Wikipedia

Back from the Edge

For other uses, see Back from the Edge (disambiguation).

Back from the Edge is the second studio album by British singer and songwriter James Arthur. It was released on 28 October 2016 by Columbia Records. The album reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and was certified platinum—denoting 300,000 sales—the following year, in September 2017. It includes the multi-platinum number-one single "Say You Won't Let Go".

Back from the Edge
Studio album by
James Arthur
Released28 October 2016
Genre
Length47:44
LabelColumbia
James Arthur chronology
James Arthur
(2013) 		Back from the Edge
(2016) 		You
(2019)
Singles from Back from the Edge
  1. "Say You Won't Let Go"
    Released: 9 September 2016
  2. "Safe Inside"
    Released: 10 February 2017
  3. "Can I Be Him"
    Released: 15 April 2017

Background

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Following his self-titled debut studio album being released on 1 November 2013, peaking to number 2 on the UK Albums Chart, on 5 April 2014, several media outlets began to report that Arthur had been dropped from Syco, following a dispute regarding a song entitled, "Follow the Leader".[1] He took to Twitter to deny the claims,[2] however on 11 June 2014, Arthur announced via Twitter that he and Syco had parted ways by mutual agreement. During the summer of 2014, Arthur stated that he was working on his second album and was close to signing a new record deal. On 6 September 2015, he announced that he had signed with Columbia Records and that a new album was on the way.[3]

Singles

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On 9 September 2016, he released "Say You Won't Let Go" as the official lead single from the album. The single peaked at the top of the UK Singles Chart, a position it maintained for three weeks. Outside the United Kingdom, the single has topped the charts in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Singapore, Indonesia and the Republic of Ireland.[4] The music video was released in the same month and was directed by Felix Urbauer.[5]

On 10 February 2017, "Safe Inside" was released as the album's second single.[6] The music video was released slightly before on 25 December 2016 and was directed by Frank Hoffman.[7] Arthur performed the song at the 2017 National Television Awards.

Four years later, the album track "Train Wreck" entered the top 20 on the UK Singles Chart after becoming popular in videos on the video app TikTok.[8][9]

Promotional singles

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On 8 January 2016, Arthur released a new song called "The Truth" on iTunes in the United States.[10] Following the song's release, he took to Twitter and clarified that the song would feature on Family Therapy with Dr. Jenn,[11] and that it was not the lead single, only a promotional single.[12] On 21 October, a duet version of "Let Me Love the Lonely" was released as a promotional single only in Poland, featuring Polish singer Marina.[13] The song was certified double Platinum in the country.[14]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [15]
Auspop     [16]
Blasting News     [17]
Digital Spy     [18]
The Up Coming     [19]

Digital Spy gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, labeling it "the anti-X Factor album" and further stating that "This is the winner we all wanted".[18]

Commercial performance

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Back from the Edge debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, selling 40,906 copies during its first week of release.[20] The album was certified platinum in September 2017 by the British Phonographic Industry, denoting sales of 300,000 in the UK.[21]

Track listing

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Back from the Edge – Standard edition[22]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Back from the Edge"
3:53
2."Say You Won't Let Go"
  • Beitzke
  • Spence
3:31
3."Prisoner"
  • Arthur
  • Quarmby
  • Rohan
  • Beitzke
  • Spence
3:58
4."Can I Be Him"
  • Arthur
  • George Tizzard
  • Rick Parkhouse
  • Negin Djafari
Red Triangle4:06
5."I Am"
  • Arthur
  • Adam Argyle
  • Andrew Jackson
Argyle3:11
6."Train Wreck"
  • Arthur
  • Argyle
  • Jackson
Argyle3:28
7."Safe Inside"
  • Arthur
  • Quarmby
  • Rohan
  • Beitzke
  • Spence
3:42
8."Sober"
  • Arthur
  • Pete "Boxsta" Martin
  • Steve McEwan
Martin3:06
9."Phoenix"
  • Arthur
  • Tizzard
  • Parkhouse
Red Triangle4:06
10."Let Me Love the Lonely"
  • Arthur
  • Argyle
  • Jackson
Argyle2:52
11."Sermon" (featuring Shotty Horroh)
  • Jeeve
  • Beitzke
  • Spence
4:32
12."Remember Who I Was"Arthur
  • Beitzke
  • Spence
2:58
13."Finally"Arthur
  • Beitzke
  • Spence
  • Argyle
4:21
Back from the Edge – Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."The Truth"
  • Arthur
  • Tizzard
  • Parkhouse
Red Triangle4:20
15."Skeletons"
  • Arthur
  • Tizzard
  • Parkhouse
Red Triangle3:57
16."If Only"
  • Arthur
  • Martin
  • McEwan
Martin4:03
17."Coming Home for Summer"
  • Arthur
  • Quarmby
  • Rohan
  • Beitzke
  • Spence
3:49
Back from the Edge – Polish bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Let Me Love the Lonely" (featuring MaRina)
  • Arthur
  • Argyle
  • Jackson
Argyle2:49
Back from the Edge – 5th Anniversary Vinyl release
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Train Wreck (Acoustic)"
  • Arthur
  • Argyle
  • Jackson
Argyle 

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[57] 2× Platinum 80,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[58] 2× Platinum 160,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[59] 2× Platinum 40,000‡
France (SNEP)[60] Gold 50,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[61] Gold 25,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[62] Gold 30,000‡
Singapore (RIAS)[63] Platinum 10,000*
Sweden (GLF)[64] Gold 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[21] Platinum 300,000[21]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Release date Format Label
Various 28 October 2016[65]
Columbia
Various 26 November 2021[66] Vinyl Columbia

References

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  1. ^ Drewett, Meg (6 April 2014). "James Arthur 'dropped by record label Syco after mixtape controversy'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  2. ^ Rigby, Sam (6 April 2014). "James Arthur denies being dropped by Syco, criticises 'media circus'". Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  3. ^ Myers, Justin (7 September 2015). "James Arthur signs record deal, announces new music on the way". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  4. ^ Lady Gaga's Perfect Illusion set to be this week's highest new entry on the Official UK Singles Chart. Official Charts Company. Officialcharts.com/
  5. ^ "James Arthur - Impossible (Music video)". VEVO. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  6. ^ Arthur, James (22 December 2016). "3 days to go until the official video for my new single #SafeInside". Twitter. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  7. ^ "James Arthur has a little gift to put under your tree". Bar Head News. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  8. ^ "James Arthur's 2016 song Train Wreck set for Top 40 after TikTok success". officialcharts.com. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  9. ^ "James Arthur's 'Train Wreck' Gathers Steam Via Tik Tok – New Acoustic Video Out Today". Essentially Pop. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  10. ^ "The Truth – Single by James Arthur on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  11. ^ "Dina and Michael Lohan Come to Blows Over Lindsay Lohan in 'Family Therapy' Trailer". YouTube, Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  12. ^ Arthur, James (14 January 2016). "Just to be clear this is not the official 1st single from my the album it's only available on US iTunes for now". Twitter. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Let Me Love the Lonely (feat. Marina) [Duet Version] – Single by James Arthur". iTunes Store (Poland). Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  14. ^ "Albums and singles certified Platinum in 2017" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  15. ^ Yeung, Neil. "AllMusic Review by Neil Z. Yeung". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  16. ^ "James Arthur 'Back From The Edge' Album Review". Auspop.
  17. ^ Carson, Steven (12 November 2016). "Review: James Arthur - "Back from the Edge"". Blasting News. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  18. ^ a b Corner, Lewis (26 October 2016). "Why James Arthur's Back From The Edge is the anti-X Factor album". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  19. ^ Bradbury, Sarah (8 November 2016). "James Arthur – Back from the Edge". The Up Coming. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  20. ^ "Official Charts Analysis: James Arthur tops albums chart with Back From The Edge". Music Week.
  21. ^ a b c "James Arthur scores first Platinum selling album". British Phonographic Industry. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  22. ^ Credits for standard edition adapted from "Credits". Back from the Edge (Media notes). Sony Music Entertainment Germany GmbH. 2016. 88875185172.
  23. ^ "Australiancharts.com – James Arthur – Back from the Edge". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  24. ^ "Austriancharts.at – James Arthur – Back from the Edge" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  25. ^ "Ultratop.be – James Arthur – Back from the Edge" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  26. ^ "Ultratop.be – James Arthur – Back from the Edge" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  27. ^ "James Arthur Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  28. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – James Arthur – Back from the Edge". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  29. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – James Arthur – Back from the Edge" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  30. ^ "James Arthur: Back from the Edge" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  31. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums - SNEP (Week 8, 2017)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  32. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – James Arthur – Back from the Edge" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  33. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2016. 43. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  34. ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 44, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  35. ^ "Charts.nz – James Arthur – Back from the Edge". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  36. ^ "VG-lista – Topp 40 Album uke 6, 2021". VG-lista. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  37. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  38. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – James Arthur – Back from the Edge". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  39. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  40. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – James Arthur – Back from the Edge". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  41. ^ "Swisscharts.com – James Arthur – Back from the Edge". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  42. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  43. ^ "James Arthur Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  44. ^ "James Arthur Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  45. ^ White, Jack (30 December 2016). "The Official Top 40 Biggest Albums of 2016". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  46. ^ "Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  47. ^ "Album Top-100 2017". Hitlisten. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  48. ^ "Årslista Album – År 2017" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  49. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2017". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  50. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  51. ^ "Album Top-100 2020". Hitlisten. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  52. ^ "Årslista Album, 2020". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  53. ^ "Album Top-100 2021". Hitlisten. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  54. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2021". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  55. ^ "Topplista – årsliste – Album 2021" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  56. ^ "Årslista Album, 2021". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  57. ^ "Brazilian album certifications – James Arthur – Back from the Edge" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  58. ^ "Canadian album certifications – James Arthur – Back from the Edge". Music Canada. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  59. ^ "Danish album certifications – James Arthur – Back from the Edge". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  60. ^ "French album certifications – James Arthur – Back from the Edge" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  61. ^ "Italian album certifications – James Arthur – Back from the Edge" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  62. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 25 April 2022. Type James Arthur in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Back from the Edge in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  63. ^ "Singapore album certifications – James Arthur – Back from the Edge". Recording Industry Association Singapore. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  64. ^ "Veckolista Album, vecka 8, 2017 | Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 13 June 2020. Scroll to position 39 to view certification.
  65. ^ "Back from the Edge by James Arthur on Apple Music". iTunes Store (GB).
  66. ^ "Back from the Edge by James Arthur on Rough Trade Records (GB)".
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