Left of the Middle

Left of the Middle is the debut studio album by Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia. It was released by RCA Records on 24 November 1997 in the United Kingdom, followed by most international territories in early 1998. Primarily writing and recording the album in the UK, Imbruglia worked with a number of English producers, including Phil Thornalley, Andy Wright and Nigel Godrich, and at the final stage of the album production, she traveled to Nashville, the US and co-wrote a song with American songwriter Matt Bronleewe. Left of the Middle is an alternative pop album which incorporates element of electronic sound. The lead single "Torn" (1997) was a worldwide commercial success and has since been named as one of the Best Songs of 1990s by several publications, including Rolling Stone, and Pitchfork.

Commercially, Left of the Middle topped the album music chart in Australia as well as charted within top five in the United Kingdom and top ten in the United States, and has been sold over seven million copies worldwide. The album won Best Australian Debut Album and Best Pop Release at the  12th ARIA Music Award in 1998 and was nominated for  Best Pop Vocal Album at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards in 1999. In late 2022, Imbruglia toured the UK to celebrate 25 year anniversary of the album.

Background, Writing and Production
At the time Imbruglia signed a record deal with BMG/RCA, it was the moment when RCA Records was looking for a female alternative act, a singer like Sheryl Crow at A&M or Alanis Morissette at Warner Bros., and it was Phil Thornalley’s demos which he recorded with Imbruglia that impressed Anne Barret, Imbruglia future manager who took and played the demos to Jeremy Marsh, BMG Executive and finally signed Imbruglia to RCA Records. Imbruglia co-wrote all the songs in the album, except for Torn and Don’t You Think. She admitted that she was really insecure when she was making Left of the Middle, and described that prior to recording sessions, she would over-prepare by seeking inspiration from pre-written poetry excessively.

Pigeons and Crumbs, written by Mark Goldenberg and Imbruglia, explores the struggles of a person in his/her early twenties living in the big city or big community. City, written by Imbruglia and Thornalley, refers to false friends who disappeared when hardship came along. In addition to writing and recording in the UK, Imbruglia traveled to Nashville and collaborated with Matt Bronleewe and wrote Smoke, which tells story about a kid whose needs are not being met by parents.

Five songs on the album were mixed by Radiohead's frequent collaborator, Nigel Godrich, and seven songs on the album were produced by Phil Thornalley.

Commercial Performance
In the United Kingdom, Left of the Middle debuted and peaked at number five on 06 December 1997, spending 15 weeks in the Top 10 and total of 101 non-consecutive weeks in the Top 100 until 27 January 2001. The album eventually sold 1.2 million copies in the UK, and has been certified triple platinum by BPI.

In Australia, the album debuted at number three on 15 March 1998, before falling to number 18 the next week. The album slowly climbed the chart in the following weeks and reached number one spot in August 1998, spending 61 total weeks in the Top 50 until 1999. The album was ranked five on the ARIA Top 100 Albums of 1998, and 68 on the ARIA Top 100 Albums of 1999. Left of the Middle has been certified five times platinum by ARIA and sold over 350,000 copies.

In the United States, the album was released a week after Imbruglia’s performance on SNL,  and debuted at number ten on the Billboard 200 Album Chart by 28 March 1998, the album spent 52 consecutive weeks on the chart and sold over two million copies, and certified double platinum by RIAA.

Left of the Middle has sold over seven million copies worldwide.

Critical Reception
Greg Prato from AllMusic gave the album a positive review, stating that one of the material will be seen as pop fluff by certain listeners, but fans of popular latter-day female artists like Paula Cole, Sheryl Crow, and Meredith Brooks will find Imbruglia's debut most enjoyable, and praise Imburglia’s willingness to experiment with electronic sound. Sara Scribner from the Los Angeles Times gave the album 3 out of 4 stars, saying that the album is a good pop record to break up to and Imbruglia dispels doubts with a smoky, believable voice tinged with just enough real-life ambivalence and anger.

However, Rob Sheffield from Rolling Stone gave the album a negative review, with 2 out of 5 stars, saying that on her album, too many cooks spoil the broth, adding rock guitars and industrial clank beats that have nothing to do with her fey charms. Mark Bautz from Entertainment Weekly also gave the album negative review, highlighted the lack of originality, outdated production and its sonic similarity to Rickie Lee and Alanis Morissette.

Singles

 * "Torn" was released on 27 October 1997 in the United Kingdom as the lead single of the album. It debuted and peaked at number two on the UK Single Chart, and eventually sold over one million copies in the country alone. "Torn" also peaked at number two on the ARIA Single Chart. Following the commercial performance in the international market, "Torn" made its debut at the United States’ Billboard Radio Songs Chart on 14 February 1998 and eventually reached number one on 16 May 1998, the song stayed atop the chart for 11 consecutive weeks, the song also topped Billboard Adult Top 40 Chart for 14 consecutive weeks.
 * "Big Mistake" was released on 8 March 1998 in the United Kingdom, and debuted at number two on the UK Single Chart and number six on the ARIA Single Chart. Big Mistake was not promoted in the US as "Torn" was getting popular in the states.
 * "Wishing I Was There" was released on 31 May 1998 as the third single of the album in the UK. It peaked at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 24 on the ARIA Single Chart. The song was promoted in the United States as the second single with the release of the US’ version of music video, the song peaked at number 25 on Billboard Radio Songs Chart on 26 September 1998, and at number 13 on Billboard Adult Top 40 Chart on 19 September 1998.
 * "Smoke" was released on 5 October 1998 in the United Kingdom as the fourth and last single from the album, the song peaked at number five on the UK Single Chart, and number 42 on the ARIA Single Chart.