Fireworks (Singles 1997-2002)
Import only compilation for the British Indie act features the band's eleven hit singles released from the years spent on the Hut label. Also included are two additional tracks, 'The Good Will Out' (previously released on 12-inch only) and a new recording of live favorite '3 Is A Magic Number' (De La Soul cover). Originally from Huddersfield, brothers Danny (lead vocals / guitar) and Richard McNamara (guitar) formed Embrace in the mid-'90s with drummer Mike Heaton and bassist Steven Firth. The group signed with the Hut Recordings label on Virgin in 1996 and released their debut single, 'All You Good, Good People', (on the Indie label Fierce Panda) in February 1997, followed by the singles 'Fireworks' and 'One Big Family', which were both released on Hut. These singles generated some interest in the music press, and were relatively successful, but it was with the re-release of 'All You Good, Good People' on Hut in October '97 which brought them wider attention, entering the singles chart at #8. The band received a Brit Award nomination for Best New Band in February that year. Embrace continued to build on their strong UK fanbase with the next two albums, Drawn from Memory (2000) and If You've Never Been (2001), with the addition of Mick Dale on keyboards, releasing the Fireworks: Singles 97-02 collection. In 2002, they signed to Independiente and released their fourth (and most successful) album Out of Nothing in September 2004.