Native Place

For the geographical and social concept, see native place.

Native Place is an album by the English band the Railway Children, released in 1990.^[2][3] The band broke up after the album's release, in part due to EMI's acquisition of Virgin Records.^[4]

Native Place
Studio album by the Railway Children
Released	1990
Studio	Townhouse, Battery (London)
Label	Virgin[1]
Producer	Steve Lovell, Steve Power
The Railway Children chronology
Recurrence (1988) Native Place (1990) Radio One Evening Sessions (1993)

The album peaked at No. 59 on the UK Albums Chart.^[5] "Every Beat of the Heart" peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.^[6] The band promoted the album by touring with the Heart Throbs.^[7][8]

Production

The album was produced by Steve Lovell and Steve Power.^[9] It was recorded over a period of four months, to the annoyance of chief songwriter Gary Newby.^[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[11]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[12]
Select	[13]

Trouser Press wrote: "No longer an unassuming pop group, the Railway Children are growing into dance-oriented chart hacks."^[14] The Washington Post opined that "Native Place is not brave or powerful or important, but it's seriously listenable."^[15]

The Daily Breeze determined that the album "leans more toward guitar-oriented pop, boasting strong melodies, airy textures and a sunny optimism."^[10] The Dayton Daily News stated that "the group's sound recalls the jangling guitars of the Byrds combined with a sweeping keyboard sound from the early '80s."^[16]

AllMusic wrote that "the slick production and sunny synths couldn't leech the buoyancy and emotional impact from the poetic, romantic songwriting and warm harmonies of Gary Newby."^[11] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide deemed Native Place "one of the definitive pop albums of the early '90s ... Newby's gentle vocals are flawless."^[9]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Gary Newby.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Every Beat of the Heart"	4:08
2.	"Music Stop"	4:00
3.	"You're Young"	4:32
4.	"Because"	4:45
5.	"Cotton Counting"	1:59
6.	"It's Heaven"	3:34
7.	"Something So Good"	4:14
8.	"Collide"	4:16
9.	"Native Place"	3:53
10.	"Fall On"	1:27
11.	"Harbour Force"	3:58
12.	"Blue Sky"	4:06

Personnel

The Railway Children

• Gary Newby - vocals, lead guitar, keyboards, artwork, sleeve design
• Brian Bateman - rhythm guitar
• Stephen Hull - bass
• Guy Keegan - drums, percussion

with:

• Matt Irving - additional keyboards, accordion
• Matthew Taylor - saxophone on "Because"