Calvin Harris 'Ready for the Weekend' album

Calvin Harris has followed the success of his gold selling debut album ‘I Created Disco’, by scoring yet another gold album and the trump card, a UK # 1 with its successor 'Ready For The Weekend'.

This is certainly no sophmore slump for Calvin Harris, ‘Ready For the Weekend’ already boasts two UK # 1 singles: ‘Dance Wiv Me’ (with Dizzee Rascal) and ‘I’m Not Alone’ which is shaping up to be one of the biggest singles of the year. Plus a top #3 single with the title track ‘Ready For the Weekend.

Bringing his record sales (in singles alone) to a staggering 1.4 million (with each single release blasting its predecessor out the water with giddying and accelerated sales). The pioneering vision and determination of Calvin Harris has very much paid off and there seems, thankfully, to be no stopping him as one of the most celebrated electronic artists as we head into the new decade.

“What I’m into at the moment”, says Calvin Harris, “is the idea of stadium dance. Playing football stadiums with massive riffs, big hands-in-the-air moments.” A bold ambition, but such boldness is justified, coming from a man who ascended from the bedroom to the big time.

Calvin has come a long way since his trademark sound took over the charts in 2007. Now a sought after producer having remixed the likes of The Ting Tings and Passion Pit, international DJ and bonafide star, Calvin has picked up awards, collaborated with everyone from Kylie Minogue to Example, clocked up record sales well in excess of a million copies and sold out tours across the UK. Now he has brought us one of the best and boldest albums to end our decade with.

Aforementioned # 1 single ‘I’m Not Alone’, is one Harris describes as “somewhere between Snow Patrol, Faithless and Grandaddy”. The track still remains unbeaten as one of the biggest singles of the year – challenged only perhaps by his other #1 ‘Dance Wiv Me’, released with friend and fellow chart-topper Dizzee Rascal.

‘Ready For The Weekend - the single release - scored a top #3 smash. The track, straightforwardly upbeat, featured the formidable lungs of Mary Pearce (prolific backing singer for the likes of Beverly Knight, Lionel Richie and Chaka Khan), handbag house piano riffs, and the girl-friendly chorus “I put on my shoes and I’m ready for the weekend”. An electro pop master class of a single, which included remixes courtesy of Fake Blood & Dave Spoon, with the amazing High Contrast completing the package in fine style. Says Calvin: “Ready For The Weekend’ is a good example of pop song meets piano house record, it’s my favourite thing I’ve done so far.”

The single 'Ready For The Weekend' also comes with its own very special film, a recorded performance of the track played on a unique human synthesiser. The ground-breaking instrument itself employed 16 models decorated with a new electricity-conducting body ink developed by students at the Royal College of Art, London. When the performers touched the connection, it completed a circuit, triggering a sound. Calvin played the main keyboard and effects by interacting with the row of nine girls. All choreographed to perfection.

It’s no wonder really that Calvin Harris’s YouTube channel ‘I Created Disco’ is the ninth most viewed in the UK.

Other key moments on the album include “Relax” (an acoustic guitar based track which has a similarly mixed mood to “I‘m Not Alone“), and “Worst Day”, (something of a N.E.R.D./Outkast sound, Calvin’s vocals sharing time with rapper Izza Kizza from Timbaland’s Mosley Music stable). All of which is messing with many people’s expectations of a Calvin Harris record.

Following the rapturous response to his recent DJ dates, having completed a handful of in the US this past September in NY, LA and Chicago. Paper Magazine boasts "With a stellar and deafening set...Of particular note was his treatment of “Acceptable in the ’80s”; with a simple maneuver he revealed the enthusiasm level of the entire room. Essentially, when the song arrived at the line “…the eighties…” he turned the dials down and left the vocals to us. However, he did this without warning. It was somewhat impressive the crowd didn’t disappoint; we were all belting it out loud despite Calvin is a legend, We have all been witness to this strain of fail at a show at one time or another. Anyway, this chick got chills."

He didn't disappoint on the west coast either as the prominent blog FakeRich reports "He Absolutely tour the roof off at the Vanguard".

So it's indeed to safe to say we can expect Calvin to return to the US in 2010 further cementing his 2010 Worldwide Domination.

press quotes
"...Big bold and colourful 21st century electro dance pop executed with considerable panache...Pop genius." Daily Telegraph (UK)

"Harris creates a near-perfect dance album, masterfully transcending genres with his catchy, synth-heavy production to keep your body moving and “Ready for the Weekend."” URB

"If you're unaware who Calvin Harris is, you've probably already been cutting a rug to one of his slick mixes. Like his upgrade of Katy Perry's "Waking Up in Vegas" for example. It's also likely that you've caught wind of his recent studio escapades with Jake Shears and Kylie Minogue Even Madonna repurposed bits of “I’m Not Alone” onto dates of her recent tour. So you'd think with all that, plus a #1 album in his homeland, the man who created disco would be stomping around with a god complex. Instead, Harris channels charm. The new king of electropop." BlackBook

"Calvin Harris' second album ups the ante on the glossy dance-pop of his debut...boasting more energy, more hooks, more professionalism, and, in places, a little more sincerity. What's more, he has the talent to produce it all at the highest level possible, right up there with Daft Punk" All Music Guide

"Ready For The Weekend is all about the here and the now, the carpe diem of the nightlife scene. The First single, I'm Not Alone Combines the familiarities of pop and techno to form an undeniable, feel-good dance track that would be just as appropriate for a stadium-sized rave or a small, homey club." - 411 Mania

"Onwards, upwards and into new realms of synth-pop splendour" - Metro

"This album will cement his status as a dance floor demigod" - New

"A rock star ready for the big stage, rather than a bedroom producer" - Independent

"The Caledonian Justin Timberlake"- Independent On Sunday

"Killer riffs and disco wig outs" - Marie Claire

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Calvin Harris - Ready for the Weekend