| Long Road Home | |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | Charlie Simpson |
| Cover: | Charlie_Simpson_Long_Road_Home_Cover.png |
| Released: | 4 August 2014 |
| Recorded: | 2013/2014 in London, England |
| Genre: | Acoustic, folk, indie rock, folk rock, indie folk |
| Length: | 41:00 |
| Language: | English |
| Label: | Nusic Sounds |
| Producer: | Steve Osborne |
| Prev Title: | Young Pilgrim |
| Prev Year: | 2011 |
| Next Title: | Little Hands |
| Next Year: | 2016 |
Long Road Home is the second top ten UK studio album by British singer-songwriter Charlie Simpson.
On 2 February 2013, it was reported that Simpson had finished writing the follow-up to his 2011 solo debut Young Pilgrim and he would be heading into the studio with producer Steve Osborne (U2/Placebo) to start recording in early March.
Simpson spent the summer of 2013 playing on the Vans Warped Tour in the US, which was the first time he has played live as a solo artist in America. During October 2013, Charlie went on a tour of the UK supporting rock band, Deaf Havana. He previewed two new tracks from the forthcoming album "Winter Hymns" and "Ten More Days". In 2014, he be undertook a small run of solo shows in the UK in the lead up to the release of his 2nd solo album.
Simpson said when announcing the release: "The making of this album has been an incredible journey for me, it is probably the hardest record I have ever had to make. It took me a while to find what I was looking for and there were points when I nearly had to go back to the drawing board. However, after taking some much needed time out from writing and all things music related, I came back with a completely fresh perspective and wrote in my opinion, some of the best music I have written in my career so far. It’s an album I am hugely proud of and one I had to fight for which makes it all the more special".[1]
Simpson later revealed that the release date for the album had been delayed until 4 August 2014.[2]
On 6 August, Long Road Home entered the UK Albums Chart Midweeks at number four according to figures issued by The Official Charts Company.[5] It would finally chart at number ten on the UK Albums Chart,[6] securing Simpson's second top ten solo album, whilst also entering the UK Independent Albums chart at number one,[7] and the Scottish Albums Chart at number thirteen.[8]
Rock Sound describe the album as "a more focussed effort than 11's Young Pilgrim", also stating that "In a year that he could have taken two steps back, with this album, Charlie Simpson has taken a huge step forward". Fortitude Magazine were similarly complimentary, describing it as "An album well worth the massive wait. It’s difficult to knock a credible musician at his best and that’s what you’re up against with ‘Long Road Home’."
All songs written and composed by Charlie Simpson.[9]