Piece by Piece (Katie Melua album)

Last updated

Piece by Piece
Katie Melua - Piece by Piece.jpg
Studio album by
Katie Melua
Released26 September 2005
Recorded2004–2005
StudioEwshot Hall
Genre
Length44:32
Label Dramatico
Producer Mike Batt
Katie Melua chronology
Call Off the Search
(2003)		Piece by Piece
(2005)		 Pictures
(2007)
Singles from Piece by Piece
  1. "Nine Million Bicycles"
    Released: 19 September 2005
  2. "I Cried for You"
    Released: 2005
  3. "Spider's Web"
    Released: 17 April 2006
  4. "It's Only Pain"
    Released: 11 September 2006
  5. "Shy Boy"
    Released: 20 November 2006
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]

Piece by Piece is the second studio album by British jazz and blues singer Katie Melua. It was released on 26 September 2005 by Dramatico Records. In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at #1 with 120,459 copies sold in its first week. [3]

Contents

Its first single, Mike Batt's song "Nine Million Bicycles", became Melua's first top five hit in the UK and caused controversy when science writer Simon Singh said the lyrics "demonstrates a deep ignorance of cosmology and no understanding of the scientific method". After an amusing and good-natured debate in the Press Melua eventually recorded Singh's version, which both agreed was scientifically accurate and musically pathetic. [4]

The second single was a double A-side comprising "I Cried for You" and a cover of The Cure's "Just Like Heaven". The former song was written after Melua met the writer of The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail and is about Jesus and Mary Magdalene, while the latter was recorded for the soundtrack to the film Just Like Heaven . The single peaked outside the UK top twenty, and the album's third single, "Spider's Web" (which Melua wrote when she was eighteen, during the Iraq War) did not reach the top forty.

Melua wrote the title song "Piece By Piece" after she broke up with her boyfriend Luke Pritchard, and "Half Way up the Hindu Kush" was written by Katie and Mike Batt playing on the unusualness of the title phrase, which cropped up in a conversation about scarves on a train journey. Alongside covers of "Blues in the Night" and Canned Heat's "On the Road Again", the album includes "Thank you, Stars", which was previously released as a B-side on Melua's debut single "The Closest Thing To Crazy" in 2003.

The album was re-released in 2006, as Piece by Piece: Special Bonus Edition, with three additional tracks and a bonus DVD with concert Moment by Moment and promo videos.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Shy Boy" Mike Batt 3:22
2."Nine Million Bicycles"Batt3:15
3."Piece by Piece" Katie Melua 3:24
4."Halfway Up the Hindu Kush"
  • Melua
  • Batt
3:06
5."Blues in the Night"
4:12
6."Spider's Web"Melua3:58
7."Blue Shoes"Batt4:39
8."On the Road Again"
4:38
9."Thank You, Stars"Batt3:39
10."Just Like Heaven"
3:35
11."I Cried for You"Melua3:38
12."I Do Believe in Love"Melua3:00
13."It's Only Pain" (Special Bonus Edition track)Batt3:13
14."Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (Acoustic version) (Special Bonus Edition track) Lennon–McCartney 3:07
15."Sometimes When I'm Dreaming" (Special Bonus Edition track)Batt3:39

Variants

A special edition for Spanish department store El Corte Inglés had additional tracks - Spanish language versions of "Closest Thing to Crazy" ("Esa Clase de Locura") and "Faraway Voice" (aka "Otra vez tu").

The American release had two extra tracks (but not the Special Bonus edition tracks), "Jack's Room" and "Market Day in Guernica".

Charts

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria) [48] Platinum30,000*
Belgium (BEA) [49] Platinum50,000*
Canada (Music Canada) [50] Gold50,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [51] 4× Platinum160,000^
France (SNEP) [52] 3× Platinum300,000‡
Germany (BVMI) [53] 4× Platinum1,000,000 [54]
Ireland (IRMA) [55] 4× Platinum60,000^
Netherlands (NVPI) [56] 2× Platinum400,000 [57]
New Zealand (RMNZ) [58] Gold7,500^
Norway (IFPI Norway) [59] Platinum175,000 [60]
Poland (ZPAV) [61] 2× Platinum40,000*
Sweden (GLF) [62] Platinum60,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [63] 3× Platinum120,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [64] 4× Platinum1,200,000^
United States—58,000 [54]
Summaries
Europe (IFPI) [65] 3× Platinum3,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

Production

Related Research Articles

<i>Mutter</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Rammstein

Mutter is the third studio album by German Neue Deutsche Härte band Rammstein. It was released on 2 April 2001 through Motor and Universal Music. The album's cover image is a photograph of a dead fetus, which was taken by Daniel & Geo Fuchs. The album has yielded six singles which, to date, are the most released from any Rammstein album.

<i>Call Off the Search</i> 2003 studio album by Katie Melua

Call off the Search is the debut studio album by British jazz and blues singer Katie Melua, released in 2003.

<i>In Between Dreams</i> 2005 studio album by Jack Johnson

In Between Dreams is the third studio album by singer-songwriter Jack Johnson, released by Brushfire Records in the United States on March 1, 2005. The album received generally mixed reviews from music critics. However, the album achieved considerable commercial success.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Lenny Kravitz album) 2000 greatest hits album by Lenny Kravitz

Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released on October 24, 2000.

<i>Best 1991–2004</i> 2004 greatest hits album by Seal

Best 1991–2004 is a 2004 compilation album by Seal, released by Warner Bros. Records. Several different versions of this album were released: one as a single disc containing Seal's greatest hits; a second with an additional disc of 13 acoustic versions of Seal's greatest hits; a third which included a DVD-Audio disc plus the two The Ultimate Collection discs; a fourth with surround sound mixes of both The Ultimate Collection discs and a collection of music videos as well as the DVD-Audio disc; a fifth, available only for France, containing the single disc of hits along with the track "Les Mots", a duet with French singer Mylène Farmer, as a bonus track.

<i>Bocelli</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Andrea Bocelli

Bocelli is the second studio album by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, released in 1995 on the Polydor GmbH label.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Robbie Williams album) 2004 compilation album by Robbie Williams

Greatest Hits is a hits compilation released by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams on 18 October 2004. The album includes two new songs, "Radio" and "Misunderstood", which were both released as singles. The album is his seventh overall release in the United Kingdom.

<i>Live at Knebworth</i> 2003 live album by Robbie Williams

Live at Knebworth, also known as Live Summer 2003 with different cover text, is a live album by English pop singer Robbie Williams, recorded and released in 2003. The album is his first live album, and is a compilation of songs performed during three consecutive shows at Knebworth, England on 1–3 August 2003.

<i>Ancora</i> 2005 studio album by Il Divo

Ancora is the third studio album released by classical crossover vocal group Il Divo. The album was released in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe on 7 November 2005, excluding the United States and Latin America. The album was later released in the United States and Latin America on 24 January 2006. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 on the week of releases. The album contains one song partially in Latin, one song performed in Italian, two songs performed in French, two songs performed in English, and six songs performed in Spanish, excluding the bonus track. The album features the single "I Believe in You", performed with Céline Dion, that is also featured on her international album, On Ne Change Pas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nine Million Bicycles</span> 2005 single by Katie Melua

"Nine Million Bicycles" is a song written and produced by Mike Batt for the singer Katie Melua's second album, Piece by Piece. It was released as the album's first single in September 2005 and reached number five on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Melua's first top five hit as a solo artist. It was a finalist for The Record of the Year prize, losing to "You Raise Me Up" by Westlife.

<i>Space Jam: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture</i> 1996 soundtrack album by various artists

Space Jam: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture is the original soundtrack album of the 1996 film starring Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes cast. An album featuring the film's score by James Newton Howard was also released. The soundtrack was released by Warner Sunset and Atlantic Records on October 29, 1996. "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly was first released on the soundtrack.

<i>Love Songs: A Compilation... Old and New</i> 2004 compilation album by Phil Collins

Love Songs: A Compilation... Old and New is a compilation album by English musician Phil Collins. The album was released by Atlantic Recording Corporation and Rhino Entertainment on 28 September 2004. The album was released only a few months after the compilation album The Platinum Collection.

<i>The Platinum Collection</i> (Queen album) 2000 box set by Queen

The Platinum Collection: Greatest Hits I, II & III is a box set by British rock band Queen which comprises their three greatest hits albums, Greatest Hits, Greatest Hits II and Greatest Hits III. The album was originally released on 13 November 2000 on the Parlophone label. A booklet with song facts and images is also included with the three CD set. The US release was delayed by Hollywood Records until September 2002 and featured the 2001 Japanese release remastered versions of Greatest Hits Volumes 1 and 2 on the US and Canadian versions of The Platinum Collection. The album peaked at number 2 in the UK.

<i>Calma apparente</i> 2005 studio album by Eros Ramazzotti

Calma apparente, also known by its Spanish name Calma aparente, is a 2005 studio album by Italian singer-songwriter Eros Ramazzotti. The album was preceded by the single "La nostra vita", released on 16 September 2005 and sold 43,000 copies in Italy.

<i>Rosenrot</i> 2005 studio album by Rammstein

Rosenrot is the fifth studio album by German Neue Deutsche Härte band Rammstein, released on 28 October 2005. The album includes six songs artistically omitted from Reise, Reise. The album's first title was Reise, Reise Volume Two, but on 18 August 2005 the album was announced as Rosenrot. The cover art is nearly identical to the Japanese import of Reise, Reise. The image is a slightly altered photograph of the icebreaker USS Atka, taken on 13 March 1960 at McMurdo Station, Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica.

<i>Made in Germany 1995–2011</i> 2011 greatest hits album by Rammstein

Made in Germany 1995–2011 is a greatest hits album by the German band Rammstein, released in December 2011. It contains 15 previously released tracks, as well as one new track, "Mein Land". All of the older tracks have been remastered for the release. The album features six different covers, depicting each of the band members' life masks. The compilation is available in three different editions: the Standard Edition (1CD), the Special Edition (2CD), and the Super Deluxe Edition.

<i>Secret Symphony</i> 2012 studio album by Katie Melua

Secret Symphony is the fifth studio album by British singer-songwriter Katie Melua, and was released on 5 March 2012. The album was recorded at Air Studios in London in collaboration with orchestrator and conductor Mike Batt.

<i>Ketevan</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Katie Melua

Ketevan is the sixth studio album by British singer Katie Melua, released in the United Kingdom on 16 September 2013 through Dramatico. At birth Melua was given the name Ketevan, but later she adopted the name Katie.

<i>Farbenspiel</i> 2013 studio album by Helene Fischer

Farbenspiel is the sixth studio album by German singer Helene Fischer. It was released on 4 October 2013 by Polydor.

<i>Paris</i> (Zaz album) 2014 studio album by Zaz

Paris is the third studio album by French singer Zaz, released on 10 November 2014 by Jo & Co, Play On and Warner Music France.

References

  1. ↑ AllMusic review
  2. ↑ "Rolling Stone review". Rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  3. ↑ "Official Chart Analysis: Springsteen album sells 74k, Gotye single shifts another 81k". Music Week . Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  4. ↑ Simon Singh (30 September 2005). "Simon Singh: Katie Melua's bad science | Education". The Guardian . Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  9. ↑ "Danishcharts.dk – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  10. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  11. ↑ "Katie Melua: Piece By Piece" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  12. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  14. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  15. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Katie Melua". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  16. ↑ "Charts.nz – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  17. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  18. ↑ "Official Retail Sales Chart - sales for the period 18.09.2006 - 24.09.2006". OLiS . Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  19. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  20. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  21. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  22. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  23. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  24. ↑ "Katie Melua Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  25. ↑ "Katie Melua Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  26. ↑ "Katie Melua Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  27. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2005". Ultratop. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  28. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2005". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  29. ↑ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2005" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  30. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  31. ↑ "Top 20 Albums of 2005". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  32. ↑ "Årslista Album – År 2005" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  33. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2005". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  34. ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  35. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Alben 2006". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  36. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2006". Ultratop. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  37. ↑ "Rapports Annuels 2006". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  38. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2006". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  39. ↑ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2006" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  40. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  41. ↑ "Årslista Album – År 2006" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  42. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2006". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  43. ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2006". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  44. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2007". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  45. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  46. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2007". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  47. ↑ "Ireland's Top 50 biggest female artist albums". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  48. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Katie Melua – Piece by Piece" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  49. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2007". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  50. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Katie Melua – Piece by Piece". Music Canada . Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  51. ↑ "Danish album certifications – Katie Melua – Piece by Piece". IFPI Danmark. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2007 to obtain certification.
  52. ↑ "French album certifications – Katie Melua – Piece by Piece" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique . Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  53. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Katie Melua; 'Piece by Piece')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  54. 1 2 Paine, Andre (13 October 2007). "Hits By Royal Appointment". Billboard . p. 64. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved 13 March 2024– via Google Books.
  55. ↑ "The Irish Charts - 2006 Certification Awards - Multi Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association.
  56. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Katie Melua – Piece by Piece" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.Enter Piece by Piece in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  57. ↑ "Katie Melua zorgt voor bestverkochte album decennium". Entertainment Business. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  58. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Katie Melua – Piece by Piece". Recorded Music NZ.
  59. ↑ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
  60. ↑ "Katie Med Lua". Dagbladet. 1 October 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  61. ↑ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2006 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.
  62. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2007" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  63. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Piece by Piece')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  64. ↑ "British album certifications – Katie Melua – Piece by Piece". British Phonographic Industry.
  65. ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2006". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.