Back to Bedlam is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter James Blunt, released on October 11, 2004, by Custard and Atlantic Records. Named after the historic Bethlem Royal Hospital, commonly known as Bedlam, the album initially struggled on the UK Albums Chart but gained massive success following the release of its third single, "You're Beautiful", in mid-2005. It became the highest-selling album of 2005 in the UK, with over 2.4 million copies sold. By December 2009, it had been certified 10× Platinum for sales exceeding 3 million, making it the best-selling album of the 2000s in the UK.

Blunt took piano and violin lessons as a child but was first exposed to popular music at Harrow School, where he began playing guitar and writing songs at age 14. At the University of Bristol, he wrote a thesis on pop idols, citing sociologist Simon Frith.

Sponsored by the British Army for his university education, Blunt served four years in the armed forces, training at Sandhurst. During his service, he worked on music demos and, following a collaborator's suggestion, contacted Elton John's manager, Todd Interland. Impressed by the demo, Interland quickly arranged a meeting with Blunt.

After leaving the Army in 2002, Blunt adopted the stage name Blunt for ease of spelling, although his legal surname remains Blount. He signed with EMI and Twenty-First Artists but initially struggled to secure a record deal due to his posh accent. However, Linda Perry, who was launching Custard Records, heard Blunt's tape and offered him a contract after seeing him perform at the South by Southwest Music Festival. Blunt recorded Back to Bedlam in 2003 with producer Tom Rothrock, using session musicians and performing many instruments himself. While in Los Angeles, he stayed with actress Carrie Fisher, who supported his career and allowed him to use her bathroom to record "Goodbye My Lover".

2024 20th-Anniversary reissue pressed on recycled red vinyl, released via Warner Music. 

Tracklist:

Side A

Side B