M People single re-release.

M People - How Can I Love You More?/Renaissance was released on April 19th via Deconstruction records. Available to download online.

M People - "How Can I Love You More" : Record Store Day Release

Deconstruction Records have announced that M People's "How Can I Love You More" will be released today to indie record stores across the country. It features exclusive remixes.

Apr 17 2010


Record Store Day We have done a limited edition vinyl of brand new M People remixes with 'How Can I Love You More?' (Sasha Qat Mix) and 'Renaissance' (Roger Sanchez Mix) exclusively to participating independent record stores across the UK. We are dead excited to reveal our Deconstruction 12" house sleeves.

DeconstructionRecords.co.uk

Heather Small's big soul - The Nation

Heather Small's big soul
By Daniel Calderbank
Special to The Nation
Published on March 2, 2010 [available at nationmultimedia.com]

The British singer talks about her involvement with a children's foundation and the future of M-People

British soul singer Heather Small opened her three-date Thailand tour with a short but sweet set in the leafy grounds of the British Club in Bangkok last Friday.

On a day when Thailand was transfixed by the ruling of the assets of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, the theme of the M-People singer's concert was all about helping those with nothing, with proceeds going to the Melissa Cosgrove Children's Foundation, a not-for-profit charity to help orphans and children living in squalor.

The charity was created by Pattaya-based Brit Tracy Cosgrove in 2001 and has received international recognition for its work.

On a breezy night not conducive to good sound projection, Small's distinctive voice, accompanied by two female backing singers, compensated for the absence of a band with a powerful performance that featured hits from the heyday of the '90's Manchester club scene, an era when M-People won two Brit Awards and the Mercury Music Prize.

Opening with a "Sight for Sore Eyes", the singer ran through the Manchester band's greatest repertoire, including "One Night in Heaven", "How Can I love You More?", "Search for the Hero" and the band's signature tune "Moving On Up".

Aside from the M-People catalogue, Small also dipped into her own material with a rousing rendition of "Proud", the soundtrack to the successful London 2012 Olympic bid.

In the company of the British Ambassador and assorted Bangkok luminaries seated in the VIP area near the front of the stage, Small's rich voice enticed those roped off at the back to dance during the closing stages of the gig, which lasted a little over 45-minutes in total.

Ahead of the concert, The Nation chatted with Small about the Cosgrove charity and her own future with M-People, as the group celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

Speaking of the foundation, she said, "Every child deserves to have a happy and peaceful environment, be educated and to be safe. That's a basic human right and I want to do anything I can to help Tracy's work.

"During this trip, I went to Burma to see schools and orphanages being built, which was very inspiring. The first thing I noticed is that the children [there] are allowed to be children and to be happy. They have been educated and they are safe. The children are looked after on a daily basis by local people, they are not taken out of their familiar environment. Home is home. They are also cared for by monks who bring calm, stillness and discipline."

On playing intimate concerts in Thailand, compared to previous gigs such as the Euro '96 Football Championship, where M-People played to 65,000 people at Manchester United's Old Trafford, Small said: "It's not the size of an audience that counts; it's the level of participation and appreciation that are more important."

And speaking of M-People's future, she commented: "It is 20 years since we started the band this year, so we might do something that is a celebration of that time. I'm not sure there will be more albums, but we will always do shows."

She also spoke briefly about today's plethora of "manufactured" singers from shows such as American Idol.

"I think performers should do their apprenticeship out on the road. There might be a short-cut to fame, but there is no short-cut to experience and when you are out there live, over time, you learn how to manage a crowd and with these new format shows, you can bypass all of that.

"One day you can be an unknown, then the next day you are famous and everyone expects you to deliver on an international scale and I don't think many people can do that."

Simon Cowell, take note!

M People talk to the Observer

Series: Flashback
Flashback: 13 September 1994


Confounding the critics, M People pip the likes of Blur to win the Mercury. Mike Pickering looks back

* The Observer, Sunday 6 September 2009
* Article history

M People at the 1994 Mercury Prize ceremony

M People, featuring Mike Pickering, far left, at the 1994 Mercury Prize ceremony. Photograph: John Stillwell/PA

"We'd spent that day putting the finishing touches to the follow-up to Elegant Slumming. We got changed at the studio and headed for the Savoy in the mood for a celebration. We had no sense of expectation - we didn't care about winning a prize we knew very little about. In those days it was a much smaller event - each of the nominees had a table for friends and it wasn't the big scrum it has become.

"We were on the table next to Blur, who were nominated for Parklife, and I remember Jarvis Cocker making a very funny speech - a hard act to follow. The alcohol meant that when it was announced we'd won, I wasn't paying much attention. I just remember people jumping up and hugging me. As I got up to walk to the stage, Elastica's Justine Frischmann, who was Damon Albarn's girlfriend at the time, leant over and said: 'Ah well, there goes my new fridge freezer.'

"At the after-party a drunk Phil Daniels complained bitterly about our win; being a true northerner I put him in his place, asking why he'd done nothing good since Quadrophenia. It wasn't till the following day that we realised we had upset all the broadsheets by winning. They thought the Mercury was the property of "indie" bands, who, by the way, were all signed to majors. But at least it did open a big debate on anti-dance snobbery.

"It always amuses me to see the amount of column space that is given to the Mercury in the months leading up to it - and the indignation afterwards if one of the 'worthy' artists doesn't win."

• M People's founder Mike Pickering is now the head of A&R at Columbia Records

In Concert: M People @ Samsø Festival, Denmark

M People played Samsø Festival in Denmark at 11.30 on the 19th July 2008.

Info: Samsø festival is one of Denmark’s smaller festivals which means it is delightfully manageable. It takes place on Samsø, which is a wonderful, small island located right in the middle of Denmark only about 2-3 hour travelling from Copenhagen or Aarhus. On Samsø, the festival is located near the small town Ballen (see a map). The festival takes place each year in week 29 from Wednesday to Saturday. More @ http://www.samfest.dk/


Photos
[Photos from Samfest.dk - click to enlarge]


[thanks to Alex for these great photos]

M People Festival Tour 2008

M People to play Classics at Southport Classics

Classic dance act MPeople will play this years Summer Classics in Southport, fronted by glamorous diva Heather Small.

M People are doing two gigs this summer! If you want to see M People at Southport Summer Classics - Music In The Park on Friday, July 25, the tickets cost £25 and are available by calling 01704-540011 or online at http://www.visitsouthport.com/site/events/summer-classics/friday
If you are from Denmark or fancy seeing MPeople there then here are the details:
Samso Festival in Denmark on the 19 July 2008. M People take to the stage at 23.30pm http://www.samfest.dk/

In Concert: M People @ Warsaw, Poland

Cost: 40.49

[M People] Warsaw - Congress Hall, 7th September

ARTICLE
M PEOPLE play Poland for first time

The legendary band from Manchester, UK playing disco, soul and r'n'b will visit Poland for the first time and perform on September 7 at 8pm in Sala Kongresowa, Warsaw.

At the concert fans will have a chance to hear the biggest hits of M PEOPLE, but also songs from the new album recorded by the lead singer of the group, Heather Small.

Thanks to hits like "Moving On Up", "One Night In Heaven" or "Search For The Hero", Heather Small is one of the most recognizable British voices of all time and songs by M PEOPLE have been very popular in Poland for years.

Poland is increasingly becoming a must-play country for many bands, with a large domestic market and good rates of profits for touring musicians.

PHOTOS



SETLIST
Renaissance
Excited
Angel St
One Night in Heaven
Open Your Heart
Someday
Just for You
Proud
Sight for Sore Eyes
How Can I Love You More
Fantasy Island
Search For The Hero
Itchycoo Park
Moving On Up

VIDEOS
Renaissance and Excited


Interview

Interview #2

An Interview with Shovell

JULY 22 2007, TETBURY: Shovel from club band M People gave up his day job as a plumber to become a ful- time musician banging the drum for house music.

"Dance music is a vocation,'' he said.

Joining M People was a dream come true for the drummer back in 1992 when he joined the hardcore of the band who are DJ Mike Pickering, Paul Heard and distinctive singer Heather Small.

"They saved the best to last when they took me on,'' laughed Shovel who played on the Elegant Slumming album in 1993 which had hits such as Moving On Up, One Night In Heaven and Don't Look Any Further.

"It was brilliant. Everyone in the band had a role and collectively we were a family, holding together and gaining strength as a unit,'' he said.

Shovel was never an academic even being asked to leave school, but he completed a nine-year apprenticeship as a plumber.


He had always been into music as a hobby, playing the clubs and pubs of south east London where he grew up.

But when the opportunity came to turn professional he jumped at the chance.

"It was a dream, I was blessed and I thought to myself here is the choice of unblocking toilets or playing in the clubs?'' There was no choice and Shovel and M People were a force to be reckoned with in the dance music explosion that followed.

Success followed upon success and their third album Bizarre Fruit stayed in the UK charts for two and a half years.

They also scooped a Brit Award for Best British Dance Act and a Mercury Music Prize for Elegant Slumming plus a string of top 10 hits including How Can I Love You More, Sight For Sore Eyes and Search For A Hero.

Now the band have got back together to perform on the Forest Tour, heading for Tetbury this month.

"It was the first chance to get back with everyone else and play. The fact that it is a forest is a bonus because I love trees,'' said the drummer/percussionist.

"We had a fantastic existence in the 1990s and we will be reliving our younger years playing songs from 10 years of back catalogue. In fact it will be a walk down Memory Lane,'' he said.

For a long time the band lived only 10 minutes apart and spent months together on the road but Shovel insists they stayed good pals throughout.

"Heather is like my sister and we always keep in touch,'' he said. In fact he is godfather to her son James.

"It is like a marriage, sharing, eating, performing together. Between all of us it is a strong bond.'' The drummer is also a DJ, the Dream Warrior, playing at Pasha in Ibiza and Defected in Leeds Festival this year.

He is also a singer and writes his own songs.
His main passions outside music are Arsenal Football Club and food.

"Arsenal is a massive passion and my hobbies include food and socialising,'' said the drummer who was always renowned for being the party animal in the band.

Shovel was a vegetarian for 16 years, a vegan for six and went back to eating meat last year and has now gone back to being a vegan.

"I make vegan Shepherd's Pie and it is a wonder to behold,'' he said

Shovel from M People

Forest Tour, Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Sunday, July 22
Tickets: £25.50
01842 814612

In Concert: M People @ Dalby Forest

M PEOPLE featuring HEATHER SMALL - DALBY FOREST

FACT FILE

Name: M People
Occupation: Manchester soul-dance band

Ages today: Pickering, 53; Heard, 46; Small, 42; Shovell, 38

First chart entry: How Can I Love You More, number 29, October 1991

Top ten hits: 1993, How Can I Love You More (remix), One night In Heaven, Moving On Up, 1993; Don't Look Any Further; 1994, Renaissance, Sight For Sore Eyes, ; 1995, Open Your Heart, Search For The Hero; 1997, Just For You; 1998, Angel Street

Last Top Twenty hit: Testify, number 12, November 1998

Albums: Northern Soul, 1992; Elegant Slumming, 1993; Bizarre Fruit, 1994; Bizarre Fruit II, 1995; Fresco, 1997; The Best Of M People, 1998; Testify, 1999; M People featuring Heather Small, The Ultimate Collection, 2005

Awards: 1994, BRIT award for best British dance act and Mercury Music Prize for Elegant Slumming, beating Blur and Pulp in Britpop's pomp

Heather Small solo albums: Proud, 2000; Close To A Miracle, 2006

You probably didn't know: Heather collaborated this year with Icelandic tenor Gardar Thor Cortes on Luna, a number two hit in Iceland

Heather on her big voice: "If you have a big voice and you're up-front, people think you must be the life and soul, but I wouldn't say I was that. I'm quite wary"

Heather on performing: "When you're a bit insecure, going on stage is a slightly mad thing to do. You're saying 'I have something to offer'; you're saying 'Please like me' in a horrible, needy way! But performing is my one adrenaline. I don't smoke, I don't take drugs; I don't drink"

Heather on playing Dalby: "We've played in many different locations but never in forests, so we're really looking forward to it"

REVIEW
M People

Exclusive By Gary Sullivan

THE magnificent backdrop of Dalby Forest in the North York Moors National Park was the setting for Manchester soul dance band M People.

Heather Small, the voice of M People, walked coolly on to the stage in a stunning bright pink dress that lit up a grey and damp Dalby Forest in front of a excited crowd, with a beautiful smile.

She got the performance under way with Mercy On Me - then it was a succession of classic M People hits - So Excited, Angel Street, Moving On Up, One Night in Heaven, Don't Look Any Further, How Can I Love You More, Colour My Life, Just for You and an unreal version of Heather's solo hit Proud.

Amazing to think the group started their illustrious career back in 1991 when they broke into the UK charts with dance classic How Can I love You More, although easy to see how they quickly went on to pick up best dance act at the 1994 Brit Awards.

This was M People's first concert in a forest and, from the evidence of this performance, I am sure they will be back very shortly for their second.

For those of you that thought about going but didn't - boy did you miss out.

Sometimes you just forget how good a band are.

A top-quality performance from a top-quality band. Long live M People, who were well supported by Cicada.

8:18am Monday 25th June 2007

[Source: Yorkpress.co.uk]

In Concert: M People @ Delamere Forest

REVIEWS

[Review: ManchesterEveningNews.co.uk]
M People @ Delamere Forest
Belinda Hanks
19/ 6/2007

CREDIBLE pop doesn't get more digestible than M People.

It's feel-good dance for the happy brigade, fronted by a bellowing powerhouse of song in the form of the stunning Heather Small, now the pride of the London Olympics 2012.

They are back! After years without so much as a peep. But this Manchester band's mark on pop is assured: founder Mike Pickering and percussionist Shovel always had a knack for solid rhythms and big, soaring melodies. And their talent was rewarded by numerous Top 10s, a Brit and a Mercury Music Prize for their classic Elegant Slumming album. Follow-up Bizarre Fruit offered more of the funky same.

Since Nineties success, the band have continued to reach a pretty comprehensive demographic. And even dedicated musos can tip their hats to the northeners without having to cringe with mainstream disgust.

Fabulous

Small came on stage looking typically fabulous on Sunday at Delamere Forest, in a silky, bright pink dress and extra- high heels.

The nine-piece warmed up the 5,000-strong picnic crowd with Excited, and while some sat quaffing their wine, many edged forward for classics such as One Night In Heaven, Colour My Love, Open Up Your Heart and Promised Land.

An impressive back- catalogue: and the hits kept coming. It wasn't until anthem Proud, however, that the rugs and hampers got left scattered and welly-wearing revellers threw caution to the wind for a good old bop in the forest. It's a song that has also been adopted by the US' huge gay community and has rocketed a solo Small across the Atlantic.

But it is in Manchester, with M People that her voice belongs. The singer continued her vocal assault with Don't Look Any Further, Ain't Love a Surprise, How Can I Love You More and Fantasy Island. The woods echoed with nostalgia, driven funky house grooves and gospel-influenced melodies that seemed as contemporary as they ever have.
Welcome home.

[BoltonNews.co.uk Review]
M People - Delamere Forest
By Lisa Hackett

ONE night in heaven, it certainly was, for the 5,000 M People fans that picnicked in Delamere forest on June 17, 2007.

The atmosphere was fantastic, it almost felt that is was one of those an intimate audience with' We all waited patiently through the support gig who were excellent and warmed us up for Heather Small (singer), Paul Heard (saxaphone) and Shovell (percussion), plus fabulous backing singers.

M People were a British house music act from Manchester which formed in 1990 and were recognised as the first mainstream dance act to marry the excitement of house music to the traditional pop virtues of crafted songs and strong melodies.

I think the forest wildlife couldn't resist a peek either at Heather's opening outfit. She came on singing I'm Coming', in a flourescent pink dress that fitted beautifully over her very well-toned body. And pumped up the crowd with her dance moves getting everyone involved.

They stormed through their greatest hits, one after another. I didn't realise how many there were. One Night In Heaven', Moving On Up', How Can I Love You More?', Don't Look Any Further', Fantasy Island', Sight For Sore Eyes', Just For You', Search For A Hero' and Open Your Heart' which all became part of the soundtrack of The Nineties.

With one more dress change during a superb solo saxaphone and bongo drums acoustic version of Angel Street, Heather returned to give a fantastic farewell second half, singing Colour My Life', Someday', Testify', Love rendezvous' and ending with Walk Away' and my favourite Itchycoo Park'.

The good news is that year after year the Forestry Commission organise these outdoor concerts at forests up and down the country. So if you missed out on going to one of these great places to see live music, with plenty of parking and good access to the concert sites, then there is always next year!

And the even better news, at the end of the three hour long, song after song spectacular show, Shovell stated, "Thank you for staying loyal - It has been 7 years, but M PEOPLE ARE BACK!".

In Concert: M People @ Hampton Court

REVIEW

Lisa Verrico 13.06.07

Small feat: lead singer Heather Small got the crowd up and dancing after chastising them for being boring.

There are two ways to attempt a pop comeback - quietly book a few shows and see how it goes, or cause a huge fuss and aim for arenas.

M People opted for the former and their only London date this year took place at Hampton Court Palace as part of the stunning venue's 15th annual festival.

Their decision was a wise one since M People didn't quit at their peak (always an incentive for old fans who felt robbed), but rather faded away in a blur of soppy ballads and too much saxophone.

Moreover, the heat was off throaty singer Heather Small-Bryan Ferry and Tom Jones are the big pop names on this year's festival bill.

She was the glamour girl and her band of Manchester clubland veterans were there to funk up a smartlydressed, picnicing crowd who do most of their dancing at weddings.

M People founder Mike Pickering and white-suited percussionist Shovel led a nervy, seven-piece band into opener Renaissance, while Small stomped on in ludicrous gold shoes and a pink,
shiny dress with a bow at the back.

All looked so uncomfortable, it could have been the shortest reunion in pop history.
Yet after Excited was anything but exciting, something extraordinary happened.
Small chastised the crowd for being boring and, one by one, women got up from their seats, ran to the front and began to dance.

By the time a funky, flute-backed Someday came mid-set, even the men were on their feet, singing along.

From then on, M People flew, Small changed into a sexier outfit and hits such as Don't Look Any Further, Moving On Up and a cover of Itchycoo
Park turned the courtyard into a fun over-30s disco.

Those arena gigs may be just around the corner.

M People Forest Tour 2007

M People have announced four forest gigs for this summer when they will play Delamere Forest Cheshire, Dalby Forest North York Moors, Thetford Forest, Suffolk, and Westonbirt National Arboretum Glos as part of The Forestry Commission's 2007 Forest Tours.

The shows will be supporting The Forestry Commission's valuable social and environmental programmes.

The dates are as follows:-
Sun 17 June: Delamere Forest, Linmere, Delamere, Cheshire [more info]
Sun 24 June: Dalby Forest, Nr Thornton Le Dale, North York Moors [more info]
Fri 13 July: High Lodge, Thetford Forest, Santon Downham, Suffolk
Sun 22 July: Westonbirt National Arboretum, Tetbury, Glos

Heather Small from M People says: "We have played in many different locations but never in forests so we're really looking forward to doing these gigs".

Tickets are priced at £25.50 for all shows. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 9th March -

M People, Another Night In Heaven Tour - 2005

2005 - Ultimate Collection The Remixes [M People featuring Heather Small]

Track listing:

1. How Can I Love You More - Sasha Qat Mix
2. Angel Street - Joey Negro Disco Mix

3. Just For You - Rae & Christian Mix

4. MovingOn Up - Mk Movin' Mix

5. Open Up Your Heart - Brothers In Rhythm Soundtrack
6. Search For A Hero - Smith & Mighty Remix
7. Rennaissance - Roger's Uplifting Club Mix

8. Love Rendezvous - K Klass Klub Mix

9. One Night In Heaven - Morales Classic Mix

10. Someday - Sasha's Full Tension Mix

Released: February 2005

Label: BMG International

For M People featuring Heather Small, Ultimate Collection click here.

2005 - Ultimate Collection [M People featuring Heather Small]

Track listing:

1. Moving On Up

2. Search For The Hero
3. One Night In Heaven
4. Proud
5. How Can I Love You More
6. Just For You
7. Don't Look Any Further
8. Someday
9. Angel St
10. Sight For Sore Eyes
11. Colour My Life
12. Excited

13. Holding On
14. Open Up Your Heart
15. Love Rendezvous
16. Renaissance
17. Fantasy Island
18. Testify

Released: February 2005

Label: BMG International

PHOTOS

SINGLES
Proud [The London 2012 Olympic song]


For Ultimate Collection, The Remixes click here.

1999 - Testify [ M People Album]

Track listing:

1. Testify
2. Dreaming

3. Angel St.
4. Search for the Hero
5. What a Fool Believes
6. Fantasy Island

7. Sight for Sore Eyes [M People Master Mix]
8. Just for You
9. Smile
10. Colour My Life [Joey Negro's Agoura Mix]
11. Red Flower Sunset
12. Moving on Up [Mark Picchiotti's Millennium Vocal Remix]
13. How Can I Love You More? [Jimmy Gomez 6AM Mix]

Released: May 1999
Label: Epic / Sony

SINGLES
Testify

PHOTOS
Testify uses the same photos as "The Best Of M People".

M People, One Night In Heaven DVD - 1998

Video Track Listing:

Angel St
One Night In Heaven
Just For You
Walk Away
Someday
Open Your Heart
Colour My Life
Last Night 10,000
Baby Don't You Change Your Mind
Sight For Sore Eyes
Search For The Hero
Fantasy Island
Don't Look Any Further
Moving On Up

- Recorded on BBC's "Later With Joools Holland" M People special.

1998 - The Best Of M People [ M People Album]

Track listing:

1. Testify
2. Search For The Hero
3. Moving On Up
4. Angel Street
5. One Night In Heaven
6. Itchycoo Park
7. Sight For Sore Eyes
8. Just For You

9. Colour My Life
10. How Can I Love You More
11. Dreaming

12. Open Your Heart

13. Don't Look Any Further

14. Someday
15. Renaissance
16. Fantasy Island

17. What A Fool Believes

Released: February 1998
Label: BMG International

Special Edition CD2

Track listing:
1. Search for the Hero
2. Moving on Up
3. One Night in Heaven
4. Sight for Sore Eyes
5. Just for You
6. Colour My Life
7. Open Your Heart
8. Someday

SINGLES
Testify / The Remixes- 1998

Dreaming / Remixed - 1999

PHOTOS

VIDEOS
Testify (Skynet Skylight UK Vocal Mix Edit) - Video edited by ACRL on Youtube

Dreaming