Ian Prowse talks to Liverpool Echo's Jade Wright about his 21 years in the business

Amsterdam's Ian Prowse tells the Liverpool Echo about celebrating 21 years in the business

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Date published: 10th Apr 2012

GREATEST hits albums are a bit like lifetime achievement awards you always worry that they mark the end of a something, rather than a new beginning.

So, when Liverpool singer Ian Prowse was asked to compile his best of album, he made sure that there was a chance to include some new material too.

It was actually the record companys idea, explains the Pele and Amsterdam singer. They also suggested we record three new songs too so that sold it to me.

It covers 21 years of releasing records from when I was signed to Polydor with Pele in the 1990s to the two record deals Ive had with Amsterdam in the last decade. Once I knew it was going to happen I really got to enjoy looking back and sifting through the music, its amazing how coherent it all sounds. Its like 15 hit singles, he laughs. Except they werent hits...

Looking back across 21 years clearly brought back some happy memories.

Ive always been so driven to do this it reminded me of the six or seven years I was trying to get a contract when I was young, he says. Back in those days if you didnt have a deal you werent in the game. You are always wondering if youre any good, I guess releasing a best of validates you in some way. People have been paying for you to record your songs for 21 years so you must be doing something right.

Choosing what to include was never going to be an easy job.

Certain things have to go on the singles, the duets with Elvis Costello and Christy Moore, the number one hits abroad, the ones that got play-listed on the BBC, he says. I stand by every single song. I stand by the anti-aristocracy rantings of my first single Raid The Palace, I stand by the political heartache of Fat Black Heart, I stand by the emotions of Home and the fun of Fireworks

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