Illuminations_(Josh_Groban_album)
Illuminations (Josh Groban album)
2010 studio album by Josh Groban
Illuminations is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Josh Groban, produced by Rick Rubin. Similar to his previous albums, Illuminations contains songs sung in a variety of languages, including his first take on a Portuguese song, "Você Existe Em Mim", which Groban co-wrote with Lester Mendez and Carlinhos Brown. The album was released on November 15, 2010.[1]
| Illuminations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 15, 2010 | |||
| Recorded | Spring 2008–Summer 2010 | |||
| Studio | Los Angeles, London. | |||
| Genre |
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| Label | ||||
| Producer | Rick Rubin | |||
| Josh Groban chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Illuminations | ||||
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The official title and cover art for Illuminations was revealed in September 2010.[1][2] In addition to the regular release, a special fan edition of the album is available for purchase on Groban's website that contains the original CD, a "making-of" DVD, a 48-page color photo book filled with lyrics and pictures, and two bonus tracks (to be delivered digitally).[3]
The first single from the album, "Hidden Away", was released on September 13,[4] and was also available to download for free on Groban's website and Facebook from September 8–13.
Leading up to the album's release, iTunes released songs periodically from the album to download, which began on October 12 with the release of the album's Portuguese song "Você Existe Em Mim".[5] A third song, "Higher Window", was released on October 25. A fourth and final song, "L'Ora Dell'Addio", was released on November 9.
Beginning May 12, 2011, Groban embarked on a worldwide tour entitled the Straight to You Tour to promote the album.[6]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 79/100[7] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [8] |
| BBC Music | positive[9] |
| The Boston Globe | positive[10] |
| Entertainment Weekly | (B+)[11] |
Illuminations received mostly positive reviews from music critics.[7]
Commercial reception
The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, selling 190,000 copies in its first week and was certified platinum by the RIAA for shipping over a million copies.[12] The album has since sold over 800,000 copies in the US.[13] In Canada, the album debuted at No. 4 on the Canadian Albums Chart and was certified platinum for shipping over 80,000 copies.
The following is the track listing for the regular album:[14][15]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Wandering Kind (Prelude)" | Josh Groban | 2:28 |
| 2. | "Bells of New York City" | Groban, Dan Wilson | 3:50 |
| 3. | "Galileo (Someone Like You)" | Declan O'Rourke, Seamus Cotter | 3:22 |
| 4. | "L'Ora Dell'Addio (Farewell Time)" | Groban, Walter Afanasieff, Marco Marinangeli | 3:28 |
| 5. | "Hidden Away" | Groban, Wilson | 3:56 |
| 6. | "Au Jardin des Sans-Pourquoi" (The Garden Without "Whys")" | Groban, Rufus Wainwright, Kate McGarrigle | 3:32 |
| 7. | "Higher Window" | Groban, Wilson, Thomas Salter | 4:37 |
| 8. | "If I Walk Away" | Groban, Wilson | 3:52 |
| 9. | "Love Only Knows" | Groban, Wilson | 4:44 |
| 10. | "Você Existe Em Mim" | Groban, Lester Mendez, Carlinhos Brown | 5:07 |
| 11. | "War at Home" | Groban, Wilson | 4:45 |
| 12. | "London Hymn" | Groban, Marius de Vries | 1:57 |
| 13. | "Straight to You" | Nick Cave | 4:10 |
| Total length: | 49:52 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Feels Like Home" | Randy Newman | 5:08 |
| 15. | "Hidden Away" (Radio mix) (Bonus video) |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "They Won't Go When I Go" | Stevie Wonder, Yvonne Wright | 4:48 |
| 15. | "Le Cose Che Sei Per Me" | Brendan Graham, Rolf Løvland | 3:31 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "They Won't Go When I Go" | Stevie Wonder, Yvonne Wright | 4:48 |
| 15. | "Le Cose Che Sei Per Me" | Brendan Graham, Rolf Løvland | 3:31 |
| 16. | "Feels Like Home" | Randy Newman | 5:08 |
| Total length: | 63:24 | ||
- Orchestra and Choir arranged and conducted by David Campbell
- Mixed by Allen Sides, except "War At Home" mixed by Andrew Scheps
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[41] | Platinum | 80,000^ |
| Ireland (IRMA)[42] | Gold | 7,500^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[43] | Gold | 7,500^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[44] | Silver | 60,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[45] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
- "Josh Groban – New Album Illuminations Available Nov 15th". joshgroban.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- "News tagged new song voce existe em mim available itunes tomorrow – Josh Groban – Official Website For Musician, actor, and host of Rising Star". joshgroban.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
- "Josh Groban Announces 2011 'Straight To You' World Tour" (Press release). Marketwire. February 14, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- "Reviews for Illuminations by Josh Groban". Metacritic.
- Erlewine, Stephen Review: Illuminations. AllMusic. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
- "Josh Groban, 'Illuminations'". Boston Globe. November 22, 2010.
- "Music Review: Illuminations, by Josh Groban". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- "Building Album Sales Chart". HITS Daily Double. Archived from the original on September 15, 2014.
- "The Josh Groban Corner Pub > WORLDWIDE CD SALES for Josh- US Sales HIT 21 MILLION!!". Louiseannette.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
- "Australiancharts.com – Josh Groban – Illuminations". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Austriancharts.at – Josh Groban – Illuminations" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Ultratop.be – Josh Groban – Illuminations" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Ultratop.be – Josh Groban – Illuminations" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Josh Groban Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Josh Groban – Illuminations" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Josh Groban: Illuminations" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Lescharts.com – Josh Groban – Illuminations". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Josh Groban – Illuminations" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Irish-charts.com – Discography Josh Groban". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "mexicancharts.com – Josh Groban – Illuminations". Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – Josh Groban – Illuminations". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Charts.nz – Josh Groban – Illuminations". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Josh Groban – Illuminations". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Swisscharts.com – Josh Groban – Illuminations". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Josh Groban Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Josh Groban Chart History (Digital Albums)".[dead link] Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Josh Groban Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2010". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Top Selling Albums of 2010". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- "Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- "British album certifications". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field.