[jackbell]

Sounds like he's going in a direction somewhere between Rhydian and Susan Boyle. If it pays off Simon will be kicking himself as he loves big orchestral pop ballads/classics.

[judetheobscure2]

Ooh no - he's going to be more pop than those two. As far as we know there isn't even a whiff of classical on the new album and I doubt there will be anything like big band (as suggested by an earlier poster). Joe tweeted (30th May) that it would be bang in the middle of Wide Awake (disco-pop) and Classic (film/musicals/crossover).

[Bex.]

he's got an announcement tomorrow

[LunarLegend]

Originally Posted by Bex.

he's got an announcement tomorrow

Spoiler

He is collaborating with Dappy.

You heard it here first Bex.

[billiesmith]

Originally Posted by LunarLegend

Spoiler

He is collaborating with Dappy.

You heard it here first Bex.

[Bex.]

Originally Posted by LunarLegend

Spoiler

He is collaborating with Dappy.

You heard it here first Bex.

LOL! Joe rapping

[Dyanna]

Detail on Joe's new album 'Here's What I Believe

Joe is back with his 3rd studio album with Decca records. Produced by Steve Power (Robbie Williams, McFly, Nerina Pallot) and Steven Baker, this album will not only explore the full range of Joe’s vocal talent but also showcase his own compositions (Here’s What I Believe, What have I Done ). An album of ballads and timeless love songs including Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart (Gene Pitney), Skyscraper (Demi Lovato) and I Look To You (Whitney Houston).

http://store.universal-music.co.uk/invt/0602537087327

So, tracklists so far

1. Here’s What I Believe
2. What have I Done
3. Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Cxhl8AwOf0
4. I Look To You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pze_mdbOK8
5. Skyscraper http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_8ydghbGSg



Joe has confirmed two special album launch shows in Newcastle and London for Sept 2012.
http://www.kililive.com/joe-mcelderr...sive-pre-sale/

[Gill P]

I love Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart! Good choice Joe.

I cannot go to the album launch - too many things going on in September and I cannot afford the fare and hotel.

[Shannon_Burnett]

Originally Posted by Gill P

I love Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart! Good choice Joe.

I cannot go to the album launch - too many things going on in September and I cannot afford the fare and hotel.

It's one of my favourites from that era, really looking forward to hearing Joe's voice on it!

[Craftie16]

Can't wait to get this album. Love the three songs we have heard especially skycraper so looking forward to hearing Joe's version of this.

Roll on 17th September

[marylou2]

Looking good! clever idea to bring out an album which will appeal to all age groups of Joes fans, And the added joy of getting the chance to hear some original tracks hes written himself..
Reckon its going to be a stunner of an album and once again will showcase his incredible voice.. Roll on September 17th!

[Bex.]

still doing covers then..

[LunarLegend]

Originally Posted by Bex.

still doing covers then..

Think the unconfirmed songs are all his own Im looking foward to hearing Skyscraper never heard this by a male vocalist.

[Dyanna]

Originally Posted by Bex.

still doing covers then..

The album does have some covers on but it’s mostly original songs.

[Gill P]

Originally Posted by Bex.

still doing covers then..

And what is wrong with that? There are some fantastic songs which haven't been heard recently which Joe will sing to perfection. I would rather hear a great cover than a mediocre new song - not that anything Joe sings is mediocre.

[jackbell]

Originally Posted by Bex.

still doing covers then..

Yeah, I think you have to look at the bigger picture. The guy had a very low selling debut album and his future, once dropped from SyCo, was bleak. To see him bounce back - albeit via another TV show - is remarkable.

He is young yet and has plenty of time to write his own material. He has started this process already. I'm pleased he has been given this opportunity.

[Bex.]

Originally Posted by jackbell

Yeah, I think you have to look at the bigger picture. The guy had a very low selling debut album and his future, once dropped from SyCo, was bleak. To see him bounce back - albeit via another TV show - is remarkable.

He is young yet and has plenty of time to write his own material. He has started this process already. I'm pleased he has been given this opportunity.

but all he's done from that TV show is 2 'Classic' cover albums. he then takes a while to record his next album, so if i was a fan I'd be expecting it to be all original material (surely that's what his fans want?) but instead Decca stick a bunch of covers on there.

[Gill P]

Originally Posted by Bex.

but all he's done from that TV show is 2 'Classic' cover albums. he then takes a while to record his next album, so if i was a fan I'd be expecting it to be all original material (surely that's what his fans want?) but instead Decca stick a bunch of covers on there.

You are wrong. I and many of the McElderry Massive are delighted he took time with the new album and are not at all bothered that there are covers on it. I, for one, love to hear Joe's take on old STANDARD songs.

As for "all he's done from that TV show", again you are wrong. He has sung at the Albert Hall in the Festival of Remembrance, has sung there again with Dionne Warwick, sung twice on Songs of Praise. I could go on but don't want to overload you with Joe's achievments since winning Pop Star to Opera Star!

[jackbell]

Originally Posted by Bex.

but all he's done from that TV show is 2 'Classic' cover albums. he then takes a while to record his next album, so if i was a fan I'd be expecting it to be all original material (surely that's what his fans want?) but instead Decca stick a bunch of covers on there.

Yes, but I'm saying look at the bigger picture and you're still talking about original material.

The guy had to move back to his old bedroom in his parents house after SyCo dumped him. After all the hype and the hard work of winning the show in 2009 he had to go and move back to Tyneside.

His career was dead. As dead as Leon Jackson's when he was similarly dumped.

He managed to bounce back and win another TV show and record three more albums. I think that's a huge accomplishment.

[YorkshireLass7]

Originally Posted by jackbell

Yes, but I'm saying look at the bigger picture and you're still talking about original material.

The guy had to move back to his old bedroom in his parents house after SyCo dumped him. After all the hype and the hard work of winning the show in 2009 he had to go and move back to Tyneside.

His career was dead. As dead as Leon Jackson's when he was similarly dumped.

He managed to bounce back and win another TV show and record three more albums. I think that's a huge accomplishment.

Please don't repeat The Sun's lazy journalism. Joe didn't 'move back' to Tyneside because he never left. He and his Mam took a short term lease on a serviced apartment in London while the majority of his album promo was going on down there. When the lease ended - as planned - they returned to South Shields. The day he was pictured in the papers with this story he'd actually just taken a call from his solicitor to confirm his own house purchase had gone through - not bad for a then 19 year old. But of course the real story doesn't make for such a good read from the XF friendly Sun does it

[gpk]

Originally Posted by jackbell

Yes, but I'm saying look at the bigger picture and you're still talking about original material.

The guy had to move back to his old bedroom in his parents house after SyCo dumped him. After all the hype and the hard work of winning the show in 2009 he had to go and move back to Tyneside.

His career was dead. As dead as Leon Jackson's when he was similarly dumped.

He managed to bounce back and win another TV show and record three more albums. I think that's a huge accomplishment.

its not really about looking at the bigger picture in all honesty. anyone can see that cover versions of songs that have been successful once somewhere is a safer option than producing new material. its not really that difficult to see the clear strategy decca are adhering to here and i think bex had a valid point to be frank.

however, i cant entirely agree with her last point about what joe`s fan are expecting from him as a artist. they seem perfectly happy for him to continue to cover songs from various genres bringing absolutely nothing new to the table in the process. i still maintain that his version of `the climb` was pale in comparison to the original, so i am surprised that covering songs has turned out to be his commercial niche.

covering a whitney houston track is brave to be fair, but considering i didn't rate his cover of a miley cyrus song. my expectations are not high.

[Gill P]

At the moment we only know about three covers and three original songs. Maybe there are more originals to come. I understand that he collaborated with Marcella Detroit and another musician whose name escapes me at the moment.

gpk, I love Joe's version of The Climb - such appropriate words under the circumstances.

bringing absolutely nothing new to the table in the process.

This I don't agree with. Joe's version of Solitaire is lovely - and that is one of my favourites by Karen Carpenter. Other songs on Classic are great too.

You have to realise that Joe has a much broader fan base than most 21 year old singers, mainly because his range of songs is broader. If he kept to one genre such as pop, he would narrow his fan base.

[gpk]

Originally Posted by Gill P

At the moment we only know about three covers and three original songs. Maybe there are more originals to come. I understand that he collaborated with Marcella Detroit and another musician whose name escapes me at the moment.

gpk, I love Joe's version of The Climb - such appropriate words under the circumstances.

This I don't agree with. Joe's version of Solitaire is lovely - and that is one of my favourites by Karen Carpenter. Other songs on Classic are great too.

You have to realise that Joe has a much broader fan base than most 21 year old singers, mainly because his range of songs is broader. If he kept to one genre such as pop, he would narrow his fan base.

i am well aware of joe`s fan base demographic gill, but personally i just don't appreciate his cover versions and i haven't from his first release. however, i do appreciate that this is my personal taste and preferences. these three new covers chosen for this album, were all in their own way good original vocal performances, so it will be interesting to see what he adds to these songs.

the `skyscraper` cover is really capitalising on demi`s lack of uk profile, which is clever from a marketing point of view. however, that to me echo`s syco`s strategy for his début single, since miley is another us artist that has never had a uk top 10 hit single.

the other two are untouchable classics in my opinion. whitney`s performance being all the more poignant now and gene already improved on the genius of that song with his duet on the marc almond version that topped the charts in the eighties.

`the climb` seemed more of a contrived cliché, rather than appropriate lyric and his interpretation was not a variation from the original. actually, in fairness though, alexandra was the only winner that had the opportunity to stamp her style on the winning song. her take on hallelujah was a departure from the original and even different to the diana vickers version shown previously that series.

karen carpenter was a truly gifted vocalist. now there was an artist that really could deliver a cover version with a unique prospective and sell the song as if it was written for her. as for his new material, who knows, perhaps he will surprise me. i will certainly be keeping an open mind.

[jackbell]

Originally Posted by gpk

its not really about looking at the bigger picture in all honesty. anyone can see that cover versions of songs that have been successful once somewhere is a safer option than producing new material. its not really that difficult to see the clear strategy decca are adhering to here and i think bex had a valid point to be frank.

It's always about looking at the bigger picture.

When Joe auditioned for the X Factor he just wanted to sing and record songs and after winning two TV competitions that's what he's finally doing (after a bumpy start - the awkward 'coming out', the spiteful Internet 'Rage Against The Machine' campaign, low selling first album and being dumped by his label). He's in his twenties and he's now recorded 4 albums.

He's now started to co-write his own material - which I agree is very important.

That's the picture in full as far as I'm concerned. The rest is detail.

[Gill P]

Anyway it was Neil Sedaka who wrote Solitaire - he has just been on TV and mentioned the song.

Jackbell, apart from your take on Joe moving back to Tyneside, I agree with your comments.

Anyway anything we say will make no difference whatsoever. Joe has already recorded the song and he is excited by it so I will be excited with him.