Following 2008's amazing year for Manchester artists, 2009 was a relatively quiet year with Doves 'Kingdom of Rust' being the most successful on the charts (no.2). Morrissey's 'Years Of Refusal' reached no.3 whilst David Gray's amazing 'Draw The Line', perhaps his best album yet, reached no.5. Ian Brown also returned to form with 'My Way' (no.8). Elbow, with the BBC Concert Orchestra, released their live at Abbey Road version of last year's Pride Of Manchester Award winning 'Seldom Seen Kid' and Take That charted with 'The Circus Live (no.3), recorded at Wembley Stadium as part of their record-breaking tour. New Order's Bernard Sumner returned with new band Bad Lieutenant whilst The Smiths Johnny Marr had success with his new Wakefield-based band, The Cribs, reaching no.8 with 'Ignore The Ignorant'. Nine Black Alps returned without chart success and, despite much media hype and critical acclaim, Kid British could only reach no.67 with 'It Was Either This Or Football'. Starsailor's 'All The Plans' also disappointed at no.26 and the band announced a break.
2,529 members nominated 22 different albums with the final shortlist (in alphabetical order) being...
Those of you who've been visitors to Pride Of Manchester since we launched in 1999, will be aware we've been championing the Altrincham folk rocker since Day One, a good year before 'White Ladder' finally topped the charts, becoming one of the UK's best-selling albums ever in the process. His 8th studio album, 'Draw The Line', may've been his least commercially successful since then, only reaching no.5 in September but, for us, is the best album he's ever released - even better than his pre-'Babylon' recordings - and features the pulsating single 'Fugitive', as well as a haunting collaboration with Annie Lennox. His backing band still includes Neill MacColl, son of Salford bard, Ewan.
Elbow & BBC Concert Orchestra ~ The Seldom Seen Kid (Live at Abbey Road)
Released in November and coming at the end of a fantastic year for the Bury band that saw them play huge sold out shows - along with a NME Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music and BRIT Award for Best British band - this very special version of last year's Pride Of Manchester Award-winning 'The Seldom Seen Kid' presents Elbow's spectacular collaboration with the BBC Concert Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios. This magical partnership was also recreated in Manchester with the Halle Orchestra.
King Monkey reached no.8 in October with his sixth solo album, which saw him return to his Michael Jackson influenced funky best. Recorded during a period of rumour and speculation on a potential Stone Roses reunion, the track 'For The Glory' included direct reference to his former band whilst the release also shows his versatility and includes the amazing hit single 'Stellify' - the video of which was recorded on the streets of Manchester.
The tenth album from the iconic Manchester legend saw The former Smiths frontman return to the form of 2004's 'You Are The Quarry', reaching no.3 in February. Featuring the hit singles 'That's How People Grow Up', 'I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris' and 'All You Need Is Me', this is an album more urgent and intimate than his recent releases, its raw and fresh sound boasts a spiky punkesque energy running through it which further illustrates his formidable talent.
The second live recording to make our shortlist is Take That's jaw-dropping 'The Greatest Day - The Circus Live", recorded at their critically acclaimed Wembley Stadium show, the final stop of their record-breaking amazing tour. This is a great recording of a truely breathtaking concert that has set new standards for all to follow. The CD, which reached no.3 in the UK charts in December, also included a second disc of their Abbey Road session with re-recorded 'Sunday morning' versions of their recent hits.
