How to Save a Life

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This article is about the album. For the song, see How to Save a Life (song).
How to Save a Life
How to Save a Life cover
Studio album by The Fray
Released September 13, 2005
Recorded Echo Park Studios: 2004 - 2005
Genre Alternative rock, piano rock
Length 45:49
Label Epic Records
Producer Aaron Johnson, Mike Flynn
Professional reviews
The Fray chronology
Reason EP
(2003)		 How to Save a Life
(2005)		 Live at the Electric Factory: Bootleg No. 1
(2006)
Alternative Cover
Alternative Cover

How to Save a Life is the first full-length debut studio album from Denver-based band The Fray. Released in North America and Oceania on September 13, 2005 by Epic Records, the album became a top 15 hit on the Billboard 200 and sold over 2 million copies. It became the best-selling digital album of all time in January 2007.[2] Three singles have been released from the album, and two of them have hit the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. "Over My Head (Cable Car)" peaked at number 8 and was also a top 25 hit in several other countries, while the song "How to Save a Life" hit the top three in the US. The album was recorded over six weeks in Echo Park Studios in Bloomington, Indiana, and was produced by Aaron Johnson and Mike Flynn.

Contents

[edit] Creation of the album

After independently releasing two EPs, The Fray were looking for a record company to release a full-length album. The band released their song "Cable Car" to Denver radio station KTCL, and the song saw significant airplay.[3] Denver alternative newsweekly Westword named the band "Best New Band" in 2004, and this prompted Epic Records A&R rep Mike Flynn to sign the band to a recording contract on December 17, 2004.[4] Epic Records chose "Cable Car" as the first single release from the album, renaming it to "Over My Head (Cable Car)" so that the hook of the song was included in the title. They also are releasing "She Is" in Australia. A special edit, 'Raj Saves a Life' has been released on MSN, from unknown artist, Mr Electrik.

[edit] Critical reception

Overall, critical reception for the album was modest. A few major publications gave the album poor reviews, but most reviewers called the album "above average" or "just average." Songs on the album were particularly compared to British alternative rock groups such as Coldplay and Keane.[5][6] Rolling Stone, Blender, and All Music Guide all gave the album three stars out of five.[6][7][8]

[edit] Song meaning

Merge arrow
 It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into How to Save a Life (song). (Discuss)

According to lead singer and songwriter Isaac Slade, the song was composed and influenced by his experience while working as a mentor at a camp for troubled teens:

“ One of the kids I was paired up with was a musician. Here I was, a protected suburbanite, and he was just 17 and had all these problems. And no one could write a manual on how to save him. ”

Slade claims that the song is about all of the people that tried to reach out to the boy but were unsuccessful. As Slade says in an interview, the boy's friends and family approached him by saying, "Quit [the problem behavior] or I won't talk to you again," but all he needed was some support. The verses of the song describe an attempt by an adult to confront a troubled teen. In the chorus, the singer laments that he himself was unable to save a friend because he did not know how.

[edit] Track listing

  1. "She Is" (Isaac Slade, Joe King) – 3:56
  2. "Over My Head (Cable Car)" (Slade, King) – 3:58
  3. "How to Save a Life" (Slade, King) – 4:21
  4. "All at Once" (Slade, King, Aaron Johnson) – 3:47
  5. "Fall Away" (Slade, King, Dan Battenhouse) – 4:23
  6. "Heaven Forbid" (Slade, King) – 3:59
  7. "Look After You" (Slade, King) – 4:26
  8. "Hundred" (Slade, Monica Conway) – 4:13
  9. "Vienna" (Slade, King, Battenhouse) – 3:51
  10. "Dead Wrong" (Slade, King, Mike Flynn) – 3:05
  11. "Little House" (Slade, King) – 2:30
  12. "Trust Me" (Slade, King) – 3:22
  13. "Unsaid" (UK iTunes Bonus Track) - 3:04

[edit] Bonus CD

  1. "Over My Head (Cable Car)" - Live at the Gothic (05.20.05)
  2. "How to Save a Life" - Live for MTV.com & VH1.com (07.14.05)
  3. "Look After You" - Live at Red Rocks (08.12.05)
  4. "Heaven Forbid" - Live at Red Rocks (08.12.05)

[edit] Bonus DVD

  1. How to Save a Life - the story
  2. On The Road '06 - documentary
  3. "Over My Head (Cable Car)" music video
  4. The Making of "Over My Head (Cable Car)" music video
    • total running time: approx 45 minutes

[edit] Personnel

  • Isaac Slade — Vocals, Piano
  • Joe King — Guitar, Vocals on "Heaven Forbid"
  • David Welsh — Guitar
  • Ben Wysocki — Drums
  • Aaron Johnson - Production, Engineering
  • Mike Flynn - Production, Artist & Repertoire
  • James Masterton & Kevin Loyal - Assistance
  • Tim Hoagland - Engineering
  • Mark Endert & Alex "odd job" Uychocde - Mixing
  • Paul Mahern & Warren Huart - Pro tools editing
  • Stephen Marcussen - Mastering
  • Nathan Johnson - Artwork
  • Michelle Holme - Art Direction
  • Zack Johnson - Hand Lettering
  • Jason Ienner & Gregg Latterman - Management
  • Jimmy Stofer - Bass

[edit] Singles

[edit] Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
2006 ARIA Australian Albums Chart 1 (Platinum)
2006 New Zealand Albums Chart 2 (Platinum)
2007 UK Album Charts 4 (Platinum)
2007 Irish Album Charts 4
2006 Canadian Albums Chart 9 (Platinum)[9]
2006 The Billboard 200 14 (2x Platinum)
2007 Belgium Albums Chart 47
2007 Dutch Albums Chart 50
2007 Swiss Albums Chart 57
2007 Spanish Albums Chart 21
2007 Italian Albums Chart 85
2007 French Album Chart 86

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
2005 "Over My Head (Cable Car)" Modern Rock Tracks 37
2006 "Over My Head (Cable Car)" The Billboard Hot 100 8
2006 "Over My Head (Cable Car)" Pop 100 8
2006 "Over My Head (Cable Car)" Adult Contemporary 16
2006 "How to Save a Life" The Billboard Hot 100 3
2006 "How to Save a Life" Pop 100 4
2006 "How to Save a Life" Modern Rock Tracks 31
2006 "How to Save a Life" Adult Top 40 1
2006 "How to Save a Life" Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 1
2007 "Look After You" The Billboard Hot 100 59
2007 "Look After You" Pop 100 49
2007 "Look After You" Adult Top 40 12
2007 "All at Once" Adult Top 40 29
Preceded by
Extreme Behavior by Hinder		 Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
March 5 - March 12, 2007		 Succeeded by
Extreme Behavior by Hinder

[edit] Samples

[edit] References

  1. ^ Callaway, Chris (January/February 2007). "The Fray How to Save a Life". HM Magazine (123): 64. ISSN 1066-6923. 
  2. ^ The Fray: 'How To Save A Life' Now The Biggest Selling Digital Album Of All Time!. Sony BMG.
  3. ^ Smith, Dane. "The Fray Live the High "Life"", Rolling Stone, March 30, 2006. 
  4. ^ "Completely Frayed", Longmont Daily Times-Call, May 12, 2006. 
  5. ^ Gardner, Elysa. "Debut 'How to Save a Life' takes on a life of its own", USA Today, July 12, 2006. 
  6. ^ a b "Review: The Fray - How to Save a Life", Rolling Stone, September 22, 2005. 
  7. ^ Hunter, James. "Review: The Fray - How to Save a Life", Blender, November 2005. 
  8. ^ Sendra, Tim. Review: The Fray - How to Save a Life. Last accessed October 23, 2006
  9. ^ CRIA Gold & Platinum certifications for January 2007. Retrieved July 25, 2007.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
The Fray
Isaac Slade · Joe King · Dave Welsh · Ben Wysocki
Studio albums
How to Save a Life · Live at the Electric Factory
EPs
Singles