“1 Love”, “Hope”, “Help! A Day In The Life” and “War Child Presents Heroes” have been released today on War Child Records – our new independent record label. All proceeds from the releases will fund War Child’s life-saving work.
The four classic albums were originally released for War Child between 2002 and 2009, and have been made available again to raise vital funds for children whose lives have been torn apart by war.
By simply choosing to listen to this unique collection of music you are making a difference to the lives of children affected by conflict. A limited vinyl run of each album will also be available.
1 Love
1 Love was originally released in 2002 in partnership with the NME to celebrate 50 years of the seminal music mag and 50 years since they printed the first singles chart. Artists were asked to pick their favourite number one track to cover, resulting in an album produced by Spike Stent which saw an incredible roster of talent record a wonderful array of songs. The album features tracks from Muse, Stereophonics, Elbow, Oasis and more! Listen to 1 Love here.
Hope
In 2003, War Child teamed up with The Daily Mirror to respond to the Iraq war and the increasing desperate situation facing the country’s children. In just three weeks some of the biggest artists around contributed new material, exclusive tracks and cover versions to create the Hope album.
Some standout moments were created - George Michael, who had publicly spoken out against the Iraq War, contributed a beautiful cover of Don McLean’s The Grave - a song he first heard as a 7-year-old written in protest to the Vietnam War and perfectly captured his sentiments about the Iraq crisis. New Order followed on the same theme adding their stamp to Jimmy Cliff’s 1969 classic anti-war song Vietnam. Paul McCartney donated an alternate rendition of ‘Calico Skies’ – including a poignant verse about the futility of all wars, whilst David Bowie recorded the Metro Mix of ‘Everyone Says ‘Hi’’ exclusively for Hope before the album was wrapped up by Yusuf / Cat Stevens who recorded his first pop song for 25 years with a new version of his 1971 hit ‘Peace Train’ with South African choir the Incwenga Singers. Listen to Hope here.
Help! A Day in The Life
Released in 2005 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the HELP album, it broke the record for the fastest-selling download album ever. Help! A Day in the Life was recorded and made available for purchase via the War Child Music website within approximately thirty hours. Radiohead and Manic Street Preachers, both contributed tracks to the original 1995 HELP album as well as this release, the album also featured War Child patrons Keane covering of Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", Gorillaz, Coldplay, and Emmanuel Jal a former child soldier involved in the Sudan conflict. Listen to Help! A Day in The Life here.
War Child Presents Heroes
In 2009 War Child Presents Heroes was released, bringing together legendary musicians with their favourite artists to create the ultimate covers album. Legends supporting the album included David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, The Kinks, Roxy Music, Joy Division, The Clash, The Ramones, Blondie and Iggy Pop and the artists taking on those covers included Scissor Sisters, Elbow, Beck, The Kooks, Rufus Wainwright, Estelle, Hot Chip, The Hold Steady and Lily Allen. Listen to War Child Presents Heroes here.
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Notes to the Editor:
About War Child UK
War Child UK is the only specialist charity for children affected by conflict. For more than two decades we’ve been driven by a single goal – for no child’s life to be torn apart by war. We aim to reach children as early as possible when conflict breaks out and stay to support them through their recovery – keeping them safe, helping them learn and cope with their experiences, and equipping them with skills for the future.
We understand children’s needs, respect their rights, and put them at the centre of the solution and campaign for changes to policies and practices to support children in conflict, working with children and young people themselves to demand their rights.
Together with our partners we deliver our vital, life-saving work in 15 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and Latin America. In 2019 alone, we reached over 100,000 children.
Web: https://www.warchild.org.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warchilduk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WarChildUK
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warchilduk/
Charity number: 1071659
