present takes to the stage tomorrow in a concert to honour the city’s 56 number one singles.

What will be the largest music-based charity event Liverpool has ever seen aims to mark the city’s status as European Capital of Culture.

The Number One Project sees Liverpool’s top bands come together to re-record the city’s number one hits and hopes to help create the 57th Liverpool chart-topping single. The project is kick-started by the concert this Saturday at the Echo Arena, Liverpool.

Artists performing on the night include Atomic Kitten, Ray Quinn, Dr and the Medics, Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s Nasher, Connie Lush, Amster- dam, Ian McNabb, Sonia, Eton Road, Towers of London, Anthony Hannah, Shack, Billy Fury's band the Tornados, The Farm, The Merseybeats, China Crisis, The Real People, Scaffold, Thea Gilmore featuring Mike Cave, Thomas Lang and the cast of Hollyoaks.

Sadly OMD will not now appear due to personal reasons.

It has also been announced that Gerry Marsden will be joining the line-up to perform his classic hits, How Do You Do It, You’ll Never Walk Alone and Ferry Across the Mersey.

The concert is followed on January 28 with the release of the classic Cilla Black number one song, Anyone Who Had a Heart, which has been covered by multi-platinum selling girlband Atomic Kitten.

After a year-long break, this is a much anticipated reunion for the girls. Singer Liz McClarnon said: “It is going to be great to do a big arena with the girls again. We do love the more intimate gigs but the atmosphere of an arena is always amazing. We are also really proud that it is one of the first shows at the Echo Arena in Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year. Now that’s one to tell the grandkids!”

The single will be a double A side produced by Martyn Phillips, and will also feature a stunningly original cover of The Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night by underground Merseyside DJ Sonny J.

THE single will be available on all download platforms and as a physical single and is followed on February 4 by Liverpool – The Number Ones Album, celebrating Liverpool's world record for being the city with the most number one chart-topping singles.

The hottest nationally and internationally-acclaimed artists from Merseyside's past and present have also each recorded their unique versions of one of the 56 number one songs; 28 are on the album.

All proceeds from the project will be distributed among six of the city's leading charities; The Liverpool Echo Sunrise Fund, The Marina Dalglish Appeal, Alder Hey IMAGINE Appeal, Marie Curie Hospice Liverpool, Radio City's Give A Child A Chance and Radio Merseyside's Charitable Trust.

The project was the brainchild of Atomic Kitten manager Martin O’Shea who said: “I am delighted with the way the album is sounding. I always knew the proof of this pudding would be in the eating and I can tell you it tastes fantastic.

“There are some really classic-sounding versions of some classic songs. We also have some really quirky versions such as the fabulous Hollyoaks girls doing Doggy in the Window. We're posting them all online next week on the project website and on every individual artist’s website, so then we'll get the reactions which I expect to be amazing. The line-up spans six decades of Liverpool’s musical history and will cover such an eclectic range of styles and songs. All of the artists are doing their biggest hit single alongside their chosen number one.

‘SO IT’S a much wider celebration of many years of wonderful songs and hit artists backed by the best house band and musical director in the world. It’s a bona fide gourmet musical feast for this amazing city to truly savour.”

Latest addition Marsden said: “Liverpool has played a special part in pop history, and I am honoured to be invited to celebrate with so many old friends all that is special about this great city of ours. However, the most important aspect of the evening will, of course, be to raise money for six fantastic charities who, day in and day out, year after year, continue to make a genuine difference to the lives of so many Liverpool people. That is what makes this such a unique event.”

FOR more information on the project, artists and tracks go to www.myspace.com/ thenumberoneproject and www.thenumberoneproject

HANNAH’S DELIGHT – BOX OFFICE: PAGES 2-3

samanthaparker