# Native Place

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For the geographical and social concept, see **native place**.

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

The album peaked at No. 59 on the [UK Albums Chart](/source/UK_Albums_Chart).[5] "[Every Beat of the Heart](/source/Every_Beat_of_the_Heart)" peaked at No. 1 on *Billboard'*s [Modern Rock Tracks](/source/Modern_Rock_Tracks) chart.[6] The band promoted the album by touring with [the Heart Throbs](/source/The_Heart_Throbs_(band)).[7][8]

## Production

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

## Critical reception

*[Trouser Press](/source/Trouser_Press)* wrote: "No longer an unassuming pop group, the Railway Children are growing into dance-oriented chart hacks."[11] *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)* opined that "*Native Place* is not brave or powerful or important, but it's seriously listenable."[12]

The *[Daily Breeze](/source/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](/source/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."[13]

[AllMusic](/source/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."[14] *[MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide](/source/MusicHound)* deemed *Native Place* "one of the definitive pop albums of the early '90s ... Newby's gentle vocals are flawless."[9]

## 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"

## References

1. "The Railway Children Native Place Virgin". *Milwaukee Journal Sentinel*. August 19, 1990. p. 2.

1. ["Railway Children Biography, Songs, & Albums"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/railway-children-mn0000864289/biography). *AllMusic*

1. Simpson, Dave (Jul 7, 1990). "Album: The Railway Children". *Melody Maker*. Vol. 66, no. 27. p. 38.

1. Nowell, Andrew (March 11, 2016). "Railway Children are back on track". *Wigan Evening Post*

1. ["Railway Children Full Official Chart History"](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/24865/railway-children/). *Official Charts*

1. Whitburn, Joel (March 27, 2008). [*Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008*](https://books.google.com/books?id=_pbECYPYlZcC&pg=PA205). Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780898201741.

1. Eichenberger, Bill (November 8, 1990). "'The Heart Throbs' Evoke Mixed Emotions". *The Columbus Dispatch*. p. 8.

1. Brown, G. (9 Nov 1990). "Heart Throbs' sound garnering accolades". *The Denver Post*. p. 19F.

1. *MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide*. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 916.

1. Okamoto, Shari (November 2, 1990). "Railway Children on track with 'Native Place' album". *Daily Breeze*. p. E10.

1. ["Railway Children"](https://trouserpress.com/reviews/railway-children/). *Trouser Press*. Retrieved 27 March 2022.

1. Jenkins, Mark (23 Nov 1990). "Railway Children Cut Tuneful Tracks". *The Washington Post*. p. 20.

1. Larsen, Dave (November 11, 1990). "Manchester Plays Home to New English Sounds". *Dayton Daily News*. p. 1C.

1. ["Native Place"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/native-place-mw0000308618). *AllMusic*

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Native Place](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Place) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Place?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.