Counting Down the Days
{{about|the album|the namesake single|Counting Down the Days (song)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Counting Down the Days
| type = studio
| artist = Natalie Imbruglia
| cover = Natalie Imbruglia - Counting Down the Days (album).jpg
| alt =
| released = 4 April 2005
| recorded = 2003–2004
| studio = {{Plainlist|
- Olympic Studios, RAK Studios, Westside Studios, The Dairy, David's Studio
(London, England) - Compton Way Studios
- Jacobs Studios
(Farnham, England) - AM Studios
- Studios 301
(Sydney, Australia) - The Egbox}}
| genre = Pop rock
| length = 42:40
| label = Brightside
| producer =
- Gary Clark
- Eg White
- Martin Harrington
- Ben Hillier
- Ash Howes
- Daniel Johns
- David Kosten
- Stephen Lipson
- Paul Mac
- Ian Stanley
| prev_title = White Lilies Island
| prev_year = 2001
| next_title = Live from London
| next_year = 2007
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Counting Down the Days
| type = studio
| single1 = Shiver
| single1date = 21 March 2005
| single2 = Counting Down the Days
| single2date = 25 July 2005
}}
}}
Counting Down the Days is the third studio album by Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia. It was released by Brightside Recordings on 4 April 2005 in the United Kingdom. Her debut with the label, Imbruglia reteamed with Gary Clark to work on her next project, but also consulted a wider range of producers to collaborate with her, including Eg White, Martin Harrington, Ben Hillier, Ash Howes, Daniel Johns, David Kosten, Stephen Lipson, Paul Mac, and Ian Stanley. The album's lead single, "Shiver" (2005), was a commercial hit, particularly in the UK, and officially became the UK’s most broadcast song of 2005 according to PPL.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/1354051/imbruglias-shiver-tops-ppl-most-used-chart|title=Imbruglia's 'Shiver' Tops PPL 'Most Used' Chart|last=Sexton|first=Paul|magazine=Billboard|date=25 May 2006|access-date=13 October 2021}}
Musically, unlike White Lilies Island which was predominantly darker and moodier, Counting Down the Days saw Imbruglia's return to radio-friendly pop songs. The album received generally favorable reviews, to which compliment was given for having a handful of genuinely great songs, even though critics were disappointed of its play-it-safe attitude that undid some of the good works and risk taker provided by its predecessor, White Lilies Island.
Upon release, Counting Down the Days debuted atop the UK Album Chart for one week, becoming her first and her only number one album in the UK to date. However, despite the new milestone for Imbruglia in the UK market, the album was less successful in her home country, Australia where it only charted within top twenty, the album also didn’t get an official release in North America until 2010,[https://www.amazon.com/Counting-Down-Days-Natalie-Imbruglia/dp/B0042FKJXM/ref=sr_1_3?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1429861252&sr=1-3&keywords=natalie+imbruglia "Counting Down The Days"]. Amazon. Retrieved 24 April 2015.[https://music.apple.com/us/album/counting-down-the-days/274143818 "Counting Down The Days- Natalie Imbruglia"]. iTunes. Retrieved 24 April 2015. particularly due to her departure from RCA Records, and collaboration with a newly-founded record label that promoted the album only in selected regions, primarily focusing promotion on the UK market.
To support the album, Imbruglia went on a small European concert tour from October to November 2005 with 21 shows across Europe, including eight shows in the UK alone.{{cite web |title=Natalie Imbruglia – Counting Down the Days Tour| url= https://www.setlist.fm/search?artist=6bd6be4e&country=gb&venue=&year=2005&query=tour%3A%28Counting+Down+the+Days+Tour%29| website=Setlist FM| access-date=29 February 2024}}
Counting Down the Days has sold over 204,000 copies in the UK and an estimated 600,000 copies worldwide.
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r737990|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]
|rev2 = The Guardian
|rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/apr/01/popandrock.shopping|title=Natalie Imbruglia, Counting Down The Days|last=Clarke|first=Betty|newspaper=The Guardian|date=1 April 2005|accessdate=20 October 2020}}
|rev3 = Yahoo! Music UK
}}
Allmusic editor Jon O'Brien found that the album suggested "a confusing and disappointing change in direction. For all the bittersweet melancholy and dark undertones of White Lilies Island suggested an interesting career ahead, yet only on a few occasions does Counting Down the Days veer into this territory. Instead, the majority is made up of fairly inoffensive radio-friendly pop songs [...] Counting Down the Days will undoubtedly be a commercial success but its play-it-safe attitude undoes some of the good work done by its predecessor. A few more risks next time wouldn't go amiss." Betty Clarke, writing for The Guardian, felt that "Revisiting the mid-tempo rhythms of her last album, Imbruglia turns from muse to troubled girl next door, gushing about love and fretting about voices in her head, while acoustic guitars, flutes and strings whip a radio-friendly pop froth around her. Bored with pushing perfection, she's selling an old-fashioned brand of submission, her feisty edge eroded to a disturbing gratefulness. [...] Imbruglia's voice sounds better than ever – hanging on to words as if she's rolling out an expensive carpet."
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title= Counting Down the Days |year= 2005 |type= booklet |publisher= Brightside Recordings}}
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title_width = 28%
| writing_width = 42%
| extra_width = 30%
| title1 = Starting Today
| writer1 = {{hlist|Natalie Imbruglia|Martin Harrington|Ash Howes|Kara DioGuardi}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Harrington|Howes}}
| length1 = 2:54
| title2 = Shiver
| writer2 = {{hlist|Imbruglia|Francis White|Shep Solomon}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Stephen Lipson|Harrington{{ref|a|[a]}}|Howes{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length2 = 3:42
| title3 = Satisfied
| writer3 = Daniel Johns
| extra3 = {{hlist|Johns|Paul Mac}}
| length3 = 3:28
| title4 = Counting Down the Days
| writer4 = {{hlist|Imbruglia|Matt Prime}}
| extra4 = Johns
| length4 = 4:09
| title5 = I Won't Be Lost
| writer5 = {{hlist|Imbruglia|Harrington|Howes}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|Harrington|Howes}}
| length5 = 3:51
| title6 = Slow Down
| writer6 = {{hlist|Imbruglia|White}}
| extra6 = Eg
| length6 = 3:30
| title7 = Sanctuary
| writer7 = {{hlist|Imbruglia|Gary Clark}}
| extra7 = {{hlist|Ian Stanley|Clark{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length7 = 3:07
| title8 = Perfectly
| writer8 = {{hlist|Imbruglia|Steve Robson|Solomon|Paul Westcott}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|Harrington|Howes}}
| length8 = 3:22
| title9 = On the Run
| writer9 = {{hlist|Imbruglia|Harrington|Howes|DioGuardi}}
| extra9 = {{hlist|Harrington|Howes}}
| length9 = 3:37
| title10 = Come On Home
| writer10 = Dan Glendining
| extra10 = Ben Hillier
| length10 = 3:55
| title11 = When You're Sleeping
| writer11 = {{hlist|Imbruglia|Clark}}
| extra11 = {{hlist|Clark|Harrington{{ref|a|[a]}}|Howes{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length11 = 3:04
| title12 = Honeycomb Child
| writer12 = {{hlist|Imbruglia|David Kosten}}
| extra12 = Kosten
| length12 = 4:12}}
Notes
- {{small|{{note|a|a}}}} signifies a co-producer
- {{small|{{note|b|b}}}} signifies an initial producer
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes
{{div col}}
- Natalie Imbruglia – lead vocals (all tracks), art direction
- Ash Howes – mixing (tracks 1–5, 8, 9, 11), production (tracks 1, 5, 8, 9), co-production (tracks 2, 11), keyboard (tracks 5, 8), bass (track 1)
- Martin Harrington – production (tracks 1, 5, 8, 9), co-production (tracks 2, 11), keyboard (tracks 1, 8), piano & acoustic guitar (track 5)
- Eg White – keyboard & guitar (tracks 2, 6), production, engineering, mixing, programming, drums & bass (track 6)
- Gary Clark – production, engineering, guitar & strings (track 11), initial production (track 7)
- Keith Uddin – engineering (tracks 1, 5, 8, 9, 11), mix engineering (tracks 3, 4), additional engineering (track 2)
- Pete Davis – programming & keyboard (tracks 1, 5, 8, 9)
- Rej Rheinallt ap Gwynedd – bass (tracks 2, 4, 7–10)
- Chuck Sabo – drums (tracks 1, 2, 4, 7, 10)
- Stephen Lipson – production, programming, keyboard, mandolin & guitar (track 2)
- Peredur ap Gwynedd – guitar (tracks 2, 4, 7, 8, 10)
- Daniel Johns – production & backing vocals (tracks 3, 4), guitar (track 3)
- David Kosten – production, mixing, programming, keyboard & strings (track 12)
- Ben Hillier – production, mixing, piano & dulcimer (track 10)
- Seton Daunt – guitar (tracks 1, 5, 8)
- Paul Mac – production, piano & keyboard (track 3)
- Kenny Dickenson – piano (tracks 4, 9), keyboard (track 4)
- John Themis – acoustic guitar (track 1), ethnic instruments (track 7)
- Kim Moyes – drums & glockenspiel (track 3)
- Geoff Dugmore – drums (tracks 5, 8)
- Richard Morris – production assistance & mixing assistance (track 10)
- Heff Moraes – engineering (track 2)
- Rick Willson – guitar (track 2)
- Anton Hagop – engineering (track 3)
- James Haselwood – bass (track 3)
- Julian Hamilton – keyboard (track 3)
- Reece Gilmore – Pro Tools editing (track 3)
- Chris Brown – engineering (track 4)
- Izzy Dunn – cello (track 4)
- Petra Jean Phillipson – backing vocals (track 4)
- Katch Koffee – backing vocals (track 4)
- Richard Jones – bass (track 5)
- Ian Stanley – production (track 7)
- Dave Bascombe – mixing (track 7)
- Danton Supple – engineering (track 7)
- Neil Taylor – guitar (track 7)
- Alison Clark – backing vocals (track 7)
- John Greswell – mandolin (track 10)
- John Sundry – guitar (track 12)
- Drusilla Harris – violin (track 12)
- Roma – art direction
- Steve Stacey – design
- Hugh Goldsmith – A&R
- Andy Stephens Management – management
- Dean Freeman – photography
{{div col end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2005)
!Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Australia|12|artist=Natalie Imbruglia|album=Counting Down the Days|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Austria|35|artist=Natalie Imbruglia|album=Counting Down the Days|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|59|artist=Natalie Imbruglia|album=Counting Down the Days|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|21|artist=Natalie Imbruglia|album=Counting Down the Days|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20051019140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20051020-0000/issue812.pdf "Arianet: The Aria Report"]{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. Pandora Archive (p. 27). Retrieved 2 February 2009.
| style="text-align:center;"|96 |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|50|artist=Natalie Imbruglia|album=Counting Down the Days|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|European Top 100 Albums (Billboard)[http://www.billboard.com/charts#/charts/european-albums?chartDate=2005-04-23 "European Albums"]. Billboard.com. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
| style="text-align:center;"|8 |
| {{album chart|France|22|artist=Natalie Imbruglia|album=Counting Down the Days|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|35|id=12988|artist=Natalie Imbruglia|album=Counting Down the Days|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 October 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Ireland2|12|artist=Natalie Imbruglia|album=Counting Down the Days|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Italy|10|artist=Natalie Imbruglia|album=Counting Down the Days|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|2|artist=Natalie Imbruglia|rowheader=true|date=20050416}} |
| {{album chart|Spain|66|artist=Natalie Imbruglia|album=Counting Down the Days|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|9|artist=Natalie Imbruglia|album=Counting Down the Days|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|UK|1|artist=Natalie Imbruglia|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 October 2020}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"|Chart (2005)
!scope="col"|Position |
|---|
| scope="row"|UK Albums (OCC){{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20050109/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 - 2005|website=officialcharts.com|language=en|access-date=20 October 2020}}
|100 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Russia|title=Counting Down the Days|artist=Natalie Imbruglia|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2007|accessdate=20 October 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Counting Down the Days|artist=Natalie Imbruglia|type=album|award=Gold|id=1525-3126-2|relyear=2005|certyear=2005|accessdate=20 October 2020|salesamount=206,860|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1031537|title=This week's sales analysis|first=Alan|last=Jones|work=Music Week|date=2007-09-16|access-date=2021-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521190910/http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1031537|archive-date=2011-05-21|url-status=dead}}}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of release dates, showing region, formats, label, and catalog number |
| scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| Format(s) ! scope="col"| Catalog number |
|---|
| scope="row" | United Kingdom
|4 April 2005 |rowspan="2"|Brightside Recordings |rowspan="5"|CD |B0007YH6AG |
| scope="row" | Australia
|11 April 2005 |82876679672 |
| scope="row" | Japan
|20 April 2005 |Sony BMG Japan |BVCP-24064 |
| scope="row" | France
|25 April 2005 |Brightside Recordings |B0007TF19Y |
| scope="row" | Canada
|9 September 2005 ||Sony Music Canada Inc. |B0007TF19Y |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.imbruglia.ru/cdtd/cdtd_pr_rl.html Counting Down the Days - Press release]
{{Natalie Imbruglia}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Counting Down The Days}}
Category:Natalie Imbruglia albums