Rockferry is the debut studio album by Welsh blue-eyed soul singer Duffy, released on 3 March 2008 in the United Kingdom by A&M Records. It was released in the United States by Mercury Records. Duffy worked with several producers and writers on the album, including Bernard Butler, Steve Booker, Jimmy Hogarth and Eg White. The album took four years to record in total.

The album has won a number of awards since its release, including the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 51st annual ceremony (2009).^[1] Duffy also won three awards at the 2009 BRIT Awards for her work on Rockferry including Best British Album, whilst Butler was given the Producer's Award.

It was a commercial success, reaching number-one in several music markets. It was the fourth best selling album of 2008 worldwide according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry^[2][3] and the highest of that year in the United Kingdom.^[4] In the UK the album was still in the top five a full year after its release, spending most of those weeks in the top ten albums, and a significant amount in the top three. In 2010, it was ranked the 22nd best-selling album of the 2000s in the UK.^[5]

A total of five singles were released from the album. The first single, "Rockferry" had little impact, whilst the second and lead single internationally, "Mercy", was an international hit, topping over twelve music charts. It was the third-best-selling single of 2008 in the UK.^[4] Follow-up single "Warwick Avenue" was another successful single, whilst "Stepping Stone" and "Rain On Your Parade" did not replicate the earlier success.

Rockferry was re-released as a deluxe edition on 24 November 2008 in the UK, preceded by the lead single "Rain on Your Parade" which became the fifth overall single from the album.

Background[link]

The album title Rockferry, according to Duffy,^[6] is loosely based on Rock Ferry, a suburb of Birkenhead, on the Wirral Peninsula and approximately ten miles from the Welsh border and three miles from Liverpool. The album art and video for the title track were shot on and around the Ffestiniog Railway in Porthmadog, which was renamed 'Rockferry' for the occasion. The timing of the photoshoot was somewhat before the release of the album, when Duffy was still a relatively unknown performer.^[7] In 2010, the song "Distant Dreamer" was sung by Rebecca Ferguson, a contestant on the seventh series of UK talent show The X Factor on the live final, as her potential winner's song. Had she won, her cover would have been her debut single.

Reception[link]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[8]
Entertainment Weekly	(A-)[9]
The Guardian	[10]
NME	(4/10)[11]
The Observer	[12]
Q	Link
Robert Christgau	[13]
Rolling Stone	[14]
Spin	[15]
The Times	[16]
Uncut	[17]

Aside from a largely unenthusiastic review by NME, the album has generally received positive reviews from critics.^[18][19][20] The Observer, for example, gave the album a 5 out of 5, describing it as 'a fantastic album of burning blue soul' and drawing comparisons to Amy Winehouse and The Supremes.^[21] The album has earned a nomination for the 2008 MOJO Awards in the category of "Album of The Year". In addition "Mercy" has been nominated for "Song of the Year".^[22]

Music critic site Metacritic has given the album an aggregate review of 71 out of 100, based solely on reviews by professional critics.^[23] Entertainment Weekly, gave the album a score of 91 of 100 (A-) and compared the album to one of Dusty Springfield's, saying "Once the Dusty Springfield-flecked closer, 'Distant Dreamer,' comes round, you'll be wishin' and hopin' for more".^[23]

Top-ten lists, 2008:^[24]

• 4th – Michael Hollett, NOW Toronto
• 6th – Q
• 9th – Billboard
• 10th – Josh Tyrangiel, TIME^[25]

Release[link]

	"Rockferry" noicon "Warwick Avenue" noicon "Mercy" noicon "I'm Scared" noicon
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On its first day of release in the UK the album sold 60,000 copies, outselling the rest of the top ten combined and setting it on course to become one of the fastest selling debuts ever.^[26] It sold 180,000 copies in the UK alone in its first week, and consequently spent four weeks at the top spot. Despite falling to number two in the charts after the release of R.E.M.'s Accelerate, it again rose to the top a week later. This makes a cumulative total of five weeks in the number one spot. In the UK, the album spent a total of twenty six weeks (twenty five consecutive) inside the Top Four - five at number one, eight at number two, seven at number three, and six at number four. On 31 August 2008 it fell four places from number three to number seven, but climbed back up to number four the following week.

After leaving the top ten, the album re-entered the albums top ten at number ten then climbed four places to number six in the last week of 2008. In the first week of 2009, the album continued to climb the chart and ranked at number three on the UK Albums Chart behind Kings of Leon's "Only By The Night" at number two and Take That's "the Circus" being at the top spot.

The album received yet another sales boost after the 2009 Brit Awards where Rockferry won the award for Best British Album and where Duffy won a further two awards. Sales of the album increased by 66%^[27] and it jumped from nineteen on the UK Albums Chart back into the top five to land at number four. Its re-entry back into the top five coincided with its first year anniversary on sale and when the album entered the chart at number one. The fact that the album was still in the top five a year after release is considered by many to be a fantastic commercial performance by the album.^[27]

In Spain, the album debuted at number two, a very high position for a debuting singer. It has sold 40,000 copies so far. In France, Rockferry entered the charts at number four selling 21,862 copies.^[28] The next week, it reached number two selling 22,259 copies.^[29] Rockferry stayed at number two selling 18,187 copies the third week.^[30] So far the album sold 420,000 copies in France.^[31]

In New Zealand, the album debuted at number two in the week starting 14 April 2008, and the following week knocked Amy Winehouse's multi-platinum album Back to Black off to claim the top spot. Rockferry was certified Gold after three weeks on the chart, selling in the excess of 7,500+ copies. The album was then certified Platinum after eight weeks selling 15,000+ copies, 2x Platinum after twenty-two weeks with 30,000+ copies sold and 3x Platinum with over 45,000 copies sold.

In America, the album sold 16,000 copies in its first day, and sold 72,000 in its first week, debuting at number four on the Billboard 200. Universal Music Group stated that Rockferry is the best American debut for one of its UK acts.^[32] Total U.S. sales stand at 848,000.^[33]

Track listing[link]

Deluxe edition[link]

Singles[link]

• "Rockferry" was released as Rockferry's first single in the United Kingdom. Originally released as a limited 500 copy 7" vinyl, the song was made available for digital download on the UK iTunes Store on 19 November 2007.^[36] The song was critically acclaimed, with many noting the song was the highlight of the album.
• "Mercy"
• "Warwick Avenue"
• "Stepping Stone"
• "Rain on Your Parade"

Single B-sides[link]

Sales[link]

United Kingdom

In February 2008 the Aimée Duffy EP reached the number 1 spot on Siart C2. When the single "Mercy" hit the top of the charts in February 2008 Duffy became the first Welsh female to top the UK Singles Chart in 25 years, since Bonnie Tyler with "Total Eclipse Of The Heart".^[37] It remained at number one for five weeks. The second single from the album, "Warwick Avenue" was at the number 3 position on the UK Singles Chart.^[38] Subsequent single "Stepping Stone" peaked at number 21 and title track at number 45.^[39] The single "Rain on Your Parade" debuted at number twenty-two on 10 November and rose to a peak of number fifteen the following week.^[40][41]

With a total of 1.685m physical and digital sales, Rockferry was the best selling album in the United Kingdom in 2008. "Mercy" was the third best selling single for the year with over 500,000 copies sold.^[42]

As of 26 December 2008 in its 43rd week on the charts Rockferry had risen to the number 6 position from number 10 the previous week.^[43] The week following her 3 Brit Award victories in February 2009 the album rose from number 19 position to number 4.^[44]

United States

In the United States, the album peaked at the number 4 on the Billboard 200.^[45] The singles "Mercy" and "Warwick Avenue" peaked at number 27 and 96 respectively.^[46] By November 2008, 500,000 copies of Rockferry had been sold and had been certified Gold by the RIAA.^[47][48] "Mercy" has also been certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales of more than one million copies in the US.

In the first quarter of 2009 Rockferry sold 107,000 copies ranking it 13th among international artists and 73rd overall.^[49]

Worldwide

Rockferry topped the Pan-European Album Chart, and "Mercy" topped the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles chart on 21 April 2008.^[50] On 12 June the album topped the European albums charts with Mercy at number 2 on the European singles chart.^[51] By 21 August Rockferry had reached number one in 11 markets.^[52] On 30 October Rockferry had been in the top 100 on Billboard's Euro Albums chart for 34 straight weeks and was residing at the number 10 position.^[53] Rockferry was the world's fourth bestselling album in 2008.^[54] By September 2010 the album had sold 6.5 million copies.^[55]

Personnel[link]

Charts[link]

Notes

• A ^ All the available sales and shipment figures counted up. This is not the official figure since the sales are based on certificates or published articles. It can be estimated that the official sales per country are higher.

Chart procession and succession[link]

Release history[link]

References[link]

This article uses bare URLs for citations. Please consider adding full citations so that the article remains verifiable. Several templates and the Reflinks tool are available to assist in formatting. (Reflinks documentation) (August 2011)

Bernard Joseph Butler (born 1 May 1970, Stamford Hill, North London) is an English musician and record producer. He first emerged in the early Britpop era with Suede. He has been hailed by some critics as the greatest guitarist of his generation,^[1] as well as one of Britain's most original and influential guitarists.^[2] He was voted the 24th greatest guitarist of the last 30 years in a national 2010 BBC poll.^[3]

Career[link]

He first achieved fame in 1992 as the guitarist with Suede, forging a songwriting partnership with Brett Anderson, at the time an instant phenomenon in UK pop music. He co-wrote and played guitars on every track until 1994, when he exited Suede, leaving behind the Mercury Music Prize winning debut Suede, as well as the follow-up Dog Man Star.

In 1994 Butler formed the duo McAlmont and Butler with David McAlmont. They released two singles, "Yes" and "You Do". A compilation album, The Sound of McAlmont and Butler, was released after the split. He went on to release two solo albums under his own name, People Move On and Friends and Lovers on Creation Records yielding the hit single "Stay". In 2001 Butler teamed up with McAlmont for a second McAlmont and Butler album, Bring it Back, touring the UK with two singles, "Falling" and "Bring it Back".

In 2004 Butler healed his rift with former Suede singer Brett Anderson, forming a new band, The Tears. The Tears released their debut LP, Here Come The Tears, produced by Butler, in June 2005. Singles include "Refugees", which reached #9 in the UK Singles Chart,^[4] and "Lovers".

In 2005 he was introduced to Welsh singer Duffy contributing to her five million selling debut Rockferry which was nominated for three Grammy Awards. Butler contributed the title track as well as "Syrup & Honey" which was used in a worldwide Nivea advertisement campaign, produced "Please Stay" for "Telstar - The Movie" and co wrote "Smoke Without Fire", to be used in the 2009 film, An Education. They also produced a cover version of Wings "Live & Let Die" for the 2009 Warchild album at Sir Paul McCartney's request. In 2009 Butler has produced the music for the Diet Coke television advertisement featuring Duffy, as well as a cover of the "Stay With Me Baby" for the Richard Curtis film The Boat That Rocked. The pair continue to collaborate.

He has played on and/or produced records by^[5] Aimee Mann, Edwyn Collins, Neneh Cherry, Tim Booth (of James), Duffy, Eddi Reader, Hopper, Roy Orbison, Bert Jansch, The Libertines, Heather Nova, Mark Owen, The Veils, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Cribs, Pretenders, The On-Off's, 1990s, The Mescalitas, Cut Off Your Hands, Cajun Dance Party, The View, Arkitekt, Sons and Daughters, Black Kids, Tricky, Sharleen Spiteri and Nerina Pallot. He created the soundtrack to the 1997 film The James Gang and played on the soundtrack of Velvet Goldmine, alongside Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead. He has played live with The Cranberries, Sparks, Paul Weller, Teenage Fanclub, Manic Street Preachers, and Duke Special.

Butler names former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr as his major inspiration. He started learning to play guitar after hearing Marr and was able to play all Smiths songs by ear.^[6] He is often seen performing with a 1961 cherry red Gibson ES-355 TD SV (Stereo Varitone) with a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece.

Butler is managed by Rough Trade's Geoff Travis and Jeannette Lee.

Butler won the Producer's Award at the 2009 BRIT Awards,^[2] Producer Of The Year at the 2008 Music Managers Forum Awards, and was nominated for Best Producer at the 2009 Music Week Awards.

In 2009 Butler co-wrote/produced/played on tracks by The Veils, Tommy Reilly, Jonathan Jeremiah, Duffy, Kate Jackson, Catherine A.D.^[7] He completed Kate Nash's second album My Best Friend Is You at his own "355" Studios .

In 2010 Butler worked concurrently with Nerina Pallot, Fyfe Dangerfield, Noisettes, Slow Club, Gabrielle, Howling Bells, The Veils, Simon Dine, as well as the new artists Vince, Daley, Summer Camp, Joe Worricker, Jodie Low, and Scott McFarnon. He switches between co-writing, producing and performing and sometimes all three on any of these works.

Discography[link]

Suede[link]

• 1993 - Suede - Suede (Mercury Music Prize winner)
  • singles: "The Drowners", "Metal Mickey", "Animal Nitrate", "So Young"
• 1994 - Suede - "Stay Together" (Non-album single)
• 1994 - Suede - Dog Man Star
  • singles: "We are the Pigs", "The Wild Ones", "New Generation"

• 1997 - Suede - Sci-Fi Lullabies
  • (collection of Suede B-sides)

Solo[link]

• 1998 - Bernard Butler - People Move On
  • singles: "Stay", "Not Alone", "A Change of Heart"
• 1999 - Bernard Butler - Friends and Lovers
  • singles: "Friends and Lovers", "You Must Go On"

McAlmont and Butler[link]

• 1995 - McAlmont and Butler - The Sound of McAlmont and Butler
  • singles: "Yes", "You Do"
• 2002 - McAlmont and Butler - Bring It Back
  • singles: "Falling", "Bring it Back"
• 2006 - McAlmont and Butler
  • single: "Speed"

The Tears[link]

• 2005 - The Tears - Here Come The Tears
  • singles: "Refugees", "Lovers"

Collaborator/producer[link]

• Aimee Mann - I'm With Stupid (1995)
• Neneh Cherry - Man (1996)
• Booth and the Bad Angel - Booth And The Bad Angel (1996)
• Hopper - English And French (1996)
• Bert Jansch - Crimson Moon (2000) and Edge of a Dream (2002)
• Heather Nova - South (2001)
• Bernard & Edwyn - "Message For Jojo" (2001)
• The Libertines - "What a Waster" (2002), "Don't Look Back Into The Sun" (2003)
• Mark Owen - "Four Minute Warning" (2003), co-wrote b-side "Jay Walker"
• Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Shoot from the Hip (2003)
• The Veils - The Runaway Found (2003), Sun Gangs (2009)
• The Cribs - "You're Gonna Lose Us" (2005)
• 1990s - Cookies (2007), Kicks (2009)
• Sharleen Spiteri - Melody (2008)
• Sons And Daughters - This Gift (2008)
• Cajun Dance Party - The Colourful Life (2008)
• Duffy - Rockferry (2008)
• Black Kids - Partie Traumatic (2008)
• Tricky - Knowle West Boy (2008)
• Duke Special - I Never Thought This Day Would Come (2008)
• Cut Off Your Hands - You And I (2008)
• Findlay Brown - Love Will Find You (2009)
• Tommy Reilly - Words On The Floor (2009)
• Fyfe Dangerfield - "Faster Than the Setting Sun" and "She Needs Me", Fly Yellow Moon (2010)
• Kate Nash - My Best Friend Is You (2010)
• Nerina Pallot - Year of the Wolf (2011)

References[link]

External links[link]