The Takin’ on the World tour headed to the north west this weekend with gigs in Preston and Manchester. Read Ian’s latest gig diaries from the tour in the forum.

If you are interested to hear what the b-sides to the new single sound like, then snippets of the tracks can now be downloaded from the Takin’ on the World page. It is worth buying the single for a copy of You Can’t Trust the People alone, let alone the magnificent a-side!

The radio mix of the track will join the ‘C’ list playlist on BBC Radio 2 tomorrow. Remember to text or email the station if you hear it to tell them how good it sounds.

There are also now different Amsterdam wallpapers to download for free to use on your computer desktop.

The band received some brilliant news this morning when it was announced that new single Takin’ on the World had been playlisted on BBC Radio 2.

The radio mix of the track will be added to the ‘C’ list of the UK’s most-listened-to radio station from the week commencing October 3. You can see the new playlist at www.bbc.co.uk/radio2.

Meanwhile, Amsterdam will be doing a short acoustic show this Saturday afternoon at 4:30pm at the prestigious annual In the City music industry event, which this year is in Manchester.

The boys have been specially asked to do a 25-minute slot at South Club, 4a South King Street (opposite Kendalls) right in the middle of town.

The gig is FREE so if you’re in Manchester this Saturday afternoon pop along and have an afternoon drink with the band and toast their playlist success!

The boys won an unprecedented five days on the run this week on the most-listened to radio show in the UK.

An estimated 8 million listeners daily tuned in to hear the new single Takin’ on the World see off a different band each day. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Foy Vance (57%), Kathryn Williams (67%), The Go-Betweens (74%) and Elbow (83%) all failed to beat the lads.

Jonathan Ross who hosted the breakfast show all this week called the tune a ‘brilliant pop song’.

You can now pre-order the new single in two separate formats from HMV and Townsend. Townsend are offering a multi-buy deal where both formats can be purchased for a bargain £3.99.

The CD includes the fabulous new b-side You Can’t Trust the People as well as lost Amsterdam gem The Time of Your Life.

The specially autographed 7″ vinyl is backed by an acoustic version of new song Career Building a track described by band producer Tony Kiley as ‘a hit single in the waiting when we get the band in’.

Jonathan Ross – who is sitting in for Terry Wogan this week – played new single Takin’ on the World for the third time this week today on BBC Radio 2, and with your help we can get the new single played tomorrow and Friday too!

After the 9 o’clock news each morning, two tracks are played and people are invited to vote for their favourite.

So far, Amsterdam have received more votes than Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Foy Vance and the Go-Betweens, so Takin’ on the World will be pitted against another track tomorrow.

This is massive exposure for the band, on the UK’s most-listened-to radio station, so with your help we can get the single played every day this week.

All you have to do is text track to support the single tomorrow morning at about 9:10am. We’re not sure whether Amsterdam will be ‘track a’ or ‘track b’, so listen or log on to our forum tomorrow then make sure you get your vote in before 9:30am. Keep checking the site for news on how we’re doing.

Meanwhile, England’s best live band are back in their natural habitat this Friday night when they kick off their fourth tour of the year in Liverpool.

As those who have seen the band perform can testify, the Amsterdam live experience is central to the philosophy of the band and the boys promise that this tour will be every bit as life affirming as previous ones.

The opening show takes place at the Carling Academy which is next to Lime Street station and tickets are £7 from See Tickets or you WILL be able to pay on the door.

Support for the evening comes from rockin’ up and coming new Liverpool band The Circle as well as very special guests The Falling Calls, who are Jamie Murphy’s new band. Jamie was previously one of the two singers in successful Liverpool band Space.

Amsterdam will be onstage at about 9:45pm. Doors are 7:30pm.

The boys will then take to the road so if you have any friends, work colleagues, family members or just associates who really love rock and roll music then bring them along to one of the shows. Tickets for all dates are now on sale.

The fabulous new Amsterdam t-Shirt will also be on sale throughout the tour!

The third Amsterdam single Takin’ on the World has been well received at the all important BBC Radio 2.

Apparently the song has garnished even more attention from producers than the previous single and has so far narrowly missed the playlist.

A radio remix is currently being put together because some producers felt the song was just a little to ‘live’ in it’s production for BBC Radio 2. So Louis the soundman has taken a small break from producing the latest Stranglers material to work on a new mix in the hope that this swings it.

Unfortunately this dictates that the single will have to be put back to Monday 17 October, which actually works in the boys’ favour as they did a splendid acoustic show in London this afternoon to all the reps who are going out on the road to sell the record into the shops in the next two weeks.

Also Ian learned at the sales conference from Damien Dempsey’s manager that Damo is a big fan of the Amsterdam record which has pleased him no end!

Don’t forget, you can now order the infamous black Amsterdam logo t-shirt using PayPal. Click the button below to secure your essential Autumnal fashion item before the next leg of the tour!