Classic (Joe McElderry album)
Encyclopedia
Classic is the second studio album by British singer Joe McElderry
. It was released by Decca Records
on 19 August 2011 in Ireland and on 22 August 2011 in the United Kingdom. Signed copies were available to pre-order on Universal Music's online store.
expired, and winning a second TV show, Popstar to Operastar
, McElderry confirmed that he would be recording his second studio album, stating, “It’s not going to be pop, it’s going to be a lot of big, lush ballads. I wanted to do a few more ballads on my first album. It’s going to appeal to all my fans. I’m going to sing a few Italian songs. I’m not going to change my voice – I don’t want to scare people too much... I can’t reveal which label it’s with but it’s an amazing label.
The label was later revealed to be Decca Records
. In a blog, McElderry described the album by talking about the title saying "The album is called Classic, it's classic songs, it's a classic repertoire, it's songs that everybody will know. We're kind of bringing it in and matching it to my style of my voice, but also touching a bit on the classical side as well, so it's all round a classic album". Describing the process of recording the album with a new label, saying "We're doing it quite quickly this time round, it's good to just go with the flow and just get it done and let all the creative emotions flow out very fast. It's really nice to get the experience of working with a different label that has a different kind of view on things. I've just enjoyed kind of getting in there, throwing myself into the deep end and just totally going for it."
McElderry has stated that he recorded the album in six days.
During the first half of August, McElderry did a radio tour, visiting various radio stations around the country to promote the album. "Hear My Prayer" is an English version of Nessun dorma
written specially for McElderry, the original Italian version is included as a bonus track.
McElderry performed on QVC
on 18 August and after the albums went on sale, the sales broke the QVC system, the first time in history to do so.
A music video was filmed for "Time To Say Goodbye", the video was filmed in Hackney on 8 August 2011, during the 2011 England riots
. The music video was released on 22 August, the album's release date.
A stripped live performance was used as the music video for "Dance with My Father
". The video premiered on Entertainment Focus on 13 September 2011.
praised the album, saying "the balladeer is back and, with every listen, Classic gets better and better!". Jamie Tabberer of Gay Times
also praised the album, saying "A year on from his massively underrated debut Wide Awake
and fresh from Popstar to Operastar victory Joe's poised to release his sophomore effort. It's an album that does exactly what it says on the tin; a sophisticated, meticulously chosen collection of classic, classy, emotive anthems (including a handful of tough Italian numbers à la Operastar) sang so sweetly the knees of mums' everywhere will turn to jelly (not to mention ours - he's getting handsomer with age isn't he?)." Heat magazine gave the album 4/5 stars, saying "Joe's debut Wide Awake may have been one of the most underrated pop albums ever, but after his storming victory on PTO, he has turned his talents to singing rousing opera tunes- and crikey, does that boy have a voice."
Classic entered number two in the UK. Within 10 days after the release, the album received a Gold certification. On 7 September 2011, during an appearance on the Alan Titchmarsh Show which was broadcast the following day, McElderry was presented with his official gold disc by his grandmother, Hilda Joyce.
As stated above, the album received a Gold certification from the British Phonographic Industry
within ten days after its release. The threshold for a Gold certification from the BPI is 100,000 copies sold by the label to British retailers.
As of 24 October 2011, 177,530 copies of the album had been sold at retail in the United Kingdom.
On the Irish Albums Chart, Classic debuted at number 48 after its first week of release. In its second week on the chart, the album moved up ten positions to number 38. In its third week of release, the album moved up one more position to number 37. The album dropped back one position to number 38 in its fourth week of release, and fell to number 54 in its fifth week of release. The following week, after an appearance by McElderry on the The Late Late Show
in Ireland on 23 September 2011, the album moved up to number 20, its peak position on the chart. It then fell to number 23 in its seventh week of release, to number 33 in its eighth week of release, to number 46 in its ninth week of release, and to number 75 in its tenth week of release.
Joe McElderry
Joseph "Joe" McElderry is an English singer and model. He won the sixth series of the ITV show The X Factor in 2009. His first single "The Climb" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Charts. He was also crowned the winner of the second series of Popstar to Operastar, two...
. It was released by Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
on 19 August 2011 in Ireland and on 22 August 2011 in the United Kingdom. Signed copies were available to pre-order on Universal Music's online store.
Background and production
After his contract with SycoSyco
Syco Entertainment, often known as simply Syco , is a global joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment focused on the production and exploitation of music, television, film and digital content...
expired, and winning a second TV show, Popstar to Operastar
Popstar to Operastar
Popstar to Operastar is a British television programme singing competition based around the training of pop stars of current to be able to sing opera. The show began airing on ITV on 15 January 2010 at 9pm. The show is repeated on TV3 Ireland on Saturday evening. The programme is produced by...
, McElderry confirmed that he would be recording his second studio album, stating, “It’s not going to be pop, it’s going to be a lot of big, lush ballads. I wanted to do a few more ballads on my first album. It’s going to appeal to all my fans. I’m going to sing a few Italian songs. I’m not going to change my voice – I don’t want to scare people too much... I can’t reveal which label it’s with but it’s an amazing label.
The label was later revealed to be Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
. In a blog, McElderry described the album by talking about the title saying "The album is called Classic, it's classic songs, it's a classic repertoire, it's songs that everybody will know. We're kind of bringing it in and matching it to my style of my voice, but also touching a bit on the classical side as well, so it's all round a classic album". Describing the process of recording the album with a new label, saying "We're doing it quite quickly this time round, it's good to just go with the flow and just get it done and let all the creative emotions flow out very fast. It's really nice to get the experience of working with a different label that has a different kind of view on things. I've just enjoyed kind of getting in there, throwing myself into the deep end and just totally going for it."
McElderry has stated that he recorded the album in six days.
During the first half of August, McElderry did a radio tour, visiting various radio stations around the country to promote the album. "Hear My Prayer" is an English version of Nessun dorma
Nessun dorma
Nessun dorma is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot, and is one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera. It is sung by Calaf, il principe ignoto , who falls in love at first sight with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot...
written specially for McElderry, the original Italian version is included as a bonus track.
McElderry performed on QVC
QVC (UK)
QVC UK is a digital television shopping channel broadcast in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1993 when QVC, Inc. formed a deal with Sky TV to create a UK version of the US channel. "QVC — The Shopping Channel" first broadcast in the UK on 1 October 1993. QVC UK - 20% owned by Sky - moved into...
on 18 August and after the albums went on sale, the sales broke the QVC system, the first time in history to do so.
A music video was filmed for "Time To Say Goodbye", the video was filmed in Hackney on 8 August 2011, during the 2011 England riots
2011 England riots
Between 6 and 10 August 2011, several London boroughs and districts of cities and towns across England suffered widespread rioting, looting and arson....
. The music video was released on 22 August, the album's release date.
A stripped live performance was used as the music video for "Dance with My Father
Dance with My Father (song)
"Dance with My Father" is the title track to singer-songwriter Luther Vandross' thirteenth studio album. With Richard Marx, Vandross wrote the song based on his personal experience...
". The video premiered on Entertainment Focus on 13 September 2011.
Reception
On 15 August 2011, Shields GazetteShields Gazette
The Shields Gazette, established in 1849, is a daily evening newspaper. It is the oldest provincial evening newspaper in the United Kingdom....
praised the album, saying "the balladeer is back and, with every listen, Classic gets better and better!". Jamie Tabberer of Gay Times
Gay Times
Gay Times is one of the United Kingdom's leading gay magazine for gay and bisexual men.-Publication and content:...
also praised the album, saying "A year on from his massively underrated debut Wide Awake
Wide Awake (Joe McElderry album)
Wide Awake is the debut album of English pop singer Joe McElderry, winner of the sixth series of British talent competition The X Factor...
and fresh from Popstar to Operastar victory Joe's poised to release his sophomore effort. It's an album that does exactly what it says on the tin; a sophisticated, meticulously chosen collection of classic, classy, emotive anthems (including a handful of tough Italian numbers à la Operastar) sang so sweetly the knees of mums' everywhere will turn to jelly (not to mention ours - he's getting handsomer with age isn't he?)." Heat magazine gave the album 4/5 stars, saying "Joe's debut Wide Awake may have been one of the most underrated pop albums ever, but after his storming victory on PTO, he has turned his talents to singing rousing opera tunes- and crikey, does that boy have a voice."
Classic entered number two in the UK. Within 10 days after the release, the album received a Gold certification. On 7 September 2011, during an appearance on the Alan Titchmarsh Show which was broadcast the following day, McElderry was presented with his official gold disc by his grandmother, Hilda Joyce.
Tracklist
Charts
Classic entered the UK Albums Chart at number 2, with retail sales of 35,609 copies in the country during the album's first week of release. During the album's second week of release, 31,001 copies were sold in the United Kingdom, and the album landed at number 5 on the chart. The album climbed two spaces to number 3 in its third week of release, selling 29,736 copies in that week. In its fourth week of release, the album dropped two positions back to number 5 on the chart, but 22,835 copies of the album were sold at retail in the United Kingdom that week, thereby putting the album over the 100,000 retail sales mark in the country. The album moved up one position to number 4 on the chart in its fifth week of release. It fell to number 9 in its sixth week of release, and then exited the Top 10 the following week, landing at number 14 at the end of its seventh week of release.As stated above, the album received a Gold certification from the British Phonographic Industry
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
within ten days after its release. The threshold for a Gold certification from the BPI is 100,000 copies sold by the label to British retailers.
As of 24 October 2011, 177,530 copies of the album had been sold at retail in the United Kingdom.
On the Irish Albums Chart, Classic debuted at number 48 after its first week of release. In its second week on the chart, the album moved up ten positions to number 38. In its third week of release, the album moved up one more position to number 37. The album dropped back one position to number 38 in its fourth week of release, and fell to number 54 in its fifth week of release. The following week, after an appearance by McElderry on the The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
in Ireland on 23 September 2011, the album moved up to number 20, its peak position on the chart. It then fell to number 23 in its seventh week of release, to number 33 in its eighth week of release, to number 46 in its ninth week of release, and to number 75 in its tenth week of release.
| Chart (2011) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Irish Albums Chart Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
20 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
2 |
| Scottish Albums Chart | 3 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 19 August 2011 | CD, Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
| United Kingdom | 22 August 2011 |