Places (Lea Michele album)

Last updated
Places
Lea Michele - Places (Official Album Cover).png
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 28, 2017 (2017-04-28)
Recorded2015–2016
StudioHarmony Studios [1]
Genre
Length39:53
LanguageEnglish
Label Columbia
Producer
Lea Michele chronology
Louder
(2014)
Places
(2017)
Christmas in the City
(2019)
Singles from Places
  1. "Love Is Alive"
    Released: March 3, 2017
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]

Places is the second studio album by American singer Lea Michele. It was released on April 28, 2017, by Columbia Records. The album was preceded by the lead single, "Love Is Alive".

Contents

Places received mixed reviews from critics, though Michele's vocal performance received a positive reception. In the United States, the album sold over 16,000 copies in its first week, debuting at number 28 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number 37 on the UK Albums Chart. In Canada, the album reached number 21 in its first week of release. As well as the first single "Love Is Alive", three promotional singles were also released in the lead up to the album. Songwriters who feature on the album include singers Ellie Goulding, Linda Perry, Allie X, and Alexandra Savior.

Background

Recording for Michele's second studio album began in April 2015. [4] Shortly into the recording process, Michele stated that the album would be less pop-influenced than her debut, and would "[go] back to [her] roots" with a more theatrical sound. [5]

On January 11, 2017, Michele announced on social media that she would go on a mini tour in later that same month to promote her second album. She wrote, "My incredible fans have always been there for me. You inspire me. You've stood by me, cheered me on and lifted me up. When preparing for [this] upcoming album I wanted you all to know how important you are to me. These shows are a sneak peek into my upcoming album, as well as songs from Louder and maybe.. even a little Glee ." [6] An Intimate Evening with Lea Michele consisted of three shows in Los Angeles, New York and Santa Monica, which began on January 23 at the Hotel Café, and ended on January 30 at the Broad Stage. [7] On January 26, 2017, while Michele was in the middle of her mini tour, it was announced the second album would be titled Places. The title references the showtime call of "places" when working in live theater. [8]

Singles

"Love Is Alive" was released as the album's lead single on March 3, 2017. [9]

Commercial performance

In the United States, the album debuted at number 28 on the Billboard 200 with over 16,000 copies sold in its first week. [10]

Track listing

Places Standard edition [11]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Love Is Alive" Xandy Barry 3:37
2."Heavy Love"Barry3:40
3."Proud"Shanks3:00
4."Believer"Shatkin3:56
5."Run to You"Shanks3:38
6."Heavenly"Kyle Moorman3:45
7."Anything's Possible" Jon Levine 3:47
8."Getaway Car"
  • Dana Parish
  • Andrew Hollander
  • Tamposi
Hollander3:30
9."Sentimental Memories"Shanks4:30
10."Tornado" Toby Gad 3:23
11."Hey You"
Shanks3:07
Total length:39:53
Places Target and Japan bonus tracks [12] [13]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Truce"3:18
13."Letting Go"
  • Angelides
  • Michele
  • Tamposi
  • Molly Morgenstern
  • Olivier Geoffroy
3:13
Total length:46:24

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic. [14]

Technical

Charts

Chart (2017)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [15] 25
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [16] 32
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [17] 68
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [18] 21
French Albums (SNEP) [19] 148
Irish Albums (IRMA) [20] 82
Italian Albums (FIMI) [21] 34
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ) [22] 2
Scottish Albums (OCC) [23] 31
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [24] 38
UK Albums (OCC) [25] 37
US Billboard 200 [26] 28

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References

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  2. Hodgkinson, Will. "Pop: Lea Michele: Places". thetimes.co.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Places - Lea Michele | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  4. Wass, Mike (April 15, 2015). "Rejoice! Lea Michele Has Started Recording Her Second Album". Idolator .
  5. Smith, Briony (August 27, 2015). "October Cover Star Lea Michele Wants to Fix Your Life". Flare . Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  6. Wass, Mike (January 11, 2017). "Lea Michele Will Preview Her Sophomore LP With A Mini Tour". Idolator .
  7. Benitz, Samantha (January 11, 2017). "Lea Michele Announces First Tour With Intimate Shows & New Music: See Dates". HollywoodLife.com . Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  8. Feeney, Nolan (January 26, 2017). "Lea Michele announces new album Places". Entertainment Weekly .
  9. Chiu, Melody (March 1, 2017). "Lea Michele's New Single 'Love Is Alive' Off Her Upcoming Album Places". People . Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  10. Caufield, Keith (May 11, 2017). "Billboard 200 Chart Moves: John Mellencamp Earns 19th Top 40 Album With 'Sad Clowns & Hillbillies'". Billboard . Retrieved May 14, 2017.
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