The Boy with No Name
Encyclopedia
The Boy with No Name is the fifth studio album
from Scottish
Indie pop
band Travis
. The album was released on May 7, 2007. The album sold over 442,900 copies worldwide.
and his partner Nora were deciding on a name for their newly born son. During this time, he sent a photo of his son to friend by email and labeled the photo "The Boy with No Name". Healy revealed this on The Chris Moyles Show
during an interview. Healy has also revealed in pre-album release performances that some tracks are influenced by his developing family status, such as "My Eyes" being about his new son or "Battleships" referring to ups and downs of relationships. Travis dedicated this album to the Abbey Road Studios
chief master engineer Chris Blair and British world champion rally driver Richard Burns
, who died of a brain tumour at the age of 34 in 2005. During recording the band discovered they were nearby British band Feeder
in the same studio both in different recording rooms. Feeder were recording what would be their fifth studio album Pushing the Senses
. It soon occurred that Fran and Dougie helped out Feeder with some recording of the album; their voices appeared as backing vocals for the final chorus of the track "Tumble and Fall
" and was its first single. The track "Under the Moonlight" features Scottish singer-songwriter
KT Tunstall
's vocals.
, selling 12,000 copies in its first week. It received generally positive reviews from mainstream sources and critical reviews from more alternative sources. The album went gold in the UK. "Closer
" was released as the first single
from the album in the United Kingdom
on 23 April 2007, and peaked at #10 in the UK Singles Chart
(see 2007 in British music
). Second single "Selfish Jean" made #30. The final single, "My Eyes", reached #60 - their lowest chart placing during their career at the time. The full album was available to purchase at the Virgin Megastore
at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
in California over the weekend of 27 April 2007–29 April 2007.
, except where noted.
UK Bonus Track
Japanese Bonus Tracks
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
from Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Indie pop
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band Travis
Travis (band)
Travis are a post-Britpop band from Glasgow, Scotland, comprising Fran Healy , Dougie Payne , Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose...
. The album was released on May 7, 2007. The album sold over 442,900 copies worldwide.
Background
The name of the album came about when lead singer Fran HealyFrancis Healy
Francis "Fran" Healy is a Scottish musician. He is currently the lead singer and main songwriter of the Scottish band Travis, having written nearly all of the songs on their six studio albums. He is based in Berlin, Germany...
and his partner Nora were deciding on a name for their newly born son. During this time, he sent a photo of his son to friend by email and labeled the photo "The Boy with No Name". Healy revealed this on The Chris Moyles Show
The Chris Moyles Show
The Chris Moyles Show is the current BBC Radio 1 breakfast show in the UK, and has been since Chris Moyles became the station's breakfast show presenter on 5 January 2004. From 2004 to 2007, the show was broadcast 6:55–10:00 am each weekday, but since 15 October 2007 it has started from...
during an interview. Healy has also revealed in pre-album release performances that some tracks are influenced by his developing family status, such as "My Eyes" being about his new son or "Battleships" referring to ups and downs of relationships. Travis dedicated this album to the Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
chief master engineer Chris Blair and British world champion rally driver Richard Burns
Richard Burns
Richard Alexander Burns was an English rally driver. He was born in Reading, Berkshire. He was the 2001 World Rally Champion, having previously finished runner-up in the series in 1999 and 2000. He also helped Mitsubishi to the world manufacturers' title in 1998, and Peugeot in 2002...
, who died of a brain tumour at the age of 34 in 2005. During recording the band discovered they were nearby British band Feeder
Feeder
-Technology:* Feeder , any of several devices used in apiculture to supplement or replace natural food sources* Feeder , another name for a riser, a reservoir built into a metal casting mold to prevent cavities due to shrinkage...
in the same studio both in different recording rooms. Feeder were recording what would be their fifth studio album Pushing the Senses
Pushing the Senses
Pushing the Senses is the fifth album by the British rock band Feeder. It was released on Echo, Liberation Music and PIAS on 31 January 2005 in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, while being released on Pony Canyon in Japan on 10 February 2005...
. It soon occurred that Fran and Dougie helped out Feeder with some recording of the album; their voices appeared as backing vocals for the final chorus of the track "Tumble and Fall
Tumble And Fall
"Tumble and Fall" was the first single released from British rock band Feeder's 2005 album Pushing the Senses. It reached #5 in the UK charts, the group's highest placed single along with "Buck Rogers"....
" and was its first single. The track "Under the Moonlight" features Scottish singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
KT Tunstall
KT Tunstall
Kate Victoria "KT" Tunstall is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist from St Andrews, Scotland. She broke into the public eye with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland...
's vocals.
Release and Promotion
The Boy with No Name entered at #4 on the UK Album Charts. In the U.S., the album debuted at number 58 on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, selling 12,000 copies in its first week. It received generally positive reviews from mainstream sources and critical reviews from more alternative sources. The album went gold in the UK. "Closer
Closer (Travis song)
"Closer" is a song by Scottish band Travis, released as the first single from their fifth studio album, The Boy with No Name, on April 23, 2007. The single peaked at #10 on the UK Singles Chart.-Music video:...
" was released as the first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from the album in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on 23 April 2007, and peaked at #10 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
(see 2007 in British music
2007 in British music
This is a summary of the year 2007 in British music. It was the first year of digital downloads being fully integrated into the charts, leading to many songs not given physical releases to enter the chart on download sales alone. Leona Lewis had the most successful single of the year, with Bleeding...
). Second single "Selfish Jean" made #30. The final single, "My Eyes", reached #60 - their lowest chart placing during their career at the time. The full album was available to purchase at the Virgin Megastore
Virgin Megastore
Virgin Megastores is an international chain of record shops, founded by Sir Richard Branson on London's Oxford Street in early 1971. Virgin Megastores are best described today as entertainment retailers....
at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a three-day annual music and arts festival, organized by Goldenvoice and held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley...
in California over the weekend of 27 April 2007–29 April 2007.
Tracklisting
All songs written by Francis HealyFrancis Healy
Francis "Fran" Healy is a Scottish musician. He is currently the lead singer and main songwriter of the Scottish band Travis, having written nearly all of the songs on their six studio albums. He is based in Berlin, Germany...
, except where noted.
- "3 Times and You Lose" (Healy, Andy DunlopAndy DunlopAndy Dunlop is a Scottish musician, who is currently the lead guitarist of Scottish indie band, Travis.-Biography:...
) – 4:14 - "Selfish JeanSelfish Jean"Selfish Jean" is a song by Scottish alternative rock band Travis, released as the second single from their fifth studio album, The Boy with No Name on July 9, 2007.-Lyrics:...
" – 4:00 - "CloserCloser (Travis song)"Closer" is a song by Scottish band Travis, released as the first single from their fifth studio album, The Boy with No Name, on April 23, 2007. The single peaked at #10 on the UK Singles Chart.-Music video:...
" – 4:00 - "Big Chair" (Healy, Dunlop) – 4:07
- "Battleships" – 4:11
- "Eyes Wide Open" – 2:59
- "My EyesMy Eyes (Travis song)My Eyes is the third and final single released by Indie band Travis from their fifth studio album, The Boy With No Name. The song was released on 17 September 2007.-Background:...
" – 4:08 - "One Night" – 4:00
- "Under the Moonlight" (featuring KT TunstallKT TunstallKate Victoria "KT" Tunstall is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist from St Andrews, Scotland. She broke into the public eye with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland...
) – 4:00 - "Out in Space" – 3:35
- "Colder" (Healy, Dougie PayneDougie PayneDougie Payne is the bassist and backing vocalist of the Scottish band, Travis.-Career:...
) – 4:06 - "New Amsterdam" – 2:37
- "Sailing Away" (Hidden Track) - 3:31
UK Bonus Track
- 14. "Say Hello" (Hidden Track) - 3:33
Japanese Bonus Tracks
- 14. "The Great Unknown" - 4:18
- 15. "Perfect Heaven Space" – 3:50
Chart
| Year | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Norwegian Album Chart | 2 |
| 2007 | UK Album Chart | 4 |
| 2007 | Swiss Album Chart | 7 |
| 2007 | Mexican Album Chart | 12 |
| 2007 | Italian Album Chart | 16 |
| 2007 | Canadian Album Chart | 49 |
| 2007 | Spanish Album Chart | 54 |
| 2007 | U.S. Billboard Top 200 | 58 |
| 2007 | Australian Album Charts | 97 |
| 2007 | Austrian Album Charts | 18 |
| 2007 | French Album Charts | 41 |
| 2007 | German Album Charts | 8 |
| 2007 | Irish Album Charts | 20 |
| 2007 | Sweedish Album Charts | 51 |
Personnel
- Francis HealyFrancis HealyFrancis "Fran" Healy is a Scottish musician. He is currently the lead singer and main songwriter of the Scottish band Travis, having written nearly all of the songs on their six studio albums. He is based in Berlin, Germany...
– vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano - Andy DunlopAndy DunlopAndy Dunlop is a Scottish musician, who is currently the lead guitarist of Scottish indie band, Travis.-Biography:...
– guitar - Dougie PayneDougie PayneDougie Payne is the bassist and backing vocalist of the Scottish band, Travis.-Career:...
– bass guitar, backing vocals - Neil Primrose – drums