Magpie (album)
| Magpie | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 22 November 2004 | |||
| Studio | Abbey Road, London, England | |||
| Genre | Folk rock | |||
| Length | 41:30 | |||
| Label | Fiction | |||
| Producer | Stephen Fretwell | |||
| Stephen Fretwell chronology | ||||
| ||||
Magpie is the 2004 debut album by English singer-songwriter Stephen Fretwell. It was released on 22 November 2004 by Fiction Records in England and Universal Music Group worldwide.[1] The album was recorded in studio two of Abbey Road Studios and reached No. 27 on the UK Albums Chart.[1]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| BBC | 7/10[2] |
Magpie was praised by critics. Mars Simpson of Treble called it "Timeless. [...] Manchester's Fretwell, at the tender age of 23, has done what many musicians will attempt to achieve throughout their entire careers but most never do: he's crafted an album that sounds as much at home alongside a great like Bob Dylan as it is next to contemporary singer/songwriters, and should remain relevant as long as people are stepping into soundproof booths and putting sound to tape".[3] Chris Long of the BBC said: "Magpie collects up a host of precious shining moments yet, like the bird it is named after, occasionally doesn't know what to do with them once it has them. It's a firm start but anyone who's watched his progress up the ranks will know there's better than this in him".[2]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Stephen Fretwell.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Do You Want to Come With?" | 3:39 |
| 2. | "What's That You Say Little Girl" | 3:35 |
| 3. | "Run" | 4:33 |
| 4. | "Bad Bad You, Bad Bad Me" | 3:26 |
| 5. | "Rose" | 4:13 |
| 6. | "Lost Without You" | 2:54 |
| 7. | "Emily" | 3:36 |
| 8. | "Lines" | 2:41 |
| 9. | "Play" | 3:53 |
| 10. | "Brother" | 3:24 |
| 11. | "New York" | 2:47 |
| 12. | "—" | 2:49 |
| Total length: | 41:30 | |
Personnel
Musicians
- Stephen Fretwell – guitar, harmonica, vocals
- Matt Watson – piano, keyboard
- Jonathan Nobblett – bass guitar
- Jay Sikora – drums
Technical personnel
- Stephen Fretwell – producer
- Guy Massey – engineering, mixing
- Jeff Mac – mixing assistance
- Kris Maclaren – mixing assistance
- Chris Bolster – engineering assistance
Charts
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[4] | 20 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[5] | 27 |
Legacy
"Run", the first single released from the album, became famous as the theme tune to the British sitcom Gavin & Stacey.[6]
References
- ^ a b c "Magpie - Stephen Fretwell | Album". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ a b "BBC – Manchester – Entertainment – Stephen Fretwell – Magpie". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ Simpson, Mars (16 May 2006). "Stephen Fretwell : Magpie". Treble. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ "Gavin & Stacey 2024 Christmas special soundtrack: Every song featured | Radio Times". Radio Times. Retrieved 2 July 2025.