Extra Virgin (album)

Last updated

Extra Virgin
Olive-extravirgin.jpg
Studio album by
Released1996
Recorded1994–January 1996
Genre
Length57:06
Label RCA
Producer
Olive chronology
Extra Virgin
(1996)
Trickle
(2000)
Singles from Extra Virgin
  1. "Miracle"
    Released: June 1996
  2. "You're Not Alone"
    Released: August 1996
  3. "Outlaw"
    Released: August 1997
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Music Week (1996)Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Music Week (1997)Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Muzik Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
People (favourable) [5]
Pitchfork 5.2/10 [6]
Synthesis(favourable) [7]

Extra Virgin is the debut album by British trip hop band Olive, originally released in 1996. The album includes the single "You're Not Alone", which originally reached number 42 in the UK Singles Chart in 1996 and when re-released in 1997 it reached number one. [8] Two other singles were released from the album: "Outlaw" (UK No. 14) and "Miracle" (UK No. 41). [8] The trip hop influence of Massive Attack and Portishead, while in small quantities, are evident, mixed in with synth-based electronic dance.

Contents

The album was re-released in 1997 following the success of "You're Not Alone" and peaked at number 15 on the UK Albums Chart. [8]

Recording

Synthesizers used on the album are a Roland Juno-60, an E-mu Systems Vintage Keys, and an Akai S3000XL sampler. Mixing was done on a Mackie mixing console. [9]

The band created some samples by recording live sounds, edited and subsequently filtered. [9] [10]

Critical reception

Jeremy Helligar from People magazine wrote, "Ruth-Ann Boyle's warmed-honey vocals offset the iciness of titles like "Killing" and "Blood Red Tears"; her voice caresses arrangements at once gentle and unsettled. The intriguing combination makes Extra Virgin a bittersweet delight." [5]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Tim Kellett and Robin Taylor-Firth

No.TitleLength
1."Miracle"7:19
2."This Time"4:43
3."Safer Hands"4:53
4."Killing"4:12
5."You're Not Alone"4:13
6."Falling"4:53
7."Outlaw"5:28
8."Blood Red Tears"4:41
9."Curious"4:57
10."You Are Nothing"4:17
11."Muted"3:36
12."I Don't Think So"3:54
Total length:57:06

Personnel

Olive

Other musicians

Metcalfe had previously played for The Durutti Column alongside Kellett, as had Pereira for Simply Red.

Charts and sales

Chart performance of Extra Virgin
Chart (1997)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [11] 89
Scottish Albums (OCC) [12] 58
UK Albums (OCC) [13] 15
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States120,000 [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simply Red</span> English soul band

Simply Red are an English soul and pop band formed in Manchester in 1985. Band leader, singer and songwriter Mick Hucknall was the only original member left by the time Simply Red initially disbanded in 2010. They have released thirteen studio albums, from Picture Book (1985) through Time (2023), all of which have peaked within the top ten on the UK Albums Chart; with the albums A New Flame (1989), Stars (1991), Life (1995) and Blue (1998), along with their Greatest Hits (1996) album, reaching number one. Their 1991 album Stars is one of the best-selling albums in the United Kingdom.

<i>Songs from the Last Century</i> 1999 studio album by George Michael

Songs from the Last Century is the fourth solo studio album by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released on 6 December 1999 by Aegean Records and Virgin Records. Produced by Phil Ramone and George Michael, it was his only album of cover versions. It consists mainly of old jazz standards plus new interpretations of more recent popular songs, such as "Roxanne" by the Police and "Miss Sarajevo" by U2 and Brian Eno with Luciano Pavarotti. "Roxanne" was released as a single in other countries except the United Kingdom.

<i>King of Fools</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Delirious?

King of Fools is a studio album by British Christian rock band Delirious?, initially released in June 1997. The full-length project showcased a new mainstream sound, whilst retaining many of the core themes found in their Cutting Edge EPs. Stylistically, the album epitomises the band's similarity to U2, an influence which was highlighted by several critics on its release. King of Fools reached No. 13 on the UK album chart, a career-high for the band, and produced four singles. The second, "Deeper", peaked at No. 20 on the UK singles chart on 11 May 1997. It also includes what is possibly the best known Delirious? song, "History Maker", which the band regularly played live throughout their whole career. The album was listed at No. 85 in the 2001 book, CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. The album was nominated for a Grammy.

<i>Becoming X</i> 1996 studio album by Sneaker Pimps

Becoming X is the debut studio album by English electronic band Sneaker Pimps. It was released on 19 August 1996 in the United Kingdom by Clean Up Records and on 25 February 1997 in the United States by Virgin Records. The album marked the only appearance of Kelli Dayton as lead singer before she was asked to leave the band; Chris Corner replaced her for the band's subsequent albums.

Olive were a British trip hop group from London, England. The founding membership consisted of producer, instrumentalist and songwriter Tim Kellett, producer and keyboard programmer Robin Taylor-Firth, and singer Ruth-Ann Boyle. The band has released two albums, the second without Taylor-Firth. Their 1996 single "You're Not Alone" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.

Ruth-Ann Boyle is an English singer. Together with producers Tim Kellett and Robin Taylor-Firth, she formed the British band Olive. The band's single "You're Not Alone" reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart on its second release in 1997.

<i>Café Bleu</i> 1984 studio album by the Style Council

Café Bleu is the official debut album released by the English band the Style Council. It was released on 16 March 1984, on Polydor Records, produced by Paul Weller with Peter Wilson. It followed four non-album singles in the UK, the first three of which were released outside the UK as the album Introducing The Style Council in North America, Australasia, Japan and some European countries. The album was mainly recorded at Solid Bond Studios except for the strings which were recorded at CBS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twenty Foreplay</span> 1996 single by Janet Jackson

"Twenty Foreplay" is a song by American singer-songwriter Janet Jackson from her first greatest hits album, Design of a Decade: 1986–1996 (1995). Written and produced by Jackson and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis as one of the two new songs on the album, it was sent to radio stations in the United States as the second single on December 5, 1995, while being issued as the third single on March 25, 1996 in the United Kingdom, by A&M Records. The song is a play on the word "foreplay" and "24 hours a day", and has an unusual musical structure, containing "over-the-top" lyrics that find Jackson singing to a boyfriend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're Not Alone (Olive song)</span> 1996 single by Olive

"You're Not Alone" is a song written by Tim Kellett and Robin Taylor-Firth and performed by British trip hop group Olive on their debut album, Extra Virgin (1996). First released as a single in August 1996, it found greater success in 1997 in a remixed version, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart that May. The song has been covered by a number of artists, most notably by German trance DJ and producer ATB in 2002 and Danish singer-songwriter Mads Langer in 2009.

<i>Trickle</i> 2000 studio album by Olive

Trickle is the second studio album by English trip hop band Olive, released on 30 May 2000 by Maverick Records.

<i>Ocean Drive</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Lighthouse Family

Ocean Drive is the debut album by British musical duo Lighthouse Family, released in 1995 on Wildcard / Polydor Records. The album produced the UK top 10 hit "Lifted" and UK top 20 hits "Ocean Drive", "Goodbye Heartbreak" and "Loving Every Minute". The album spent 175 weeks on the UK Albums Chart and achieved 6 times Platinum sales of 1.8 million copies. As of 2022, it was the highest-selling debut album in North East England since records began in 1956.

<i>Clear Air Turbulence</i> (album) 1977 studio album by Ian Gillan Band

Clear Air Turbulence is the second studio album by British jazz rock band Ian Gillan Band, released in 1977 with cover by Chris Foss. The album was initially worked on during the period July 1976 to September 1976. A UK tour was promoted, though all of the dates were postponed until April 1977 in order that the new album could be rerecorded and remixed at Kingsway Recorders, London.

Tim Kellett is an English musician, songwriter and record producer.

<i>Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)</i> 1965 studio album by the Beach Boys

Summer Days is the ninth studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released on July 5, 1965, on Capitol. The band's previous album, The Beach Boys Today!, represented a departure for the group through its abandonment of themes related to surfing, cars, and teenage love, but it sold below Capitol's expectations. In response, the label pressured the group to produce bigger hits. Summer Days thus returned the band's music to simpler themes for one last album, with Brian Wilson combining Capitol's commercial demands with his artistic calling.

<i>Thats What Friends Are For</i> (Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams album) 1978 studio album by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams

That's What Friends Are For is an album by American singers Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams, released in July 1978 by Columbia Records. The project was a continuation of the pairing of the artists that began on his previous LP, You Light Up My Life, which included "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late", the duet that was on its way to number one on three different charts in Billboard magazine as the recording sessions for this album got underway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're Not Alone (Tinchy Stryder song)</span> 2009 single by Tinchy Stryder

"You're Not Alone" is a song composed by British recording artist Tinchy Stryder. The song was released as the fifth and final single from Stryder's second studio album, Catch 22 on 2 November 2009. On the week of the album's release, the track charted at No. 50 in the UK, based mostly on hype around the track which had received its first play on the BBC Radio 1 chart show the previous week. Tinchy Stryder performed the song at the MOBO Awards 2009 on 30 September, it then entered the top 40 on the UK Singles Chart on 10 October 2009 at number 32, next week on 17 October it climbed to number 14 in the UK, it dropped to number 15 in its 3rd week in the UK top 40. The song interpolates "You're Not Alone", a hit in 1997 for the band Olive. Olive claimed in an interview they would hope Tinchy Stryder would return the favour and collaborate with them on a song for their upcoming album.

Robin Taylor-Firth is an English musician notable for performance, songwriting and production on various projects including Nightmares on Wax, Olive, Backyard Dog, and BudNubac.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Put Your Arms Around Me (Texas song)</span> 1997 single by Texas

"Put Your Arms Around Me" is a song by Scottish alternative rock band Texas, released on 3 November 1997 by Mercury as the fourth single from their fourth studio album, White on Blonde (1997). The song peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. The Autumn Breeze mix, which was the version released as a single, was included on the soundtrack to Ever After.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outlaw (Olive song)</span> 1997 single by Olive

"Outlaw" is a song written by Tim Kellett and Robin Taylor-Firth, and performed by British trip hop group Olive on their 1996 album Extra Virgin. It was released as the follow-up to the group's number one single "You're Not Alone". The single charted at number fourteen in the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miracle (Olive song)</span> 1996 single by Olive

"Miracle" is the debut single by Olive, from their 1996 debut album Extra Virgin. The song was written by members Tim Kellett and Robin Taylor-Firth. It was originally released in 1996 but was re-released in 1997 including a new UK Radio Edit that was different from the version that appears on the album.

References

  1. AllMusic review
  2. "Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Music Week . 24 August 1996. p. 23. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  3. "Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Music Week . 10 May 1997. p. 40. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  4. Redmond, Peter (October 1996). "Olive: Extra Virgin" (PDF). Muzik . No. 17. p. 124. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  5. 1 2 Helligar, Jeremy (27 October 1997). "Picks & Pans". People . Vol. 48. Issue 17.
  6. Pitchfork Media review [ permanent dead link ]
  7. "Synthesis review". Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 18 August 2006.
  8. 1 2 3 "OLIVE - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  9. 1 2 Robinson, Dave. "People: Olive". The Mix. Archived from the original on 21 June 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2006.
  10. Jung, Fred. "A Fireside Chat with Olive". Jazz Weekly. Retrieved 28 August 2006.
  11. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 208.
  12. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  13. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  14. Paoletta, Michael (15 April 2000). "Artists & Music: Soundtrack Cut Gives Boost To Olive's New Maverick Set". Billboard . p. 16. Retrieved 4 October 2023.