Return to Paradise | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1 June 2012 (2012-06-01) | |||
Recorded | 2009–2011 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 47:03 | |||
Label | EMI | |||
Producer |
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Sam Sparro chronology | ||||
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Singles from Return to Paradise | ||||
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Return to Paradise is Australian singer-songwriter and producer Sam Sparro's second album. It was released on 1 June 2012. The album entered the Australian Albums Chart, peaking at number 41. In Belgium the album peaked at number 35 on the Belgian (Flanders) Albums Chart, and number 80 in the Netherlands on the Dutch Albums Chart. The album had less success in the United Kingdom, however, failing to chart in the top 200 or to produce any charting singles.
This album has a different sound compared to his previous album. Whereas Sam Sparro was primarily a dance-pop and electropop album, Return to Paradise is influenced by disco, especially '90s house. Sparro again worked with producer and long-time friend Jesse Rogg, who helped to produce almost every track on Sparro's debut album Sam Sparro. Sparro's father, Chris Falson, is cited as having played guitar on the track "Closer". Sparro also worked with Charlie Wilcox on the songs "Happiness" and "We Could Fly", who he had previous worked with on "Still Hungry", the hidden track from his debut album. Sparro's old friend Felix Bloxsom, who he went to school with in Sydney, is featured on drums on multiple tracks from the album, and produced the Plastic Plates Remix of "Shades of Grey", which was later included on Re-Return to Paradise. Sparro worked on a few songs with Jono Sloan. John Fields is responsible for mixing almost all tracks from Return to Paradise. Lester Mendez, who has previously worked with Sparro on the tracks "Shady" and "Broken English" written for Adam Lambert's second album Trespassing, helped write the album's title track "Return to Paradise". Isabella SummersofFlorence + the Machine worked on "Shades of Gray". Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast sang backing vocals for and co-wrote "Yellow Orange Rays". The Swedish pop singer-songwriter, Erik Hassle, is one of the writers of the second single, "I Wish I Never Met You". Greg Kurstin and Stuart Zender are also featured writers, producers, and instrumentalists on the album.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Line of Best Fit | 3/10[8] |
MusicOMH | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
In a review for AllMusic, critic reviewer Matt Collar described the release as a "groove-oriented R&B, immaculately produced with a disco and house music purist's ear for period details." He went on to say, "Sparro imbues each of these songs with an intensity, passion, and palpable love that shines through even when he's singing about heartbreak and negativity."[6]AtThe Independent, music journalist Simon Price was critical of Return to Paradise noting "the Australian electro-soul auteur's second album is a patchy affair which too often fails to transcend its blatant P-funk influences."[10]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Paradise People" | Sam Sparro, Jono Sloan | Jesse Rogg, Jono Sloan, Sam Sparro | 4:00 |
2. | "Happiness" | Sparro, Charlie Wilcocks, Jesse Rogg | Rogg, Sparro* | 3:05 |
3. | "Let the Love In" | Sparro | Sparro, Rogg | 3:45 |
4. | "Yellow Orange Rays" | Sparro, Tim Anderson, Bethany Cosentino | Tim Anderson | 3:24 |
5. | "Hearts Like Us" | Sparro | Sparro, Rogg | 4:09 |
6. | "I Wish I Never Met You" | Sparro, Rogg, Erik Hassle | Rogg | 4:17 |
7. | "Shades of Grey" | Sparro, Rogg, Isabella Summers | Rogg, Sparro* | 4:09 |
8. | "We Could Fly" | Sparro, Wilcocks, Stuart Zender | Sparro, Rogg | 6:20 |
9. | "Closer" | Sparro, Sloan | Sparro, Rogg | 4:11 |
10. | "The Shallow End" | Sparro, Greg Kurstin, Rogg | Greg Kurstin, Rogg | 5:18 |
11. | "Return to Paradise" | Sparro, Lester Mendez | Lester Mendez | 4:25 |
Total length: | 47:03 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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12. | "I Wish I Never Met You" (Alison Wonderland Remix) | Sparro, Rogg, Erik Hassle | Rogg (remix and additional production by Alison Wonderland) | 4:32 |
Total length: | 51:35 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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12. | "Are You Alright?" | Sparro, David, Blake | 3:57 |
Total length: | 50:59 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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12. | "Are You Alright?" | Sparro, Michael Brian David, Tyler Andelin Blake[11] | 4:01 |
13. | "Quarter Life Crisis" | Sam Falson, Julian Brody, Jesse Rogg[12] | 2:50 |
Total length: | 53:49 |
No. | Title | Remix and additional production by | Length |
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14. | "Happiness" (The Magician Remix) | Stephen Fasano | 3:38 |
15. | "I Wish I Never Met You" (Azari & III Remix) | Dinamo Azari, Alixander III | 5:47 |
16. | "Let the Love In" (Tiger & Woods Remix) | Larry Tiger, David Woods[14] | 9:38 |
17. | "I Wish I Never Met You" (Stereogamous Remix) | John Taranto, Paul McDermott[15] | 5:56 |
18. | "Shades of Grey" (Plastic Plates Remix) | Felix Bloxsom[16] | 4:56 |
19. | "Hearts Like Us" (Mike Simonetti Remix) | Mike Simonetti | 5:44 |
20. | "Happiness" (Kim Anh & Small Pyramids Remix) | Kim Anh, Zach Hunsaker[17] | 6:28 |
Total length: | 95:56 |
No. | Title | Remix and additional production by | Length |
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12. | "Happiness" (The Magician Remix) | Fasano | 3:38 |
13. | "I Wish I Never Met You" (Azari & III Remix) | Azari, III | 5:47 |
14. | "Let the Love In" (Tiger & Woods Remix) | Tiger, Woods | 9:38 |
15. | "I Wish I Never Met You" (Stereogamous Remix) | Taranto, McDermott | 5:56 |
16. | "Shades of Grey" (Plastic Plates Remix) | Bloxsom | 4:56 |
17. | "Hearts Like Us" (Mike Simonetti Remix) | Simonetti | 5:44 |
18. | "Happiness" (Kim Anh & Small Pyramids Remix) | Anh, Hunsaker | 6:28 |
Total length: | 89:10 |
No. | Title | Remix and additional production by | Length |
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12. | "Happiness" (The Magician Remix) | Fasano | 3:38 |
13. | "I Wish I Never Met You" (Azari & III Remix) | Azari, III | 5:47 |
14. | "Let the Love In" (Tiger & Woods Remix) | Tiger, Woods | 9:38 |
15. | "Yellow Orange Rays" (Bodyspasm Remix) | Bodyspasm | 3:56 |
16. | "I Wish I Never Met You" (Stereogamous Remix) | Taranto, McDermott | 5:56 |
17. | "Shades of Grey" (Plastic Plates Remix) | Bloxsom | 4:56 |
18. | "Hearts Like Us" (Mike Simonetti Remix) | Simonetti | 5:45 |
19. | "Happiness" (Beni Remix) | Anh, Hunsaker | 5:17 |
Total length: | 93:06 |
Note
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Return to Paradise.
Notes
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA)[20] | 41 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[21] | 35 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[22] | 79 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[23] | 80 |
Region | Date | Label | Format | Edition |
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Australia | 1 June 2012[24] | EMI Records | CD, digital download | Standard |
United Kingdom | 15 June 2012 | Digital download | ||
18 June 2012[25] | CD | |||
Japan | 20 June 2012 | |||
Australia | 15 November 2012[13] | Digital download | Deluxe, (Re-Return to Paradise) | |
United Kingdom | 3 December 2012 | |||
United States | 4 December 2012 |
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Studio albums |
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Singles |
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Featured singles |
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