Blackbird (Alter Bridge album)

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Blackbird is the second studio album by American rock band

Alter Bridge, released on October 9, 2007. The first single, Blackbird
"Rise Today", was released on July 30, 2007. The album
peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200, selling 47,000
copies in its first week on the charts.[7] As of December
2008, Blackbird has sold 227,000 copies.[8] Despite
receiving poor marketing and generally low mainstream
success, initial critical reception towards the album was
mostly positive, with music critics praising the songwriting
and musicianship.. The album was certified Silver by the
British Phonographic Industry.

Contents Studio album by Alter Bridge

Released October 5, 2007
1 Background
1.1 Label changes Recorded February 2007 - May 2007
2 Singles Genre Alternative metal, hard rock, post-
3 Reception
grunge, heavy metal
4 Track listing
5 Personnel Length 59:17
5.1 Alter Bridge Label Universal Republic
5.2 Production
6 Charts Producer Michael Baskette
6.1 Album Alter Bridge chronology
6.2 Singles
6.3 Certifications Fan EP Blackbird Live from
7 Release history (2005) (2007) Amsterdam
8 References (2009)
9 External links
Myles Kennedy chronology
Fan EP Blackbird Live from
(2005) (2007) Amsterdam
Background (2009)

The band stated in early 2006 that the song writing process Singles from Blackbird
was two thirds complete.[9] On February 8, 2007, the band
announced that all of the album's songwriting was finished 1. "Rise Today"
and that they would be entering the studio to begin the Released: July 30, 2007
recording process for the new record. It was then announced 2. "Watch Over You"
on May 11, 2007 (by guitarist Mark Tremonti on Released: January 14, 2008
www.thealterbridgenation.com), that the recording of the 3. "Ties That Bind"
album was complete, the mixing has been finished, and only Released: January 21, 2008 (UK)
a few small minor things are still to be done. 4. "Before Tomorrow Comes"
Released: April 22, 2008
On July 23, 2007, there was another official press release
containing the official release date of the first single from the
album, the track listing for the album and that tour dates will
be released at a later date. Three days later, Alter Bridge
Professional ratings
uploaded two new songs on to their official MySpace page
for fans to listen to as a taste of the new album. The songs Review scores
were "Ties That Bind" and the album's single "Rise Today." Source Rating

411Mania 9.0/10 [1]

A UK version of the album was released on October 8 with a
special UK bonus track titled "We Don't Care At All," a track Allmusic [2]
also found on the iTunes version of the album. There is also a
version of the album sold exclusively through Best Buy that Bullz-Eye [3]

contains the two bonus tracks "The Damage Done" and "New Hard Rock Hideout [4]
Way To Live," and a Walmart version with a bonus DVD
containing exclusive interviews and an in-depth look at the The Metal Forge [5]

making of the album. TubeLab 9.5/10 [6]

Also, prior to the album's official release, Universal Republic

Records put up a page of e-cards on their main home page on August 24, 2007, which contained the then-
unreleased "Before Tomorrow Comes," "Watch Over You," "Buried Alive," and "Come to Life." They were
then removed on Saturday, August 25, as their discovery resulted in many fans accessing them in a short period
of time. Their accessibility online appears to have been a mistake on Universal's part, but it could also have
been a unique marketing strategy.

On March 19, 2009, the band released a tabulature book for the album, containing the tabulature sheet music
for every song on the album. In addition, "Come to Life" appeared on Guitar Hero: Van Halen and "Ties That
Bind" would later appear on Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock .

While a large majority of the songs on One Day Remains were written before Myles Kennedy came on board,
this time around it was a collaborative effort with Tremonti and Kennedy sharing the songwriting duties, while
all four band members worked on the arrangements. All four members have songwriting credits on the album.

In "Wayward One", the melody of the verse is based on the theme of the Bourre in E minor (Suite BWV996)
of J. S. Bach.

Label changes

Alter Bridge left Wind-Up Records in 2006 due to Wind-Up pressing for a Creed reunion, which, in fact,
actually later happened (all of Alter Bridge's members excluding Kennedy are also members of Creed), and
subsequently signed to Universal Republic Records. The band's second label change occurred in 2010;
Blackbird's follow-up, AB III, was released on Roadrunner Records worldwide, with the exception of North
America where it was self-released via Capitol Records. The band dropped their contract with Universal
Republic likely due to the way the label handled the release of Alter Bridge's 2009 live album/DVD Live from
Amsterdam.

Singles
"Rise Today" was the first single from the album. It was officially released on July 30, 2007. The music video
of "Rise Today" was released on Yahoo! on October 4, 2007. It was also made available for download on
iTunes on July 31, 2007.

The single has since received a release date within the UK set for October 15, on both CD and 7"
Picturedisc.[10]

At their concert on Oct. 30, 2007 in Dallas, Texas, the group recorded a live music video for a future single,
"Ties That Bind." It was later announced by Michael Tremonti that "Ties That Bind" will be released as a single
in the UK and Europe and that the video will be used to promote that single. On January 2, 2008, it was
announced that "Watch Over You" will be the third single from Blackbird. There is also currently a duet version
of "Watch Over You" featuring Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil found on the band's MySpace. "Watch Over
You" was featured in promos and during the season finale of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. The second
version of the music video aired on VH1 containing clips from the show. "Before Tomorrow Comes" was
released as the fourth and final single off the album in April 2008, and the third to be released in the United
States.

Reception
Blackbird debuted at #37 on the UK Album Chart, and at #2 on the UK Rock Album Chart. In the US, it
debuted at number 13 on the Billboard 200 chart and #4 on the Billboard Rock Album chart, selling about
47,000 copies in its first week[11] and 227,000 copies in total.[8]

Track listing
All tracks written by Alter Bridge.

Blackbird
No. Title Length
1. "Ties That Bind" 3:19
2. "Come to Life" 3:51
3. "Brand New Start" 4:54
4. "Buried Alive" 4:35
5. "Coming Home" 4:19
6. "Before Tomorrow Comes" 4:06
7. "Rise Today" 4:21
8. "Blackbird" 7:58
9. "One by One" 4:20
10. "Watch Over You" 4:19
11. "Break Me Down" 3:56
12. "White Knuckles" 4:24
13. "Wayward One" 4:43
Total length: 59:17
Best Buy Version
No. Title Length
14. "The Damage Done" 3:45
15. "New Way to Live" 5:40
UK/iTunes Version
No. Title Length
14. "We Don't Care At All[12]" 3:42

Personnel
Alter Bridge

Myles Kennedy vocals, rhythm guitar, co-lead guitar on "Blackbird" and "Rise Today"
Mark Tremonti guitars, additional vocals
Brian Marshall bass
Scott Phillips drums, percussion
Production

Michael Baskette producer

Dave Holdredge recording engineer
Jeff Moll digital engineer
Brian Sperber mixing
Brian Gardner mastering
Daniel Tremonti art

Charts
Album

Peak
Chart (2007)
position
Austrian Albums Chart[13] 64
Dutch Albums Chart[14] 55
German Albums Chart[15] 55
Swiss Albums Chart[16] 83
Swedish Albums Chart[17] 56
US Billboard 200[18] 13
US Top Rock Albums[19] 4
UK Album Chart[20] 37
UK Rock Album Chart 2

Singles

US
US UK
Year Title Alt
Main [21] Rock

2007 "Rise Today" 3 32 3

"Ties That Bind"[a] 3
2008 "Watch Over You" 19
"Before Tomorrow Comes" 29
"" denotes the single failed to chart, was not released, or was not certified.

^ a "Ties That Bind" was only released as a single in the United Kingdom.

Certifications

Country Sales Certification

United Kingdom 60,000+ Silver
Worldwide ----

Release history
 Region Release date Label
Ireland October 5, 2007
United Kingdom October 8, 2007
United States October 9, 2007 Universal Republic
Australia October 20, 2007
Japan December 4, 2007

References
1. 411Mania review (http://www.411mania.com/music/album_reviews/61397) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2007
1014000517/http://www.411mania.com/music/album_reviews/61397)October 14, 2007, at theWayback Machine.
2. Allmusic review (http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1212538)
3. Bullz-Eye review (http://www.bullz-eye.com/cdreviews/clark/alter_bridge-blackbird.htm)
4. Hard Rock Hideout review(http://hardrockhideout.com/2007/10/09/alter -bridge-blackbird-release-year-2007/)
5. The Metal Forge review (http://www.themetalforge.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=1539)
6. TubeLab review (http://www.tunelab.com/reviews/reviewid147.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1 191723207&archi
ve=&start_from=&ucat=5&)Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20110717113750/http://www.tunelab.com/reviews/
reviewid147.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1 191723207&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&)July 17, 2011, at the
Wayback Machine.
7. Cohen, Jonathan. "Kid Rock Rolls To No. 1 Album Chart Debut"(http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1048009/kid-
rock-rolls-to-no-1-album-chart-debut). billboard.com. October 17, 2007.
8. Cohen, Jonathan. "Creed Hammering Out Reunion Details"(http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266179/creed-ham
mering-out-reunion-details). billboard.com. December 1, 2008.
9. Video Interview with Alter Bridge(http://www.toazted.com/playinterview/1500/Video-interview-with-Alter-Bridge-on-
Pinkpop.html) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20070220082015/http://www.toazted.com/playinterview/1500/Vi
deo-interview-with-Alter-Bridge-on-Pinkpop.html) February 20, 2007, at theWayback Machine.
10. Rise Today: UK Release Information(http://abbforums.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12788)
11. Jonathan Cohen, "Kid Rock Rolls To No. 1 Album Chart Debut"(http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1050462/rap-t
akes-a-back-seat-on-new-kid-rock-album), Billboard.com, October 17, 2007.
12. Blackbird UK Release Edition(http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000VLE3EW)
13. "Alter Bridge - Blackbird - austriancharts.at"(http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Alter+Bridge&titel=Black
bird&cat=a). austriancharts.at. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
14. "dutchcharts.nl - Alter Bridge - Blackbird"(http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Alter+Bridge&titel=Blac
kbird&cat=a). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
15. "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, Neuerscheinungen, iTckets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Knstler-Suche,
Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche - musicline.de"(http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/
Alter+Bridge/29868/longplay). musicline.de. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
16. "Alter Bridge - Blackbird - hitparade.ch"(http://hitparade.ch/album/Alter-Bridge/Blackbird-69469). hitparade.ch.
Retrieved 18 May 2014.
17. "swedishcharts.com - Alter Bridge - Blackbird"(http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Alter+Bridge&titel=
Blackbird&cat=a). swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
18. "Artist Chart History Alter Bridge"(http://www.billboard.com/artist/278733/alter+bridge/chart?f=305) . Billboard
charts. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
19. "Artist Chart History Alter Bridge"(http://www.billboard.com/artist/278733/alter+bridge/chart?f=408) . Billboard
charts. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
20. "British charts portal"(http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_A.HTM). swedishcharts.com. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
21. "Artist Chart History Alter Bridge"(http://www.billboard.com/artist/278733/alter+bridge/chart?f=377) . Billboard
charts. Retrieved August 28, 2010.

External links
KvltSite.com review

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?

title=Blackbird_(Alter_Bridge_album)&oldid=782011722"
Categories: 2007 albums Alter Bridge albums Albums produced by Michael Baskette

This page was last edited on 24 May 2017, at 13:06.

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