| Piece by Piece | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 26 September 2005 | |||
| Recorded | 2004–2005 | |||
| Studio | Ewshot Hall | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 44:32 | |||
| Label | Dramatico | |||
| Producer | Mike Batt | |||
| Katie Melua chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Piece by Piece | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Rolling Stone | [2] |
Piece by Piece is the second studio album by British-Georgian 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]
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. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Shy Boy" | Mike Batt | 3:22 |
| 2. | "Nine Million Bicycles" | Batt | 3:15 |
| 3. | "Piece by Piece" | Katie Melua | 3:24 |
| 4. | "Halfway Up the Hindu Kush" |
| 3:06 |
| 5. | "Blues in the Night" | 4:12 | |
| 6. | "Spider's Web" | Melua | 3:58 |
| 7. | "Blue Shoes" | Batt | 4:39 |
| 8. | "On the Road Again" | 4:38 | |
| 9. | "Thank You, Stars" | Batt | 3:39 |
| 10. | "Just Like Heaven" | 3:35 | |
| 11. | "I Cried for You" | Melua | 3:38 |
| 12. | "I Do Believe in Love" | Melua | 3:00 |
| 13. | "It's Only Pain" (Special Bonus Edition track) | Batt | 3:13 |
| 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) | Batt | 3:39 |
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
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
All-time charts
|
Certifications and sales
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[48] | Platinum | 30,000* |
| Belgium (BEA)[49] | Platinum | 50,000* |
| Canada (Music Canada)[50] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[51] | 4× Platinum | 160,000^ |
| Germany (BVMI)[52] | 4× Platinum | 800,000^ |
| Ireland (IRMA)[53] | 4× Platinum | 60,000^ |
| Netherlands (NVPI)[54] | 2× Platinum | 400,000[55] |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[56] | Gold | 7,500^ |
| Norway (IFPI Norway)[57] | Platinum | 40,000* |
| Poland (ZPAV)[58] | 2× Platinum | 40,000* |
| Sweden (GLF)[59] | Platinum | 60,000^ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[60] | 3× Platinum | 120,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[61] | 4× Platinum | 1,200,000^ |
| Summaries | ||
| Europe (IFPI)[62] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000* |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Personnel
- Katie Melua - vocals
- Katie Melua, Chris Spedding, Jim Cregan - guitar
- Mike Batt (Katie Melua on "I Do Believe in Love") - piano
- Tim Harries - bass
- Henry Spinetti - drums
- Dominic Glover - trumpet
- Mike Darcy - violin
- Martin Ditcham, Chris Karan - percussion
- Paul Jones - harmonica ("Blues in the Night")
- Adrian Brett - ethnic flute ("Nine Million Bicycles")
- Peter Knight - mandolin ("Thankyou, Stars")
- Craig Pruess - sitar ("Halfway up the Hindu Kush")
- The Irish Film Orchestra - orchestra; conductor: Mike Batt
Production
- Producer: Mike Batt
- Engineer: Steve Sale
- Arranger: Mike Batt
- Photography: Simon Fowler
References
- ↑ AllMusic review
- ↑ "Rolling Stone review". Rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ↑ "Official Chart Analysis: Springsteen album sells 74k, Gotye single shifts another 81k". Music Week. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
- ↑ Simon Singh (30 September 2005). "Simon Singh: Katie Melua's bad science | Education". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Danishcharts.dk – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Katie Melua: Piece By Piece" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Lescharts.com – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Katie Melua". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Charts.nz – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Official Retail Sales Chart - sales for the period 18.09.2006 - 24.09.2006". OLiS. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Katie Melua – Piece By Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Katie Melua Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Katie Melua Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Katie Melua Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2005". Ultratop. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2005". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2005" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Top 20 Albums of 2005". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ↑ "Årslista Album – År 2005" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2005". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Jahreshitparade Alben 2006". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2006". Ultratop. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Rapports Annuels 2006". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2006". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2006" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Årslista Album – År 2006" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2006". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2006". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2007". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2007". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ↑ "Ireland's Top 50 biggest female artist albums". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Katie Melua – Piece by Piece" (in German). IFPI Austria.
- ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2007". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
- ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Katie Melua – Piece by Piece". Music Canada. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
- ↑ "Danish album certifications – Katie Melua – Piece by Piece". IFPI Danmark. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2007 to obtain certification.
- ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Katie Melua; 'Piece by Piece')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ↑ "The Irish Charts - 2006 Certification Awards - Multi Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Katie Melua zorgt voor bestverkochte album decennium". Entertainment Business. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Katie Melua – Piece by Piece". Recorded Music NZ.
- ↑ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
- ↑ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2006 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.
- ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2007" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Piece by Piece')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- ↑ "British album certifications – Katie Melua – Piece by Piece". British Phonographic Industry.
- ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2006". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
External links
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