PTX, Vol. IV: Classics
PTX, Vol. IV: Classics is the fifth extended play album by the a cappella group Pentatonix. It was released by RCA Records on April 7, 2017, and is their first EP since 2014's PTX, Vol. III.[1] It is their final release with original member Avi Kaplan, who left the group later that year.[2][3]
| PTX, Vol. IV: Classics | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP by | ||||
| Released | April 7, 2017[1] | |||
| Recorded | 2016–2017 | |||
| Genre | A cappella, rock, country, pop | |||
| Length | 25:04 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Producer | Ben Bram | |||
| Pentatonix chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from PTX, Vol. IV: Classics | ||||
| ||||
Their second work after PTXmas to not feature any original material, the album marks a departure from the group's typical sound, which mostly consists of either modern pop songs or Christmas music, choosing instead to focus on standards of rock, blues, country, and older pop music.[4]
"Jolene", featuring the original artist, Dolly Parton, earned her and Pentatonix a Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.[5]
Critical reception edit
The group's cover of "Jolene", originally released as a single and later included in the EP, was particularly praised. Julia Brucculieri of The Huffington Post called the version "a hauntingly beautiful a cappella update"[6] Markos Papadatos of Digital Journal called it a "stellar version", stating that "Pentatonix proves yet again that they can do no wrong with anything they sing or cover. The addition of Dolly Parton helps elevate 'Jolene' to a higher level, and they prove that it is possible for heaven to be a place on earth. Their a cappella rendition earns five out of five stars."[7] Stefan Kyriazis of the Daily Express called it a "remarkable new version of the old standard. 'Jolene' was released way back in 1973 but has never sounded fresher."[8]
Sara Vallone of the Independent Journal Review stated that "Pentatonix just did justice to Dolly Parton's 'Jolene'", and that "Parton is proving once again just how timeless she truly is".[9] The cover eventually won the Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.[5] Parton had been nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance twice for the song, first for its 1973 original release and then in 1976 for a live version; this resulted in the song earning her a Grammy 44 years after its original release.[10]
In an online review, Brandy McDonnell of The Oklahoman called the group's cover of "Bohemian Rhapsody" "an incredible rendition [...] that highlights the quintet's sterling harmonies and vocal effects."[11]
Commercial performance edit
PTX, Vol. IV: Classics debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 with 54,000 album-equivalent units, of which 50,000 were pure album sales.[12]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bohemian Rhapsody" (Queen cover) | Freddie Mercury | Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Scott Hoying, Avi Kaplan | 5:55 |
| 2. | "Imagine" (John Lennon cover) | John Lennon | Kaplan, Hoying, Grassi, Maldonado, Kevin Olusola | 4:20 |
| 3. | "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (The Andrews Sisters cover) | Don Raye, Hughie Prince | Maldonado, Grassi, Hoying | 2:18 |
| 4. | "Over the Rainbow" (from The Wizard of Oz) | Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg | Maldonado | 3:54 |
| 5. | "Take On Me" (A-ha cover) | Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket, Pål Waaktaar | Grassi, Hoying | 3:28 |
| 6. | "Can't Help Falling in Love" (Elvis Presley cover) | Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, George David Weiss | Grassi | 2:58 |
| 7. | "Jolene" (Dolly Parton cover) | Dolly Parton | Parton, Hoying | 2:11 |
| Total length: | 25:04 | |||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 8. | "Na Na Na" | 2:35 |
| Total length: | 27:39 | |
Personnel edit
Pentatonix
- Scott Hoying – baritone, lead and backing vocals
- Mitch Grassi – tenor[14] lead and backing vocals
- Kirstin Maldonado – alto lead and backing vocals
- Avi Kaplan – vocal bass, bass lead and backing vocals
- Kevin Olusola – beatboxing, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Imagine", vocal flugelhorn on "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"
Additional personnel
- Pentatonix, Ben Bram – production, arranger, engineer
- Dolly Parton – lead vocals on "Jolene"
- Andrew Kesler – arranger
- Ed Boyer – mixing
- Bill Hare – mastering
Charts edit
| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[15] | 10 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[16] | 20 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)[17] | 8 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18] | 94 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI)[19] | 13 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[20] | 34 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[21] | 14 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[22] | 37 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] | 26 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[24] | 41 |
| US Billboard 200[12] | 4 |
References edit
- ^ a b "PTX, Vol. IV - Classics". iTunes. from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ Nyren, Erin (12 May 2017). "Avi Kaplan Exits Pentatonix in Tearful Goodbye Video". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. from the original on 15 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
- ^ Kaplan, Avi [@Avi_Kaplan] (4 September 2017). "Tonight was my last show with PTX" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 October 2017 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Any way the wind blows: Pentatonix takes on 'Bohemian Rhapsody'". Star-Telegram. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ a b @RecordingAcad (12 February 2017). "Register" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 February 2017 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Dolly Parton And Pentatonix Give 'Jolene' A Hauntingly Beautiful A Cappella Update". The Huffington Post. Julia Brucculieri. from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ "Review: Pentatonix and Dolly Parton amazing on 'Jolene' cover". Digital Journal. Markos Papadatos. 17 September 2016. from the original on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ "Why have 8 MILLION people watched this version of Jolene by Dolly Parton and Pentatonix?". Daily Express. Stefan Kyriazis. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ "Pentatonix Just Did Justice to Dolly Parton's 'Jolene': One of the Greatest Songs of All Time". Independent Journal Review. Sara Vallone. from the original on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ "Dolly Parton and Pentatonix win country duo/roup performance award for 'Jolene'". Los Angeles Times. from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ "Video: Pentatonix superbly covers 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and releases EP 'PTX Vol. IV – Classics'". The Oklahoman. Brandy McDonnell. from the original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (16 April 2017). "The Chainsmokers' 'Memories' Album Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ "【CD】PTX VOL.IV -クラシックス＜初回仕様＞Album". Tower Records Japan. Japan. from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ Jones, Darianna. . BoldAndSugar.com. Bold and Sugar. Archived from the original on 25 August 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Pentatonix – PTX Vol. IV - Classics". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Pentatonix – PTX Vol. IV - Classics" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
- ^ "Pentatonix Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Pentatonix – PTX Vol. IV - Classics" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Pentatonix – PTX Vol. IV - Classics". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
- ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2016-12-05" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Pentatonix – PTX Vol. IV - Classics". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Pentatonix – PTX Vol. IV - Classics". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2017.