The Original High

In July 2013, it was reported that Lambert had left his record label of five years, RCA Records, due to "creative differences"; the label was allegedly pushing him to record an album composed of cover songs from the 1980s.{{cite magazine|last1=Lipshutz|first1=Jason|title=Adam Lambert Leaves RCA Records After Turning Down Covers Album|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1586431/adam-lambert-leaves-rca-records-after-turning-down-covers-album|access-date=April 20, 2015|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=July 13, 2013}}{{cite web|last1=Benjamin|first1=Jeff|last2=Hughes|first2=Hilary|title=The Complete Guide to Adam Lambert's 'The Original High': Tracklist, Cover Art Revealed|url=http://www.fuse.tv/2015/01/adam-lambert-new-album|website=Fuse|publisher=Fuse Media|access-date=April 20, 2015|date=April 20, 2015}} The day after his announcement, Lambert was contacted by Warner Bros. Records. A deal with the label was confirmed by Billboard in January 2015, along with news that his upcoming album would be executively produced by Max Martin and Shellback and was scheduled for release in the summer of 2015.{{cite magazine|last1=Halperin|first1=Shirley|title=Warner Bros. CEO Cameron Strang on Why He Signed Adam Lambert|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/6443482/warner-bros-ceo-cameron-strang-signing-adam-lambert|access-date=20 April 2015|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=15 January 2015}} Songwriting for the album began in early 2014, with recording taking place between 2014 and 2015 in the producers' native Sweden.{{cite magazine|last1=Halperin|first1=Shirley|last2=Angermiller|first2=Michele Amabile|title=Exclusive: Adam Lambert Signs New Major Label Deal, Max Martin to Executive Produce Album|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/6443437/adam-lambert-signs-new-major-label-deal-max-martin|access-date=April 20, 2015|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=January 15, 2015}}

Lambert first revealed the album title on social media on January 29, 2015, also his birthday.{{cite tweet |author= Adam Lambert |author-link= Adam Lambert |user= adamlambert|number= 560815349109895168 |date= 29 January 2015 |title= Thrilled to announce the title of my upcoming album: THE ORIGINAL HIGH #theoriginalhigh |access-date= 20 April 2015 }} In March 2015, he unveiled additional details regarding the musical direction of the album in an interview with Hunger TV magazine. Describing the style of the album as less "campy" and theatrical than his previous material, Lambert also identified the album's genre as "definitely pop but not bubblegum."{{cite news|last1=Fraser|first1=Holly|title=The Interview: Adam Lambert|url=http://www.hungertv.com/feature/the-interview-adam-lambert/|access-date=April 20, 2015|work=Hunger TV|date=March 24, 2015|archive-date=March 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325072513/http://www.hungertv.com/feature/the-interview-adam-lambert/|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|last1=Halperin|first1=Shirley|title=Adam Lambert Reveals Cover Art to New Album 'The Original High'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6538720/adam-lambert-reveals-cover-art-to-new-album-the-original-high|access-date=April 20, 2015|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=April 19, 2015}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 70/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|title=Adam Lambert – The Original High|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-original-high-mw0002843910|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=June 8, 2015}}

| rev2 = Digital Spy

| rev2Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/review/a652985/adam-lambert-the-original-high-album-review-tenacious-modern-pop.html|title=Adam Lambert: The Original High album review - Tenacious modern pop|work=Digital Spy|date=June 15, 2015}}

| rev3 = The Guardian

| rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jun/11/adam-lambert-the-original-high-review-a-bouncy-pop-house-journey|title=Adam Lambert: The Original High review – a bouncy pop-house journey|author=Tshepo Mokoena|newspaper=the Guardian|date=June 11, 2015}}

| rev4 = Houston Chronicle

| rev4Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| rev5 = Idolator

| rev5Score = 4/5Riggs, Jonathan (June 16, 2015). [http://www.idolator.com/7596802/adam-lambert-the-original-high-album-review "Adam Lambert’s ‘The Original High’: Album Review"]. Idolator. SpinMedia. Retrieved July 7, 2016.

| rev6 = The Irish Times

| rev6Score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/adam-lambert-the-original-high-album-review-1.2246086|title=Adam Lambert: The Original High - Album Review|date=June 11, 2015|newspaper=The Irish Times}}

| rev7 = The New York Times

| rev7Score = Positive{{cite news|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|title=Review: Adam Lambert Tones Down Excess on 'The Original High' - The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/16/arts/music/review-adam-lambert-tones-down-excess-on-the-original-high.html|work=The New York Times|date=June 15, 2015 |access-date=June 15, 2015}}

| rev8 = New York Daily News

| rev8Score = {{rating|3|5}}Farber, Jim (June 16, 2015). [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/adam-lambert-nate-ruess-new-albums-reviewed-article-1.2258941 "Adam Lambert's 'The Original High' and Nate Ruess' 'Grand Romantic' album reviews: The good and bad of superloud singers"]. New York Daily News. Retrieved July 7, 2016.

| rev9 = Newsday

| rev9Score = A−Gamboa, Glenn (June 11, 2015). [http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/the-original-high-review-adam-lambert-lifts-his-game-1.10533557 "'The Original High' review: Adam Lambert lifts his game"]. Newsday. Retrieved July 7, 2016.

| rev10 = Rolling Stone

| rev10Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/adam-lambert-the-original-high-20150616|title=Adam Lambert's New Album: The Original High|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 16, 2015}}

}}

The Original High received positive reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 70 based on six reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/the-original-high/adam-lambert/critic-reviews|title=Reviews for The Original High by Adam Lambert|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=20 June 2015}} Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic gave the album four out of five stars, commenting that "Adam Lambert demonstrates he's in perfect control of his style and sound and knows how to combine both into a sterling modern pop record."{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-original-high-mw0002843910|title=The Original High - Adam Lambert - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|work=AllMusic}} Jon Caramanica, music critic of The New York Times was also positive on the album, found the star focused and committed to his style and in the end noted: "While there are a few missteps--Mr. Lambert doesn’t have the R&B sultriness required for “Underground,” and “Rumors” bizarrely cribs the jaunty synth pattern from Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop”--there are almost no extravagances. After years of spectacle, Mr. Lambert may have been saved by modesty."

Lauren Murphy from The Irish Times gave only two stars out of five, commented "this unfortunately titled record is neither original nor uplifting enough to generate a high of any description." Brittany Spanos from the Rolling Stone magazine gave the album three out of five stars, stating that "even when the lyrics verge on ridiculousness [...], he's one of the biggest personalities in pop." Maura Johnson from The Boston Globe wrote that the album is "an appealing snapshot of how Lambert has grown, and how he’s still willing to surprise his listeners and himself."{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2015/06/15/album-review-adam-lambert-the-original-high/yv4VrH3xXUv55j57WGHoZI/story.html|title=Album review: Adam Lambert, 'The Original High'|author=Maura Johnson|work=The Boston Globe}} Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle was similarly impressed, writing that the album "builds on the brash appeal that made [Lambert] a star."{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/entertainment/music/article/Adam-Lambert-proves-an-Original-on-dark-6332651.php|title=Album review: Adam Lambert proves an 'Original' on dark, dance-y album|author=Joey Guerra|work=The Houston Chronicle|date=June 17, 2015}} Pip Ellwood of Entertainment Focus called The Original High "the strongest record that Lambert has released to date."{{cite web|url=http://www.entertainment-focus.com/music-review/adam-lambert-the-original-high-album-review/|title=Adam Lambert – The Original High album review|date=June 20, 2015|work=Entertainment Focus}}

In the US market, music industry forecasters predicted that the album could enter the top 10 of the US Billboard 200 chart dated 4 July, with about 35,000 units in its first week.{{cite web|last1=Caulfield|first1=Keith|title=James Taylor Heading for His First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6598420/james-taylor-first-number-1-album-billboard-200|website=billboard.com|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=18 June 2015|date=17 June 2015}} It debuted on the Billboard 200 at number three, selling 42,000 copies in its first week, but totalling 47,000 units including streams and tracks.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6605803/james-taylor-first-no-1-album-billboard-200?mobile_redirection=false |title=After 45-Year Wait, James Taylor Earns His First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart|author= Keith Caulfield |date= June 24, 2015 |magazine=Billboard}}

On the UK Albums Chart, The Original High debuted at number eight, selling 9,817 copies in its first week, giving Lambert his first-ever UK top ten debut.{{cite web|last1=Myers|first1=Justin|title=Muse are Number 1 album for a second week|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/muse-are-number-1-album-for-a-second-week__9878/|website=officialcharts.com|publisher=The Official Charts Company|access-date=21 June 2015|date=21 June 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Johnes|first1=Alan|title=Official Charts Analysis: Muse's Drones hover at No.1 for second week - Music Week: Home Stream|url=http://mediaor.com/post/122155577114/official-charts-analysis-muses-drones-hover-at|website=mediaor.com|publisher=Music Week|access-date=22 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622120250/http://mediaor.com/post/122155577114/official-charts-analysis-muses-drones-hover-at|archive-date=June 22, 2015 |date=22 June 2015}} The album also achieved Lambert's highest-ever album position in the Netherlands, debuting at number ten.

{{Track listing

| headline = The Original High standard edition track listing

| total_length = 40:42

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Ghost Town

| writer1 = {{hlist|Adam Lambert|Sterling Fox|Max Martin|Ali Payami|Tobias Karlsson}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Martin|Payami|Peter Carlsson{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length1 = 3:28

| title2 = The Original High

| writer2 = {{hlist|Lambert|Andreas Schuller|John West|Shellback|Savan Kotecha|Mattias Larsson|Robin Fredriksson|Joe Janiak}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Shellback|Mattman & Robin}}

| length2 = 3:26

| title3 = Another Lonely Night

| writer3 = {{hlist|Lambert|Martin|Fox|Payami}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Martin|Payami}}

| length3 = 3:45

| title4 = Underground

| writer4 = {{hlist|Payami|Janiak}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Payami|Ilya{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length4 = 3:37

| title5 = There I Said It

| writer5 = {{hlist|Lambert|Payami|Janiak}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Payami|Carlsson{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length5 = 4:21

| title6 = Rumors

| note6 = featuring Tove Lo

| writer6 = {{hlist|Lambert|Oscar Görres|Tove Lo|Shellback}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Shellback|OzGo}}

| length6 = 3:45

| title7 = Evil in the Night

| writer7 = {{hlist|Fox|Shellback|Kotecha|Payami|Oscar Holter}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Shellback|Holter|Payami}}

| length7 = 3:56

| title8 = Lucy

| note8 = featuring Brian May

| writer8 = {{hlist|Lambert|Payami|Freja Blomberg|Fredrik Samsson}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Martin|Payami|Samsson|Carlsson{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length8 = 3:32

| title9 = Things I Didn't Say

| writer9 = {{hlist|Lambert|Ilya Salmanzadeh|Holter|Kotecha|James Alan}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Ilya|Holter}}

| length9 = 3:58

| title10 = The Light

| writer10 = {{hlist|Linus Eklöw|Tiffany Amber|Svidden|Lukas Loules}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Lulou|Carlsson{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length10 = 3:35

| title11 = Heavy Fire

| writer11 = {{hlist|Lambert|Anton Rundberg|Hampus Norlander|Joakim Jarl|Elin Blom|Jimmy "Svidden" Koitzsch|Julia Karlsson|Eklöw}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Svidden|Jarly|Style of Eye|Carlsson{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length11 = 3:19

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe edition bonus tracks

| total_length = 50:17

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title12 = After Hours

| writer12 = {{hlist|Lambert|Schuller|West}}

| extra12 = Axident

| length12 = 2:44

| title13 = Shame

| writer13 = {{hlist|T. Karlsson|Alan}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|T. Karlsson|Payami{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length13 = 3:26

| title14 = These Boys

| writer14 = {{hlist|Alan|T. Karlsson}}

| extra14 = T. Karlsson

| length14 = 3:25

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese bonus tracks

| total_length = 62:29

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title15 = Ghost Town

| note15 = Blood Diamonds Remix

| writer15 = {{hlist|Lambert|Fox|Martin|T. Karlsson|Payami}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|Martin|Payami|Carlsson{{ref|a|[a]}}|Blood Diamonds{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length15 = 3:49

| title16 = Ghost Town

| note16 = SeventyEight Remix

| writer16 = {{hlist|Lambert|Fox|Martin|T. Karlsson|Payami}}

| extra16 = {{hlist|Martin|Payami|Carlsson{{ref|a|[a]}}|SeventyEight{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length16 = 3:13

| title17 = Ghost Town

| note17 = Tritonal Remix

| writer17 = {{hlist|Lambert|Fox|Martin|T. Karlsson|Payami}}

| extra17 = {{hlist|Martin|Payami|Carlsson{{ref|a|[a]}}|Tritional{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length17 = 5:10

}}

Notes

• ^{{{note|a|[a]}}} signifies a vocal producer
• ^{{{note|b|[b]}}} signifies an additional producer
• ^{{{note|c|[c]}}} signifies a remixer

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the deluxe version.The Original High (Deluxe Version) (CD liner notes). Adam Lambert. Warner Bros. Records. 2015. 549641-2.

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Adam Lambert – vocals (all tracks)
• Shellback – keyboards (2, 6, 7), programming (2, 6, 7), guitar (2, 7), bass (7), backing vocals (2, 6, 7), production (2, 6, 7) exec. production (all tracks)
• Mattman & Robin – keyboards (2), programming (2), guitar (2), bass (2), percussion (2), production (2)
• Ali Payami – programming (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13), bass (1, 3, 4, 5, 8), keyboards (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8), percussion (1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13), production (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8) additional production (13)
• Tobias Karlsson – guitars (1, 13, 14), keyboards (13, 14), bass (13, 14), programming (13, 14), production (13, 14), engineering (13, 14), vocal recording
• Tove Lo – vocals (6)
• Oscar Holter – keyboards (7, 9), bass (9), guitar (9), programming (7, 9), backing vocals (9), production (7, 9), vocal production (9)
• Ilya – programming (9), bass (9), keys (9), guitars (9), backing vocals (9), production (9), vocal production (4, 9)
• Thrice Noble – programming (13), additional keys and guitar (13)
• Savan Kotecha – backing vocals (9)
• Lulou – guitars, keyboards, bass, programming, percussion (10), production (10)
• Svideen – keyboards, bass, programming, percussion (11), production (11)
• Jarly – keyboards, bass, programming, percussion (11), production (11), vocal editing (11)
• Style of Eye – keyboards, bass, programming, percussion (11), production (11)
• Andreas Schuller – percussion, synth (12)
• John West – guitar (12)
• Brian May – guitar (8)
• OzGo – keyboards (6), guitar (6), programming (6), production (6)
• Axident – guitar, percussion (2), production (12), engineering (12)
• Max Martin – backing vocals (4), production (1, 3, 8) exec. production (all tracks)
• Sterling Fox – backing vocals (1, 3)
• Fredrik Samsson – production (8)
• Cory Bice – engineering (1, 9), assistant engineering (3, 5, 8)
• Michael Ilbert – additional engineering (1)
• Peter Carlsson – engineering (9), vocal production (5, 8, 10, 11), vocal recording (2), vocal editing (3, 7)
• Spyke Lee – assistant engineering (2, 6, 7)
• Sam Holland – engineering (3, 5, 8, 10)
• Jeremy Lertola – assistant engineering (3)
• Eric Weaver – engineering (13, 14)
• Serban Ghenea – mixing (1–9)
• John Hanes – assistant mix engineering (1–9)
• Michael Ilbert – mixing (10–14)
• Tim Roberts – assistant mix engineering (2, 6, 7)
• Nanni Johansson – assistant mix engineering (10–14)
• Tom Coyne – mastering (all tracks)
• Randy Merrill – assistant mastering engineering (all tracks)

{{div col end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Adam Lambert|title=The Original High|nocert=yes|relyear=2015|certyear=2015|access-date=December 20, 2015|salesamount=4,800|salesref={{cite web|url=http://ajournalofmusicalthings.com/weekly-music-news-sales-report-and-analysis-24-june-2015/|title=Weekly Music News Sales Report and Analysis: 24 June 2015 - A Journal of Musical Things|date=June 24, 2015}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Adam Lambert|title=The Original High|nocert=yes|relyear=2015|certyear=2015|access-date=December 20, 2015|salesamount=9,817|salesref={{cite web|title=Official Charts Analysis: Muse's Drones hover at... - mediaor |url=http://mediaor.com/post/122155577114/official-charts-analysis-muses-drones-hover-at |date=2015-06-22 |access-date=2015-08-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622153844/http://mediaor.com/post/122155577114/official-charts-analysis-muses-drones-hover-at |archive-date=June 22, 2015 }}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Adam Lambert|title=The Original High|nocert=yes|relyear=2015|certyear=2015|access-date=December 20, 2015|salesamount=42,000|salesref={{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6605803/james-taylor-first-no-1-album-billboard-200?mobile_redirection=false |title=After 45-Year Wait, James Taylor Earns His First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart|author= Keith Caulfield |date= December 20, 2015 |magazine=Billboard}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|type=album|artist=Adam Lambert|title=The Original High|award=Platinum|relyear=2015|certyear=2016|access-date=March 2, 2016}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Russia|type=album|artist=Adam Lambert|title=The Original High|award=Platinum|relyear=2015|certyear=2016}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true | noshipments=true}}

{{Reflist|refs=

The Original High Australian release:

• {{cite web|title=iTunes - Music - The Original High by Adam Lambert|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/the-original-high/984745969|website=iTunes|location=Australia|date=June 12, 2015}}
• {{cite web|title=iTunes - Music - The Original High (Deluxe Version) by Adam Lambert|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/the-original-high-deluxe-version/984746724|website=iTunes|location=Australia|date=June 12, 2015}}

The Original High American release:

• {{cite web|title=iTunes - Music - The Original High by Adam Lambert|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-original-high/984745969|website=iTunes|location=United States|date=June 16, 2015}}
• {{cite web|title=iTunes - Music - The Original High (Deluxe Version) by Adam Lambert|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/original-high-deluxe-version/984746724|website=iTunes|location=United States|date=June 16, 2015}}
• {{cite web|title=Amazon.com: Adam Lambert: The Original High: Music|url=https://www.amazon.com/Original-High-Adam-Lambert/dp/B00WE2SMO8/|website=Amazon.com|location=United States|date=June 16, 2015}}
• {{cite web|title=Amazon.com: Adam Lambert: The Original High (Deluxe Version): Music|url=https://www.amazon.com/Original-High-Deluxe-Version/dp/B00WE2SMKC/|website=Amazon.com|location=United States|date=June 16, 2015}}

}}

• [http://www.adamlambert.net/ Adam Lambert Official Website]

{{Adam Lambert}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Original High}}

Category:2015 albums

Category:Adam Lambert albums

Category:Albums produced by Max Martin

Category:Albums produced by Shellback (record producer)

Category:Albums produced by Ilya Salmanzadeh

Category:Albums produced by Mattman & Robin

Category:Warner Records albums