Heartbreak on Hold
| Heartbreak on Hold | ||||
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| Studio album by Alexandra Burke | ||||
| Released | 1 June 2012 | |||
| Recorded | 2010–2012 | |||
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| Length | 41:49 | |||
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| Alexandra Burke chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Heartbreak on Hold | ||||
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| 4Music |    |
| AllMusic | |
| Daily Express | |
| Daily Star | 7/10 |
| The Guardian | |
| The Independent | |
| The Observer | |
| Digital Spy | |
Heartbreak on Hold is the second studio album by British recording artist Alexandra Burke. It was released on 4 June 2012 through Syco and RCA Records. Recording for the album started in late 2010 and finished in early 2012. Burke collaborated with a wide range of producers for the album, many of whom are noted for their distinct dance and house music influences, including Erick Morillo and DJ Smash. The album suffered a long series of delays to its release date. Originally expected for a summer 2011 release, the original album was shelved as Burke parted ways with record label Syco, with whom she had been signed since winning The X Factor, in favour of RCA. This transition also led to a distinct change in musical direction for the album, with the R&B influences of her debut album being replaced with more dance-orientated production.
Unable to match the success of her debut album, Heartbreak on Hold sold 6,731 copies in its opening week in the UK, charting at number eighteen. The album's release was preceded by two singles. "Elephant" was released as the lead single on 9 March 2012. Despite receiving a mixed critical reception, the track debuted at number three on the UK Singles Chart and topped the UK Dance Songs chart. "Let It Go" followed on 25 May 2012, but failed to repeat the chart success of its predecessor, reaching a peak of thirty-three.
On 15 September 2010, Burke announced that the album would involve more of an element of risk than her debut, after growing in confidence since winning The X Factor in 2008; "A second album should not sound like the first one. I want to better myself and that takes hard work and time. My music has always been R&B and pop, but my voice is soulful. I want every genre of music in a blender: mix it together, the outcome is me." On 1 November 2010, Burke revealed that she had started working on the album via her official Twitter account. On 9 December 2010, she announced that she was halfway through recording the album and planned on working again with frequent collaborator RedOne and hoped to work with Bruno Mars, Ne-Yo and StarGate on material. She also revealed that the album would take a slightly different direction compared to her previous; "In terms of album two, I've gone in a slightly different direction," she said. "It's not completely different but it's going to be a lot sexier and a lot more fun. On 16 December 2010, she confirmed the new direction for the album; "We’re just getting down and dirty with the next album. I’m going to take a lot more risks and it's going to be insane" and also revealed that she had a "special duet planned".
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