Released February 8, 2005 Label 143, Reprise Release date 8 February 2005 | Length 49:10 Artist Michael Bublé | |
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Recorded October 2004 - January 2005; Chartmaker Studios, Malibu, California It's Time
(2005) Caught in the Act
(2005) Genres Jazz, Vocal music, Traditional pop music, Vocal jazz Producers David Foster, Humberto Gatica, Tommy LiPuma Nominations Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, Echo Award for Best International Newcomer Similar Call Me Irresponsible, Crazy Love, To Be Loved, Caught in the Act, Michael Bublé | ||
It's Time is the fourth studio album, and second major label studio album, released by Canadian singer Michael Bublé. The album was released by 143 Records and Reprise Records on February 8, 2005.
Contents
Similar to Buble’s previous albums, this album features his covers of well-known songs from varying decades. Unlike the previous albums, this one was the first to feature a song penned in part by the jazz performer himself called “Home.” After its release, It's Time received mixed to positive reviews from contemporary music critics. While many commended the use of Bublé's vocals, the album faced criticism regarding Bublé's extensive use of jazz and pop covers that appeared throughout the majority of the album.
Despite some unfavorable reviews, the album became a commercial success, topping the charts in Canada, Italy, and Spain, while also peaking in the top ten in eleven other countries. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it three-times platinum, for shipments of three million copies across the United States. In Australia, the album was certified 5× Platinum by the ARIA for sales of 350,000 copies sold, and in Canada it was certified 6× Platinum by the CRIA for sales of 600,000 copies. To date, the album has sold 6 million units worldwide.
Singles
"Home" was released as the album's lead single in the United Kingdom on March 28, 2005. The single peaked at #68 on the UK Singles Chart, and thus, its release in other territories was put on hold. However, after the success of "Feeling Good", the single was re-released on November 14, 2005 as a double A-side with "Song for You". This time, the single managed to reach #72 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while topping the Adult Contemporary chart.
It also managed to chart within the top forty on the Adult Pop Songs and Digital Songs charts. Elsewhere, the song managed to reach #31 in the United Kingdom, while peaking within the top forty in Australia, Austria, and Switzerland.
"Home," Bublé's first original song on an album, spent time at the No. 1 spot on the charts in more than 10 countries. He stated that during the recording process for It's Time he "came into [his] own as a songwriter" and hearing his own song on the radio made him feel "like a true artist." He also acknowledged that a downside to producing mostly covers of well-loved songs is that people often compare you to the original; in writing his own song, he says, he found a sense of freedom. Bublé feels that the song is distinct in comparison to the other songs on the album because of its "country twang" and more-relatable lyrics. The song was written collaboratively with Amy Foster-Gillies, Nashville native and daughter of successful Canadian musician David Foster.
Bublé credits the success of It's Time, which sold six million copies by 2011, to "Home." It was the most played song on Canadian radio in 2006. Outside of Canada, It's Time found success in other countries such as Japan, Italy, and Australia, and charted in the top ten singles in both the U.K. and U.S. charts. Besides its commercial success, "Home" was critically lauded, winning the 2006 Juno Award for single of the year.
In his 2011 autobiographic work, Onstage Offstage, Bublé states that then-girlfriend Debbie Timuss was his inspiration in writing the song. Timuss featured in the backing vocals for "Home," as well as in its popular music video. The video was shot in the Orpheum Theater in Vancouver, Canada.
A cover has since been made by American country artist Blake Shelton. Shelton's version of Bublé's song landed him top of the charts for R&R Singles Chart and MediaBase Singles. Shelton was quoted in saying," I loved 'Home' the first time I heard it, and I really love it now," said Shelton. "I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought it was a country song. I've had the honor of performing "Home" with Michael Bublé on a couple of occasions and can honestly say he is a really great guy, and I think as a writer he's probably pretty excited that it's reached number one, too." Bublé attributes the song's popularity to its relatable themes, stating that "[w]e all know what it's like to be homesick. It's one of the worst feelings. I know about that as well as anybody." "Home" was also featured on the soundtrack of the 2005 American romantic comedy The Wedding Date along with other songs from Bublé's albums.
Other singles
"Feeling Good" was released as the first international single from the album on April 4, 2005. Even though the single did not chart in the United States, it managed to chart on the Austria Singles Chart at #66 and on the Dutch Singles Chart at #61. It also charted in the United Kingdom, peaking at #69.
Critical reception
The album received mixed reviews from contemporary music critics, with positive attention given to Bublé's vocals. Aaron Latham of AllMusic gave the album four out of five stars and felt that the album "mine[d] the rich history of pop music" as he noted that Bublé applied "his own technique to classic standards and incorporate[d] his Rat Pack sound into modern pop songs". The songs "Home", "Can't Buy Me Love", "Song for You", and "You and I" were called the highlights of the album. Woodrow Wilkins from All About Jazz commended how It's Time was "relevant to today's audience" and noted that Bublé "delivers [the songs] with the heart and passion that only a person who claims ownership of these titles can muster". However, Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian didn't appreciate the album's composition of jazz and pop covers, saying that "Sinatra is turning in his grave". Amy Lichty of the Daily Emerald said that "Bublé's clear voice and smooth rhythms keep the CD moving along", but also noted that he "is simply no match for either Sinatra or Connick".
Personnel
Personnel adapted from Allmusic.
Songs
1Feeling Good3:57
2A Foggy Day (In London Town)2:32
3You Don't Know Me4:14