20 years ago, the fastest selling jazz album in UK chart history was released. The sophomore album from critically-adored singer-songwriter Jamie Cullum, Twentysomething soared to the status of one of the most celebrated albums of the year, Brit and Grammy nominated.
In the ensuing two decades, Cullum has released a plethora of projects with over 10 million copies sold, collaborated with titans of the industry like Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar and Herbie Hancock, and has established himself as a multi-award winning broadcaster with a successful BBC Radio 2 show.
Now he’s back, full circle, for a trip down memory lane. On 20th October, Cullum re-released Twentysomething for the first time on vinyl via Decca and Universal Music. Featuring heavy-hitting singles like “All at Sea” and “These Are the Days”, the album is sprawling and undoubtedly ahead of its time, with the production and songwriting standing the test of time, well suited to the progression of contemporary music. A cherished and nostalgic release, Cullum’s legacy has further augmented with this triumphant unveiling.
He may not be Twentysomething anymore, but the impact of the singer-songwriter’s sophomore LP is still seen today. Here, Cullum reflects on the album and its legacy, discussing his reasons for revisiting the album, and opens up on UK jazz’s resurgence and the modern industry.
Listen to the classic LP…
