The Odd Couple (album)
Encyclopedia
The Odd Couple is the second studio album by Gnarls Barkley
, released digitally on March 18 and in stores March 25, 2008. Due to an early leak of the album over the Internet in early March 2008, the duo decided to push up the release from April 8. The album was released to the iTunes Store
and Amazon MP3
on March 18.
", the previously unknown song, was given positive reviews from most music outlets. "Run" was released as the album's first single as a digital download
in the U.S. on February 5, 2008. Despite "Run (I'm a Natural Disaster)" being the lead single at the time, "Going On
" was the highest charting album track on iTunes
having made it as high as #23 on the Top 100 chart as of March 25, subsequently debuting at #88 on the Billboard Hot 100
. The song was then released as the second single from the album, and the song's video premiered on March 20, 2008. In March 2008, the album's third single, "Who's Gonna Save My Soul
" was premiered by hip hop
band The Roots
' drummer Questlove through a video uploaded to YouTube
. An early leak of the album over the Internet in early March, 2008, prompted the duo to push the release of the album from April 8. Digital versions of the sophomore effort were released to the iTunes Store
and Amazon MP3
on March 18. Physical copies of the album were slated for March 25, however some copies hit independent record stores on March 18. An instrumental reverse edition of the album, retitled elpuoc ddo eht, was released on April 17, 2008. The entire album is fused into one 38:44 second track played completely in reverse, starting with the album's last song and ending with the album's first. This unorthodox edition was released officially by Danger Mouse and is legally available as a second disc on the vinyl edition of the album.
Gnarls Barkley
Gnarls Barkley is an American soul duo comprising Danger Mouse and Cee Lo Green. Their first studio album St. Elsewhere was released in 2006; along with its first single "Crazy". Both single and album were a major commercial success and have been noted for their large sales by download...
, released digitally on March 18 and in stores March 25, 2008. Due to an early leak of the album over the Internet in early March 2008, the duo decided to push up the release from April 8. The album was released to the iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
and Amazon MP3
Amazon MP3
Amazon MP3 is an online music store owned and operated by Amazon.com. Launched in public beta on September 25, 2007, in January 2008 it became the first music store to sell music without digital rights management from the four major music labels , as well as many independents...
on March 18.
Background
In late January, an assumed leaked track appeared on several music blogs. "Run (I'm a Natural Disaster)Run (I'm a Natural Disaster)
"Run ", also known more commonly as "Run", is a song written and recorded by Gnarls Barkley. It is the first single to be released from the band's second album The Odd Couple. Released in February 2008 as a digital download in the UK and the U.S. via the iTunes Store, a physical release of the...
", the previously unknown song, was given positive reviews from most music outlets. "Run" was released as the album's first single as a digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
in the U.S. on February 5, 2008. Despite "Run (I'm a Natural Disaster)" being the lead single at the time, "Going On
Going On
"Going On" is the second single taken from Gnarls Barkley's second studio album The Odd Couple. It is played in an upbeat hip hop and blues style. The track is also featured on the video game NBA 2K9. It was nominated at the 2009 Grammy Awards for 'Best Pop Performance'. "Going On" uses a sample...
" was the highest charting album track on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
having made it as high as #23 on the Top 100 chart as of March 25, subsequently debuting at #88 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. The song was then released as the second single from the album, and the song's video premiered on March 20, 2008. In March 2008, the album's third single, "Who's Gonna Save My Soul
Who's Gonna Save My Soul
"Who's Gonna Save My Soul" is the third and final single taken from hip-hop duo Gnarls Barkley's second studio album, The Odd Couple. It is played in a slow and sad soul style. The single was released in late 2008. The song's official music video was directed by Chris Milk and was released on July...
" was premiered by hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
band The Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
' drummer Questlove through a video uploaded to YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. An early leak of the album over the Internet in early March, 2008, prompted the duo to push the release of the album from April 8. Digital versions of the sophomore effort were released to the iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
and Amazon MP3
Amazon MP3
Amazon MP3 is an online music store owned and operated by Amazon.com. Launched in public beta on September 25, 2007, in January 2008 it became the first music store to sell music without digital rights management from the four major music labels , as well as many independents...
on March 18. Physical copies of the album were slated for March 25, however some copies hit independent record stores on March 18. An instrumental reverse edition of the album, retitled elpuoc ddo eht, was released on April 17, 2008. The entire album is fused into one 38:44 second track played completely in reverse, starting with the album's last song and ending with the album's first. This unorthodox edition was released officially by Danger Mouse and is legally available as a second disc on the vinyl edition of the album.
Track listing
- "Charity Case" – 3:12
- "Who's Gonna Save My SoulWho's Gonna Save My Soul"Who's Gonna Save My Soul" is the third and final single taken from hip-hop duo Gnarls Barkley's second studio album, The Odd Couple. It is played in a slow and sad soul style. The single was released in late 2008. The song's official music video was directed by Chris Milk and was released on July...
" – 3:15 - "Going OnGoing On"Going On" is the second single taken from Gnarls Barkley's second studio album The Odd Couple. It is played in an upbeat hip hop and blues style. The track is also featured on the video game NBA 2K9. It was nominated at the 2009 Grammy Awards for 'Best Pop Performance'. "Going On" uses a sample...
" – 2:54 - "Run (I'm a Natural Disaster)Run (I'm a Natural Disaster)"Run ", also known more commonly as "Run", is a song written and recorded by Gnarls Barkley. It is the first single to be released from the band's second album The Odd Couple. Released in February 2008 as a digital download in the UK and the U.S. via the iTunes Store, a physical release of the...
" – 2:44 - "Would Be Killer" – 2:22
- "Open Book" – 3:20
- "Whatever" – 2:18
- "Surprise" – 3:50
- "No Time Soon" – 2:55
- "She Knows" – 2:44
- "Blind Mary" – 3:25
- "Neighbors" – 3:05
- "A Little Better" – 3:07
Samples
- "Going On" samples "Folder Man" written by Peter Dunton and performed by PleasePlease- Music :*Please , 1986*Please , 1993*"Please" , 2005*"Please" *"Please" , 1997*"Please ", a 1993 song by INXS...
- "Run (I'm A Natural Disaster)" samples "Junior Jet Set" by Keith MansfieldKeith MansfieldKeith Mansfield is a British composer and arranger known for his creation of prominent television theme tunes, including the Grandstand theme for the BBC...
- "Would Be Killer" samples "Fluid" by TwinkTwink (musician)John Charles Alder , better known as Twink, is an English drummer, singer and songwriter who was a central figure in the English psychedelic movement, and an actor.-Early life and career:...
- "Open Book" incorporates sampled elements from "Träume" by Françoise HardyFrançoise HardyFrançoise Madeleine Hardy is a French singer, actress and astrologer. Hardy is an iconic figure in fashion, music and style. She is married to the singer and movie actor Jacques Dutronc.-Biography:...
- "Whatever" samples "The Hair On My Chinny Chin Chin" by Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs
- "Surprise" contains elements of "Building With A Steeple" written by Ron DanteRon DanteRon Dante is an American singer, songwriter, session vocalist, and record producer...
, Gene Allen and Bobby Feldman and performed by The Eighth Day - "She Knows" samples "Gentle Flute" performed by Cy Payne
- "A Little Better" incorporates elements of "Trying To Be Free" written by Nacabal and Yvon-Goudy and performed by T.N.T.H.