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You're a Man Now, Boy

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You're a Man Now, Boy
Standard edition cover art. The deluxe edition features a pink background with "Raleigh Ritchie" in white text.
Studio album by
Raleigh Ritchie
Released26 February 2016 (2016-02-26)
Recorded2012–2016
GenreAlternative R&B
Length46:46
LabelColumbia
Producer
Raleigh Ritchie chronology
You're a Man Now, Boy
(2016) 		Andy
(2020)
Singles from You're a Man Now, Boy
  1. "Stronger Than Ever"
    Released: 14 March 2014
  2. "Birthday Girl"
    Released: 7 December 2014
  3. "The Greatest"
    Released: 13 March 2015
  4. "Never Say Die"
    Released: 14 June 2015
  5. "Bloodsport '15"
    Released: 23 July 2015
  6. "You're a Man Now, Boy"
    Released: 11 December 2015
  7. "Keep it Simple"
    Released: 8 January 2016
  8. "Never Better"
    Released: 22 January 2016

You're a Man Now, Boy is the debut studio album by British R&B singer and songwriter Raleigh Ritchie, released 26 February 2016 on Columbia Records. It entered the UK Albums Chart at number 32.[1]

Composition

[edit]

In an interview with Billboard, Anderson explained that "I started putting the album together properly about two years ago. But the oldest song on the album, “Never Better,” is about four years old. I’ve written hundreds of songs, and I was still writing new stuff when I was putting the album together. It was just a matter of deciding how to construct it as something that made sense of how I was feeling." He also noted Kanye West’s album The College Dropout as a source of personal inspiration for his music.[2]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
DJBoothVery positive[3]
The Evening Standard[4]
The Guardian[5]
MTVVery positive[6]

You're a Man Now, Boy received very positive reviews from critics upon release. Writing for The Evening Standard, John Aizlewood gave the album 4 stars out of 5 and described Raleigh Ritchie as "bold and cutting edge in a Jack Garratt sort of way and the fabulous The Last Romance is a life-affirming combination of confessional vocals and a massed gospel singalong. And for all the electro clutter of 'Werld Is Mine', the throaty rasp to his vocals and the smoother soul of the Stormzy-featuring 'Keep It Simple', he never loses his pop heart."[4]

The Guardian's Dave Simpson likewise gave the album 4 stars out of 5. Noting the lengthy writing and production process for the album, "If the problematic gestation means the mix of soul, R&B, electronica and cinematic orchestral sweeps can occasionally feel a trifle uneven, the Bristolian’s emotional deliveries bring a compelling vulnerability and humanity to the narrative-verse-to-big-chorus format." Simpson notes the title track as a highlight, writing that the track's "comparison of childhood dreams with adult realities ('I was an astronaut, once upon a time. I'm not growing up. I'm ageing') is beautifully moving."

MTV's Matt Tarr wrote very positively about the album. Like Simpson, he notes the title track as a highlight of the album as well as 'Stronger Than Ever' and as "the most powerfully emotive tracks on the album, both featuring dramatic rises and falls before eventually building to intense climactic ending". He also wrote that The orchestral instrumental of the prior is truly noteworthy and wouldn’t find itself amiss in a thrilling cinematic film trailer." Concluding the review, Tarr wrote that the album "is an incredible way to mark the humble beginning of an emotionally honest and sensitive artist on the mainstream stage and Raleigh Ritchie’s raw-yet-tender style is a joy to behold. Sure to catch the ear of new fans and current loyalists alike, this album will set the foundations for an exciting and boundary-pushing career in the UK music spotlight for a long while to come."[6]

DJBooth's Lucas G. described the album as "a profoundly emotional album but just like in real life, that emotion is hidden under puns, smiles and spliff smoke. The thing I love most about the album is the way Ritchie wrestles with fear but doesn't wallow in. He stands at the top of the cliff staring into the void, occasionally dangling his feet over, but never jumping. At the same time the album struggles with adulthood identity, connections and love, the album has an upbeat, fresh sound to it."[3]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Werld is Mine"
SumPunk4:01
2."Stronger Than Ever"
3:53
3."Bloodsport '15"
  • Anderson
  • Broad
  • SumPunk
  • Ritchie
4:17
4."I Can Change"
  • Anderson
  • Hanni Ibrahim
4:06
5."Keep it Simple" (featuring Stormzy)
Elizondo3:41
6."The Greatest"
  • Anderson
  • Broad
  • Herman
  • SumPunk
  • Herman
3:47
7."Never Better"
  • Anderson
  • Broad
  • Herman
  • SumPunk
  • Herman
  • James Dring
3:52
8."Cowards"
  • Anderson
  • Loco
Loco3:45
9."A Moor"
3:18
10."Young & Stupid"
Sounwave4:34
11."You're a Man Now, Boy"
  • Anderson
  • Broad
  • Herman
  • SumPunk
  • Herman
4:24
12."The Last Romance"
  • Anderson
  • Broad
SumPunk3:19
Total length:46:46
Deluxe edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Never Say Die"
  • Anderson
  • Spears
Sounwave4:39
14."Life in a Box"
DJ Dahi4:23
15."The Chased" (with The Internet)
  • Anderson
  • Broad
SumPunk4:11
16."Overdose"
  • Anderson
  • Spears
  • Dimitri Grimm
Sounwave4:21
17."Birthday Girl"
  • Anderson
  • Broad
  • Herman
  • James Bryan
  • SumPunk
  • Herman
4:17
18."Stay Inside"
  • Anderson
  • Michael Asante
Mikey J3:26
Total length:72:03

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[7]

Musicians

  • Raleigh Ritchie – vocals (all tracks), keyboards (1), background vocals (13)
  • Paul Herman – guitar (1, 6, 12, 17), background vocals (6), synthesizer (6, 7, 12, 17)
  • Corinne Bailey – French horn (1)
  • Justin Broad – performance arrangement (1), programming (1, 6, 17), synthesizer (1, 6, 17), background vocals (6), bass (6, 7, 11, 17), guitar (7, 12), piano (7), drums (11, 12), keyboards (11)
  • Rosie Danvers – performance arrangement (1–4, 7, 11), cello (2–4, 7, 11)
  • Dave Stewart – trombone (1)
  • Mike Lovatt – trumpet (1)
  • Richard Pryce – bass (2)
  • Bryony James – cello (2)
  • Chris Loco – keyboards, programming (2, 8)
  • Wez Clarke – programming (2, 3, 15, 16)
  • Wired Strings – strings (2, 4, 7, 11)
  • Emma Owens – viola (2–4, 7, 11), vocals (2)
  • Nick Barr – viola (2–4, 7, 11), vocals (2)
  • Alison Dods – violin (2, 3)
  • Debbie Widdup – violin (2–4, 7, 11)
  • Gillon Cameron – violin (2, 3)
  • Helen Hathorn – violin (2–4, 7, 11)
  • Jenny Sacha – violin (2–4, 7, 11)
  • Kotona Sato – violin (2, 3)
  • Patrick Kiernan – violin (2–4, 7, 11)
  • Sally Jackson – violin (2, 3)
  • Jane Oliver – cello (3, 4, 7, 11)
  • Mike Spencer – background vocals, bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, programming (4)
  • Anna Croad – violin (4, 7, 11)
  • Ellie Stamford – violin (4, 7, 11)
  • Sarah Sexton – violin (4, 7, 11)
  • Sam Skirrow – bass (5)
  • Jillian Chambers – drums (5)
  • Mike Elizondo – keyboards, programming (5)
  • Stormzy – vocals (5)
  • Aisling Loftus – background vocals (6), vocals (15)
  • Kerenza – Peacock (7)
  • Etta Bond – vocals (8)
  • George Edward – programming (9)
  • Utters – programming (9)
  • James Bryan – guitar (17)
  • Michael Asante – background vocals (18)

Technical

  • Jeremy Cooper – mastering engineer
  • Dan Parry – mixing engineer (1, 6, 8, 10–14, 17)
  • Wez Clarke – mixing engineer (2, 3, 7, 15, 16)
  • Mike Spencer – mixing engineer, recording engineer (4)
  • Mark Ralph – mixing engineer (5)
  • James Reynolds – mixing engineer (9, 18)
  • Chris Loco – recording engineer (2, 8)
  • Nick Taylor – recording engineer (2), engineer (3, 4, 7, 11)
  • Justin Broad – recording engineer (4–6), engineer (15)
  • Adam Hawkins – engineer (5)
  • Brent Arrowood – engineer (5)
  • Cody Acosta – engineer (10)
  • Sam Klempner – assistant engineer (9, 18)

Chart performance

[edit]
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[8] 56
UK Albums (OCC)[9] 32

References

[edit]
  1. ^ White, Jack (4 March 2016). "The 1975 score second chart-topping album with I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It". Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  2. ^ Sullivan, Lindsey (23 February 2016). "Raleigh Ritchie on 'You're a Man Now, Boy,' David Bowie & Gene Kelly Moments". Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  3. ^ a b G., Lucas (19 February 2016). "Raleigh Ritchie's "You're a Man Now, Boy" & The Joy of Finding a New Friend". Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  4. ^ a b Aizlewood, John (26 February 2016). "Raleigh Ritchie – You're A Man Now, Boy, album review: 'bold and cutting edge'". Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  5. ^ Simpson, Dave (25 February 2016). "Raleigh Ritchie: You're a Man Now, Boy review – vulnerability and humanity". Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  6. ^ a b Tarr, Matt (17 February 2016). "Album Review: Raleigh Ritchie 'You're A Man Now, Boy'". Archived from the original on 19 February 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Credits / You're a Man Now, Boy (Deluxe) / Raleigh Ritchie". Tidal. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  9. ^ "Raleigh Ritchie | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
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