Left of the Middle
Studio album by
Natalie Imbruglia
Released24 November 1997
Recorded1997
GenreAlternative pop[1]
Length50:03
LabelRCA
Producer
Natalie Imbruglia chronology
Left of the Middle
(1997) 		White Lilies Island
(2001)
Alternative cover
Singles from Left of the Middle
  1. "Torn"
    Released: 27 October 1997
  2. "Big Mistake"
    Released: 8 March 1998
  3. "Wishing I Was There"
    Released: 31 May 1998
  4. "Smoke"
    Released: 11 October 1998
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[2]
The Guardian[3]
Los Angeles Times[4]
Music Week[5]
Q[6]
Rolling Stone[7]
The Village VoiceC+[8]

Left of the Middle is the debut studio album by Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia, released on 24 November 1997 by RCA Records. It is primarily an alternative pop album.[1] Spurred by the success of lead single "Torn", the album reached number one in Imbruglia's home country and top 10 in both the UK and US. The album went on to secure Imbruglia an ARIA for Best Pop Release and three Grammy nominations, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the single "Torn", and Best New Artist.[9]

The album sold over 7 million copies worldwide by 2002,[10] making it the best-selling debut album by a female Australian singer.[11][12] The single "Identify", which Imbruglia recorded for the soundtrack of the 1999 film Stigmata, only appears on the compilation album, Glorious: The Singles 97–07.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Torn"
4:04
2."One More Addiction"
  • Natalie Imbruglia
  • Dave Munday
  • Thornalley
3:30
3."Big Mistake"
3:54
4."Leave Me Alone"
4:21
5."Wishing I Was There"
3:52
6."Smoke"
  • Imbruglia
  • Matt Bronleewe
4:37
7."Pigeons and Crumbs"
  • Imbruglia
  • Goldenberg
5:21
8."Don't You Think?"
  • Campsie
  • Thornalley
3:55
9."Impressed"
  • Imbruglia
  • Rick Palombi
  • Nick Trevisik
4:47
10."Intuition"
  • Imbruglia
  • Munday
  • Thornalley
3:22
11."City"
  • Imbruglia
  • Thornalley
4:34
12."Left of the Middle"
  • Imbruglia
  • Steve Booker
3:46
Total length:50:03
Australian bonus disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Tomorrow Morning"
  • Imbruglia
  • Thornalley
3:00
2."Something Better"
  • Imbruglia
  • Boo Hewerdine
  • Thornalley
4:04
3."Frightened Child"
  • Imbruglia
  • Munday
  • Thornalley
1:56
4."Diving in the Deep End"
  • Imbruglia
  • Thornalley
3:54
5."City" (Live in Barcelona)
  • Imbruglia
  • Thornalley
4:04
Total length:16:58
Japanese bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Frightened Child"
  • Imbruglia
  • Dave Munday
  • Thornalley
1:56
14."Diving In The Deep End"
  • Trevisik
  • Imbruglia
  • Thornalley
3:30
Total length:5:43
Alternative pressing[13]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Torn"
4:04
2."One More Addiction"
  • Natalie Imbruglia
  • Dave Munday
  • Thornalley
3:30
3."Big Mistake"
  • Imbruglia
  • Mark Goldenberg
3:54
4."Leave Me Alone"
4:21
5."Intuition"
  • Imbruglia
  • Munday
  • Thornalley
3:22
6."Smoke"
  • Imbruglia
  • Matt Bronleewe
4:37
7."Pigeons and Crumbs"
  • Imbruglia
  • Goldenberg
5:21
8."Don't You Think?"
  • Campsie
  • Thornalley
3:55
9."Impressed"
  • Imbruglia
  • Rick Palombi
  • Nick Trevisik
4:47
10."Wishing I Was There"
3:52
11."City"
  • Imbruglia
  • Thornalley
4:34
12."Left of the Middle"
  • Imbruglia
  • Steve Booker
3:46
Total length:50:03

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[46] 5× Platinum 450,000[11]
Belgium (BEA)[47] Platinum 50,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[48] 3× Platinum 300,000^
France (SNEP)[49] Gold 100,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[50] Platinum 200,000^
Mexico (AMPROFON)[51] Gold 100,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[52] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[53] Platinum 15,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[54] Platinum 100,000^
Sweden (GLF)[55] Gold 40,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[56] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[58] 3× Platinum 1,200,000[57]
United States (RIAA)[59] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[60] 2× Platinum 2,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b c Prato, Greg. "Left of the Middle – Natalie Imbruglia". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  2. ^ Bautz, Mark (23 March 1998). "Left of the Middle". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  3. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (28 November 1997). "Natalie Imbruglia: Left of the Middle (RCA)". The Guardian.
  4. ^ Scribner, Sara (14 March 1998). "Natalie Imbruglia, 'Left of the Middle,' RCA". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 15 November 1997. p. 10. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Natalie Imbruglia: Left of the Middle". Q. No. 163. April 2000. p. 111.
  7. ^ Sheffield, Rob (23 March 1998). "Natalie Imbruglia: Left Of The Middle". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  8. ^ Christgau, Robert (1 December 1998). "Consumer Guide: Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Nominations". Grammy. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  10. ^ Minogue wins battle of Aussie divas. Billboard. 19 January 2002. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  11. ^ a b "Natalie Imbruglia's Album Loss in Australia reported by Billboard". Billboard. 25 December 1998.
  12. ^ "Natalie Imbruglia se prepara para lançar CD - Colherada Cultural". Archived from the original on 12 November 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  13. ^ "Natalie Imbruglia - Left Of The Middle". Discogs.
  14. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Natalie Imbruglia – Left of the Middle". Hung Medien.
  15. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Natalie Imbruglia – Left of the Middle" (in German). Hung Medien.
  16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Natalie Imbruglia – Left of the Middle" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  17. ^ "Ultratop.be – Natalie Imbruglia – Left of the Middle" (in French). Hung Medien.
  18. ^ "Natalie Imbruglia Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  19. ^ "Natalie Imbruglia / Left to the Middle". Top20.dk. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013.
  20. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Natalie Imbruglia – Left of the Middle" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  21. ^ "Natalie Imbruglia: Left of the Middle" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  22. ^ "Lescharts.com – Natalie Imbruglia – Left of the Middle". Hung Medien.
  23. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Natalie Imbruglia – Left of the Middle" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  24. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Natalie Imbruglia". Hung Medien.
  25. ^ "Top National Sellers: Italy" (PDF). Music & Media. 14 February 1997. p. 12.
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  29. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
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  34. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 - 1997 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  35. ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 1998". ARIA. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  36. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1998". Ultratop. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
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  38. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1998". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  39. ^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 1998" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  40. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
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  45. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1999". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
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  47. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1998". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  48. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Natalie Imbruglia – Left of the Middle". Music Canada. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  49. ^ "French album certifications – Natalie Imbruglia – Left of the Middle" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  50. ^ "Japanese album certifications – ナタリー・インブルーリア – レフト・オブ・ザ・ミドル" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 17 January 2014. Select 2000年5月 on the drop-down menu
  51. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 28 September 2011. Type Natalie Imbruglia in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Left of the Middle in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  52. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Natalie Imbruglia – Left of the Middle" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 18 November 2021. Enter Left of the Middle in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1998 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  53. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Natalie Imbruglia – Left of the Middle". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
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  57. ^ Wade, Ian (12 January 2022). "30 albums turning 25 in 2022". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
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  60. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1999". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
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