David Gray's 'White Ladder' is still the nation's number one album after 20 years.
In the late '90s, every Irish household had two items up on their walls or in their cassette/CD player - a picture of Pope John Paul II, and a copy of David Gray's 'White Ladder' (according to the legendary broadcaster Tony Fenton). Fans who remember those times well, and who went along to his concerts around that time will have to tune into the 'White Ladder' documentary which airs on RTE One tomorrow (Thursday) night.
Released in November 1998, the album stayed on the top spot in Ireland for six weeks, and the following years saw Gray tour around Ireland from Whelan's to The Point Theatre in the space of a year and a half. He even managed to outsell U2, the country's biggest band at the time.
'David Gray: Ireland's Greatest Hit' will tell the story of how David Gray, a broke Welsh singer who was dropped by two record labels, made an album in his spare room with no budget but ended up becoming the biggest selling album of all time in Ireland.
Featuring the man himself, as well as Glen Hansard, Marc Almond, Phil Hartnoll, and Ed Sheeran, the doc will take a look back at the success of 'White Ladder' in Ireland, 20 years on from its original release. A man with nothing but the support of a tiny country that turned into a global success, David Gray's 'White Ladder' documentary is full of hope as we celebrate the legacy of a DIY spirit that is Ireland to the core.
Be sure to tune into 'David Gray: Ireland's Greatest Hit' when it airs on RTE One tomorrow night at 10.15pm.
Here's 'Babylon' from the album to get you in the mood for reliving one of the best years in Irish chart history.
