About Last Night... (album)

About Last Night... is the second studio album by English singer Mabel, released on 15 July 2022 through Polydor UK. It serves as the follow-up to Mabel's debut album, High Expectations (2019).[1][2] Production of the album took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the singer taking inspiration to explore new sounds after watching TV shows such as Pose and RuPaul's Drag Race, while also listening to dance records by Madonna, Whitney Houston and Cece Peniston.[3][4]

About Last Night...
Standard cover
Studio album by
Mabel
Released15 July 2022 (2022-07-15)
Recorded2020-21
Genre
Length36:30
LabelPolydor UK
Producer
Mabel chronology
High Expectations
(2019)		 About Last Night...
(2022)
Singles from About Last Night...
  1. "Let Them Know"
    Released: 18 June 2021
  2. "Good Luck"
    Released: 18 March 2022
  3. "Overthinking"
    Released: 20 May 2022

A concept album that follows "the progress of a party, from arrival through romantic tension to break-up and final redemption",[5] About Last Night... mixes synth-pop, disco, house and R&B[6] with themes of love, empowerment and confidence.[5] It was supported by the release of the singles "Let Them Know", "Good Luck" with Jax Jones & Galantis and "Overthinking" with 24kGoldn.

Upon its release, it received generally positive reviews from music critics, with many praising the overall production and Mabel's new direction, while others were more critical of the lyrical content.[7] Despite the moderate success of its singles, the album debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart, becoming her highest-charting album to date.[8]

Background

In February 2021, Mabel posted a snippet of a song and screenshots of fan messages about her second studio album on Instagram.[9] In June 2021, Mabel posted a video on her social media containing a series of shots of her recording, performing and filming two music videos, which ended up being those of the first two singles from the album, "Let Them Know" and "Good Luck".[10] The album's title was hinted at the end of the music video for "Let Them Know" and at the beginning of the music video for "Good Luck". Mabel officially announced the album on May 27, 2022.[11]

Singles

The album's lead single, "Let Them Know", was released on 18 June 2021.[12] The song debuted at number 38 on the UK Singles Chart and it eventually peaked at number 19.[13]

"Good Luck" a collaboration with English DJ Jax Jones and Swedish electronic music duo Galantis was released as the second track from the album on 18 March 2022.[14]

"Overthinking" which features American rapper and singer 24kGoldn, was released as the third single off the album on 20 May 2022.[15]

Promotional singles

"Let Love Go" featuring American rapper Lil Tecca and "Crying on the Dance Floor" were released as promotional singles on 29 June and 12 July 2022, respectively. On 18 July 2022, Mabel released a surprise music video for the song "LOL".[16]

Other songs

The collaborations "I Wish" with Joel Corry and "Deal or No Deal" with A1 x J1 were released respectively in October 2021 and July 2022, being subsequently added to the streaming versions of the album.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic72/100[7]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash6/10[5]
The Daily Telegraph[17]
DIY[18]
The Guardian[19]
The Line of Best Fit4/10[4]
NME[6]

About Last Night... received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received a weighted average score of 72, based on seven reviews.[7] Elly Watson of DIY wrote that the album "boldly celebrates ballroom and dance culture", with "each song feel[ing] like you're wandering through a different room in a nightclub" and mixing "disco, dance, pop and R&B elements" while exploring "the highs and lows of the best night out of your life, and Mabel is the perfect party guide".[18]

Writing for The Line of Best Fit, Dave Russell found the album does not "add much of value beyond what we hear" in "Let Them Know". Although finding Mabel to be a talented singer, the album is "almost completely devoid of charisma, uniqueness or nerve" and "smothered under the weight of generic, radio-pandering production and derivative genre cosplay" with "lyrics that are vague to the point of meaninglessness".[4] NME contributor Hannah Mylrea gave the album four out of five stars, observing that "'About Last Night...' leaves you with your ears ringing, hooks stuck in your head and a healthy dose of dancefloor catharsis that'll make you feel lighter."[6]

Commercial performance

About Last Night… debuted at two on the UK Albums Chart, becoming Mabel's highest-charting album to date, outpeaking her debut studio album High Expectations, which peaked at three, one position lower.[20][21] Elsewhere, the album debuted at four on the Scottish Albums Chart, becoming her highest-charting album there, and debuted at 39 on the Irish Albums Chart.[22]

Tour + Intimate Shows

On June 21, Mabel announced through her social media intimate shows promoting her album "About Last Night". Tickets went on sale on June 22 at 11am. [23] Mabel announced her first headlining show in two years at Somerset House in London during the 2022 Summer Series.[24] Previously, Mabel also announced her concerts at festivals via her social media.

Date City Country Venue Opening Act
29 May 2022[25] Coventry UK War Memorial Park -
2 June 2022[26] Barcelona Spain Parc del Forum
12 June 2022[27] London UK Wembley Stadium
19 June 2022[28] Cambridge Childerley Orchard
25 June 2022[29] Rotterdam Netherlands Feijenoord Stadion
1 July 2022[30] Dublin Ireland Marlay Park
3 July 2022[31] Silverstone UK Silverstone Circuit
8 July 2022[32] Shepton Mallet Bath and West Showground
17 July 2022 London Somerset House GraceyHenrie
22 July 2022 Liverpool Hangar 34 -
25 July 2022 Leeds The Wardrobe
26 July 2022 Birmingham HMV Vault
27 July 2022 Bristol Fleece
29 July 2022 Kingston upon Thames PRYZM
31 July 2022[33] Newcastle Town Moor
6 August 2022[34] Upminster Damyns Hall
28 October 2022[35] London OVO Arena Wembley

Track listing
About Last Night... track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
1."About Last Night..." (intro)
  • Jean-Marie
  • MNEK
  • Sillkey
  • Cameron Gower Poole[v]
0:34
2."Animal"
  • McVey
  • Keen
  • Keen
  • Anton Göransson
  • Riley
3:01
3."Let Them Know"
  • McVey
  • Keen
  • Emenike
2:28
4."Shy"
  • McVey
  • Emenike
3:17
5."Definition"
  • McVey
  • Emenike
  • Jean-Marie
  • Brown
  • Göransson
3:12
6."Good Luck" (with Jax Jones and Galantis)
3:55
7."Take Your Name" (interlude)
  • McVey
  • Keen
Riley1:17
8."Let Love Go" (featuring Lil Tecca)
  • Goransson
  • Riley
  • Emenike
  • Jean-Marie
  • Lewis
  • SG Lewis
  • Goransson[a]
  • Neave Applebaum[a]
  • Ralph[a]
2:53
9."Overthinking" (with 24kGoldn)
Stargate2:54
10."Crying on the Dance Floor"
  • McVey
  • Gregory Hein
  • Eriksen
  • Hermansen
Stargate3:23
11."I Love Your Girl"
3:09
12."When the Party's Over"
  • McVey
  • Keen
  • Emenike
  • Emenike
  • Jean-Marie
  • Riley
  • Jean-Marie
  • MNEK
  • Riley
  • Poole[v]
2:55
13."LOL" (bonus track)
  • McVey
  • Keen
3:32
Total length:36:30
Digital edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
14."I Wish" (Joel Corry featuring Mabel)
  • McVey
  • Emenike
  • Corry
  • New Levels
  • Poole[v]
3:01
15."Deal or No Deal" (with A1 x J1)
  • Crumz
  • K1ng
  • Ralph[a]
3:01
Total length:42:32
Apple Music edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
16."Let Love Go" (acoustic)
  • McVey
  • Keen
  • Emenike
  • Goransson
  • Riley
  • Jean-Marie
  • Lewis
  • Ashton Miranda
  • Poole[v]
2:59
17."Toxic" (Britney Spears acoustic cover)
  • Miranda
  • Poole[v]
3:06
18."Overthinking" (slowed and reverb; with 24kGoldn)
  • McVey
  • Donald
  • Eriksen
  • Hermansen
  • Stargate
  • Poole
3:38
19."Crying on the Dance Floor" (calm string version)
  • McVey
  • Hein
  • Eriksen
  • Hermansen
  • Miranda
  • Poole[v]
3:39
Total length:55:54

Notes
  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer
  • ^[c] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[v] signifies a vocal producer
  • The vinyl version of the album includes the solo versions of "Let Love Go" (3:28) and "Overthinking" (2:47).

Personnel

Musicians

  • Mabel – vocals (all tracks), background vocals (3, 11)
  • MNEK – background vocals (1, 14); bass, drums, keyboards, programming, synthesizer (4, 5, 12); vocal arrangement (5)
  • Tre Jean-Marie – keyboards (1, 4, 5, 8, 12); bass, programming, synthesizer (1, 4, 5, 12); 5-string banjo (4), drums (4, 5, 12)
  • Nayla Nyassa – piano, synthesizer (1)
  • Rosie Danvers – strings (1, 2, 4, 7, 12), cello (19)
  • Anton Göransson – bass (2, 8); drums, keyboards, programming, synthesizer (2)
  • Jordan Riley – bass (2, 8, 12), drums (2, 12), keyboards (2, 12), programming (2, 7, 12), strings (2, 7), synthesizer (2)
  • Juri Uchishiba – strings (2)
  • Raye – background vocals (3)
  • SG Lewis – programming, synthesizer (3, 8); bass, drums, keyboards (3)
  • Hayley Yum – background vocals (4, 5)
  • Myra Mwang'ombe – background vocals (5)
  • Jax Jones – programming (6)
  • Neave Applebaum – brass band (8); keyboards, programming (14)
  • Lil Tecca – vocals (8)
  • 24kGoldn – vocals (9, 18)
  • Oscar Görres – background vocals, bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, percussion, programming (11)
  • Harlee – background vocals (14)
  • No No – background vocals (14)
  • Lewis Thompson – keyboards, programming (14)
  • Joel Corry – programming (14)
  • Rob Harvey – whistle (14)
  • Kelly Barnes – additional vocals (15)
  • Hal Ritson – keyboards, programming (15)
  • Michele Balduzzi – keyboards, programming (15)
  • Richard Adlam – keyboards, programming (15)
  • A1 – vocals (15)
  • J1 – vocals (15)
  • Mike Hough – background vocals (16, 17, 19)
  • Victoria Akintola – background vocals (16, 17, 19)
  • Thomas Totten – guitar (16, 17)
  • Ashton Miranda – piano (16, 17, 19)
  • Meghan Cassidy – viola (19)
  • Jenny Sacha – violin (19)
  • Zara Benyounes – violin (19)

Technical

  • Stuart Hawkes – mastering (1–13, 16–19)
  • Kevin Grainger – mastering, mixing (14)
  • JRocs – mastering, mixing (15)
  • Phil Tan – mixing (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 12)
  • Josh Gudwin – mixing (3)
  • Mark Ralph – mixing (6, 8)
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (9, 10, 13, 18)
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing (11)
  • Cameron Gower Poole – mixing (16, 17, 19), engineering (9, 18)
  • SG Lewis – engineering (3, 8)
  • Nick Mac – engineering (9, 18)
  • Mikkel S. Eriksen – engineering (9, 10, 18)
  • Tor Erik Hermansen – engineering (9, 18)
  • John Hanes – engineering, mix engineering (11)
  • Lewis Thompson – engineering (14)
  • Neave Applebaum – engineering (14)
  • Isabel Gracefield – engineering (19)
  • Bill Zimmerman – mix engineering (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 12), mixing assistance (13)
  • Emre Ramazanoglu – immersive mix engineering (16–18)
  • Oscar Görres – recording arrangement (11)
  • Heidi Wang – mixing assistance (3)
  • Matt Wolach – mixing assistance (9, 13, 18)
  • Michael Freeman – mixing assistance (10)
  • Bryce Bordone – mixing assistance (11)
  • Thomas Warren – engineering assistance (9, 10, 18)

Charts
Chart performance for About Last Night...
Chart (2022) Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[36] 100
Irish Albums (OCC)[37] 39
Scottish Albums (OCC)[38] 4
Spanish Vinyls (PROMUSICAE)[39] 48
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] 91
UK Albums (OCC)[41] 2

Release history
Release dates and formats for About Last Night...
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various 15 July 2022
Polydor UK [42]

See also

References
  1. Aubrey, Elizabeth (27 May 2022). "Mabel unveils details of second album, 'About Last Night'". NME. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  2. Murray, Robin (27 May 2022). "Mabel Announces New Album 'About Last Night...'". Clash. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  3. Snapes, Laura (27 May 2022). "'I didn't sign up to be a TikToker': Mabel on bullying, Brits and being saved by her animals". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  4. Russell, Dave (12 July 2022). "Mabel's About Last Night... is a dance floor liberation record with none of the urgency". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  5. Kingsley, Tom (15 July 2022). "Mabel – About Last Night…". Clash.
  6. Mylrea, Hannah (14 July 2022). "Mabel – 'About Last Night...' review: a heady rush of club-ready tunes". NME.
  7. "About Last Night... by Mabel Critic Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic.
  8. Smith, Carl (22 July 2022). "Harry Styles' Harry's House makes it six non-consecutive weeks at Number 1 on Official Albums Chart as Mabel scores highest new entry with About Last Night..." UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  9. "M a b e l on Instagram". Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  10. "Mabel previews new music in teaser clip". NME. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  11. "Mabel Announces New Album 'About Last Night...'". Clash Magazine. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  12. "Mabel Returns With Brand New Single, 'Let Them Know' Available Now" (Press release). Universal Music Canada. Pressparty. 11 June 2021. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  13. Masterson, James (25 June 2021). "Charts analysis: Olivia Rodrigo's Good 4 U scores fifth week at No.1". Music Week. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  14. Aubrey, Elizabeth (19 March 2022). "Listen to Mabel's empowering new single 'Good Luck'". NME. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  15. @Mabel (12 May 2022). "My brand new single 'Overthinking' with @24kGoldn is out next Friday! It's a very personal song for me and I hope you love it as much as I do..." (Tweet). Retrieved 13 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  16. Mabel (18 July 2022). "Surprise! The video for LOL is OUT NOW!! So many of you have been saying this is your favourite track from 'About Last Night...' so I hope you love the video as much as I do". Twitter. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  17. Haider, Arwa (15 July 2022). "Lizzo strikes pop gold, and Mabel has a big night out – the week's best albums". The Daily Telegraph.
  18. Watson, Elly (13 July 2022). "Mabel – About Last Night... review". DIY. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  19. "Mabel: About Last Night… review – tears and cheers on the dancefloor | Mabel". The Guardian. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  20. "Official Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  21. "Official Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  22. "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  23. "M a b e l on Instagram: "To celebrate the release of my new album 'About Last Night...' I've decided to play a few very intimate shows in the UK partnered with local record stores. I'm visiting a few places I've never been before and I'm so excited to see you all! You can get tickets with album bundles from tomorrow, June 22 at 11am - link in bio. I can't wait to be with all my hunnies! x"". Instagram. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  24. "Mabel". Somerset House. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  25. This show was part of BBC Radio 1's Weekend
  26. This show was part of Primavera Sound
  27. The show was part of Summertime Ball
  28. The show was part of Strawberries & Cream Festival
  29. The show was part of Oh My! Music Festival
  30. The show was part of Longitude Festival
  31. The show was part of Formula 1 British Grand Prix
  32. The show was part of NASS Festival
  33. The show was part of LooseFest
  34. The show was part of We Are FSTVL
  35. The show was part of Kiss Haunted Party
  36. "Offiziellecharts.de – Mabel – About Last Night" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  37. "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  38. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  39. "Top 100 Vinilos Semanal". El portal de música. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  40. "Swisscharts.com – Mabel %5BUK%5D – About Last Night". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  41. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  42. About Last Night... release formats:
    1. "Cassette #1 + Signed Cassette #2 Bundle". Mabel Official Store. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
    2. "About Last Night... CD". Mabel Official Store. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
    3. "About Last Night... [Explicit] by Mabel". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
    4. "About Last Night... Black Vinyl". Mabel Official Store. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
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