JAMES BAY - CHOAS AND THE CALM
RSD Black Friday 2025 — Ruby & Black Marble Vinyl / Alternate Cover
James Bay's debut album Chaos and the Calm arrived in 2015 and introduced a distinctive new voice to British singer-songwriter music. Ten years later, the album returned in a striking Record Store Day Black Friday edition, giving one of the defining records of Bay's early career a fresh physical presentation.
Built around Bay's soulful vocals, expressive guitar playing and emotionally direct songwriting, Chaos and the Calmmoves effortlessly between folk, blues, rock and contemporary singer-songwriter territory. It is an album that balances intimate acoustic moments with expansive arrangements, giving Bay's songs room to build without losing their personal character.
The album contains the two songs that helped make Bay a global name: “Hold Back the River” and “Let It Go”. Elsewhere, “Craving”, “If You Ever Want to Be in Love”, “Best Fake Smile” and “Scars” demonstrate the versatility of a songwriter equally comfortable with stripped-back vulnerability and bigger, more anthemic arrangements.
Originally released to widespread acclaim, Chaos and the Calm became a major commercial success, reaching number one in the UK and eventually achieving platinum status. A decade on, this RSD edition celebrates the album's enduring place in Bay's catalogue while giving collectors something distinctly different from the original pressing.
This Record Store Day Black Friday 2025 edition features the complete 12-track album on Ruby & Black Marble vinyl, alongside exclusive alternate cover artwork. Limited to just 2,000 copies worldwide, it is a particularly desirable pressing for collectors of James Bay, Record Store Day releases and modern British singer-songwriter records.
Artist: James Bay
Album: Chaos and the Calm
Format: 12" Vinyl LP
Edition: Record Store Day Black Friday 2025
Vinyl: Ruby & Black Marble Vinyl
Label: Mercury / Republic Records
Release Date: 28 November 2025
Catalogue Number: 602478599064
Barcode: 602478599064
Genre: Singer-Songwriter / Folk Rock / Alternative Rock
Number of Discs: 1
Number of Tracks: 12
Tracklist
Side A
Craving
Hold Back the River
Let It Go
If You Ever Want to Be in Love
Best Fake Smile
When We Were on Fire
Side B
Move Together
Scars
Collide
Get Out While You Can
Need the Sun to Break
Incomplete
