Tribute (John Newman album)

Tribute is the debut studio album by English singer John Newman. It was released in the United Kingdom on 14 October 2013 by Universal and Island Records. The album includes the singles "Love Me Again", "Cheating", "Losing Sleep" and "Out of My Head". A deluxe edition of the album contains three bonus tracks. The album was produced by Ant Whiting, John Newman, Steve Booker and Mike Spencer. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number one.

Tribute
Studio album by
John Newman
Released14 October 2013
Recorded2012–13
Genre
Length
  • 43:56 (standard edition)
  • 54:39 (deluxe edition)
Label
Producer
John Newman chronology
Tribute
(2013)		 Revolve
(2015)
Singles from Tribute
  1. "Love Me Again"
    Released: 17 May 2013
  2. "Cheating"
    Released: 6 October 2013
  3. "Losing Sleep"
    Released: 8 December 2013
  4. "Out of My Head"
    Released: 6 April 2014
Deluxe cover

Background

In an interview with Adam Silverstein of Digital Spy in June 2013, Newman said: "[The album]'s got everything in influences, from the orchestral, breakbeats, the hip-hop, the house music. It's pretty much a break-up album and the lyrics express that. I wanted to make sure that I crafted an album you can enjoy as a piece of art and not a Rihanna album-style thing where it's just ten singles." He was also asked if it was hard to write songs about love and break-up, he said: "No, it's the only place where I really open up to somebody, through my music. I'm producing and writing it, it's good. I like to keep a hold of everything."[1] Talking again to Digital Spy in October 2013 about the album, he said: "I was going through a pretty bad break-up while I was making the album and I felt the title really needed to resonate. This record is a culmination of my life to this point, it's who I am and I wanted to thank everyone who has helped, supported, loved me and been an inspiration to me. I'm so proud of this album, it expresses me as a producer, as a songwriter and an artist, and I can't wait for people to hear it."[2]

Singles

"Love Me Again" was released as the lead single from the album on 17 May 2013. The song peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart. The song was also a top 10 hit in more than ten countries including Australia, Belgium, New Zealand and Switzerland, as well as being Newman's first, and so far, only top 40 single in the United States.

"Cheating" was released as the second single from the album on 6 October 2013. The song peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart. The song has also charted in Belgium and Ireland.

"Losing Sleep" was released as the third single from the album on 16 December 2013.[3] It charted at number 99 in the UK Singles Chart prior to release on the week ending 14 December 2013.[4] It has so far peaked at number 48 in the UK and number 36 in Scotland.

"Out Of My Head" was released as the album's fourth single and peaked at number 91 on the UK Singles Chart.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash7/10[5]
Daily Star8/10[6]
Digital Spy[7]
The Guardian[8]
The Independent[9]
The Irish Times[10]
The Observer[11]
PopMatters9/10[12]
Shields Gazette7/10[13]
Virgin Media[14]

Tribute has received generally positive reviews from music critics. Kitty Empire of The Observer gave the album a mixed review stating, "The latest in a long line of 60s revivers, John Newman, who has had two number one singles (Rudimental's "Feel the Love", his own "Love Me Again"), lists all his inspirations on the title track of his début. They should include Plan B. You could easily subtitle this record The Reincarnation of Strickland Banks, if tracks such as "Out of My Head" weren't quite so autobiographical. On superior cuts such as "Cheating", meanwhile, this 23-year-old be-quiffed Yorkshireman looks like continuing his gilded strike rate. But where Plan B or Amy Winehouse, the doyenne of revival pop, always added an element of top spin to their tributes, Newman merely reinterprets well, rather than reinventing."[11]

Lewis Corner of Digital Spy gave the album a positive review stating, "'It's all for you/ For what you have shown me/ And for what you do,' John Newman sings on opening track 'Tribute' from his début album of the same name. The soul singer is paying homage to a wide range of musical influences that have helped shape his sound, the list including everyone from Elvis Presley and Tina Turner to Jay Z and Adele. While his tastes are obviously eclectic, his first collection infuses these inspirations without compromising consistency. Let it be said that John Newman is neo-soul to the core – his distinctive vocal with a tinge of rasp giving him no option in the matter. That's not to say other influences don't play an important part throughout his music. 'Try' flirts with italo piano and jaunty strings which echoes '70s disco, while recent single 'Cheating' bounds around with tin-rattling break-beats from the shadows of '90s house. But while the musicality of the record dips its toe in and out of genres, the subject of love remains prominently at the forefront. Whether Newman is reflecting on the difficulties of the heart on 'Easy' or crooning for forgiveness on 'Love Me Again', Tribute thrives on a rollercoaster narrative of broken relationships, gutsy emotions and broody intent. What's more, the collection doesn't suffer from burn-out towards the finish. 'Running' is a pulsing mid-tempo with a strong whiff of Emeli Sandé to it, while 'Goodnight Goodbye' soars with a lofty chorus that is primed for an impressive live outing. The list of influences for John Newman's début may be long, but rather than emulating his idols, he is in fact following in their footsteps – and Tribute gets him off to a very strong start."[7]

Andy Gill of The Independent gave the album a mixed review, stating, Rudimental's "Feel the Love" proclaimed John Newman as a powerful new voice in UK R&B, an impression reinforced by his chart-topper "Love Me Again". But he's keen to demonstrate how much deeper his influences go, introducing this album with a litany of soul singers' names leading into "Tribute", his smoky timbre borne on exultant strings that also allude to a classic-soul era. It's impressive stuff, though as early as the third or fourth track, the formula of impassioned smouldering leading to hugely telegraphed refrains is getting a little predictable. Variety is furnished by the desolate plaint of "Out of My Head" and the gospelly backing vocals of "Running", also the source of the album's best line: "Trying to stop a river when it wants to rise."[9]

Commercial performance

On 17 October 2013, the album entered the Irish Albums Chart at number 8. On 19 October 2013, the album entered the Dutch Albums Chart at number 51. On 20 October 2013, the album entered the UK Albums Chart and Scottish Albums Chart at number one.[15] The album débuted at number 7 on the Australian Albums Chart. The album débuted at number 6 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. The album has also peaked to number 20 in Austria, number 33 in Belgium, number 18 in Denmark, number 37 in France, number 21 in Germany, number 6 in Hungary, number 28 in Italy, number 12 in Norway, number 30 in Spain and number 11 in Switzerland.

Track listing
Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Tribute"
5:38
2."Love Me Again"
4:00
3."Losing Sleep"
4:42
4."Easy"
  • Newman
  • Booker
  • Whiting
  • Newman
3:40
5."Try"
  • Newman
  • Booker
  • Whiting
  • Newman
3:35
6."Out of My Head"
  • Newman
  • Booker
  • Whiting
  • Newman
3:50
7."Cheating"
  • Newman
  • Emily Phillips
3:42
8."Running"
  • Whiting
  • Newman
4:20
9."Gold Dust"
  • Newman
  • Tim Woodcock
  • Whiting
  • Newman
3:32
10."Goodnight Goodbye"
  • Newman
  • Booker
  • Whiting
  • Newman
3:43
11."All I Need Is You"
  • Newman
  • Booker
  • Whiting
  • Newman
3:22
Total length:43:56
Deluxe edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."Down the Line"
  • Newman
  • Mac
  • Hector
  • Whiting
  • Newman
3:55
13."Nothing"
  • Whiting
  • Newman
3:33
14."Day One"
  • Whiting
  • Newman
3:17
Total length:54:39

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[38] Gold 7,500*
Poland (ZPAV)[39] Gold 10,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[40] Gold 10,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[41] Platinum 312,993[42]

*sales figures based on certification alone

Release history
Region Date Format Label
Australia 11 October 2013
Austria
Belgium
Germany
Ireland
Netherlands
New Zealand
Switzerland
United Kingdom 14 October 2013[43][44]
United States 7 January 2014[45]
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References
  1. Silverstein, Adam (13 June 2013). "John Newman interview: 'I want people to buy into me as an artist' - Music Interview". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  2. Copsey, Robert (11 October 2013). "John Newman streams debut album 'Tribute' online - listen". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  3. Corner, Lewis (7 November 2013). "John Newman announces new single 'Losing Sleep' – listen". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  4. "Official Singles Chart UK Top 100 - 14th December 2013". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  5. Butcher, Simon. "John Newman - Tribute". Clash. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  6. Cabooter, James (14 October 2013). "John Newman: Tribute - Album review". Daily Star. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  7. Corner, Lewis (14 October 2013). "John Newman: 'Tribute' - Album review". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  8. Sullivan, Caroline (17 October 2013). "John Newman: Tribute – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  9. Gill, Andy (11 October 2013). "Album review: John Newman, Tribute (Island)". The Independent. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  10. Carroll, Jim. "John Newman: Tribute". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  11. Empire, Kitty (13 October 2013). "John Newman: Tribute – review". The Observer. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  12. Horowitz, Steven (27 October 2013). "John Newman: Tribute". Popmatters. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  13. "Album review: John Newman - Tribute". Shields Gazette. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  14. Horton, Matthew. "John Newman: Tribute Album Review". Virgin Media. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  15. Lane, Daniel (20 October 2013). "John Newman lands debut Number 1 album". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  16. "Australiancharts.com – John Newman – Tribute". Hung Medien.
  17. "Austriancharts.at – John Newman – Tribute" (in German). Hung Medien.
  18. "Ultratop.be – John Newman – Tribute" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  19. "Ultratop.be – John Newman – Tribute" (in French). Hung Medien.
  20. "Danishcharts.dk – John Newman – Tribute". Hung Medien.
  21. "Dutchcharts.nl – John Newman – Tribute" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  22. "Lescharts.com – John Newman – Tribute". Hung Medien.
  23. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
  24. "Top 40 album DVD és válogatáslemez-lista – 2013. 42. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
  25. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 42, 2013". Chart-Track. IRMA.
  26. "Album - Classifica settimanale WK 42 (dal 14-10-2013 al 20-10-2013)" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Archived from the original on 25 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  27. "Charts.nz – John Newman – Tribute". Hung Medien.
  28. "Norwegiancharts.com – John Newman – Tribute". Hung Medien.
  29. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.
  30. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  31. "Spanishcharts.com – John Newman – Tribute". Hung Medien.
  32. "Swedishcharts.com – John Newman – Tribute". Hung Medien.
  33. "Swisscharts.com – John Newman – Tribute". Hung Medien.
  34. "John Newman | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
  35. "John Newman Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  36. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2013". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  37. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2014". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  38. "Austrian album certifications – John Newman – Tribute" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  39. "Polish album certifications – John Newman – Tribute" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.
  40. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (John Newman; 'Tribute')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  41. "British album certifications – John Newman – Tribute". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Tribute in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  42. Jones, Alan (24 July 2015). "Official Charts Analysis: Little Mix and Years & Years maintain top spots". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  43. "Tribute (Deluxe) by John Newman". iTunes.
  44. "Tribute by John Newman". iTunes.
  45. "Tribute by John Newman". iTunes.
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