Maps of Music

Version (2007)

Where the lyrics of Version take you, and where it was really made.

Ronson's second album is made entirely of cover versions, and its lead single 'Valerie' was kept from the UK No. 1 spot only by the Sugababes.

Key places

Recorded at Metropolis, London (2007)

Recording site Metropolis Studios — Metropolis in London is listed as a place where this album was recorded. The point marks the studio itself, not a precise location within the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Sarm West Studios, London (2007)

Recording site Sarm West Studios — Sarm West Studios in London is credited as a recording location for this album. The point marks the studio building, not a precise room. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Daptone's House of Soul, New York City (2007)

Recording site Daptone's House of Soul — Daptone's House of Soul in New York City is credited as a recording location for this album. The point marks the studio building, not a precise room. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Version: second studio album by British musician, DJ and producer Mark Ronson
• First released 16 April 2007 through Allido and Columbia Records
• Album of cover versions
• Retro-inspired sound that Ronson considers reminiscent of Motown and Stax releases
• Cost more than £870,000 to launch
• Reached number 2 on the UK Albums Chart
• Sold 105,584 copies as of January 2015

Background

• Before this album, Ronson worked on Lily Allen's Alright, Still and Amy Winehouse's Back To Black
• Both of those artists appear on this, his second album
• The album largely abandons rap
• The formula from Winehouse's hit single Rehab is applied here: a pastiche of a 60s soul revue's brass-laden sound
• As the title suggests, that formula is applied to cover versions of unlikely alt-rock tracks

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• British and American musician, record producer, songwriter and DJ, born 4 September 1975 in Notting Hill, London.
• Moved to New York City at age eight; became a DJ on the local club scene in the early 1990s while studying at New York University.
• Debut album Here Comes the Fuzz (2003) on Elektra Records sold poorly; Ronson then co-founded Allido Records in 2004.
• Gained wider recognition through production for Lily Allen, Christina Aguilera and Amy Winehouse.
• Cover album Version (2007) reached number two on the UK Albums Chart and earned the Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist.
• "Uptown Funk" (2014, featuring Bruno Mars) topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks and became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
• Co-wrote "Shallow" for A Star Is Born (2018), winning an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a Grammy.
• Executive producer of the Barbie soundtrack (2023), which won three Grammy Awards.
• Has won ten Grammy Awards in total, including Producer of the Year for Back to Black.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Critical response was generally positive
• The Guardian: Alexis Petridis wrote that Ronson hit commercial paydirt with Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse, and that the album applies the Rehab formula to cover versions of alt-rock tracks
• NME: Priya Elan praised the choices of covers of modern classics and their sense of fun
• MusicOMH: John Murphy called it destined to become one of the great party albums of the summer and one of the more intriguing albums of the year
• Okayplayer: Mike Gadd wrote that it is loose, funky and soaked in soul
• Stylus: James Cobb declared it one of the most vibrant, invigorating works of pop music in a while
• Rolling Stone: Rob Sheffield gave three out of five stars, calling it an audacious set of left-field covers turned into dance-soul tracks
• Mixed reviews also appeared: Line of Best Fit (Rich Hughes) gave 60%, saying the misses dominate; Michelle Dhillon called it a conglomeration of obvious singles

Reappraisal

• In February 2008 Ronson won the BRIT Award for Best British Male Solo Artist, beating Mika
• He performed a medley of three songs from the album at the ceremony, most acclaimed was 'Valerie' with Amy Winehouse
• After the ceremony the album rose from 22 to 4 on the UK Albums chart

Records

• Debuted at number 2 in the UK
• Spent 45 weeks in the UK Top 75, with 10 weeks in the top 10
• Certified triple platinum in the UK in June 2019 for sales of over 900,000 units
• BBC Radio 1 listed it as the 12th most successful album of 2007 in the UK
• Peaked at No. 129 on the Billboard 200
• Sold 65,000 copies in the United States as of 2010

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album's single 'Valerie' stayed off the top spot because the Sugababes held it; it spent a dozen weeks in the top 10 and sold well over 300,000 copies
• 'Valerie' topped the Dutch Top 40 for four consecutive weeks, keeping Leona Lewis from the top spot
• BBC Radio 1 ranked the album 12th most successful of 2007 in the UK, ahead of Justin Timberlake, Foo Fighters, Nelly Furtado and Lily Allen
• The fourth and final single 'Just' featured Alex Greenwald and Sam Farrar of Phantom Planet
• Upon release the album charted at 29 in the World Top 40

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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