In the Lonely Hour [Tenth Anniversary Edition]

by Sam Smith

Overview

Disclosure's loping dance-pop single "Latch," a number 11 U.K. hit in 2012, introduced Sam Smith, a London-born vocalist with a deeply emotive voice. Smith grew up listening to R&B giants Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, and Whitney Houston, but their first impression was unique, not merely for the richness of their voice, but its resoundingly expressive yet naturally delivered manner -- on a level most singers can't match with maximum effort. Early 2013 brought their debut solo single, "Lay Me Down" -- an aching singer/songwriter-soul throwback that scraped the U.K. Top 50. It was quickly eclipsed by a lead role on Naughty Boy's "La La La," a breakbeat-driven tearjerker that went to number one in the U.K. and then reached the Top 20 in the U.S. "Money on My Mind," an upbeat statement of purpose more about the soul than the heart, and "Stay with Me," a torch song with a gospel-inspired chorus, were Smith's second and third solo singles. They preceded the release of In the Lonely Hour, the singer and songwriter's debut album. Those three solo singles are here, along with seven new songs that tend to cast Smith as a heartbroken balladeer. Deep sorrow informs most of the material. Much more about mourning than movement here, Smith is bold for not attempting to capitalize on the Disclosure and Naughty Boy hits. The dominance of stripped-down backdrops -- some with merely piano, acoustic guitar, and conservative strings -- is somewhat surprising. That puts all the more focus on Smith's voice and words, the latter of which switch between borderline maudlin ("What use is money when you need someone to hold?") and disarmingly brazen ("Just leave your lover, leave him for me"). If Smith didn't have such a remarkable voice, they could stay busy composing songs for artists in several genres; the anthemic "Like I Can" could be easily adapted for a contemporary country singer, while a few others could be turned over to young pop artists in need of material that makes them sound more human. This is an understated and promising first step from an unpredictable and distinctive talent. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	08/02/2024
Label:	Capitol
UPC:	0602458534511

Tracks

1. Good Thing
2. Stay With Me [Re-Recording]
3. Leave Your Lover
4. I'm Not The Only One
5. I've Told You Now
6. Like I Can
7. Not In That Way
8. Lay Me Down
9. Money On My Mind
10. Life Support
11. Little Sailor

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sam Smith   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Alicia Keys   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Mary J. Blige   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Disclosure   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Naughty Boy   Primary Artist,Multi Instruments
John Legend   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
A$AP Rocky   Primary Artist,Rap,Featured Artist
William Phillips   Organ,Piano
Hikaru Utada   Vocals
Warren Zielinski   Strings
Isobel Griffiths   Strings
London Voices   Choir/Chorus
Harry Robinson   Cello,Cello
Steve Fitzmaurice   Drums
Fraser T. Smith   Guitar
Ladonna Harley Peters   Vocals (Background)
Darren Heelis   Bass,Keyboards,Guitar (Bass),Korg Synthesizer
Jodi Milliner   Bass,Guitar,Guitar (Bass)
Everton Nelson   Strings,Orchestra Leader
Simon Hale   Conductor,Orchestra,String Conductor
Earl Harvin   Drums,Percussion
Eg White   Piano,Guitar,Cymbals,Strings,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Two Inch Punch   Multi Instruments
Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins   Drums,Organ,Percussion,Guitar (Bass)
Ben Thomas   Guitar
Victoria Lyon   Strings
Marsha Skinns   Violin
Patrick Linton   Vocals (Background)
Matt Prime   Keyboards
Charles Wong   Piano
Amy Stewart   Strings
Brendan Grieve   Guitar (Bass)
Jamiel Blake   Drums
Susannah Ross   Violin
Kristen Brooks   Vocals (Background)
Rodney Jerkins   Drums,Organ,Percussion,Guitar (Bass)
Katie Holt   Cello
Bertie Anderson   Viola
James Napier   Piano
Jimmy Napes   Drums,Piano,Percussion
Jonny Coffer   Strings
Frobisher Mbabazi   Keyboards
Howard Lawrence   Piano
Reuben James   Organ,Piano,Keyboards
Mojam   Co-Producer

Technical Credits

William Phillips   Composer
Michael Angelo   Vocal Engineer,Recording,Vocal Engineer
Warren Zielinski   Leader
Isobel Griffiths   String Contractor,Orchestra Contractor
George Merrill   Composer
Tom Petty   Composer
Amy Winehouse   Composer
Dan Parry   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Ann Mincieli   Recording
Mike Horner   Assistant Engineer
Steve Fitzmaurice   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Recording,Programming,Vocal Engineer,Mixing Engineer,Drum Programming,Additional Production
Bunt Stafford-Clark   Mastering
Fraser T. Smith   Composer,Producer
Randy Merrill   Mastering Engineer
Elvin Smith   Composer
James Murray   Composer,Engineer,Programming,Instrumentation,Composer,Recording,Programming,Composer
Lucy Whalley   Orchestra Contractor
Darren Heelis   Mixing,Editing,Engineer,Recording,Programming,Vocal Engineer,Bass Programming,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Simon Aldred   Composer
Lexxx   Mixing
Charlie Paakkari   Mixing,Recording,Assistant Engineer
Everton Nelson   Leader
Simon Hale   Arranger,Engineer,String Engineer,Choir Arrangement,String Arrangements
Eg White   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording
Shannon Rubicam   Composer
David Odlum   Producer,Recording
Jeff Lynne   Composer
Narada Michael Walden   Composer
Mustafa Omer   Engineer,Recording,Programming,Instrumentation,Composer
Ben Ash   Composer,Producer,Recording Arranger
Harry Craze   Composer
Aya Merrill   Mastering Assistant
Nicholas Abbott   Engineer
Drew Smith   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Matt Champlin   Engineer,Recording
A$AP Rocky   Composer
Shahid Khan   Composer
Brendan Morawski   Assistant Engineer
Two Inch Punch   Arranger,Producer,Instrumentation,Drum Programming,Musical Producer,Recording Arranger
Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins   Producer,Additional Production
Tom Coyne   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Jeremy Murphy   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Paul Hurt   Engineer
Stuart Hawkes   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Victoria Lyon   Leader
Nick Raphael   A&R
Zane Lowe   Composer,Producer,Programming
Graham Archer   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Jo Charrington   A&R
Matt Prime   Composer
Miles Showell   Mastering
Steve Price   Engineer,String Engineer,Recording
Gordon Davidson   Assistant Engineer
Toby Hulbert   Assistant Engineer
Charles Wong   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Amy Stewart   String Contractor
Gus Pirelli   Assistant Engineer
Matt Jones   Assistant Engineer
Tyler McAllister   Assistant Engineer
Isabel Grundy   Assistant Engineer
Oliver Barton-Wood   Assistant Engineer
Gianluca Massimo   Recording
Hector Delgado   Mixing,Recording
Laura Beck   Assistant Engineer
Kooster McAllister   Recording
Jonathan Creek   Producer
Rodney Jerkins   Producer
Naughty Boy   Producer,Performer,Programming
Wez Clarke   Mixing,Programming,Mixing Engineer
Craze & Hoax   Producer,Recording Arranger
Sam Smith   Composer
Disclosure   Producer
James Napier   Composer
Jimmy Napes   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording,String Engineer,Additional Production
Anup Paul   Composer
Stephanie Sian Smith   Photography
Hugo Chegwin   Composer
Jonny Coffer   Arranger,Composer
Rakim Mayers   Composer
Shane O'Connor   Assistant Engineer
Al-Hakam El Kaubaisy   Composer
Frobisher Mbabazi   Composer
Tom Upex   Mixing Assistant
Guy Lawrence   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Programming
Howard Lawrence   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Programming
Mojam   Producer,Drum Programming,Additional Production
Komi   Producer,Programming,Instrumentation