EMI Classics to Release Fifty Shades of Grey - The Classical Album

EMI Classics will release Fifty Shades of Grey – The Classical Album, a 15-track album featuring classical music personally selected by author E L James herself and referenced in her bestselling Fifty Shades book trilogy. The album will be available in the U.S. and Canada digitally on August 21st and in CD format on September 18th. The album will be released internationally in both formats on September 17th.

Says James of the new album: "I am thrilled that the classical pieces that inspired me while I wrote the Fifty Shades Trilogy are being brought together in one collection for all lovers of the books to enjoy."

The three novels in the Fifty Shades trilogy (Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed) are published by Vintage Books and have sold more than 20 million copies in the U.S. (the trilogy has sold 31 million copies worldwide). The books' various references to classical music have spurred sales of the pieces mentioned – even going so far as to cause Spem in Alium, a 16th century motet for 40 voices by Thomas Tallis, to jump to the top of the classical charts in the UK.

Fifty Shades of Grey – The Classical Album aims to provide the perfect accompaniment to the Fifty Shades reading experience, setting a mysterious and alluring atmosphere with just the slightest hint of danger…the music on the album includes The Tallis Scholars' sweeping version of Spem in Alium featured in the first novel, along with 14 other works from the books, such as the 'Flower Duet' from Lakmé, Pachelbel's Canon in D, the 'aria' from Bach's Goldberg Variations and more. The recording artists include such world-class performers as Sir Simon Rattle, King's College Choir, Barbara Hendricks, and Alexandre Tharaud, and the album features cover art based on the novels.

"We are delighted to be partnering with E L James and Random House on this project," said Wendy Ong, VP of EMI Classics. "The Fifty Shades books are a bona fide cultural phenomenon, and they offer an exciting new way to present this timeless music to audiences who might not otherwise be exposed to it."

Fifty Shades of Grey follows the relationship of 27-year-old billionaire ChristIan Grey and college student Anastasia Steele. Subsequent novels in the series, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed continue to explore the couple's deepening relationship.