Olly Murs is the debut studio album by the English singer-songwriter Olly Murs. It was released on 23 November 2010 in the United Kingdom.[1]

Olly Murs
Studio album by
Released23 November 2010 (2010-11-23)
Recorded2010
GenrePop
Length47:12
Label
Producer
Olly Murs chronology
Olly Murs
(2010)
In Case You Didn't Know
(2011)
Singles from Olly Murs
  1. "Please Don't Let Me Go"
    Released: 27 August 2010
  2. "Thinking of Me"
    Released: 19 November 2010
  3. "Heart on My Sleeve"
    Released: 4 March 2011
  4. "Busy"
    Released: 27 May 2011

The album's lead single, "Please Don't Let Me Go", was released on 27 August 2010. The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart. The second single from the album, "Thinking of Me", was released on 22 November 2010,[2] and debuted at number four. The third single "Heart on My Sleeve" was released in March 2011 and peaked at number 20.[3] The song was written by James Morrison and John Shanks. The fourth and final release from the album, "Busy" was released in May 2011 and peaked at number 44.[4] In October 2011, nearly a year after the album's release, BBC Radio 1 listeners voted Olly Murs as "Album of the Year" in the annual Radio 1 Teen Awards.[5]

Background and production

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The possibility of an album was first rumoured when Murs finished second place on the sixth series of ITV talent competition, The X Factor. In February 2010, it was announced that Murs had been signed to a 50/50-record deal between Epic Records and Syco Music.[6] Murs has collaborated with John Shanks, Ed Sheeran, Eg White,[7] Roy Stride, Trevor Horn, Wayne Hector, Matty Benbrook,[8] Phil Thornalley, Martin Brammer, Preston, Mark Taylor[9] and Chris Difford[1] on the album. Professor Green was due to appear on the album, however, the duet fell through before recording was completed. "Heart on My Sleeve" is a cover of the song originally recorded by American Idol finalist Michael Johns. Murs performed "Thinking of Me" live on The X Factor on 21 November 2010.[10]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     

Ruth Harrison of Female First gives the most positive review of the album, saying "Olly has actually engaged his brain, put pen to paper and written tracks that are true to himself and his sound...this album proves that Olly is an artist in his own right".[11] A review by Fraser McAlpine on the BBC Music website gave a heading of 'X Factor runner-up reveals a debut almost as good as his taste in hats.'[12] Hermione Hoby from The Guardian gave a negative review of Olly Murs, saying "the album chugs along with vacant cheer through a series of reggae-inflected songs that don't always make the most of Murs's soulful voice. Other than the slightly awkward stab at scat-singing on "Please Don't Let Me Go" [...] there's not much here to grab the attention."[13]

Commercial performance

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The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number two on 5 December 2010, selling 108,000 copies in its first week.[14] The album was kept off the top spot by the third week sales of Take That's Progress which sold over 174,000 copies.[15] In the following three weeks the album sold upwards of 100,000 in each week, making it the fastest selling debut album of 2010 in the UK.[14] On 8 April 2011, the album was certified two-times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments of 600,000 copies in the UK.[16] As of December 2014, the album had sold 815,971 copies in the UK.[17] In Ireland, the album debuted at number eleven.[18] It has since been certified gold by the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) for shipments of 7,500 copies.

Track listing

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Olly MursStandard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Change Is Gonna Come"Prime3:46
2."Please Don't Let Me Go"
  • Future Cut
  • Robson
  • Darren Lewis[a]
3:24
3."Thinking of Me"
  • Future Cut
  • Robson
3:26
4."Busy"
  • Argyle
  • Brammer
3:00
5."I Blame Hollywood"
  • Argyle
  • Brammer
  • Argyle
  • Brammer
3:09
6."Ask Me to Stay"3:35
7."Heart on My Sleeve"Shanks3:29
8."Hold On"
  • Abbott
  • Grant Black
3:05
9."Accidental"
  • Murs
  • Paddy Byrne
Byrne3:22
10."Love Shine Down" (featuring Jessie J)
  • Murs
  • Jason Pebworth
  • George Astasio
  • Jon Shave
  • Ed Sheeran
  • Dan Smith
The Invisible Men4:07
11."Don't Say Goodbye"Taylor3:36
12."A Million More Years"Trevor Horn3:36
iTunes Store deluxe edition bonus content[19]
No.TitleLength
13."Please Don't Let Me Go" (Music video)3:34
14."Thinking of Me" (Music video)3:25

Notes

  • ^a signifies an additional record producer

Charts and certifications

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Tour

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On 21 November 2010 a UK tour was announced for 2011 to promote the album.[29]

Release history

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Region Date Format
United Kingdom[19] 29 November 2010 Digital download, CD

References

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  1. ^ a b Levine, Nick (18 October 2010). "Olly Murs reveals debut album details". Digital Spy. London. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  2. ^ "Olly's new single "Thinking of me" – full audio & lyrics inside!!". Ollymurs.com. 13 October 2010. Archived from the original on 20 October 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  3. ^ "Olly Murs announces new single details – Music News". Digital Spy. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Olly Murs music video for Busy stars Norfolk actress". BBC News. 22 March 2011.
  5. ^ "BBC – Teen Awards – 2011 – Winners". 9 October 2011.
  6. ^ "Olly Murs signs to Cowell's label". BBC News. 23 February 2010.
  7. ^ "Olly Murs excited over single release". STV. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  8. ^ Laura (26 July 2010). "Olly Murs – Please Don't Let Me Go". glasswerk.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  9. ^ Levine, Nick (19 August 2010). "Exclusive: Olly Murs discusses debut album". Digital Spy. London. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  10. ^ "Olly Murs confirms X Factor return". Dublin: Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  11. ^ "Album Review : Olly Murs". Femalefirst.co.uk. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  12. ^ "Music – Review of Olly Murs – Olly Murs". BBC. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  13. ^ Hoby, Hermione (28 November 2010). "Olly Murs: Olly Murs – review". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  14. ^ a b Jones, Alan (4 December 2011). "Official Album Chart analysis: Olly Murs becomes 10th X-Factor No.1". Music Week. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  15. ^ "Take That Marks a Year at Number One". Archived from the original on 12 October 2011.
  16. ^ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 24 September 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  17. ^ a b Jones, Alan (1 December 2014). "Official Charts analysis: Olly Murs becomes second X Factor graduate to score three No.1s". Music Week. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  18. ^ ">> IRMA << Irish Charts - Singles, Albums & Compilations >>". Irma.ie. Archived from the original on 28 May 2002. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  19. ^ a b "iTunes Music – Olly Murs by Olly Murs". iTunes Store. 26 November 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  20. ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 49, 2010". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  22. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  23. ^ "End of Year Charts: 2010" (PDF). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  24. ^ "End of Year Charts: 2011" (PDF). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  25. ^ "End of Year 2012" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  26. ^ Copsey, Rob (11 December 2019). "The UK's Official Top 100 biggest albums of the decade". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  27. ^ "The Irish Charts - 2010 Certification Awards - Gold". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  28. ^ "British album certifications – Olly Murs – Olly Murs". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  29. ^ "Tour dates announced". Official Website. 21 November 2010. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  30. ^ "Brit winners JLS to play Swansea's Liberty Stadium". BBC News. 24 January 2011.
  31. ^ "JLS announce June Liberty Stadium gig". Wales Online. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  32. ^ "Aiken Promotions – Aiken Promotions". Archived from the original on 9 July 2012.