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The difficult second album is perhaps more difficult for a reality pop star than anyone else. It's almost a guarantee that no matter what the quality, any debut album from an artist who's had a captive audience of millions of viewers every Saturday night will sell by the bucketload. Even the long-forgotten Steve Brookstein and Journey South have had number one albums. But it's what you do after, without the constant mass exposure, that can determine career longevity. Pop Idol winner Will Young was lucky in the respect that his debut, From Now On, gave him a relatively strong platform to launch from. Not as rush-released as Popstars Hear'Say's first effort, and with the likes of Burt Bacharach and Cathy Dennis on board, it was a well-produced if sometimes unimaginative collection of songs that justified his position as one of Britain's most popular singers. But with a determination not to be pigeonholed by Simon Cowell, Young has made the brave decision to move away from pop's most influential man for follow-up Friday's Child. So this time round, there are no duets with Gareth Gates, no big power ballads, and certainly no Westlife cover versions. Instead, it's a much more personal affair that showcases both his songwriting talent (Young receives co-writing credits on six of the eleven tracks here) and his undoubtedly unique soulful tones. Lead single "Leave Right Now" is already considered a modern classic, its gentle acoustic verses, impassioned chorus, and sweeping strings are about a million miles away from his inherently corny debut single "Evergreen." It's a statement of intent that confirms his decision to do things his own way has most definitely paid off. With the help of writers Karen Poole, Eg White, and Steve Lipson, the majority of Friday's Child is just as convincing. "Your Game," a Best British Single winner at the 2005 Brits, recalls the '80s soul-pop of the Blow Monkeys thanks to its gospel choir and funky basslines; "Dance the Night Away" and "Out of My Mind" are reminiscent of Off the Wall-era Michael Jackson, and "Love the One You're With," the only cover on the album, is an uplifting rendition of the Stephen Stills folk classic. Best of all is the epic seven-minute long title track, a jazz-influenced chill-out number which sounds like the missing link between the Lighthouse Family and Groove Armada. While certainly far more adventurous than his debut, it still sometimes lapses into MOR territory, particularly on the Simply Red-esque "Free" and the rather aimless and ultimately quite drab acoustic ballad "Very Kind." But overall, Friday's Child will undoubtedly bury the reality pop tag once and for all. Britain's first Pop Idol has become an artist in his own right and the fact he's done it without the Cowell juggernaut behind him should make its success even sweeter.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
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Jenny O'Grady, Chorus Master - Isobel Griffiths, Misc. Prod. - Will Young, Performer - Stephen Stills, Composer - Stephen Stills, Lyricist - Toby Baker, Keyboards - Neil Conti, Drums - Dave Naughton, Misc. Prod. - Stephen Lipson, Producer - Stephen Lipson, Programmer - Stephen Lipson, Guitar - Rick Willson, Guitar - Heff Moraes, Engineer - Heff Moraes, Mixing Engineer - Metro Voices, Vocal
(P) 2003 19 Recordings Limited under exclusive licence to Ronagold Limited
Isobel Griffiths, Misc. Prod. - Will Young, Performer - Jenny O'Grady, Chorus Master - Blair MacKichan, Composer - Blair MacKichan, Lyricist - Blair MacKichan, Producer - Blair MacKichan, Programmer - Blair MacKichan, Guitar - Blair MacKichan, Background Vocal - T. Onile-Ere, Composer - T. Onile-Ere, Lyricist - Dave Naughton, Misc. Prod. - Nick Ingman, Arranger - Stephen Lipson, Producer - Stephen Lipson, Programmer - Heff Moraes, Engineer - Heff Moraes, Mixing Engineer - Metro Voices, Vocal
(P) 2003 XIX Management UK Limited under exclusive license to Ronagold
Stephen Lipson, Producer - Stephen Lipson, Programmer - Stephen Lipson, Guitar - Stephen Lipson, Composer - Stephen Lipson, Lyricist - David Rainger, Guitar - Will Young, Performer - Karen Ann Poole, Composer - Karen Ann Poole, Lyricist - Karen Ann Poole, Background Vocal - Heff Moraes, Engineer - Heff Moraes, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2003 19 Recordings Limited under exclusive licence to Ronagold Limited
Will Young, Performer - Francis "Eg" White, Composer - Francis "Eg" White, Lyricist - Francis "Eg" White, Guitar - Steve Barney, Drums - Tracey Ackerman, Background Vocal - John Themis, Guitar - Anne Dudley, Keyboards - Anne Dudley, Arranger - Stephen Lipson, Producer - Stephen Lipson, Programmer - Heff Moraes, Engineer - Heff Moraes, Mixing Engineer - Greg Wells, Keyboards
(P) 2003 XIX Management UK Limited under exclusive license to Ronagold
Lynne Marie, Background Vocal - Isobel Griffiths, Misc. Prod. - Will Young, Performer - Toby Baker, Keyboards - David Rainger, Guitar - Neil Conti, Drums - Dave Naughton, Misc. Prod. - Nick Ingman, Arranger - Stephen Lipson, Producer - Stephen Lipson, Programmer - Rick Willson, Guitar - Tom Christensen, Composer - Tom Christensen, Lyricist - Heff Moraes, Engineer - Heff Moraes, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2003 19 Recordings Limited under exclusive licence to Ronagold Limited
Toby Smith, Composer - Toby Smith, Lyricist - Toby Smith, Brass - Toby Smith, Performer - Toby Smith, Producer - Andy Saunders, Mixing Engineer - Sam Miller, Engineer - Will Young, Performer - Will Young, Composer - Will Young, Lyricist - Neil Yates, Brass - Chris Dodd, Composer - Chris Dodd, Lyricist - Chris Dodd, Performer - Chris Dodd, Producer
(P) 2003 19 Recordings Limited under exclusive licence to Ronagold Limited
Nick Ingman, Arranger - J. Gass, Composer - J. Gass, Lyricist - J. Gass, Producer - J. Gass, Engineer - J. Gass, Mixing Engineer - Stephen Lipson, Producer - Robin Thicke, Composer - Robin Thicke, Lyricist - Robin Thicke, Producer - Will Young, Performer - Will Young, Composer - Will Young, Lyricist - Isobel Griffiths, Misc. Prod. - Heff Moraes, Engineer - Heff Moraes, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2003 19 Recordings Limited under exclusive licence to Ronagold Limited
M. Prime, Composer - M. Prime, Lyricist - Stephen Lipson, Producer - Stephen Lipson, Programmer - David Rainger, Guitar - B. Withers, Composer - B. Withers, Lyricist - Will Young, Performer - Will Young, Composer - Will Young, Lyricist - Tim Cansfield, Guitar - Stan McKenny, Composer - Stan McKenny, Lyricist - Heff Moraes, Engineer - Heff Moraes, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2003 19 Recordings Limited under exclusive licence to Ronagold Limited
Guy Barker, Trumpet - Will Young, Performer - Will Young, Composer - Will Young, Lyricist - Francis "Eg" White, Composer - Francis "Eg" White, Lyricist - Francis "Eg" White, Engineer - Francis "Eg" White, Mixing Engineer - Francis "Eg" White, Producer
(P) 2003 19 Recordings Limited under exclusive licence to Ronagold Limited
Nick Ingman, Arranger - Stephen Lipson, Producer - Stephen Lipson, Programmer - Will Young, Performer - Will Young, Composer - Will Young, Lyricist - Isobel Griffiths, Misc. Prod. - Francis "Eg" White, Programmer - Francis "Eg" White, Composer - Francis "Eg" White, Lyricist - Francis "Eg" White, Performer - Heff Moraes, Engineer - Heff Moraes, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2003 19 Recordings Limited under exclusive licence to Ronagold Limited
Will Young, Performer - Isobel Griffiths, Misc. Prod. - Tim Cansfield, Guitar - D. Taylor, Composer - D. Taylor, Lyricist - Phil Todd, Flute - Tracey Ackerman, Background Vocal - Mark Feltham, Harmonica - Nick Ingman, Arranger - Stephen Lipson, Producer - Heff Moraes, Engineer - Heff Moraes, Mixing Engineer - Steve Lee, Harmonica - Steve Lee, Composer - Steve Lee, Lyricist
(P) 2003 19 Recordings Limited under exclusive licence to Ronagold Limited
Album review
The difficult second album is perhaps more difficult for a reality pop star than anyone else. It's almost a guarantee that no matter what the quality, any debut album from an artist who's had a captive audience of millions of viewers every Saturday night will sell by the bucketload. Even the long-forgotten Steve Brookstein and Journey South have had number one albums. But it's what you do after, without the constant mass exposure, that can determine career longevity. Pop Idol winner Will Young was lucky in the respect that his debut, From Now On, gave him a relatively strong platform to launch from. Not as rush-released as Popstars Hear'Say's first effort, and with the likes of Burt Bacharach and Cathy Dennis on board, it was a well-produced if sometimes unimaginative collection of songs that justified his position as one of Britain's most popular singers. But with a determination not to be pigeonholed by Simon Cowell, Young has made the brave decision to move away from pop's most influential man for follow-up Friday's Child. So this time round, there are no duets with Gareth Gates, no big power ballads, and certainly no Westlife cover versions. Instead, it's a much more personal affair that showcases both his songwriting talent (Young receives co-writing credits on six of the eleven tracks here) and his undoubtedly unique soulful tones. Lead single "Leave Right Now" is already considered a modern classic, its gentle acoustic verses, impassioned chorus, and sweeping strings are about a million miles away from his inherently corny debut single "Evergreen." It's a statement of intent that confirms his decision to do things his own way has most definitely paid off. With the help of writers Karen Poole, Eg White, and Steve Lipson, the majority of Friday's Child is just as convincing. "Your Game," a Best British Single winner at the 2005 Brits, recalls the '80s soul-pop of the Blow Monkeys thanks to its gospel choir and funky basslines; "Dance the Night Away" and "Out of My Mind" are reminiscent of Off the Wall-era Michael Jackson, and "Love the One You're With," the only cover on the album, is an uplifting rendition of the Stephen Stills folk classic. Best of all is the epic seven-minute long title track, a jazz-influenced chill-out number which sounds like the missing link between the Lighthouse Family and Groove Armada. While certainly far more adventurous than his debut, it still sometimes lapses into MOR territory, particularly on the Simply Red-esque "Free" and the rather aimless and ultimately quite drab acoustic ballad "Very Kind." But overall, Friday's Child will undoubtedly bury the reality pop tag once and for all. Britain's first Pop Idol has become an artist in his own right and the fact he's done it without the Cowell juggernaut behind him should make its success even sweeter.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:48:45
- Main artists: Will Young
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: S Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock
(P) 2003 19 Recordings Limited under exclusive licence to Ronagold Limited
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