Behind The Lens: Corinne Bailey Rae - "Put Your Records On"

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Inspired by her award-winning hit song, Put Your Records On, the first children’s book from Corinne Bailey Rae, celebrates music's unique power to soothe and energise us when we need it most and encourages children to know that they’re not alone in their emotions.

The globally famous hit song – which celebrates its 20^th anniversary this year – is a multi-platinum, billion-streaming anthem about freedom and joy. And Corinne Bailey Rae brings this empowerment and exuberance to children in her debut picture book. She believes that music offers joy, reassurance, confidence and a place to cry and grieve. Written from the heart, Corinne says:

This book is about music and feelings. I wanted to share with children that every feeling they have ever felt has been expressed in a song. I wanted to tell them that music can be a friend. It can hold you, sit with you in any emotion, and help you to loosen feelings held inside.

As well as the comforting power of music in all its forms, Put Your Records On shows us how a love of music can be passed down through generations. The young girl at the heart of the book, Bea, tells her beloved great aunt Portia, "Today I'd like to do something I've never done before," during one of their Sunday visits. And before she knows it, she's being led upstairs to an attic room she didn't know existed – a wonderful haven full of Portia's cherished items, including shelf after shelf of records. 

"There's a song here for every emotion – for the whole rainbow of feelings," Portia tells Bea. They listen together, dancing to a celebration song, laughing along with a circus-happy song, and feeling held by a song that comforts them during a thunderstorm. Bea heads home at the end of the day, excited to continue learning about herself and her world through music.

Put Your Records On is beautifully illustrated throughout by Gillian Eilidh O’Mara, bringing Corinne’s story to magical life. It’s a truly joyous book and will be published worldwide on March 5^th in association with World Book Day, with Fox & Ink Books releasing it in the UK and Penguin Random House in the USA. 2026 is also the National Year Of Reading, encouraging both children and adults to devote time to reading books.

Additionally, 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of Corinne Bailey Rae, the Grammy Award-winning singer’s acclaimed debut album which introduced the world to her soulful, sun-soaked sound. Originally released in February 2006, the record went straight to Number 1 in the UK and produced timeless global hits including ‘Put Your Records On’ and Like A Star, earning critical praise, multi-platinum sales, and Brit Award and Grammy nominations. Corinne Bailey Rae comments:

2026! 20 years since my first album! The songs on that record were moments from my life, and those songs went on to change my life, forever. I love them and can’t wait to perform all of them in this magical venue. I’ve always wanted to perform at The Royal Albert Hall with my own show. It’s an iconic building and I’m honoured to be revisiting my debut album in this grand setting. I love Laura Mvula and we have performed with one another several times. I love her presence. This will be a special night for me. I hope you can join us in celebrating my debut album and 20 years of my career in music.

Two decades on, the album’s warm blend of soul, pop, and jazz remains a touchstone for listeners and a defining moment in mid-2000s music.

In celebration of the anniversary Corinne Bailey Rae will be performing the album in full at the Royal Albert Hall in London on October 27^th, 2026. The show will also include hits from her further three albums – The Sea, The Heart Speaks In Whispers and Black Rainbows – all of which have been garlanded with critical praise around the world, including two Mercury Prize nominations in the UK.

 The remaining tickets are available here: https://www.metropolismusic.com/all-events/corinne-bailey-rae-tickets-ae2330