1.
Album
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Album, is a collection of audio recordings issued as a single item on CD, record, audio tape, or another medium. Albums of recorded music were developed in the early 20th century, first as books of individual 78rpm records, vinyl LPs are still issued, though in the 21st century album sales have mostly focused on compact disc and MP3 formats. The audio cassette was a format used from the late 1970s through to the 1990s alongside vinyl, an album may be recorded in a recording studio, in a concert venue, at home, in the field, or a mix of places. Recording may take a few hours to years to complete, usually in several takes with different parts recorded separately. Recordings that are done in one take without overdubbing are termed live, the majority of studio recordings contain an abundance of editing, sound effects, voice adjustments, etc. With modern recording technology, musicians can be recorded in separate rooms or at times while listening to the other parts using headphones. Album covers and liner notes are used, and sometimes additional information is provided, such as analysis of the recording, historically, the term album was applied to a collection of various items housed in a book format. In musical usage the word was used for collections of pieces of printed music from the early nineteenth century. Later, collections of related 78rpm records were bundled in book-like albums, the LP record, or 33 1⁄3 rpm microgroove vinyl record, is a gramophone record format introduced by Columbia Records in 1948. It was adopted by the industry as a standard format for the album. Apart from relatively minor refinements and the important later addition of stereophonic sound capability, the term album had been carried forward from the early nineteenth century when it had been used for collections of short pieces of music. Later, collections of related 78rpm records were bundled in book-like albums, as part of a trend of shifting sales in the music industry, some commenters have declared that the early 21st century experienced the death of the album. Sometimes shorter albums are referred to as mini-albums or EPs, Albums such as Tubular Bells, Amarok, Hergest Ridge by Mike Oldfield, and Yess Close to the Edge, include fewer than four tracks. There are no rules against artists such as Pinhead Gunpowder referring to their own releases under thirty minutes as albums. These are known as box sets, material is stored on an album in sections termed tracks, normally 11 or 12 tracks. A music track is a song or instrumental recording. The term is associated with popular music where separate tracks are known as album tracks. When vinyl records were the medium for audio recordings a track could be identified visually from the grooves
2.
Fun Lovin' Criminals
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Fun Lovin Criminals are a band from New York City. Their musical style is eclectic, covering such as hip hop, rock, blues, jazz, R&B, punk. They are best known for their hit Scooby Snacks, which features samples from films by Quentin Tarantino, and the song Love Unlimited and their songs often focus on life in New York City, as well as urban life in general. Their lyrics can be gritty or existentialist in nature, touching on such as organized crime and urban violence. The band gained a following internationally, notably in north-west Europe. The band was formed in 1993 by Huey Morgan, Brian Fast Leiser and Steve Borgovini after Leiser and they started playing together and would provide the entertainment for the club when a booked act failed to show up. It was during one of these stand-in gigs that they came to the attention of EMI, the album also featured the UK Top 40 hits, Scooby Snacks, The Fun Lovin Criminal and King Of New York. Come Find Yourself had a rise up the UK Albums Chart, finally peaking at No.7 and spending well over a year in the chart. The success of the album prompted the re-release of Scooby Snacks as a single, alongside a cover of the 10cc classic Im Not In Love, korean Bodega, one of the aforementioned upbeat songs, was the biggest hit from the album, reaching No. 15, their second-highest placing single so far after the re-release of Scooby Snacks, in June 1999 the band played at Glastonbury Festival on the Pyramid Stage. Their December 1999 album Mimosa, released by EMI was an album consisting mostly of laid back lounge style covers. While making reasonable sales, the album was their weakest selling album yet and it was around this time, in 1999, that Steve Borgovini left the band. He was replaced by Maxwell Mackie Jayson, a permanent replacement was found in 2003 in the form of Mark Reid from Leicester, United Kingdom, who had previously worked with the band as Jaysons technician. The bands third album, Loco, was released in early 2001. Back under EMI, the album had all new songs including the single which became their biggest hit yet. It was the single release from the album to reach the UK Top 40. Their final album under EMI was a best of compilation called Bag of Hits released in 2002 and it was released in both one and two disc versions, with the second disc featuring remixes of Fun Lovin Criminals songs by other artists. EMI released this album against the wishes of the band, who were not happy with the two disc version, however, despite their objections it reached No.11 in the UK Albums Chart
3.
Virgin Records
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Virgin Records is a British-founded record label originally founded by English entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman in 1972. It was later sold to Thorn EMI in 1992, today, the operations of Virgin Records America, Inc. are still active and headquartered in Hollywood, California, as it operates exclusively under the Capitol Music Group since 2007. US artists include Knox Hamilton, LTric and Rise Against, in fact the first real store was above a shoe shop at the Tottenham Court Road end of Oxford Street. After making the shop into a success, they turned their business into a fully fledged record label, the name Virgin, according to Branson, arose from Tessa Watts, a colleague of his, when they were brainstorming business ideas. She suggested Virgin – as they were all new to business – like virgins, the original Virgin logo was designed by English artist and illustrator Roger Dean, a young naked woman in mirror image with a large long-tailed serpent and the word Virgin in Deans familiar script. A variation on the logo was used for the spin-off Caroline Records label and this was soon followed by some notable krautrock releases, including electronic breakthrough album Phaedra by Tangerine Dream, and The Faust Tapes and Faust IV by Faust. The Faust Tapes album retailed for 49p and as a result allowed this relatively unknown band to reach number 12 in the album charts, other early albums include Gongs Flying Teapot, which Daevid Allen has been quoted as having never been paid for. Under the guidance of Tessa Watts, Virgins Head of Publicity, shortly afterwards, the Notting Hill record shop was raided by police for having a window display of the Sex Pistols album Never Mind the Bollocks, Heres the Sex Pistols in the window. After modified versions of the label came the red, white and blue design introduced in 1975. The current Virgin logo was created in 1978, commissioned by Simon Draper, brian Cooke of Cooke Key Associates commissioned a graphic designer to produce a stylised signature. In 1983 Virgin purchased Charisma Records, renaming it Charisma/Virgin, then later Virgin/Charisma, before folding the label in 1986, in the process they acquired Genesis and comedy group Monty Python. The Charisma label was reactivated in the US in 1990 and enjoyed success with such as Maxi Priest, Right Said Fred,38 Special. When this Charisma label was retired in 1992, all of its artists were, as before, in 1987, Venture Records was created for new age and modern classical artists including Klaus Schulze, who had been associated with Virgin since the early 1970s. 10 Records Immortal Records Delabel Caroline Records was a label used from 1973 to 1977. The name and logo were used for some American editions of Virgin records in the 1980s and 1990s. Caroline was primarily used for independent distribution until the label was reactivated in 2013, today, Caroline Records acts as an independent label taking the place of EMI Label Services, after Virgins former parent company EMI was purchased by Universal Music Group. Front Line Records was a label for issuing Jamaican and English reggae music from 1978 to approximately 1987, a short-lived associated label, Dindisc, had Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and The Monochrome Set during its brief existence, after which its recordings became part of Virgins catalogue. Noo Trybe Records was a hip hop label that existed from 1994 to 1999
4.
Chrysalis Records
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Chrysalis Records /ˈkrɪ. sə. lɪs/ is a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright. It started as the Ellis-Wright Agency and this was after the single Sunshine Day/Aeroplane was incorrectly credited to Jethro Toe. Jethro Tull signed with Reprise Records in the United States, which led Chrysalis to an American distribution deal with Reprises parent company and this lasted from 1972 until U. S. Chrysalis switched to independent distribution in 1976. PolyGram handled international distribution and Festival Records covered Australia and New Zealand, towards the end of the 1970s, the label began to extend its range of music, incorporating acts from the Punk Rock scene such as Generation X. The Chrysalis offshoot 2 Tone Records brought in such as The Specials. In 1979 Chrysalis bought and distributed U. S. folk label Takoma Records, naming manager/producer Denny Bruce as president, jon Monday who was Vice President of Takoma Records prior to the acquisition continued as General Manager, later becoming Director of Marketing of Chrysalis Records. Chrysalis made history in 1979 by creating the first music video album, in the 1980s, Chrysalis was at the forefront of the British New Romantic movement with bands such as Gen X, Ultravox, and Spandau Ballet. The 1980s proved to be the most successful time for the label, whose roster then included Billy Idol, Pat Benatar, Blondie and Huey Lewis, Chrysalis also distributed Animal Records, the short-lived label founded by Blondie guitarist Chris Stein. In 1983 Daniel Glass moved to Chrysalis as Director of New Music Marketing, advancing later to Senior Vice President. The Chrysalis Records label was sold 50% in 1990, then the half in 1991 to EMI with catalogue. Chrysalis Records folded into EMI subsidiary and flagship label EMI Records in 2005, the British Chrysalis catalogue was put up for sale by Universal Music Group after its acquisition of EMI. In July 2013, Warner Music Group completed acquisition of Parlophone Label Group, when Universal Music Group purchased EMI in 2012 ownership of Chrysalis passed to UMG. In 2013 Warner Music Group acquired part of EMI from UMG, in May 2016, Blue Raincoat Music purchased Chrysalis Records Ltd and the artist catalogue from Warner Music Group. Blue Raincoat founders Jeremy Lascelles and Robin Millar brought in Robert Devereux and this reunited founder Wright with the company he set up 47 years previously. Chris Wright is now non-executive Chairman of Chrysalis Records Ltd, since the acquisition from Warner Music Group, Chrysalis has acquired the catalogues of Suzi Quatro, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Athlete and Fun Lovin Criminals. Official site for Chrysalis Records UK at Blue Raincoat Music Ben Sisario, New York Times, Media Decoder blog,7 February 2013 Discogs page on Chrysalis Records
5.
Single (music)
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In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a song recording of fewer tracks than an LP record, an album or an EP record. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats, in most cases, a single is a song that is released separately from an album, although it usually also appears on an album. Typically, these are the songs from albums that are released separately for promotional uses such as digital download or commercial radio airplay and are expected to be the most popular, in other cases a recording released as a single may not appear on an album. As digital downloading and audio streaming have become prevalent, it is often possible for every track on an album to also be available separately. Nevertheless, the concept of a single for an album has been retained as an identification of a heavily promoted or more popular song within an album collection. Despite being referred to as a single, singles can include up to as many as three tracks on them. The biggest digital music distributor, iTunes, accepts as many as three tracks less than ten minutes each as a single, as well as popular music player Spotify also following in this trend. Any more than three tracks on a release or longer than thirty minutes in total running time is either an Extended Play or if over six tracks long. The basic specifications of the single were made in the late 19th century. Gramophone discs were manufactured with a range of speeds and in several sizes. By about 1910, however, the 10-inch,78 rpm shellac disc had become the most commonly used format, the inherent technical limitations of the gramophone disc defined the standard format for commercial recordings in the early 20th century.26 rpm. With these factors applied to the 10-inch format, songwriters and performers increasingly tailored their output to fit the new medium, the breakthrough came with Bob Dylans Like a Rolling Stone. Singles have been issued in various formats, including 7-inch, 10-inch, other, less common, formats include singles on digital compact cassette, DVD, and LD, as well as many non-standard sizes of vinyl disc. Some artist release singles on records, a more common in musical subcultures. The most common form of the single is the 45 or 7-inch. The names are derived from its speed,45 rpm. The 7-inch 45 rpm record was released 31 March 1949 by RCA Victor as a smaller, more durable, the first 45 rpm records were monaural, with recordings on both sides of the disc. As stereo recordings became popular in the 1960s, almost all 45 rpm records were produced in stereo by the early 1970s
6.
B.B. King
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Riley Benjamin King, known professionally as B. B. King, was an American blues singer, electric guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. King introduced a style of soloing based on fluid string bending and shimmering vibrato that influenced many later electric blues guitarists. King was known for performing throughout his musical career, appearing at more than 200 concerts per year on average into his 70s. In 1956, he appeared at 342 shows. King was born on a plantation in Berclair, Mississippi. He was attracted to music and the guitar in church, and began his career in juke joints. He later lived in Memphis, Tennessee, and Chicago, King died at the age of 89 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 14,2015, from congestive heart failure and diabetic complications. Riley Benjamin King was born on September 16,1925, on a plantation called Berclair, near the town of Itta Bena, Mississippi. He considered the city of Indianola, Mississippi to be his home. When Riley was four years old, his mother left his father for another man, so the boy was raised by his grandmother, Elnora Farr, in Kilmichael. While young, King sang in the choir at Elkhorn Baptist Church in Kilmichael. King was attracted to the Pentecostal Church of God in Christ because of its music, the local minister led worship with a Sears Roebuck Silvertone guitar. The minister taught King his first three chords and it seems that at the age of 12 he purchased his first guitar for $15.00, although another source indicates he was given his first guitar by Bukka White, his mothers first cousin. In November 1941 King Biscuit Time first aired, broadcasting on KFFA in Helena and it was a radio show featuring the Mississippi Delta blues. King listened to it while on break at a plantation, a self-taught guitarist, he then wanted to become a radio musician. In 1946, King followed Bukka White to Memphis, Tennessee, White took him in for the next ten months. However, King returned to Mississippi shortly afterward, where he decided to prepare himself better for the next visit and he performed on Sonny Boy Williamsons radio program on KWEM in West Memphis, where he began to develop an audience. Kings appearances led to engagements at the Sixteenth Avenue Grill in West Memphis
7.
MiniDisc
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MiniDisc is a magneto-optical disc-based data storage format offering a capacity of 74 minutes and, later,80 minutes, of digitized audio or 1 gigabyte of Hi-MD data. Sony brand audio players were on the market from September 1992 until March 2013, MiniDisc was announced by Sony in September 1992 and released that November of that year for sale in Japan and in December in Europe, Canada, the USA and other countries. MiniDiscs were very popular outside of the USA, Sony has ceased development of MD devices, with the last of the players sold by March 2013. It took, however, almost 10 years before their idea was commercialized, Sony had originally intended Digital Audio Tape to be the dominant home digital audio recording format, replacing the analog cassette. Due to technical delays, DAT was not launched until 1989, by the time Sony came up with MiniDisc in late 1992, Philips had introduced a competing system, DCC. This created marketing confusion very similar to the Betamax versus VHS battle of the late 1970s, Sony attempted to license MD technology to other manufacturers, with JVC, Sharp, Pioneer, Panasonic and others all producing their own MD systems. However, non-Sony machines were not widely available in North America, despite having a loyal customer base largely of musicians and audio enthusiasts, MiniDisc met with only limited success. It was relatively popular in Japan during the 1990s but did not enjoy comparable sales in other world markets, since then, recordable CDs, flash memory and HDD and solid-state-based digital audio players such as iPods have become increasingly popular as playback devices. The initial low uptake of MiniDisc was attributed to the number of pre-recorded albums available on MD as relatively few record labels embraced the format. The initial high cost of equipment and blank media was also a factor, mains-powered hi-fi MiniDisc player/recorders never got into the lower price ranges, and most consumers had to connect a portable machine to the hi-fi in order to record. This inconvenience contrasted with the common use of cassette decks as a standard part of an ordinary hi-fi set-up. The biggest competition for MiniDisc came from the emergence of MP3 players, with the Diamond Rio player in 1998 and the Apple iPod, the mass market began to eschew physical media in favor of file-based systems. This allowed the MiniDisc to better compete with HD recorders and MP3 players, on 7 July 2011, Sony announced that it would no longer ship MiniDisc Walkman products as of September 2011, effectively killing the format. On 1 February 2013, Sony issued a release on the Nikkei stock exchange that it will cease shipment of MD devices. However, it would continue to sell blank discs and offer repair services, MD Data, a version for storing computer data, was announced by Sony in 1993 but never gained significant ground. Its media were incompatible with standard audio MiniDiscs, which has been cited as one of the reasons behind the formats failure. MD Data could not write to audio-MDs, only the more expensive data blanks. In 1997, MD-Data2 blanks were introduced, which held 650 MB of data and they were only implemented in Sonys short-lived MD-based camcorder as well as a small number of multi-track recorders, Sonys MDM-X4, Tascams 564, and Yamahas MD-8, MD-4, & MD4S
8.
AllMusic
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AllMusic is an online music guide service website. It was launched in 1991 by All Media Guide which later became All Media Network, AllMusic was launched in 1991 by Michael Erlewine of All Media Guide. The aim was to discographic information on every artist whos made a record since Enrico Caruso gave the industry its first big boost and its first reference book was published the following year. When first released onto the Internet, AMG predated the World Wide Web and was first available as a Gopher site, the AMG consumer web properties AllMusic. com, AllMovie. com and AllGame. com were sold by Rovi in July 2013 to All Media Network, LLC. All Media Network, LLC. was formed by the founders of SideReel. com. The following are contributors to AllMusic, as of this date, All Media Network also produced the AllMusic guide series that includes the AllMusic Guide to Rock, the All Music Guide to Jazz and the All Music Guide to the Blues. Vladimir Bogdanov is the president of the series, in August 2007, PC Magazine included AllMusic in its Top 100 Classic Websites list. All Media Network AllGame AllMovie SideReel All Music Guide to the Blues All Music Guide to Jazz Stephen Thomas Erlewine Official website
9.
Huey Morgan
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Huey Morgan is the frontman of rock/hip hop band Fun Lovin Criminals. Morgan performs both vocals and guitar and combines rock, hip hop, jazz, reggae, and funk influences in his music and he also performs as a BBC Radio DJ, and has made film and TV appearances. Morgan is American, born to Puerto Rican-American and Irish-American parents, in his youth he committed petty crimes and dealt cocaine, and was arrested for doing so, whilst driving a stolen car. The judge gave him the choice between going to jail or spending time in the Marine Corps - Morgan chose to join the Marines. This is mentioned in the song The Grave And The Constant and it is possible that this is a made up story. Morgan has long left his criminal past behind, noting that the name Fun Lovin Criminals was chosen because he didnt want to hurt anyone, in 1993, Morgan formed Fun Lovin Criminals with Brian Leiser and Steve Borgovini. They have released six albums, three of which made the top ten in the UK Albums Chart, and have scored eight top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart. In 2010 Morgan made a guest appearance in the video of Plan Bs single Prayin. Also, in 2012, Morgan released his solo album Say It To My Face credited to Huey. Morgan had a short-lived, ghost-written wine column for the British magazine Mondo from 2000 to 2001, in June 2015, Huey Morgan released his first book Rebel Heroes, The Renegades of Music & Why We Still Need Them. On television, Morgan has appeared on the UK comedy music quiz show Never Mind The Buzzcocks, in his most famous appearance, Morgan smashed a mug after becoming upset when needing to repeat lyrics from his songs in the next line round. Morgan also participated in the BBCs The Underdog Show, where eight celebrities trained and rehabilitated rescued dogs and he is also a frequent guest panelist on the UK Channel 5 morning show The Wright Stuff. Morgan also made a guest appearance in an episode of Skins as Toxic Bob, in 2010 Morgan co-hosted Liza & Hueys Pet Nation on Sky One with Liza Tarbuck. Morgan also hosted Slips on the British music channel Viva, more recent work includes narration for National Geographics epic series Drugs Inc, now in its 3rd series, voice overs for TV ads such as Blink Box and more. In 2015 Morgan began work on the Sky Arts show Guitar Stars, working with fellow DJ Edith Bowman, on November 3,2016, Morgan appeared as a panelist on the BBC Television political debate programme Question Time. Morgan starred in Clubbing to Death with Craig Charles, Nick Moran, Dave Courtney, Morgan did a voice-over for the video game Scarface, The World is Yours. He is the voice of National Geographic TV shows Drugs INC, and Underworld INC as well as narrating the two-part BBC television documentary Blues America in 2013, in 2016 voiced a global advertising campaign for Lynx deodorant. On Sunday 5 October 2008 Morgan began hosting his own radio show, the show won a Bronze Award at the 2009 Sony Radio Academy Awards
10.
Brian Leiser
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Brian Andrew Leiser, is a member of the band Fun Lovin Criminals, plays bass, keyboards, harmonica, and the trumpet. He attended Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua NY, graduating in 1990, brians nickname is Fast, which was given to him while attending Syracuse University. The name Fast is a version of the nickname Fastman – a reference to the speed at which he often spoke. Brians start in music was as a keyboardist and backup singer for the Westchester, New York, 1980s synthpop group. Fun Lovin Criminals has enjoyed success in Europe but has performed globally. The bands music has been known worldwide, Brian has finished working on the Fun Lovin Criminals sixth studio album, Classic Fantastic, which was released 1 March 2010, and has received impressive reviews among fans. On the album, Brian features a short rapping section in the song, We, the Three, and provides backing vocals on others
11.
Frank Benbini
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Frank Benbini, born in Leicester, United Kingdom, is the drummer and one third of the Fun Lovin Criminals. As well as being known as Frank Benbini, he goes by the names Uncle Frank. Frank is an singer, music producer, songwriter and director. Frank joined FLC as their drummer in May 2003 - although he had known the band for years previously - after having worked for a while as Mackies technician. Along with drumming, Frank also provides backing vocals to tracks on FLCs more recent albums and when performing live with the FLC. Frank is also one half of the Make It Nice Brothers with Naim Cortazzi Based in Leicester, England, delicate, Melodic, Soulful food for hungry dreamers. Uncle Frank were signed to an unprecedented 3 album deal in 2013 by MITA Records executive David Rogers, Uncle Franks debut label album Smiles for Miles was released in May 2014 and was described by Penny Black Music as an album full of classic, quirky and lovestruck songs. Along with these two bands, Frank has also performed with the band Cantaloop who have supported the Fun Lovin Criminals on several of their tours. He is also dipping his toes into the realms of acting - being part of the sequel to FLCs film Maui Homicide, Uncle Frank played at the 2009 Limetree Festival. Frank also did a guest vocalist spot with Cantaloop on the Saturday night of the Limetree Festival
12.
Scooby Snacks (song)
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Scooby Snacks is a song by alternative rap/rock band Fun Lovin Criminals. The song is from their debut album Come Find Yourself and it is the bands biggest hit single to date. The song contains samples from Quentin Tarantinos movies Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, most of the song is rapped, with the exception of the chorus which is sung. The Scooby Snacks in the song is a reference to diazepam, in 1996 it was voted #14 in the list of the hottest 100 songs of that year by listeners of Australias Triple J radio station. The song was re-released in 1997 where it more successful. The song can be found on compilation albums, such as the first edition of the MuchMusic Big Shiny Tunes series. The Best. Anthems. Ever. and 101 Indie Classics, the single initially peaked #22 in the UK Charts. Scooby Snacks -3,02 Scooby Snacks -3,16 Scooby Snacks -3,46 Scooby Snacks -2,57 Scooby Snacks -3,13 Ill be Seeing You -1,19 Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
13.
Bag of Hits
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Bag of Hits is a compilation album by the band Fun Lovin Criminals. The models name for the cover of Bag of Hits was misspelled. The correct spelling is Tonya Vernooy, the photo was taken in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York. The photo session included multiple shots, and lasted around 3 hours. The art director met Vernooy at an art show for Andrés García-Peña
14.
PopMart Tour
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The PopMart Tour was a worldwide concert tour by rock band U2. Launched in support of the groups 1997 album, Pop, the concerts were performed in stadia. Much like the bands previous Zoo TV Tour, PopMart was elaborately staged and its lavish stage design had a 165-foot wide LED screen, a 100-foot -high golden arch, and a large mirror-ball lemon. The PopMart Tours five legs and 93 shows attracted about 3.9 million fans, the tour took U2 to South America, South Africa and Israel for the first time. The tour was booked while the band were still completing Pop, however, the recording sessions went long, delaying the release until March 1997 and cutting into rehearsal time for the tour. PopMart, although the tour of 1997, was marred by technical difficulties and mixed reviews from critics. The tour was depicted on the concert film PopMart, Live from Mexico City, U2 stage designer Willie Williams and stage architect Mark Fisher began developing the PopMart Tour in late 1995. U2 re-entered their Dublin recording studio in October 1995, shortly before releasing an experimental/ambient album with Brian Eno, entitled Original Soundtracks 1, under the pseudonym Passengers. The band started to work on their studio album, which was set to be finished by mid-1996 and released later that year prior to the Christmas. Around the same time, in late 1995, Williams began developing concepts for the next tour. Among the proposed themes for the tour was a based on the end of the millennium titled U2000. Lead vocalist Bono became interested in one of Williams designs that resembled a supermarket, with the help of Fisher, Williams designed a fantasy entertainment outlet, and decided to create a tour with a consumerism theme. While still in the studio, U2 began scheduling tour dates in early 1996. After risking bankruptcy by self-financing the Zoo TV Tour, U2 decided to seek outside sources to finance the cost of taking the PopMart Tour around the world. Initially, the announced they were looking for sponsors to support the tour. Bids were made with five parties, and eventually a deal was made with Toronto-based concert promoter Michael Cohl for $100 million. Cohl expected a total five to six million attendees at over 100 concerts, to get the album ready for its March 1997 release, the albums recording sessions had to be finished by the end of December. Within one month of the deadline, the album was still untitled and had much work left before it could be completed
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