Olly Murs (album)

Olly Murs
Studio album by Olly Murs
Released 26 November 2010 (2010-11-26)
Recorded 2010
Genre Pop, reggae fusion
Length 47:12
Label Epic, Syco
Producer Matt Prime, Future Cut, Steve Robson, Adam Argyle, Martin Brammer, Andy Green, Steve Fitzmaurice, John Shanks, Jerry Abbott, Grant Black, Paddy Byrne, The Invisible Men, Mark Taylor, Trevor Horn
Olly Murs chronology
Olly Murs
(2010)
In Case You Didn't Know
(2011)
Singles from Olly Murs
  1. "Please Don't Let Me Go"
    Released: 27 August 2010 (2010-08-27)
  2. "Thinking of Me"
    Released: 19 November 2010 (2010-11-19)
  3. "Heart on My Sleeve"
    Released: 4 March 2011 (2011-03-04)[1]
  4. "Busy[2]"
    Released: 27 May 2011 (2011-05-27)

Olly Murs is the self-titled debut studio album from English singer-songwriter Olly Murs. It was released on 26 November 2010 in the United Kingdom.[3] The album's lead single, "Please Don't Let Me Go", was released on 27 August 2010. The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart. The second single from the album, "Thinking of Me", was released on 22 November 2010,[4] and debuted at number four. "Heart on My Sleeve" debuted at number twenty. The song was written by James Morrison and John Shanks, and has previously been released by Australian singer Michael Johns in 2009.

Contents

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Background and production

The possibility of an album was first rumoured when Murs finished second place on the sixth series of ITV talent competition, The X Factor. In February 2010, it was announced that Murs had been signed to a 50/50 record deal between Epic Records and Syco Music.[5] Murs has collaborated with John Shanks, Eg White,[6] Roy Stride, Trevor Horn, Wayne Hector, Matty Benbrook,[7] Phil Thornalley, Martin Brammer, Samuel Preston, Mark Taylor[8] and Chris Difford[3] on the album. Professor Green was due to appear on the album, however, the duet fell through before recording was completed. "Heart on My Sleeve" is a cover of the song originally recorded by American Idol finalist Michael Johns. Murs performed "Thinking of Me" live on The X Factor on 21 November 2010.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic

Ruth Harrison gives the most positive review of the album, saying "Olly has actually engaged his brain, put pen to paper and written tracks that are true to himself and his sound" & "this album proves that Olly is an artist in his own right".[10] A review by Fraser McAlpine on the BBC Music website gave a heading of 'X Factor runner-up reveals a debut almost as good as his taste in hats.'[11] Hermione Hoby from The Guardian gave a negative review of Olly Murs, saying "the album chugs along with vacant cheer through a series of reggae-inflected songs that don't always make the most of Murs's soulful voice. Other than the slightly awkward stab at scat-singing on "Please Don't Let Me Go" [...] there's not much here to grab the attention."[12]

Chart performance

The album entered the UK Album Chart at number two on 5 December 2010, selling 108,000 copies in its first week.[13] The album was kept off the top spot by the third week sales of Take That's Progress which sold over 174,000 copies. In the following three weeks the album sold upwards of 100,000 in each week.[13] On 8 April 2011, the album was certified two-times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments of 600,000 copies in the UK.[14] As of December 2011, the album had sold 661,669 copies in the UK.[13] In Ireland, the album debuted at number eleven.[15] It has since been certified gold by the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) for shipments of 7,500 copies.

Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Change Is Gonna Come"   Olly Murs, Matt Prime, Blair Mackichan Matt Prime 3:46
2. "Please Don't Let Me Go"   Murs, Claude Kelly, Steve Robson Future Cut, Steve Robson 3:24
3. "Thinking of Me"   Murs, Robson, Wayne Hector Future Cut, Steve Robson 3:26
4. "Busy"   Murs, Adam Argyle, Martin Brammer Adam Argyle, Martin Brammer 3:00
5. "I Blame Hollywood"   Murs, Argyle, Brammer Adam Argyle, Martin Brammer 3:09
6. "Ask Me to Stay"   Murs, Chris Braide, Chris Difford Andy Green, Steve Fitzmaurice 3:35
7. "Heart on My Sleeve"   James Morrison, John Shanks John Shanks 3:29
8. "Hold On"   Murs, Julian Velard, Jerry Abbott, Grant Black, Paul Williams Jerry Abbott, Grant Black 3:05
9. "Accidental"   Murs, Paddy Byrne Paddy Byrne 3:22
10. "Love Shine Down"   Murs, Ed Sheeran, Jason Pebworth, George Astasio, Jonathan Shave, Dan Smith The Invisible Men 4:07
11. "Don't Say Goodbye"   Murs, Preston, Mark Taylor Mark Taylor 3:36
12. "A Million More Years"   Matt Schwartz, Lol Creme Trevor Horn 3:36

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (2010)↓ Peak
position↓
Irish Albums Chart[17] 11
Scottish Albums Chart[18] 3
UK Albums Chart[19] 2
Chart (2011)↓ Peak
position↓
UK Albums Chart 40

End of year charts

Chart (2010) Position
UK Albums Chart[20] 20

Certifications

Country Certifications
United Kingdom 2× Platinum[14]
Ireland Gold[21]

Tour

On 21 November 2010 a UK tour was announced for 2011 to promote the album.[22]

Release history

Region Date Format
United Kingdom[16] 29 November 2010 Digital download, CD

References

  1. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a299114/olly-murs-announces-new-single-details.html
  2. ^ "Olly Murs music video for Busy stars Norfolk actress". BBC News. 22 March 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-12819499. 
  3. ^ a b Levine, Nick (18 October 2010). "Olly Murs reveals debut album details". Digital Spy (London: Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/s103/the-x-factor/news/a282719/olly-murs-reveals-debut-album-details.html. Retrieved 18 October 2010. 
  4. ^ "Olly’s new single "Thinking of me" - full audio & lyrics inside!!". Ollymurs.com. 13 October 2010. http://www.ollymurs.com/news/post/ollys_new_single_thinking_of_me_lyrics_video/. Retrieved 18 October 2010. 
  5. ^ "Olly Murs signs to Cowell's label". BBC News. 23 February 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_10050000/newsid_10058400/10058417.stm. 
  6. ^ "Olly Murs excited over single release". STV. 2 July 2010. http://entertainment.stv.tv/tv/185219-olly-murs-excited-over-single-release/. Retrieved 27 July 2010. 
  7. ^ "Olly Murs - Please Don't Let Me Go". glasswerk.co.uk. 26 July 2010. http://www.glasswerk.co.uk/news/national/9469/Olly+Murs+-+Please+Dont+Let+Me+Go. Retrieved 27 July 2010. 
  8. ^ Levine, Nick (19 August 2010). "Exclusive: Olly Murs discusses debut album". Digital Spy (London: Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a264071/olly-murs-discusses-debut-album.html. Retrieved 20 August 2010. 
  9. ^ "Olly Murs confirms X Factor return". Dublin: Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 15 November 2010. http://www.rte.ie/ten/2010/1115/xfactor2.html. Retrieved 15 November 2010. 
  10. ^ http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/reviews/Album+Review+Olly+Murs-14273.html
  11. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/895c
  12. ^ Hoby, Hermione (28 November 2010). "Olly Murs: Olly Murs – review". The Guardian (London: Guardian Media Group). http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/nov/28/olly-murs-olly-murs-review. Retrieved 3 December 2010. 
  13. ^ a b c Jones, Alan (4 December 2011). "Official Album Chart analysis: Olly Murs becomes 10th X-Factor No.1". Music Week. http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1047728&c=1. Retrieved 4 December 2011. 
  14. ^ a b "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/Search.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-16. 
  15. ^ http://www.irma.ie/aucharts.asp#albums 05-12-10
  16. ^ a b http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/olly-murs/id400638875
  17. ^ http://www.irma.ie/aucharts.asp#albums
  18. ^ http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/23/2010-12-11/
  19. ^ http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/3/2010-12-11/
  20. ^ As presented by Scott Mills on December 26, 2010 on BBC Radio 1, revealing The Official Chart of the Year 2010 in the UK.
  21. ^ http://www.irishcharts.ie/awards/gold10.htm
  22. ^ "Tour dates announced". Official Website. 21 November 2010. http://www.ollymurs.com/news/post/tour_dates_announced/. Retrieved 23 January 2011. 
  23. ^ a b "Hot Tours: Roger Waters, Iron Maiden, Kings of Leon". 22 June 2011. http://www.billboard.com/news/hot-tours-madonna-u2-ac-dc-idols-live-top-1004002818.story#/news/hot-tours-roger-waters-iron-maiden-kings-1005239312.story. Retrieved 22 June 2011. 
  24. ^ "Brit winners JLS to play Swansea's Liberty Stadium". BBC News. 24 January 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-12266130. 
  25. ^ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/showbiz/2011/01/24/jls-announce-june-liberty-stadium-gig-91466-28045473/
  26. ^ "JLS announces outdoor summer shows". http://aikenpromotions.com/aiken-promotions-events/jls-plus-special-guest-olly-murs-live-june-25th/26th-2011.html. Retrieved 2011-01-27.