While cynics have put Jane Birkin's motivations for this concert recording in question, their suspicions say more about them than about this music. Arabesque, which is finally available in America, is singer and actress Birkin's tribute to the music of the late Serge Gainsbourg, her mentor, late (and ex) husband, and producer. Recorded in March 2002 at the Olympia Theater in Paris, Arabesque puts the music of Gainsbourg, one of France's most unlikely and beloved national heroes, into an altogether different context: North African folk music as it meets new age exotica.

Back to Bedlam is the debut studio album by the English singer-songwriter James Blunt, released on 11 October 2004 through Atlantic Records. It is named after the famous psychiatric institution of Bethlem Royal Hospital, which is commonly known as Bedlam.
Initially lingering in the lower regions of the UK Albums Chart in its first few months of release, it became a major international success after its third single, "You're Beautiful", became a worldwide hit in the summer of 2005. Back to Bedlam would go on to become the highest-selling album of 2005 in the UK, with over 2.4 million copies sold. By December 2009, the album had been certified 10× Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry for sales of over 3 million, making it the best-selling album of the 2000s in the UK. In 2011, it was overtaken by Amy Winehouse's Back to Black as the best-selling album of the 21st century in the UK. Back to Bedlam currently ranks as the 18th best-selling album in UK chart history. As of 2017, it has sold 3.33 million copies in the UK and over 11 million copies worldwide.

Everything in Transit is the debut album of American band Jack's Mannequin, released on August 23, 2005, by Maverick Records. Andrew McMahon wrote most of the lyrics during his first summer outside of his band Something Corporate. McMahon spent almost all of his savings on recording the album before Maverick Records picked him up. The album was produced by both McMahon and Jim Wirt.

Dance of Death is the thirteenth studio album by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released first in Japan on 2 September and then 8 September 2003 in the rest of the world excluding North America (where it was released a day later). The album was recorded on magnetic (analogue) tape.
Their second studio release since the return of vocalist Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith in 1999, the album features the band's first-ever fully acoustic track, "Journeyman", as well as "New Frontier", their only song co-written by drummer Nicko McBrain[a]. As with Brave New World, its predecessor in 2000, the record was produced by Kevin Shirley, who has worked with Iron Maiden on all subsequent releases.

Unfinished Monkey Business is the debut solo album by Ian Brown released in February 1998 via Polydor Records. The album was self-financed and produced by Brown, and was his first album release since the break-up of The Stone Roses in October 1996. Ex-Roses members Mani, Nigel Ipinson, Aziz Ibrahim and Robbie Maddix helped pen and perform the instruments on many of the album's tracks. "Ice Cold Cube", which premiered at The Stone Roses final concert, was first released on this album.

Released in 2008, Stories from the Safe House is the debut album from former the Hoax and Heez Bus frontman Hugh Coltman. Often compared to fellow troubadour Ray LaMontagne, the British singer/songwriter wrote and produced its 11 tracks, which combine acoustic soul, blues, and folk. Recorded in his adopted city of Paris, the Leonard Cohen/Stevie Wonder-influenced LP includes the singles "Could You Be Trusted" and "Sixteen."

Hot Chocolate formed in Brixton, London, England. Members of the group around Errol Brown included Tony Connor, Larry Ferguson, Harvey Hinsley, Derek Lewis, Pat Olive and Tony Wilson.
In 1969 while demoing a slight reggae version of the John Lennon song "Give Peace A Chance" with a group of friends, Errol Brown changed the lyrics of the number but he was informed that he could not change Lennon's song without his permission! So a copy of the demo was sent to the Beatles record label, 'Apple', with fingers crossed. Amazingly John Lennon loved the version and it was released on the 'Apple' label. Errol and his friends were given the name, 'The Hot Chocolate Band', a name thought up by a secretary at the company but which the band later changed to 'Hot Chocolate'.

Desire Walks On is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band Heart. Released in 1993, it yielded four singles: "Will You Be There (In the Morning)", which reached No. 39 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, "Black on Black II", which hit No. 4 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, "Back to Avalon" and "The Woman in Me", which failed to make the Hot 100 but "bubbled under" at No. 105. The album peaked at number No. 48 in the U.S. and marked a return to being predominantly written by lead members Ann and Nancy Wilson.

Popstars is the debut album by British pop group Hear'Say, formed through the ITV television show Popstars. It was released in the United Kingdom on 26 March 2001. Hear'Say worked with a number of British and Scandinavian producers, including Stargate, and Quiz & Larossi. The album drew comparisons to similarly co-ed pop groups such as S Club 7 and Steps.
The album received generally negative reviews from contemporary music critics, who commented on the artificiality and genericness of both Hear'Say and their music. However, Popstars was a commercial success, charting at number one in the United Kingdom. It was the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history at the time of release, selling over 300,000 copies in its first week. Popstars yielded two number one singles, "Pure and Simple" and "The Way to Your Love".