Back to Bedlam

Back to Bedlam
Studio album by James Blunt
Released 14 November 2003 (2003-11-14)
Recorded 2003
Genre Pop rock, folk rock
Length 39:28
Label Atlantic, Custard, RCA
Producer Tom Rothrock, Linda Perry
James Blunt chronology
Back to Bedlam
(2003)		 Chasing Time: The Bedlam Sessions
(2006)
Singles from Back to Bedlam
  1. "High"
    Released: 3 December 2003
  2. "Wisemen"
    Released: 7 March 2005
  3. "You're Beautiful"
    Released: 30 May 2005
  4. "Goodbye My Lover"
    Released: 16 November 2005
  5. "No Bravery"
    Released: 17 April 2006
Alternative cover
2005 reissue cover
"Goodbye My Lover"
James Blunt's "Goodbye My Lover" from Back to Bedlam
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Back to Bedlam is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter James Blunt. It was released on 14 November 2003 through Atlantic Records.[1] It is named after the infamous psychiatric institution of Bethlem Royal Hospital, which is commonly known as Bedlam.

The album was met with universal acclaim from music critics, who praised Blunt's voice and songwriting skills. Initially lingering in the lower regions of the UK Albums Chart in its first few months of release, it became a major international success after its third single, "You're Beautiful", was a huge hit worldwide in the Summer of 2005. Back to Bedlam was the highest-selling album of 2005 in the UK, with over 2.4 million copies sold.[2] By December 2009, the album had been certified 10× Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry for sales of over 3 million, making it the best-selling album of the 2000s in the UK.[3] In 2011, it was overtaken by the Amy Winehouse's Back to Black as the best-selling album of the 21st century in the UK.[4] Back to Bedlam currently ranks as the 16th best-selling album in UK chart history. As of 2015, it has sold 3.31 million copies in the UK[5] and over 11 million copies worldwide.[6]

Background and recording

Blunt had piano and violin lessons as a child, but his first significant exposure to popular music was at Harrow School. There, he was introduced to the guitar by a fellow student, and started playing the instrument and writing songs at age 14.[7][8] At University of Bristol, his undergraduate thesis was The Commodification of Image – Production of a Pop Idol; one of his main references for the thesis was sociologist and rock critic, Simon Frith, chairman of the Mercury Music Prize panel of judges since 1992.[9][10]

Because the British Army sponsored his university education, Blunt was obliged to serve a minimum of four years in the armed forces. He stated on an interview in his Back to Bedlam sessions that he chose to join the military as his father was "pushing for it, so that [Blunt] could obtain a secure work placement and income". Blunt trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.[11] While still in the army, he worked on demos during his time off. A backing vocalist and songwriting collaborator suggested he contact Elton John's manager Todd Interland, with whom she used to share a house.[12] Interland told HitQuarters that he listened to Blunt's demo while driving home and after hearing the track "Goodbye My Lover", pulled over and called the mobile number written on the CD to set up a meeting.[12]

Blunt left the British Army in 2002 so that he could pursue his musical career.[13] It was at that period that he started using the stage name "Blunt", in part to make it easier for others to spell; "Blount" is pronounced the same way, and remains his legal surname.[14] Shortly after leaving the army, he was signed to EMI music publishers and Twenty-First Artists management.[15] A record contract remained elusive, with recording label executives pointing to Blunt's posh speaking voice as a barrier in class-divided Britain.[8] Linda Perry, who was just launching her own Custard Records label in early 2003, heard Blunt's promotional tape when visiting London, and soon after heard him perform live at the South by Southwest Music Festival. She made an offer to him the same night[16] and within a few days, Blunt signed a recording contract with Perry, and one month later he was in Los Angeles working with producer Tom Rothrock.[15][17]

Blunt recorded Back to Bedlam in 2003 with producer Tom Rothrock at Rothrock's home studio, using session musicians and performing on many different instruments himself.[8][18] While in Los Angeles, he lodged with actress Carrie Fisher, whom he had met through the family of a former girlfriend. Fisher was very supportive of Blunt's aspirations, suggesting the name of the album and providing use of a bathroom in her home for Blunt to record the song "Goodbye My Lover".[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[19]
Common Sense Media[20]
Q[20]
BBC Collective[21]
IndieLondonPositive[22]
RocknWorld[23]
About.com8.6/10[24]
Slant Magazine[25]
RelevantPositive[26]

The album received universal acclaim from music critics. AllMusic felt "...the Soulful British crooner James Blunt's wistful debut infuses the listener – in order – with rainy-day hope, the wistful comfort of unattainable love, and finally, world-weary resignation. While his parched and effeminate falsetto recalls Gasoline Alley-era Rod Stewart with a healthy dose of Antony and the Johnsons, it's the late Elliott Smith who casts the largest shadow on Back to Bedlam."[19] Q magazine and Common Sense Media awarded the album four stars out of five.[20] RocknWorld stated "It's hard to describe James Blunt or his music without falling prey to many a cliché or hyperbole. Comes from the UK, serves in the army then makes an album of movingly sincere ballads which make a huge impression on his homeland and Australia, thus allowing him to enjoy phenomenal, chart topping success. However, in this case, the music Blunt is making does really deserve and warrant the hype surrounding him. Strangely enough, even with his music being all over the radio here in Australia, I cannot begrudge the fact that Blunt is truly talented and has made himself a damn good debut record."[23] BBC Collective said "It's very rare I give an album 5 stars. Many have come close, but just missing it. I never thought i would say this, but Back To Bedlam has not got one bad track on it. I've listened to it 3 times back to back, just to make sure."[21] Slant Magazine said, in a three and a half star review, that "Bedlam is an overall raw listening experience" and that though "Blunt's writing often juxtaposes love with death" that it's "More reason for American girls to go gaga over this able British bloke."[25]

Indie London praised the album, and went on to call it "...a masterful debut and one which you mustn't allow to pass you by."[22] In a 4 star review, About.com said that "To aptly describe James Blunt's music in his debut album Back to Bedlam, it would be an injustice to ignore the backdrop of his past and its relation to his music – in fact it's impossible to do so" and gave praise to the songs which they called "Hauntingly captivating, his words paint the pictures of many stories lived, masterly recited through his songs. Back to Bedlam seems not so much a pop compilation as it does a reflection of a life through the art of music."[24] Nate Murray of Relevant gave a similar review, and compared his work to the likes of Elliott Smith, calling it "endearingly honest" and continued "...like any great writer, he invites the reader, or in this case, the listener, into the intimate details of life that resonate with most anyone. Combine such candid writing with a voice one interviewer has called 'disgustingly gorgeous', and you have a recipe for musical addiction. Blunt's talents have earned the endorsement of Elton John and led to comparisons with John’s early work, as well as the late Elliott Smith."[26]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "High"  James Blunt, Ricky RossTom Rothrock 4:03
2. "You're Beautiful"  Blunt, Sacha Skarbek, Amanda GhostTom Rothrock 3:33
3. "Wisemen"  Blunt, Skarbek, Jimmy HogarthTom Rothrock 3:42
4. "Goodbye My Lover"  Blunt, SkarbekTom Rothrock 4:20
5. "Tears and Rain"  Blunt, Guy ChambersTom Rothrock 4:04
6. "Out of My Mind"  BluntTom Rothrock 3:33
7. "So Long, Jimmy"  Blunt, HogarthTom Rothrock 4:26
8. "Billy"  Blunt, Skarbek, GhostTom Rothrock 3:37
9. "Cry"  Blunt, SkarbekTom Rothrock 4:06
10. "No Bravery"  Blunt, SkarbekLinda Perry 4:00
Total length:
 39:28

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2004–06) Peak
position
Argentine Albums (CAPIF) 1
Australian Albums (ARIA)[29] 1
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[30] 1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[31] 1
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan) 1
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[32] 1
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[33] 2
Europe (European Hot 100) 2
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[34] 10
French Albums (SNEP)[35] 2
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[36] 1
Greek Albums (IFPI)[37] 1
Irish Albums (IRMA) 1
Japanese Albums (Oricon) 1
Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)[38] 1
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[39] 1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[40] 2
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[41] 2
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[42] 7
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[43] 1
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[44] 1
UK Albums (OCC)[45] 1
US Billboard 200[46] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2005) Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[47] 9
Irish Albums (IRMA)[48] 1
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) 48
UK Albums (OCC)[2] 1
Chart (2006) Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[49] 1
UK Albums (OCC)[50] 22
Chart (2007) Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[51] 78

Decade-end charts

Chart (2000–09) Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[52] 8
Irish Albums (IRMA) 1
UK Albums (OCC)[53] 1

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Argentina (CAPIF)[54] 2× Platinum 80,000x
Australia (ARIA)[55] 9× Platinum 670,000[56]
Austria (IFPI Austria)[57] 2× Platinum 60,000x
Belgium (BEA)[58] 3× Platinum 150,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[59] 6× Platinum 600,000^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[60] 2× Platinum 80,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[61] Gold 13,158[61]
France (SNEP)[62] Diamond 1,000,000*
Germany (BVMI)[63] 9× Gold 900,000^
Greece (IFPI Greece)[64] 2× Platinum 80,000[65]
Ireland (IRMA)[66] 14× Platinum 210,000x
Japan (RIAJ)[67] 2× Platinum 500,000^
Mexico (AMPROFON)[68] Gold 50,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[69] Platinum 80,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[70] 7× Platinum 105,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[71] 2× Platinum 80,000*
Portugal (AFP)[72] 2× Platinum 80,000x
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[73] Platinum 100,000^
Sweden (GLF)[74] 2× Platinum 120,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[75] 5× Platinum 200,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[76] 11× Platinum 3,310,000[5]
United States (RIAA)[77] 2× Platinum 2,900,000[78]
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[79] 6× Platinum 6,000,000*

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

Credits and personnel

Use in other media

Eight of the ten songs on Back to Bedlam were licensed for use in television shows, movies, advertising campaigns and trailers, a total of 34 times. This included "Tears and Rain", "So Long Jimmy" and "Cry", tracks that had not been released as singles.[80]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Back to Bedlam". iTunes Store New Zealand. (Apple Inc.). Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Christie Scores Top Selling Uk Single of 2005". contactmusic.com. 3 January 2006.
  3. ↑ Michaels, Sean (30 December 2009). "James Blunt makes decade's best-selling album". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Amy Winehouse’s ‘Back To Black’ becomes UK's biggest-selling album of the 21st century". NME.
  5. 1 2 Moss, Liv (19 March 2015). "Official Biggest Selling Albums of the Millennium so far revealed!". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  6. ↑ Balfe, John (22 October 2012). "James Blunt quits music industry". entertainment.ie.
  7. 1 2 Thomas, David (1 August 2005). "To be blunt, James, you are a trooper". The Sunday Telegraph. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 Neal, Chris (November 2007). "Back from Bedlam". Performing Songwriter (Performing Songwriter Enterprises, LLC). pp. 56–60.
  9. ↑ Davis, Johnny (October 2007). "Where did it all go Wrong?". Q Magazine (EMAP Metro Ltd). pp. 54–58.
  10. ↑ "Staff Profile (Simon Frith)". University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  11. ↑ "The Blunt Life". Rolling Stone (Jann Wenner). 4 October 2007. pp. 56–58, 88.
  12. 1 2 "Interview with Todd Interland". HitQuarters. 29 August 2005. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  13. ↑ Epstein, Dan (June 2006). "Rocket Man". Guitar World Acoustic Magazine (Guitar World). pp. 34–41.
  14. ↑ Scaggs, Austin (9 February 2006). "Q&A". Rolling Stone Magazine (Wenner Media LLC (Jann S. Wenner)). p. 28.
  15. 1 2 Poletta, Michael (21 July 2007). "James Blunt – Beautiful and the Beat". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media). pp. 26–29.
  16. ↑ "Interview with Linda Perry". HitQuarters.com. Retrieved 5 January 2006.
  17. ↑ Neal, Chris (January–February 2007). "Linda Perry". Performing Songwriter (Performing Songwriter Enterprises, LLC). p. 74.
  18. ↑ "Back to Bedlam album liner notes". Atlantic Records. October 2004.
  19. 1 2 Back to Bedlam - James Blunt | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic
  20. 1 2 3 Back to Bedlam - Music Review
  21. 1 2 BBC - collective - james blunt - back to bedlam
  22. 1 2 indielondon.co.uk - music - James Blunt, Back to Bedlam
  23. 1 2 James Blunt - Back To Bedlam Review - Rocknworld.com
  24. 1 2 James Blunt - Back to Bedlam
  25. 1 2 James Blunt: Back To Bedlam - Music Review Slant Magazine
  26. 1 2 James Blunt - Back to Bedlam Relevant
  27. ↑ "Back to Bedlam". iTunes Store. (Apple Inc.). Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  28. ↑ "Back to Bedlam". iTunes Store Australia. (Apple Inc.). Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  29. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". Hung Medien.
  30. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam" (in German). Hung Medien.
  31. ↑ "Ultratop.be – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  32. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". Hung Medien.
  33. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  34. ↑ "James Blunt: Back to Bedlam" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  35. ↑ "Lescharts.com – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". Hung Medien.
  36. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Top 100 Longplay". GfK Entertainment.
  37. ↑ "Greekcharts.com – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". Hung Medien.
  38. ↑ "Mexicancharts.com – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". Hung Medien.
  39. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". Hung Medien.
  40. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". Hung Medien.
  41. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". Hung Medien.
  42. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". Hung Medien.
  43. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". Hung Medien.
  44. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". Hung Medien.
  45. ↑ "2005-07-10 Top 40 UK Albums Archive". Official Charts Company.
  46. ↑ "James Blunt – Chart history" Billboard 200 for James Blunt.
  47. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Albums 2005". ARIA. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  48. ↑ ">> IRMA << Welcome to our site >>". irma.ie.
  49. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Albums 2006". ARIA. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  50. ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20060108/37502/
  51. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Albums 2007". ARIA. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  52. ↑ "ARIA Chart Sales - ARIA End of Decade Albums/Top 100" (PDF). ARIA. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  53. ↑ Michaels, Sean (30 December 2009). "James Blunt makes decade's best-selling album". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  54. ↑ "Argentinian album certifications – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers.
  55. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2006 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  56. ↑ "The Tribal Mind: The Music Australia Loved". Sydney Morning Herald. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  57. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam" (in German). IFPI Austria. Enter James Blunt in the field Interpret. Enter Back to Bedlam in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
  58. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2008". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  59. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". Music Canada.
  60. ↑ "Danish album certifications – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". IFPI Denmark.
  61. 1 2 "James Blunt" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  62. ↑ "French album certifications – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  63. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (James Blunt; 'Back to Bedlam')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  64. ↑ "Greek album certifications – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam" (in Greek). IFPI Greece.
  65. ↑ Archived 13 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  66. ↑ "Irish album certifications – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". Irish Recorded Music Association.
  67. ↑ "Japanese album certifications – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2006年月 on the drop-down menu
  68. ↑ "Certificaciones – James Blunt" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas.
  69. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.
  70. ↑ THE FIELD id (chart number) MUST BE PROVIDED for NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATION.
  71. ↑ "Norwegian album certifications – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
  72. ↑ "Portuguese album certifications – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa.
  73. ↑ "Spanish album certifications – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam" (PDF) (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Select the "Chart", enter 2005 in the field "Year". Select '' in the field "Semana". Click on "Search Charts"
  74. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2007" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
  75. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (James Blunt; 'Back to Bedlam')". Hung Medien.
  76. ↑ "British album certifications – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Back to Bedlam 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
  77. ↑ "American album certifications – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  78. ↑ Billboard – Ask Billboard
  79. ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2007". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
  80. ↑ Poletta, Michael (21 July 2007). "Beautiful and the Beat". Billboard.

External links

Preceded by
X&Y by Coldplay
Wonderland by McFly
First Impressions of Earth by The Strokes		 UK number-one album
17 July 2005 – 3 September 2005
12 September 2005 – 18 September 2005
15 January 2006 – 21 January 2006 		Succeeded by
Wonderland by McFly
Life in Slow Motion by David Gray
Stars of CCTV by HARD-Fi
Preceded by
Monkey Business by The Black Eyed Peas		 Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
29 August 2005 – 25 September 2005
9 January 2006 – 12 February 2006
17 April 2006 – 7 May 2006 		Succeeded by
Have a Nice Day by Bon Jovi
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