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".
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]
Singlesedit
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.
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]
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 performanceedit
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]
^Drewett, Meg (6 April 2014). "James Arthur 'dropped by record label Syco after mixtape controversy'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
^Rigby, Sam (6 April 2014). "James Arthur denies being dropped by Syco, criticises 'media circus'". Retrieved 6 April 2014.
^Myers, Justin (7 September 2015). "James Arthur signs record deal, announces new music on the way". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
^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/
^"James Arthur - Impossible (Music video)". VEVO. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
^Arthur, James (22 December 2016). "3 days to go until the official video for my new single #SafeInside". Twitter. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
^"James Arthur has a little gift to put under your tree". Bar Head News. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
^"James Arthur's 2016 song Train Wreck set for Top 40 after TikTok success". officialcharts.com. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
^"James Arthur's 'Train Wreck' Gathers Steam Via Tik Tok – New Acoustic Video Out Today". Essentially Pop. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
^"The Truth – Single by James Arthur on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
^"Dina and Michael Lohan Come to Blows Over Lindsay Lohan in 'Family Therapy' Trailer". YouTube, Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
^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.
^"Let Me Love the Lonely (feat. Marina) [Duet Version] – Single by James Arthur". iTunes Store (Poland). Retrieved 26 November 2016.
^"Veckolista Album, vecka 8, 2017 | Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 13 June 2020. Scroll to position 39 to view certification.
^"Back from the Edge by James Arthur on Apple Music". iTunes Store (GB).
^"Back from the Edge by James Arthur on Rough Trade Records (GB)".