Ancient Heart

Ancient Heart is the debut studio album by British pop/folk singer-songwriter Tanita Tikaram,^[11] initially released by Warner Music Group on 12 September 1988. The album was a hit globally, launching 19-year-old Tikaram's career. Guest musicians include Rod Argent, Mark Isham, Peter Van Hooke, Paul Brady, and Brendan Croker; Argent and Van Hooke also produced the album. Four singles were released from the album: "Good Tradition", "Twist in My Sobriety", "Cathedral Song" and "World Outside Your Window".^[12]

Ancient Heart
Studio album by Tanita Tikaram
Released	12 September 1988[1]
Recorded	April–July 1988
Studio	Red House Studios, Silsoe, Bedfordshire, England
Genre	Rock pop folk
Length	44:20
Label	WEA Reprise 9031-71030-3
Producer	Rod Argent Peter Van Hooke
Tanita Tikaram chronology
Ancient Heart (1988) The Sweet Keeper (1990)
Singles from Ancient Heart
"Good Tradition" Released: 27 June 1988[2] "Twist in My Sobriety" Released: 10 October 1988[3] "Cathedral Song" Released: 2 January 1989[4] "World Outside Your Window" Released: 27 February 1989[5]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
Robert Christgau	B[7]
New Musical Express	[8]
Record Mirror	[9]
Smash Hits	[10]

Track listing

All words and music by Tanita Tikaram.

1. "Good Tradition"
2. "Cathedral Song"
3. "Sighing Innocents"
4. "I Love You"
5. "World Outside Your Window"
6. "For All These Years"
7. "Twist in My Sobriety"
8. "Poor Cow"
9. "He Likes the Sun"
10. "Valentine Heart"
11. "Preyed Upon"

Personnel

• Tanita Tikaram – vocals, guitar
• Mark Isham – trumpet, flugelhorn
• Paul Brady – mandolin
• David Lindley – violin
• Marc Ribot – guitar
• Rod Argent – keyboards
• Brendan Croker – guitar
• Pete Beachill – trombone
• Mitch Dalton – guitar
• Martin Ditcham – percussion
• John Georgiadis – violin
• Keith Harvey – cello
• Noel Langley – trumpet
• Malcolm Messiter – oboe
• Helen O'Hara – violin
• Brendon O'Reilly – violin
• Philip Todd – saxophone
• Peter Van Hooke – drums
• Clem Clempson – guitar
• Mark Creswell – guitar
• Ian Jewell – viola
• Rory McFarlane – bass

Charts

Chart (1988–89)	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart	31
Austrian Albums Chart[13]	1
Dutch Albums Chart[14]	4
German Albums Chart[15]	1
New Zealand Albums Chart[16]	23
Norwegian Albums Chart[17]	1
Swedish Albums Chart[18]	8
Swiss Albums Chart[19]	1
UK Albums Chart[12]	3
US Billboard 200[20]	59
Canada Albums Chart[21]	22
The Official Finnish Charts[22]	2
European Albums (Eurotipsheet)[23]	1
US Cash Box Top 200 Albums[24]	65

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[25]	Gold	35,000^
Belgium (BEA)[26]	Gold	25,000*
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[27]	Gold	26,667[27]
France (SNEP)[28]	2× Gold	200,000*
Germany (BVMI)[29]	3× Gold	750,000^
Hungary (MAHASZ)[30]	Gold	50,000[31]
Italy (FIMI)[32]	Platinum	200,000[32]
Netherlands (NVPI)[33]	Platinum	100,000^
Norway	—	202,000[34]
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[35]	Gold	50,000^
Sweden (GLF)[36]	Gold	50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[37]	Platinum	50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[38]	2× Platinum	600,000^
Summaries
Worldwide	—	4,000,000[39]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "BPI".
2. "Good Tradition single".
3. "New Singles". Music Week. 8 October 1988. p. 40.
4. "News: Tanita's Smile". Sounds. 24 December 1988. p. 3.
5. "New Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 25 February 1989. p. 43. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via World Radio History.
6. Promis, Jose F. "Tanita Tikaram: Ancient Heart". AllMusic. allmusic.com. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
7. "Consumer Guide Reviews: Ancient Heart". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
8. Bailie, Stuart (17 September 1988). "Long Play". New Musical Express. p. 34.
9. Dee, Johnny (17 September 1988). "33 - Album Reviews". Record Mirror. p. 31. ISSN 0144-5804.
10. Smash Hits magazine - Review: Albums - Ian Cranna - 20 September 1988 - page 87
11. "Tentative Review #63". tranglos.com. 2 January 1998. Archived from the original on 4 October 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
12. "TANITA TIKARAM | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
13. "Discographie Tanita Tikaram - austriancharts.at". austriancharts.at.
14. "Discografie Tanita Tikaram - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl.
15. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de.
16. "charts.org.nz - Discography Tanita Tikaram". charts.nz.
17. "norwegiancharts.com - Discography Tanita Tikaram". norwegiancharts.com.
18. "swedishcharts.com - Discography Tanita Tikaram". swedishcharts.com.
19. "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community". hitparade.ch.
20. "Tanita Tikaram". Billboard.
21. "World Radio History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
22. "Sisältää hitin" (PDF). musiikkiarkisto.fi. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
23. "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 6, no. 9. 3 March 1990. p. 27. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
24. "Cash Box Top 200 Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. 6 May 1989. p. 14. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
25. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
26. "Tanita" (PDF). Music & Media. 7 October 1989. p. 14. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
27. "Tanita Tikaram" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
28. "French album certifications – Ranita Tikaram – Ancient Heart" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
29. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Tanita Tikaram; 'Ancient Heart')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
30. "Tanita - Gold in Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. 24 March 1990. p. 3.
31. Cresswell, Peterjon (5 February 1994). "Teen Star Revolutionises Hungarian Pop". Billboard. p. 40. Retrieved 27 September 2020 – via Google Books.
32. Caroli, Daniele (9 December 1989). "Italy | Talent Challenges" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 101 (49). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: I-8. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 28 September 2020 – via World Radio History.
33. "Dutch album certifications – Tanita Tikaram – Ancient Heart" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Ancient Heart in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1989 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
34. "Tanita - Best Selling Debut in Norway" (PDF). Music & Media. 18 March 1989. p. 2. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
35. Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. 2005. ISBN 8480486392.
36. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
37. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Ancient Heart')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
38. "British album certifications – Tanita Tikaram – Ancient Heart". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
39. Childs, Marti (13 July 2011). Where have all the pop stars gone?. EditprosLLC. ISBN 9781937317010. Retrieved 25 August 2018.