Travelling Without Moving

Template:Good article Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |Template:Short description|noreplace}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Jay's Selection1996In-Store Jam1997studioTravelling Without MovingTravellingwithoutmoving.pngThe album cover of Travelling Without Moving, consisting of a close-up of a yellow emblem with green, white and red stripes above it, resembling the logo of luxury car manufacturer Ferrari S.p.A., on a metal screen mesh. A silhouette man with buffalo horns is imprinted on it, a character that is displayed on all early Jamiroquai album covers, up to A Funk Odyssey, where it appears to fall into disuse. The band name and album title are displayed on top.JamiroquaiTemplate:Start dateGreat Linford Manor (Milton Keynes, England)* Funk

• acid jazz
• R&B
• soul
• disco
• dance67:22* Sony Soho Square (UK)
• Work (US)
• Columbia (Canada)* Jason Kay
• Al Stonex|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}}

Travelling Without Moving is the third studio album by English funk and acid jazz band Jamiroquai, released on 28 August 1996 in Japan, then on 9 September 1996 in the United Kingdom under Sony Soho Square. Front-man Jay Kay intended for the album to have a more universal style, revolving around "cars, life and love".<ref name="philadelphiainquirer" /> Critics have generally praised the album for being more focused and refined than the band's previous work, while others panned its lyrics and found the album too derivative. Its visual concept of sports cars received backlash from press, as it contradicted Kay's professed environmental beliefs.

The album was Jamiroquai's American breakthrough. It marked the band's first entry in the US Billboard 200 chart at number 24. In the UK, it peaked at number two. Its singles "Virtual Insanity", "Cosmic Girl" and "Alright" entered the top-ten in the UK singles chart. In the US, "Alright" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 78, while "Cosmic Girl" and "High Times" were in the top-ten in the Dance Club Songs charts. The music video for "Virtual Insanity" contributed to the album's success. Travelling Without Moving sold over 8 million copies worldwide, holding the Guinness World Records as the best-selling funk album in history. The album was reissued in 2013 in remastered form with bonus material.

Background

After experiencing a stressful period while recording The Return of the Space Cowboy, Kay sought to make the next album more focused and universal. He also did not want to remain as a semi-underground act "that stuck to its little niche and sold one and a half million albums every time. I wanted to breakout and be something bigger, more international."<ref name="travelling" /> Speaking of the album's general mood, Kay said: "[With Emergency on Planet Earth], people weren't cheering in the streets or anything, and [The Return of the Space Cowboy] was quite sad. With [Travelling Without Moving], I decided it was important to show people we could enjoy ourselves. That's why it's cars, life and love".<ref name="philadelphiainquirer">Template:Cite news</ref> Kay booked the band into the residential studio Great Linford Manor so that they could work at their own pace.<ref name="travelling" /><ref name="booklet" />

Composition

The first song composed for the album was "Virtual Insanity". It was recorded as a rough demo and was not fully realised until the album's final recording stage.<ref name="travelling" /> The song has a piano opening with "buoyant keyboards and soaring strings."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="gettelman" /> Its lyrics are about the prevalence of technology and the replication and simulation of life.<ref name="philadelphiainquirer" /> The second track "Cosmic Girl" is a disco song with "spacey" lyrics, based on rhythmic "looped beats" "to give it an off-center, otherworldly" sound.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> For the next track "Use The Force" the group channels "that real vintage football vibe",<ref name="travelling" /> filled with horns, wah-wah guitar and a rippling barrage of Latin percussion".<ref name="sinclair" /> The fourth track "Everyday" is described "as seductive as any Maxwell ballad" and has "over aching strings and a come-hither bass line".<ref name="theatlantaconstitution">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The fifth song, "Alright", was described as an "easy-going disco-funk" track.<ref name="sinclair">Template:Cite journal</ref>

"High Times", a song with "razor-edged funky guitars",<ref name="thesource" /> references Kay's drug use during the recording of The Return of the Space Cowboy: "'High Times' was admitting the truth of the matter, of where I'd been and how lucky I was to be coming out of the other side."<ref name="travelling">Template:Cite AV media</ref> This is followed by the reggae track, "Drifting Along".<ref name="thesource" /> The tracks "Didjerama" and "Didjital Vibrations" are instrumental tracks containing ambient didgeridoo.<ref name="theobserver">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="sinclair" /> The title track is next on the album and samples Kay's purple Lamborghini in the intro.<ref name="paperb">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It features a "driving groove" and after two minutes, it "transitions into a bassline-paced, heavy workout".<ref name="vibe2013">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album ends with the dance track, "You Are My Love", and the soul ballad, "Spend a Lifetime".<ref name="pitchfork" /><ref name="sinclair" />

Release

Travelling Without Moving was first released on 28 August 1996 in Japan,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> then on 9 September 1996 in the United Kingdom on Sony Soho Square.<ref name="musicweekreview" /> Released on the Work record label in January 1997,<ref name="usreleasedate">Template:Cite journal</ref> it was the band's first US Billboard 200 entry,<ref name="uschart" /> where it reached number 24 and it sold 1,400,000 shipments.<ref name="ussales" /> The album peaked at number 2 in the UK chart and sold 1,219,197 copies.<ref name="ukchart" /><ref name="uksales" /> In Japan, it reached number 6,<ref name="Jachart" /> and in the year end chart there,<ref name="JPYearend96" /> it ranked number 87 in 1996 and number 58 in 1997.<ref name="JPYearend97" /> It peaked at number 2 in the French SNEP albums chart and number 6 in the year end chart in 1996.<ref name="Frachart" /><ref name="frayearend" /> In Switzerland, it reached number 3 in the Swiss Albums Chart,<ref name="chchart" /> and number 37 in the year end chart in 1996.<ref name="SWIyearend" /> It ranked number 9 in the German Media Control Albums Chart,<ref name="dechart" /> and It ranked at number 69 in 1996 and number 38 in 1997 in the German year-end chart.<ref name="deyearend" /> In the Netherlands, in peaked at 16 in the album chart,<ref name="nlchart" /> and number 48 in the year end chart in 1997.<ref name="nlyearend" /> In the Australian ARIA Albums Chart,<ref name="auschart" /> it ranked at 6 and in 1997 47 at the end of the year.<ref name="ausyearend" /> The album was certified platinum in these countries,<ref name=australiacert /><ref name=frcert /><ref name=jpcert /><ref name=nlcert /><ref name=swisscert /><ref name=ukcert /><ref name=uscert /> except in Germany where it was certified gold.<ref name=decert /> It was also triple platinum in Europe by the IFPI denoting sales of 3,000,000 copies.<ref name="europesales" /> The album has overall sold more than 8 million copies worldwide.<ref name="billboard2001" /> In 2013, Travelling Without Moving was one of the first three albums to be re-issued on the band's 20th anniversary campaign, also containing a bonus disc of remixes, demos, live performances and B-sides.<ref name="2013reissues">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="uncut2013" />

File:Lamborghini Diablo SE30 - Flickr - cosmic spanner.jpg

A purple Lamborghini Diablo SE30, similar to the one featured in the "Cosmic Girl" music video

"Do U Know Where You're Coming From" was the first single to be released on 20 May 1996,<ref name="singledate1">Template:Cite magazine</ref> where it peaked at number 12 in the UK.<ref name="uksinglechart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is a drum and bass song by M-Beat which features vocals by Kay.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="vibe">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The second single "Virtual Insanity" was released on 19 August 1996,<ref name="singledate2">Template:Cite magazine</ref> reached number 3 in the single and number 1 the R&B charts in the UK.<ref name="uksinglechart" /><ref name="occrnb">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Its music video, directed by Jonathan Glazer, played heavily on MTV,<ref name="prouty" /> which depicted Kay "perform[ing] in a room where the floors, walls and furniture all moved simultaneously."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>"Cosmic Girl" was released as its third single on 20 November 1996,<ref name="singledate3">Template:Cite magazine</ref> reaching number 6 in the UK and number 7 in the US Dance Club Songs charts.<ref name="uksinglechart" /><ref name="billboarddanceclub" /> Its music video features a Ferrari F355 Berlinetta, a red Ferrari F40 and a purple Lamborghini Diablo SE30 "on mountain roads and across a desert."<ref name="lambo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Alright" was issued on 28 April 1997,<ref name="singledate4">Template:Cite magazine</ref> ranking number 6 in the UK and number 78 in their only Billboard Hot 100 appearance.<ref name="uksinglechart" /><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> "High Times" was the final single, released on 1 December 1997,<ref name="singledate5">Template:Cite magazine</ref> and peaked at number 9 the US Dance Club charts.<ref name="billboarddanceclub">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Controversy

After the album was released, Kay received backlash from the press for his interest in sports cars, because it contradicted his environmental beliefs on Emergency on Planet Earth.<ref name="muzik" /><ref name="larkin">Template:Cite book</ref> The album's visual concept revolved around sports cars, with the Ferrari logo being recreated within the band's Buffalo Man logo.<ref name="paperb" /> Paper magazine also pointed out this contradiction with the music video for "Alright", "when Kay rolls up in his purple Lamborghini to party on the dance floor with a bevy of bodacious babes, concerns about seals, whales, rain forests and the revolution are checked at the door."<ref name="paperb" /> He said that he was hesitant to release the album as he expected the backlash, but added "Just because I love to drive a fast car, that doesn't mean I believe in chopping trees down. It doesn't mean I think they should build more roads for my car".<ref name="poulton">Template:Cite journal</ref> Keyboardist Toby Smith also said, "We all want to be an ecologically conscious band, but we like cars [...] We're hypocrites like the rest of the world. But then again, you can only drive one car at a time."<ref name="rockymountainnews1997">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Reception

Template:Quote box Template:Album ratings Critics have generally praised Travelling Without Moving for its focused and refined sound, as it deepened the acid-jazz and soul styles that were informed from their first two albums.<ref name="amg" /><ref name="q" /><ref name="sundayherald">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Linton Chiswick of Q magazine said that this resulted in "a fat, squishy disco feel."<ref name="q" /> Parry Gettelman also wrote that Kay had "evolved into quite a writer."<ref name="gettelman">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Source also gave the album 4 out of 5: "Travelling is essentially about the metaphysics of having a good time... Jamiroquai have a thousand musical tricks up their sleeves; edgy horns laced with jazz intricacies, energetic bass lines and disco rhythms, and a wider variety of tempos than usual in British funk."<ref name="thesource">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Tom Moon remarked that: "There are no digital samples on Traveling Without Moving. In fact, just about every sound comes from a vintage analog instrument."<ref name="tommoon">Template:Cite news</ref>

Stephen Thompson of The A.V. Club said that the album "sounds an awful lot like its predecessor", but he concluded: "It's a tribute to Jamiroquai that more of the same still sounds pretty damned good."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A Music Week reviewer wrote: "Jamiroquai still wear their influences firmly on their sleeve but this is their most accomplished and satisfying offering yet."<ref name="musicweekreview" /> Matt Diehl of Entertainment Weekly writes, "when it comes to Stevie Wonder, frontman Jason Kay still gets imitation confused with homage."<ref name="entertainmentweekly" /> In a 2004 discography review by Ben Sisario, Travelling Without Moving is the only Jamiroquai album rated slightly higher than others, with Sisario singling out "Virtual Insanity" and "Cosmic Girl" for being radio-friendly, but criticising the album's use of the didgeridoo.<ref name="rollingstonealbumguide" /> David Bennun of Muzik considered it "tepid funk" in an unfavorable review.<ref name="muzik">Template:Cite journal</ref> The album's lyrics have also been criticised,<ref name="theatlantaconstitution" /><ref name="theguardian" /><ref name="nme" /> with Matt Diehl writing they "ultimately strip away the soul."<ref name="entertainmentweekly" />

Accolades

For their music video for "Virtual Insanity", it won Video of the Year and Breakthrough Video at the Video Music Awards;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> additionally, it won Alternative/Modern Rock Clip of the Year and the Maximum Vision at the Billboard Music Awards.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The song also earned the band a Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Duo Or Group and the album was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album.<ref name="grammys98">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Travelling Without Moving has won three best album awards at the MOBO and Japan Gold Disc Awards in 1997, and at the Hungarian Music Awards in 1998.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Fnac listed the album in its 2008 list The 1000 Best Albums of All Time, in no order.Template:CN Pause & Play ranked the album at number 11 in The 90s Top 100 Essential Albums in 1999.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Studio Brussel included it in The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2015.Template:CN Vibe called Travelling Without Moving "the most infectious dance record since the 70's disco revolution", and ranked it at number 42 in its 2013 list The 50 Greatest Albums Since '93.<ref name="vibe2013" />

Legacy

The high album sales of Travelling Without Moving earned the band a Guinness World Record for the best-selling funk album in history.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Paul Sexton of Billboard magazine credits this period of Jamiroquai as their American breakthrough: "Long a European success story for the Sony S2 label, the group once accused of being a mere Stevie Wonder soundalike has grown into its own style and added a substantial American audience in the process."<ref name="paulsexton">Template:Cite magazine</ref> However, the band were unable to replicate their success in America since then.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The music video of "Virtual Insanity" was described as "one of the most famous music videos ever", making them "icons of the music-video format", according to Spencer Kornhaber from The Atlantic.<ref name=":16">Template:Cite news</ref> The song also led to the climax of "1970s soul and funk that early acid jazz artists had initiated", according to writer Kennith Prouty.<ref name="prouty">Template:Cite book</ref> The Lamborghini Diablo SE30 was also considered a "Nineties icon" in part of the "Cosmic Girl" music video, according to The Daily Telegraph.<ref name="lambo" />

Track listing

Notes

• Template:Small Some editions contain either "Do U Know Where You're Coming From" or "Funktion" as a bonus track.<ref name="booklet" /><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> Others have both tracks.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>

Personnel

Credits adapted from album liner notes.<ref name="booklet">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Template:Div col Jamiroquai

• Jay Kay - vocals
• Toby Smith - keyboards
• Stuart Zender - bass
• Simon Katz - guitar
• Derrick McKenzie - drums
• Wallis Buchanan - didgeridoo
• Sola Akingbola - percussion

Additional musicians

• DJ D-Zire - turntables
• Simon Hale – string arrangements and conductor
• Gavyn Wright and the London Philharmonic Orchestra – strings
• Max Beesley – vibraphone Template:Small
• Gary Barnacle - saxophone
• John Thirkell - trumpet
• Katie – backing vocals
• Beverly – backing vocals

Production

• Al Stone – production, engineering
• Blue – design and art direction
• Lorenzo Agius – photography

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Album chart

Chart (1996–2022)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Albums Chart<ref name="auschart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	6
Austrian Albums Chart<ref name="atchart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	9
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)<ref name="beVlchart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	14
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)<ref name="bewachart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	5
Canadian RPM Albums Chart<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	37
Dutch Albums Chart<ref name="nlchart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	16
Finnish Albums Chart<ref name="fichart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	6
French SNEP Albums Chart<ref name="Frachart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
German Media Control Albums Chart<ref name="dechart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	9
Japanese Oricon Albums Chart<ref name="Jachart">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	6
New Zealand Albums Chart<ref name="NZchart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7
Norwegian Albums Chart<ref name="norcharts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	16
Swedish Albums Chart<ref name="sechart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	4
Swiss Albums Chart<ref name="chchart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	3
UK Albums Chart<ref name="ukchart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
US Billboard 200<ref name="uschart">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	24

Year-end charts

Chart (1996)	Position
French Albums Chart<ref name="frayearend">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	6
German Albums Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	69
Japanese Albums Chart<ref name="JPYearend96">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	87
Swiss Albums Chart<ref name="SWIyearend">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	37
Chart (1997)	Position
Australian Albums Chart<ref name="ausyearend">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	47
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	32
Canadian Albums Chart (Nielsen Soundscan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	68
Dutch Albums Chart<ref name="nlyearend">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	48
German Albums Chart<ref name="deyearend">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	38
Japanese Albums Chart<ref name="JPYearend97">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	58
U.S. Billboard 200<ref name="usyearend">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	84

Certifications and sales

Template:Certification Table Top Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Summary Template:Certification Table Entry !scope="row"|Worldwide |Template:N/a |8,000,000<ref name="billboard2001">Template:Cite magazine</ref> |- Template:Certification Table Bottom

External links

• Template:Discogs master