Unwritten (album)

Unwritten is the debut studio album by English singer and songwriter Natasha Bedingfield. It was released in Europe on 6 September 2004 through Phonogenic Records and in the United States on 2 August 2005 through Epic Records. A pop and R&B album, Unwritten was produced by a number of producers, including Danielle Brisebois, Guy Chambers, Peter Wade Keusch, Steve Kipner, Patrick Leonard and Greg Wells.

In the United Kingdom, Unwritten topped both the UK Albums Chart and the Scottish Albums Chart, receiving a triple platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry for sales of over a million copies in the United Kingdom. In North America, it peaked at number twenty-six on the US Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA for shipments of over 500,000 copies in the United States. The album spawned four singles: "Single", "These Words", "Unwritten" and "I Bruise Easily" from the 2006 reissue. The song "Drop Me in the Middle" featured rapper Bizarre on the international editions of the album, and English rapper and singer Estelle on the US editions. In 2006, the album was re-released in North America with new cover artwork and a slightly altered track listing, including "The One That Got Away".

The album received generally positive reviews from critics. Earning a 7 out of 10 from PopMatters, Adrien Begrand, who said the album was Bedingfield's "brand of clever, R&B infused pop." Though, he went on to admit that the album was "not without its pitfalls."^[1] David Hooper from the BBC gave the album another positive review, writing "there's no denying this is a finely-crafted number with bold, voluptuous harmonies. It's guaranteed to thrill, at least for the first 30 plays." Further, Hollow stated "Unwritten is a textbook quality pop album, lifted by Natasha's strong voice, immaculate production and some absolutely corking singles. Whether you like it or not, you won't be able to get those tunes out of your head."^[4]

UK-based music review website musicOMH critic David Welsh praised the album, compared Bedingfield's success to that of her brother, calling the album "a startlingly accomplished debut outing, letting the whole world know that Daniel is by no means the only talented Bedingfield out there." Welsh continued to add that Unwritten was "both musically note-worthy and lyrically substantial", concluding that there was "no shame in adding this to your collection."^[5]

Unwritten peaked at number one on the Official Charts Company's UK Albums Chart. It sold over one million copies in the United Kingdom, being certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).^[7] In the United States, it peaked at number 26 on the US Billboard 200 with first week sales of 34,000.^[8] Its currently certified gold from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In Australia, it peaked at number 89 on ARIA Albums Chart. It also peaked at number 26 in Austria, number 20 in Germany, number 33 in Mexico and number 23 in Switzerland, making smaller impact outside the United Kingdom and the United States.

Notes

• Some versions of the album swap original versions of "Single", "These Words" and "The One That Got Away" for various remixes.

• Natasha Bedingfield – primary artist, lead vocals, background vocals, songwriting, vocal arrangements
• Keith Andes – additional keyboards ("Drop Me in the Middle")
• Dave Catlin-Birch – bass ("Silent Movie")
• Guy Chambers – guitar, keyboards, producer
• Justin Clayton – bass ("Peace of Me")
• Larry Corbett – cello ("Peace of Me")
• Keith Crouch – Hammond B-3 organ ("Unwritten")
• Paul Gordon – keyboards ("We're All Mad")
• Nick Ingman – string arrangements, conductor
• Patrick Leonard – music programming, keyboards ("Peace of Me")
• David Low – cello ("Stumble")
• Tim Pierce – guitar ("Peace of Me")
• Robbie Campos – guitar, keyboards
• Michele Richards – violin ("Peace of Me")
• Josephina Vergara – violin ("Peace of Me")
• Greg Wells – bass, guitar, piano, drums
• Joey Waronker – drums ("Peace of Me")
• Danielle Brisebois – background vocals ("Unwritten"), producer, vocal arrangements
• Jessica Collins – background vocals ("Unwritten" and "Drop Me in the Middle")
• Nikola Bedingfield – background vocals ("Unwritten" and "Drop Me in the Middle")
• Ryan Collins – background vocals ("Unwritten")
• J. Curtis – guitar ("Size Matters")
• Nick Lashley – guitar, keyboards
• Wayne Wilkins – piano, keyboards
• Chris Brown – bass ("If You're Gonna...")
• Paul Herman – guitar ("I Bruise Easily")
• Wayne Rodrigues – keyboards, turntables
• Andrew Frampton – guitar, keyboards, programming, producer, vocal arrangements, string arrangements
• Simon Hill – drums ("If You're Gonna...")
• Andrew Duckles – viola ("Peace of Me")
• Tony Hodson – guitar ("Drop Me in the Middle")
• Paul Stanborough – additional guitars ("Silent Movie")
• Steve Kipner – producer, vocal arrangements
• Joe Chiccarelli – engineer
• John Hill – producer
• Nick Ingman – string arrangements, string conductor
• Patrick Leonard – programming, producer
• Steve MacMillan – engineer
• Herb Powers – mastering
• Greg Wells – programming, producer
• Gavyn Wright – string conductor
• Suzie Katayama – string contractor
• Nick Lashley – producer, engineer
• David Channing – digital editing
• Michael Perfitt – engineer, digital editing
• Ryan Freeland – engineer
• James Cruz – mastering
• Wayne Wilkins – programming, producer, engineer, vocal arrangements, string arrangements
• Ian Cuttler – art direction
• Richard Flack – producer, engineer, drum programming
• Robbie Campos – vocal arrangements, string arrangements
• Wayne Rodrigues – producer, engineer, digital editing, vocal arrangements, drum programming, Pro-Tools
• Michelle Holme – art direction
• Kieron Menzies – engineer
• Chris Steffen – engineer
• Peter Wade Keusch – producer
• Lee Groves – mixing programmer
• Michael Tafaro – producer, vocal arrangements
• Nathan Winkler – producer, vocal arrangements

• Peter Wade Music – Producer Peter Wade Keusch