MICHAEL BALL
NEW ALBUM - A LOVE STORY

Release date: 20.10.03
EMI Liberty
Cat no: 591 9492

The UK's number one musical star, Michael Ball, the man of whom Andrew Lloyd Webber once declared, 'He just goes on stage and delivers,' releases his new studio album 'A Love Story' for EMI Liberty on 20th October 2003. A beautiful and haunting album, it records, in song, the story of a relationship from beginning to end.

Parts of it, however, very nearly didn't happen at all. The day after Michael - star of musicals ranging from Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - arrived in New York, the City, and with it the recording studio he was booked into, were plunged into darkness.

With only a one day window to record the final track, a duet with his long time friend and Hollywood star, Antonio Banderas, a race against time was launched to find a studio that could muster enough power to get the track laid down before Antonio had to be back on stage in NINE and Michael back on a plane to London. Just as they were about to accept defeat, a call came from a studio across town which had just had their power restored. In two hours Michael and Antonio had completed their brilliantly energetic version of 'Me and My Shadow'.

With songs ranging from Burt Bacharach's memorable 'God Give Me Strength', Jim Croce's evocative 'Time in a Bottle', US singer Kenny Chesney' 'You Had Me From Hello' to the gently romantic 'She Makes My Day' by Robert Palmer, it is an album for everyone who's ever known what it is to love, lose and love again. The inspiration for 'A Love Story' came from Michael's critically acclaimed one man show 'Alone Together', which ran at the Donmar in 2001.

In October, Michael starts a two month nationwide tour which is already sold out - a testimony as ever to his place as the man once voted the most bankable name by the Society of West End Managers. His career, which spans theatre, stage, recording and hosting his own award-winning radio two series, Ball Over Broadway, began when creating the role of Marius in 'Les Miserables'. He went on to star as Raoul when 'Phantom of the Opera' was first staged and starred in 'Aspects of Love' where he took the emotionally charged anthem 'Love Changes Everything' to number one. Since his debut album reached number one in the UK, there have been 11 gold and platinum solo albums and ten sell out UK tours.

In 2002 he made a triumphant return to the West End Stage to star as the delightfully eccentric Caractacus Potts in the massively successful 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'.

Where does he go now? The answer for Michael is very simple. While there are challenges to be met, risks to take, and songs to be sung, the only way is ever up.

A Love Story shows he's on the right track.

1. You Had Me From Hello
2. This Guy's In Love With You
3. What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life
4. Time In A Bottle
5. She Makes My Day
6. You've Changed
7. What Makes You Stay
8. God Give Me Strength
9. Didn't We
10. I Wish You Love
11. I Wish I Were In Love Again
12. Me And My Shadow (duet with Antonio Banderas)

For further details please contact:
DEBRA GEDDES
EMI LIBERTY PRESS
020 7605 5477
debra.geddes@emimusic.com

17.09.03