Places (Lea Michele album) explained

Places
Type:	studio
Artist:	Lea Michele
Cover:	Lea Michele - Places (Official Album Cover).png
Border:	yes
Language:	English
Recorded:	2015–2016
Studio:	Harmony Studios^[1]
Length:	39:53
Label:	Columbia
Producer:	Xandy Barry Andrew Hollander Toby Gad Jon Levine Kyle Moorman John Shanks Jesse Shatkin
Prev Title:	Louder
Prev Year:	2014
Next Title:	Christmas in the City
Next Year:	2019

Places is the second studio album by American singer Lea Michele. It was released on April 28, 2017, by Columbia Records. The album was preceded by the lead single, "Love Is Alive".

Places received mixed reviews from critics, though Michele's vocal performance received a positive reception. In the United States, the album sold over 16,000 copies in its first week, debuting at number 28 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number 37 on the UK Albums Chart. In Canada, the album reached number 21 in its first week of release. As well as the first single "Love Is Alive", three promotional singles were also released in the lead up to the album. Songwriters who feature on the album include singers Ellie Goulding, Linda Perry, Allie X, and Alexandra Savior.

Background

Recording for Michele's second studio album began in April 2015.^[2] Shortly into the recording process, Michele stated that the album would be less pop-influenced than her debut, and would "[go] back to [her] roots" with a more theatrical sound.^[3]

On January 11, 2017, Michele announced on social media that she would go on a mini tour in later that same month to promote her second album. She wrote, "My incredible fans have always been there for me. You inspire me. You've stood by me, cheered me on and lifted me up. When preparing for [this] upcoming album I wanted you all to know how important you are to me. These shows are a sneak peek into my upcoming album, as well as songs from Louder and maybe.. even a little Glee."^[4] An Intimate Evening with Lea Michele consisted of three shows in Los Angeles, New York and Santa Monica, which began on January 23 at the Hotel Café, and ended on January 30 at the Broad Stage.^[5] On January 26, 2017, while Michele was in the middle of her mini tour, it was announced the second album would be titled Places. The title references the showtime call of "places" when working in live theater.^[6]

Singles

"Love Is Alive" was released as the album's lead single on March 3, 2017.^[7]

Commercial performance

In the United States, the album debuted at number 28 on the Billboard 200 with over 16,000 copies sold in its first week.^[8]

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic.^[9] Performers

• Lea Michele – lead vocals, backing vocals
• Alexandra Tamposi – backing vocals
• John Shanks – backing vocals
• Kyle Moorman – backing vocals

Design and management

• Amanda Berman – A&R
• Alexandra Tamposi – A&R
• Shari Sutchliffe – production coordination, contracting
• Maria P. Marulanda – art direction, design
• Lea Michele – art direction, design
• Eric Ray Davidson – photographer

Technical

• John Shanks – keyboards, piano, electric guitar, bass, programming, engineering, producer
• Xandy Barry – keyboards, guitar, drums, orchestral arranging, mixing, programming, engineering, producer
• John Levine – keyboards, piano, bass, drum programming, engineering, producer
• Kyle Moorman – guitar, percussion, digital editing, programming, engineering, producer
• Jesse Shatkin – piano, bass, drums, synthesizer, programming, engineering, producer
• Andrew Hollander – piano, drums, Mellotron, engineering, mixing, producer
• Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards, piano, programming
• Toby Gad – instrumentation, arranging, producer
• Alexandra Tamposi – vocal producer, vocal percussion
• Suzy Shinn – vocal engineering
• Joe LaPorta – mastering
• Joe Zook – mixing
• Michael H. Brauer – mixing
• Manny Marroquin – mixing
• Chris Galland – mixing engineering
• Steve Vealey – mixing assistant
• Paul Lamalfa – engineering, digital editing
• Sam Dent – engineering
• Taylor Crommie – assistant engineering
• Seth Olansky – assistant engineering
• Chantal Kreviazuk – piano
• Linda Perry – piano
• Jon Sosin – guitar
• Aaron Sterling – drums
• Simon Huber – cello
• Robin Florentine – assistant
• Jeff Jackson – assistant

Notes and References

1. Web site: Lipshutz. Jason. Lea Michele Emerges Reborn With 'Places' Album: 'F--- It If People Don't Like It' (Exclusive). Billboard. January 26, 2017. January 26, 2017.
2. Web site: Wass. Mike. Rejoice! Lea Michele Has Started Recording Her Second Album. Idolator. April 15, 2015.
3. Web site: Smith. Briony. October Cover Star Lea Michele Wants to Fix Your Life. Flare. August 27, 2015. January 27, 2017. March 25, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160325231233/http://www.flare.com/celebrity/cover-stars/october-cover-star-lea-michele-wants-to-fix-your-life/. dead.
4. Web site: Wass. Mike. Lea Michele Will Preview Her Sophomore LP With A Mini Tour. Idolator. January 11, 2017.
5. Web site: Benitz. Samantha. Lea Michele Announces First Tour With Intimate Shows & New Music: See Dates. HollywoodLife.com. January 11, 2017. January 14, 2017. January 13, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170113194403/http://hollywoodlife.com/2017/01/11/lea-michele-tour-intimate-shows-new-music-concert-dates/. dead.
6. Web site: Feeney. Nolan. Lea Michele announces new album Places. Entertainment Weekly. January 26, 2017.
7. Web site: Chiu. Melody. Lea Michele's New Single 'Love Is Alive' Off Her Upcoming Album Places. People. March 1, 2017. March 1, 2017.
8. Web site: Billboard 200 Chart Moves: John Mellencamp Earns 19th Top 40 Album With 'Sad Clowns & Hillbillies'. Billboard. Caufield. Keith. May 11, 2017. May 14, 2017.
9. Web site: Places – Lea Michele – Credits. AllMusic. April 29, 2017.
10. Web site: NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart. Recorded Music NZ. May 8, 2017. May 5, 2017.