The Song Diaries

Last updated

The Song Diaries
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - The Song Diaries.png
Compilation album by
Released15 March 2019 (2019-03-15)
Recorded2017–2018
Genre Disco
Length73:18
Label
Producer
Sophie Ellis-Bextor chronology
Familia
(2016)
The Song Diaries
(2019)
Songs from the Kitchen Disco
(2020)
Singles from The Song Diaries
  1. "Love Is You"
    Released: 11 August 2018
  2. "A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed"
    Released: 8 March 2019

The Song Diaries is a compilation album by English singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, released on 15 March 2019 by EBGB's. Made in collaboration with Ed Harcourt, the album consists primarily of orchestral versions of Ellis-Bextor's solo singles, including her collaboration with Italian DJ Spiller, "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)", and a song from her time as part of Theaudience, "A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed". It was called an "orchestral greatest hits" by Clash . [1] Ellis-Bextor toured the UK with a full orchestra and band in support of the album from June 2019. [2]

Contents

Background

Plans for and the beginning of recording for the album were first announced on PledgeMusic in December 2017. [3] Throughout the recording process, Sophie posted videos and snippets of the songs she was working on plus commentaries on the work in progress, both on PledgeMusic and her social media.

Concept

The Official Charts Company stated that due to the immediate availability of an artist's back catalogue in the streaming era, "the concept of a greatest hits has changed, with many artists opting to re-work their hits to give them a fresh spin", comparing it to Take That's 2018 greatest hits Odyssey . [4]

Track listing

All tracks produced by Ed Harcourt, except "Love Is You" produced by Richard "Biff Stannard and Ash Howes of Biffco.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Groovejet"3:20
2."Take Me Home"
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Bob Esty
  • Michele Aller
4:23
3."Murder on the Dancefloor"
3:46
4."Move This Mountain"
4:47
5."Music Gets the Best of Me"
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Alexander
  • Matt Rowe
3:28
6."Mixed Up World"
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Alexander
  • Rowe
3:43
7."Catch You"3:58
8."Me and My Imagination"
3:47
9."Today the Sun's on Us"4:19
10."Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)"3:52
11."Bittersweet"
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Wiltshire
  • Small
  • Stannard
  • Robinson
3:35
12."Not Giving Up on Love"3:14
13."Young Blood"
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Harcourt
4:39
14."Love Is a Camera"
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Harcourt
3:57
15."Wild Forever"
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Harcourt
4:31
16."A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed" Billy Reeves 4:04
17."Love Is You" (bonus track)
  • Montana Jr.
  • Walker
3:15
18."Take Me Home" (orchestral disco version) (bonus track)
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Esty
  • Aller
3:14
19."Murder on the Dancefloor" (orchestral disco version) (bonus track)
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Alexander
3:26
Total length:73:18

Charts

Chart (2019)Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA) [5] 43
Scottish Albums (OCC) [6] 10
UK Albums (OCC) [7] 14
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [8] 3
US Classical Albums ( Billboard ) [9] 22

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Ellis-Bextor</span> British singer (born 1979)

Sophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor is an English singer and songwriter. She first came to prominence in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the indie rock band Theaudience. After the group disbanded Ellis-Bextor went solo and achieved success beginning in the early 2000s. Her music is a mixture of mainstream pop, disco, nu-disco, and 1980s electronic influences.

<i>Read My Lips</i> (Sophie Ellis-Bextor album) 2001 studio album by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Read My Lips is the debut studio album by English singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor. It was released on 27 August 2001 by Polydor Records. After the disbandment of the Britpop group Theaudience, in which Ellis-Bextor served as vocalist, she was signed to Polydor. Prior to the LP's completion, the singer collaborated with several musicians, including band Blur's bassist Alex James, Moby and New Radicals frontman Gregg Alexander. The record was described as a collection of 1980s electronica and 1970s disco music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murder on the Dancefloor</span> 2001 single by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

"Murder on the Dancefloor" is a song written by Gregg Alexander and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, produced by Alexander and Matt Rowe for Ellis-Bextor's first album, Read My Lips (2001). Released on 3 December 2001, the song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and stayed on the chart for 23 weeks. The song became a top-10 hit worldwide, charting within the top three in Australia, New Zealand, and four European countries. In the United States, where the song was serviced to radio in September 2002, the single reached number nine on the Billboard Dance Singles Sales chart. "Murder on the Dancefloor" is reported to have been the most played song in Europe in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)</span> 2000 single by Spiller

"Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)" is a song by Italian electronic music producer Spiller with lead vocals performed by British singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Various versions of the single were later featured on the German reissue and some UK editions of Ellis-Bextor's debut solo album, Read My Lips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Me Home (Cher song)</span> 1979 single by Cher

"Take Me Home" is a song recorded by American singer and actress Cher for her fifteenth studio album of the same name released in 1979. A disco song, it was conceived after Cher was recommended to venture into said genre, after the commercial failure of her previous albums. The lyrics center around the request of a woman to be taken home by her lover. It was released as the lead single from the Take Me Home album in January 1979 through Casablanca Records, pressed as a 12-inch single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Over You / Move This Mountain</span> 2002 single by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

"Get Over You" and "Move This Mountain" are two songs by British pop singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor. In most countries, "Get Over You" was released as the sole single, but in the United Kingdom, the two tracks were released as a double A-side single on 10 June 2002. The former track was taken off the Read My Lips album reissue, while the latter was an album track in the original album release.

<i>Trip the Light Fantastic</i> (Sophie Ellis-Bextor album) 2007 studio album by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Trip the Light Fantastic is the third studio album by British singer and songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor. It was released on 21 May 2007 by Fascination Records following the release of the lead single, "Catch You" and the second single, "Me and My Imagination". The album was available to stream via the internet on 18 May 2007, three days before the official release date. It debuted on the UK Albums Chart at number 7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catch You</span> 2007 single by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

"Catch You" is a song by the British recording artist Sophie Ellis-Bextor for her third album, Trip the Light Fantastic (2007). It was written by Cathy Dennis, Rhys Barker and Greg Kurstin and produced by Kurstin. It was released as the album's first single on 19 February 2007. "Catch You" is a pop rock song and talks about Bextor chasing the guy that she wants.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Ellis-Bextor discography</span>

British singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor has released six solo studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one remix album, one extended play, one video album, thirty-five singles and twenty-seven music videos. Ellis-Bextor debuted in 1997 as frontwoman of the indie music group theaudience, whose single "I Know Enough " reached the top 25 on the United Kingdom singles chart. They released a self-titled album—a follow up was shelved by label Mercury Records although selected tracks circulate as bootlegs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Me and My Imagination</span> 2007 single by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

"Me and My Imagination" is a song by British recording artist Sophie Ellis-Bextor for her third studio album, Trip the Light Fantastic (2007). It was written by Ellis-Bextor, Hannah Robinson and co-written and produced by Matt Prime. It is a dance-pop, disco song and its lyrics advise an overeager suitor to play harder to get. Some critics noted that it recalls the songs from her first studio album, Read My Lips (2001).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crying at the Discoteque</span> 2000 single by Alcazar

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<i>Wanderlust</i> (Sophie Ellis-Bextor album) 2014 studio album by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Wanderlust is the fifth studio album by English singer and songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor, released on 20 January 2014 by EBGB's. The album marks a sharp shift from Ellis-Bextor's electronic dance roots, incorporating elements of folk, baroque and orchestral music. It was featured as BBC Radio 2's "Album of the Week" on 18 January 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young Blood (Sophie Ellis-Bextor song)</span> 2013 single by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

"Young Blood" is a song by English recording artist Sophie Ellis-Bextor from her fifth studio album Wanderlust (2014). The song was released as the album's lead single on 21 November 2013. It was co-written by Ed Harcourt and Ellis-Bextor; the former also produced it. The song is a chamber pop piano ballad, which features instrumentation from subdued drums and various string instruments. In the track, Ellis-Bextor sings with restrain, incorporating a low register in the verses and hitting her highest note in the chorus. A demo version of the track was offered online in March 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Is a Camera</span> 2014 single by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

"Love Is a Camera" is a song performed by English recording artist Sophie Ellis-Bextor for her fifth album Wanderlust (2014). Ellis-Bextor co-wrote the song with Ed Harcourt, who also produced the track. Its lyrics recount the story of a woman who takes photos of her victims and keeps their souls in the pictures. Musically, the song features piano, guitars, double bass, and influences of tango and baroque. "Love Is a Camera" was serviced to hot adult contemporary radio stations in the United Kingdom as the third single from Wanderlust. The song was released on 23 June 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runaway Daydreamer</span> 2014 song performed by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

"Runaway Daydreamer" is a song by the English recording artist Sophie Ellis-Bextor for her fifth studio album Wanderlust (2014). The song was released on 31 March 2014 as the second single of the album. Composed by Ed Harcourt with additional writing by Ellis-Bextor, it is a chamber pop track which features percussion and string instruments. Its lyrics, written in a way resemblant of nursery rhymes, expound on escapism and "self discovery".

<i>Familia</i> (Sophie Ellis-Bextor album) 2016 studio album by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Familia is the sixth studio album by English singer and songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor. The album was produced by Ed Harcourt, who also produced Ellis-Bextor's previous album, Wanderlust. It was released on 2 September 2016, by EBGB LLP and was critically acclaimed. It was preceded by disco-pop single "Come with Us", which was released on 19 July.

<i>Songs from the Kitchen Disco</i> 2020 greatest hits album by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Songs from the Kitchen Disco is the first greatest hits album by English singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor, released on 13 November 2020 by EGBG's, although it was previously announced for 23 October. It features singles from all her studio albums: Read My Lips (2001), Shoot from the Hip (2003), Trip the Light Fantastic (2007), Make a Scene (2011), Wanderlust (2014) and Familia (2016), as well as a number of cover versions of songs by other artists. Songs from the Kitchen Disco serves as the follow up to her previous release, the 2019 orchestral compilation album The Song Diaries.

<i>Kitchen Disco – Live at the London Palladium</i> 2022 live album by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Kitchen Disco – Live at the London Palladium is a live album by English singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, released on 25 November 2022 by EBGB's and Cooking Vinyl. The album was recorded at London Palladium on 30 March 2022.

References

  1. Murray, Robin (7 December 2018). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor Launches New Album 'The Song Diaries'". Clash . Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  2. Bentley, David (24 September 2018). "Sophie Ellis Bextor announces 2019 tour with full orchestra and it's coming to Birmingham". Birmingham Mail . Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  3. "Sophie Ellis-Bextor: The Song Diaries on PledgeMusic" . Retrieved 15 March 2019 via PledgeMusic.
  4. Copsey, Rob (29 January 2019). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor unveils orchestral disco version of Murder on the Dancefloor". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  5. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  6. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  7. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  8. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  9. "Sophie Ellis-Bextor Chart History". Billboard . Retrieved 11 August 2019.