Olly Murs (album)

Olly Murs
Studio album by Olly Murs
Released 26 November 2010
Recorded 2010
Genre Pop
Length 47:12
Label Syco, Epic
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
  2. "Thinking of Me"
    Released: 19 November 2010
  3. "Heart on My Sleeve"
    Released: 4 March 2011
  4. "Busy"
    Released: 27 May 2011

Olly Murs is the self-titled debut studio album by English singer-songwriter Olly Murs. It was released on 26 November 2010 in the United Kingdom.[1]

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,[2] and debuted at number four. The third single "Heart on My Sleeve" was released in March 2011 and peaked at number 20.[3] The song was written by James Morrison and John Shanks. The fourth and final release from the album, "Busy" was released in May 2011 and peaked at number 44.[4] In October 2011, nearly a year after the album's release, BBC Radio 1 listeners voted Olly Murs as "Album of the Year" in the annual Radio 1 Teen Awards.[5]

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.[6] Murs has collaborated with John Shanks, Eg White,[7] Roy Stride, Trevor Horn, Wayne Hector, Matty Benbrook,[8] Phil Thornalley, Martin Brammer, Preston, Mark Taylor[9] and Chris Difford[1] 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.[10]

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".[11] 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.'[12] 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."[13]

Chart performance

The album entered the UK Album Chart at number two on 5 December 2010, selling 108,000 copies in its first week.[14] 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, making it the fastest selling debut album of 2010 in the UK.[14] 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.[15] As of December 2014, the album had sold 815,971 copies in the UK.[16] In Ireland, the album debuted at number eleven.[17] It has since been certified gold by the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) for shipments of 7,500 copies.

Track listing

Olly Murs – Standard edition
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Change Is Gonna Come"  
Prime 3:46
2. "Please Don't Let Me Go"  
  • Future Cut
  • Robson
  • Darren Lewis[a]
 3:24
3. "Thinking of Me"  
  • Future Cut
  • Robson
 3:26
4. "Busy"  
  • Murs
  • Adam Argyle
  • Martin Brammer
  • Argyle
  • Brammer
 3:00
5. "I Blame Hollywood"  
  • Argyle
  • Brammer
  • Argyle
  • Brammer
 3:09
6. "Ask Me to Stay"  
 3:35
7. "Heart on My Sleeve"  
Shanks 3:29
8. "Hold On"  
  • Abbott
  • Grant Black
 3:05
9. "Accidental"  
  • Murs
  • Paddy Byrne
Byrne 3:22
10. "Love Shine Down"  
  • Murs
  • Jason Pebworth
  • George Astasio
  • Jon Shave
  • Ed Sheeran
  • Dan Smith
The Invisible Men 4:07
11. "Don't Say Goodbye"  
Taylor 3:36
12. "A Million More Years"  
Trevor Horn 3:36
Notes

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2010) Peak
position
scope="row" Irish Albums (IRMA)[19] 11
scope="row" Scottish Albums (OCC)[20] 3
scope="row" UK Albums (OCC)[21] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (2010) Position
UK Albums Chart 20[22]
Chart (2011) Position
UK Albums Chart 129[23]

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] 2× Platinum 1,200,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Tour

On 21 November 2010 a UK tour was announced for 2011 to promote the album.[25]

Release history

Region Date Format
United Kingdom[18] 29 November 2010 Digital download, CD

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Levine, Nick (18 October 2010). "Olly Murs reveals debut album details". Digital Spy (London: Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  2. ↑ "Olly's new single "Thinking of me" – full audio & lyrics inside!!". Ollymurs.com. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  3. ↑ "Olly Murs announces new single details - Music News". Digital Spy. 2011-01-20. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
  4. ↑ "Olly Murs music video for Busy stars Norfolk actress". BBC News. 22 March 2011.
  5. ↑ "BBC – Teen Awards – 2011 – Winners". 9 October 2011.
  6. ↑ "Olly Murs signs to Cowell's label". BBC News. 23 February 2010.
  7. ↑ "Olly Murs excited over single release". STV. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  8. ↑ "Olly Murs – Please Don't Let Me Go". glasswerk.co.uk. 26 July 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2010. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  9. ↑ Levine, Nick (19 August 2010). "Exclusive: Olly Murs discusses debut album". Digital Spy (London: Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  10. ↑ "Olly Murs confirms X Factor return". Dublin: Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  11. ↑ "Album Review : Olly Murs". Femalefirst.co.uk. 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
  12. ↑ "Music - Review of Olly Murs - Olly Murs". BBC. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
  13. ↑ Hoby, Hermione (28 November 2010). "Olly Murs: Olly Murs – review". The Guardian (London: Guardian Media Group). Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Jones, Alan (4 December 2011). "Official Album Chart analysis: Olly Murs becomes 10th X-Factor No.1". Music Week. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  15. ↑ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  16. ↑ Jones, Alan (1 December 2014). "Official Charts analysis: Olly Murs becomes second X Factor graduate to score three No.1s". Music Week. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  17. ↑ ">> IRMA << Irish Charts - Singles, Albums & Compilations >>". Irma.ie. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "iTunes - Music - Olly Murs by Olly Murs". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-11-26. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
  19. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 49, 2010". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  20. ↑ December 2010 "11 December 2010 Top 40 Scottish Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  21. ↑ "Olly Murs | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  22. ↑ "End of Year Charts: 2010" (PDF). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  23. ↑ "End of Year Charts: 2011" (PDF). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  24. ↑ "British album certifications – Olly Murs – Olly Murs". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 July 2012. Enter Olly Murs in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  25. ↑ "Tour dates announced". Official Website. 21 November 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Hot Tours: Roger Waters, Iron Maiden, Kings of Leon". 22 June 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  27. ↑ "Brit winners JLS to play Swansea's Liberty Stadium". BBC News. 24 January 2011.
  28. ↑ "JLS announce June Liberty Stadium gig". Wales Online. 2011-01-24. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
  29. ↑