View source for Play (Moby album)

{{Short description|1999 studio album by Moby}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Play
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Moby]]
| cover      = Moby play.JPG
| alt        = Album cover for Moby's "Play" featuring Moby jumping in an open white shirt in front of a teal wall, before a light meter
| released   = {{start date|1999|05|17}}
| recorded   = 1997–1999
| venue      =
| studio     = Moby's home studio ([[Manhattan]])
| genre      =
* [[Electronica]]
* [[downtempo]]
* [[techno]]
* [[ambient music|ambient]]
* [[breakbeat]]
* [[electropop]]
* [[American folk music|roots]]
* [[blues]]
| length     = 63:18
| label      =
* [[Mute Records|Mute]]
* [[V2 Records|V2]]
| producer   = Moby
| prev_title = [[I Like to Score]]
| prev_year  = 1997
| next_title = [[MobySongs 1993–1998]]
| next_year  = 2000
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Play
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Honey (Moby song)|Honey]]
 | single1date = August 24, 1998
 | single2     = [[God's Gonna Cut You Down#Moby version|Run On]]
 | single2date = April 26, 1999
 | single3     = [[Bodyrock (song)|Bodyrock]]
 | single3date = July 12, 1999
 | single4     = [[Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?]]
 | single4date = October 11, 1999
 | single5     = [[Natural Blues]]
 | single5date = March 6, 2000
 | single6     = [[Porcelain (song)|Porcelain]]
 | single6date = April 25, 2000
 | single7     = [[South Side (song)|South Side]]
 | single7date = October 10, 2000
 | single8     = [[Find My Baby]]
 | single8date = October 16, 2000
}}
}}

'''''Play''''' is the fifth [[studio album]] by American [[electronic music|electronic]] musician [[Moby]]. It was released on May 17, 1999, through [[Mute Records]] internationally and [[V2 Records]] in North America. Recording of the album began in mid-1997, following the release of Moby's fourth album, ''[[Animal Rights (album)|Animal Rights]]'' (1996), which deviated from his [[electronica]] style; Moby's goal for ''Play'' was to return to electronica, blending [[downtempo]] with [[blues music|blues]] and [[American folk music|roots music]] samples. Originally intended to be his final record, the album was recorded at Moby's home studio in [[Manhattan]].

While some of Moby's earlier work had garnered critical and commercial success within the [[electronic dance music]] scene, ''Play'' was both a critical success and a commercial phenomenon. Initially issued to lackluster sales, it topped numerous album charts months after its release and was [[music recording certification|certified]] platinum in more than 20 countries. The album introduced Moby to a worldwide mainstream audience, not only through a large number of hit singles that helped the album to dominate worldwide charts for two years, but also through unprecedented licensing of its songs in films, television shows, and commercials. ''Play'' eventually became one of the biggest-selling electronica albums of all time, with over 12 million copies sold worldwide.

In 2003 and 2012, ''Play'' was ranked number 341 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|list of the 500 greatest albums of all time]].

==Background==
The second half of the 1990s saw Moby in career turmoil after years of success in the [[techno]] scene. The release in 1996 of ''[[Animal Rights (album)|Animal Rights]]'', a dark, eclectic, guitar-fueled record built around the [[punk rock|punk]] and [[heavy metal music|metal]] records that he loved as a teenager, proved a critical and commercial disaster that left him contemplating quitting music altogether. He explained: "I was opening for [[Soundgarden]] and getting shit thrown at me every night onstage. I did my own tour and was playing to roughly fifty people a night." However, positive reactions to ''Animal Rights'' from fellow artists such as [[Terence Trent D'Arby]], [[Axl Rose]], and [[Bono]] inspired Moby to continue producing music.<ref name="Weingarten">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/play-10-years-later-mobys-track-by-track-guide-to-1999s-global-smash-80650/ |title='Play' 10 Years Later: Moby's Track by Track Guide to 1999's Global Smash |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |location=New York |date=July 2, 2009 |access-date=February 1, 2012 |last=Weingarten |first=Christopher R.}}</ref>

Moby started work on ''Play'' in August 1997 and put it on hold several times to complete touring obligations.<ref name="Gourley">{{cite web |url=https://www.chaoscontrol.com/moby-1999/ |title=Moby |website=Chaos Control Digizine |year=1999 |access-date=April 14, 2019 |last=Gourley |first=Bob}}</ref> At the time, he planned on making the album his last before ending his career. Recording sessions took place at Moby's [[Mott Street]] home studio in [[Manhattan]], New York.<ref>{{cite book |title=Porcelain: A Memoir |title-link=Porcelain: A Memoir |publisher=[[Penguin Group|Penguin Press]] |year=2016 |author=Moby |author-link=Moby |isbn=978-1-59420-642-9}}</ref> ''Play'' was delayed due to Moby's dissatisfaction with the initial mix of the album that he had produced at home. A second mixing was completed at an outside studio before attempts at two other studios displayed similar results. After returning home and producing a mix by himself, Moby felt happy with it. Ultimately, he said that he "wasted a lot of time and money" on the previous unsatisfactory mixing sessions.<ref name="Gourley"/> Moby recalled a moment from March 1999, after ''Play'' had been mixed and sequenced, where he sat on the grass in [[Sara Delano Roosevelt Park]]: "I was sitting by the little tire swings that had been chewed apart by the pit bulls [...] thinking to myself, 'When this record comes out, it will be the end of my career. I should start thinking about what else I can do.'" At that point, he considered returning to school to study architecture.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mobys-home-made-heaven-57904/ |title=Moby's Home Made Heaven |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |location=New York |date=June 6, 2002 |access-date=May 11, 2019 |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke}}</ref>

When Moby finished recording ''Play'', there was no sign that the album would perform any differently than ''Animal Rights''. While he remained signed to the label [[Mute Records|Mute]], which issued his records in the United Kingdom, [[Elektra Records|Elektra]] had dropped him from its roster of artists following the release of ''Animal Rights'', leaving him without an outlet to release ''Play'' in the United States.<ref name="Gillett">{{cite web |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/26462-moby-play-review-anniversary |title=Unnatural Blues: How Moby's Play Predicted the Collapse of the Music Industry |website=[[The Quietus]] |date=May 13, 2019 |access-date=May 18, 2021 |last=Gillett |first=Ed}}</ref> According to Moby, he shopped the record to every major label, from [[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]] to [[Sony Music|Sony]] to [[RCA Records|RCA]], and was rejected every time. After [[V2 Records|V2]] finally picked it up, his publicist sent the record to journalists, many of whom declined to listen to it.<ref name="Weingarten"/> Moby's manager Eric Härle said that their original goal was to sell 250,000 copies, which was what ''[[Everything Is Wrong (album)|Everything Is Wrong]]'' (1995), Moby's biggest-selling album at the time, had sold.<ref name="Bouwman">{{cite web |url=http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_EricHaerleInt.html |title=Interview with Eric Härle, manager at DEF for Moby, Sonique, Röyksopp |website=[[HitQuarters]] |date=March 25, 2003 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |last=Bouwman |first=Kimbel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609212002/http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview%2Fopar%2Fintrview_EricHaerleInt.html |archive-date=June 9, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Music==
According to ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' magazine's [[Will Hermes]], ''Play'' was "the high-water mark for populist [[electronica]]" and a "millennial [[American folk music|roots]] and [[blues]] masterwork",<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UAUQ04BGfpUC&pg=PA58 |title=Electronica |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |location=New York |volume=20 |issue=6 |date=June 2004 |access-date=October 3, 2015 |last=Hermes |first=Will |author-link=Will Hermes |page=58}}</ref> while John Bush from [[AllMusic]] said it balanced Moby's early electronica sound with the emergent [[breakbeat]] style of techno.<ref name="Bush">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/play-mw0000243891 |title=Play – Moby |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=September 21, 2011 |last=Bush |first=John}}</ref> ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' critic [[Jim DeRogatis]] noted its incorporation of such disparate musical influences as early blues, African-American [[American folk music|folk music]], [[gospel music|gospel]], [[hip hop music|hip hop]], [[disco]], and techno, "all within the context of his own distinctly melodic [[ambient music|ambient]] stylings."<ref name="DeRogatis">{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4497147.html |title=Moby, 'Play' (V2) |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=May 30, 1999 |access-date=March 1, 2017 |last=DeRogatis |first=Jim |author-link=Jim DeRogatis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302025706/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4497147.html |archive-date=March 2, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Complex Networks|Complex]]'' described ''Play'' as "an organic [[downtempo]] masterpiece" that fused live studio recordings and "[[sampling (music)|found sounds]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2013/08/the-15-best-songs-from-the-electronica-era/moby-play-2 |title=The 15 Best Songs From the Electronica Era |website=[[Complex Networks|Complex]] |date=August 5, 2013 |access-date=April 15, 2020 |author=808sJake}}</ref>

''Play'' was particularly notable for its use of [[sampling (music)|samples]] from [[field recording]]s collected by [[Alan Lomax]] and compiled on the 1993 [[box set]] ''Sounds of the South: A Musical Journey from the Georgia Sea Islands to the Mississippi Delta''. Moby was introduced to the box set through a friend, Gregor Ehrlich, who loaned the CDs to him.<ref name="Weingarten"/> The ''Play'' tracks "[[Honey (Moby song)|Honey]]", "[[Find My Baby]]", and "[[Natural Blues]]" were composed by Moby around vocal [[hook (music)|hooks]] sampled from songs by the folk singers [[Bessie Jones (American singer)|Bessie Jones]], Boy Blue, and [[Vera Hall]], respectively, that were featured on the collection.<ref name="Rosen">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/08/arts/music-a-techno-auteur-finds-rock-like-success.html |title=A Techno Auteur Finds Rock-Like Success |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 8, 2000 |access-date=June 2, 2021 |last=Rosen |first=Jody |author-link=Jody Rosen}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kexp.org/read/2018/12/3/gonna-find-my-baby-the-stories-behind-ten-songs-moby-has-sampled/ |title=Gonna Find My Baby: The Stories Behind Ten Songs Moby Has Sampled |publisher=[[KEXP-FM]] |date=December 3, 2018 |access-date=June 2, 2021 |last=Headley |first=Janice}}</ref> Apart from the Lomax material, Moby also used samples of old gospel recordings on "[[Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?]]" and "[[Run On (Moby song)|Run On]]".<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Run On: Moby |title=Turn, Turn, Turn: Popular Songs Inspired by the Bible |last=Turner |first=Steve |author-link=Steve Turner (writer) |publisher=[[Hachette Book Group|Worthy Publishing]] |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-94547-039-4 |pages=261–263}}</ref> In the liner notes for ''Play'', Moby gave "special thanks to the Lomaxes and all of the archivists and music historians whose field recordings made this record possible."<ref name="Notes"/>

Elsewhere, ''Play'' is informed by more contemporary music styles. "[[Bodyrock (song)|Bodyrock]]", which Moby called "essentially a hip-hop song",<ref name="Weingarten"/> features samples of rappers [[Spoonie Gee]] and the [[Treacherous Three]].<ref name="Rosen"/> "Machete" was inspired by [[electronic body music|EBM]] acts such as [[Front 242]] and [[Meat Beat Manifesto]].<ref name="Weingarten"/> "[[Porcelain (song)|Porcelain]]" and "[[South Side (song)|South Side]]" are both anchored by Moby's own lead vocals, and are among several songs on the album that spotlight his trademark "evocative, melancholy" techno sound, according to Bush.<ref name="Bush"/> The remaining tracks are primarily instrumental in nature, and Moby cited these as his favorites from ''Play''.<ref name="Weingarten"/> The latter half of the album is mostly composed of these instrumentals, which are more downcast in mood and less driven by samples.<ref name="Weingarten"/><ref name="Gillett"/> Moby noted that he intentionally sequenced the album such that "it starts off energetic and then by the end dissolves into an opiated haze."<ref name="Weingarten"/>

==Release and promotion==
''Play'' was released on May 17, 1999, by Mute, and on June 1, 1999, by V2.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ag4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA11 |title=V2 Builds Strong Base for Moby |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |location=New York |volume=112 |issue=9 |date=February 26, 2000 |access-date=May 16, 2021 |last=Flick |first=Larry |author-link=Larry Flick |pages=11, 18}}</ref> On its release, it underperformed commercially.<ref name="Haynes">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/moby/ |title=Moby's 'Play' Becomes the Thriller of Licensing |magazine=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |location=New York |date=March 12, 2013 |access-date=June 11, 2017 |last=Haynes |first=Gavin}}</ref> The record debuted at number 33 on the [[UK Albums Chart]], but thereafter descended the chart.<ref name="Haynes"/><ref name="OCC">{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25243/moby/ |title=Moby |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=June 12, 2017}}</ref> Moby recounted that the first show he played in support of ''Play'', at the basement of the [[Virgin Megastores|Virgin Megastore]] in [[Union Square, Manhattan|Union Square]], was attended by only around 40 people.<ref name="Weingarten"/> Further damaging the album's commercial prospects, ''Play''{{'}}s songs received little airplay from radio stations or television networks such as [[MTV]].<ref name="Leland">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/11/magazine/advertisements-for-themselves.html |title=Advertisements for Themselves |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 11, 2001 |access-date=June 11, 2017 |last=Leland |first=John |author-link=John Leland (journalist)}}</ref>

Moby and his management, however, soon found another approach to increasing public exposure of ''Play'', by way of licensing its songs for use in films, television shows, and commercials.<ref name="Leland"/> According to Moby, their goal "was simply to get people to hear the music".<ref name="Sweeney">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/hot-press-meets-moby-10444002 |title=Hot Press Meets Moby |magazine=[[Hot Press]] |location=Dublin |date=November 18, 2013 |access-date=June 11, 2017 |last=Sweeney |first=Eamon}}</ref> "Most of the licenses weren't particularly lucrative," he noted, "but they enabled people to hear the music because otherwise the record wasn't being heard."<ref name="Sweeney"/> Eric Härle clarified that although many people believed the songs were pitched for advertisements as part of the marketing campaign for an album that did not fit with mainstream radio, the licensing actually came about as a result of agencies asking for permission to use the music as soundbeds; he attributed the music's popularity to its evocative and emotional nature.<ref name="Bouwman"/> Despite the heavy licensing, each request was nevertheless carefully vetted and more requests were turned down than accepted.<ref name="Bouwman"/> Moby's manager Barry Taylor recalled that after the producers of a British television program sent a fax requesting for permission to use "7", the only track from ''Play'' that had yet to be licensed, "we celebrated."<ref name="Smith">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2002/05/moby/ |title=Organization Moby |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |location=San Francisco |volume=10 |issue=5 |date=May 2002 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |last=Smith |first=Ethan}}</ref>

{{quote box|quote=The week ''Play'' was released, it sold, worldwide around 6,000 copies. Eleven months after ''Play'' was released, it was selling 150,000 copies a week. I was on tour constantly, drunk pretty much the entire time and it was just a blur. And then all of a sudden movie stars started coming to my concerts and I started getting invited to fancy parties and suddenly the journalists who wouldn't return my publicist's calls were talking about doing cover stories. It was a really odd phenomenon.|source=—Moby<ref name="Weingarten"/>|width=25%|align=right|style=padding:8px;|border=1px}}

The licensing approach proved successful in increasing ''Play''{{'}}s visibility, and subsequently radio and MTV airplay for the album's songs began to pick up.<ref name="Leland"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/friday_review/story/0,3605,217303,00.html |title=Plug and Play |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=May 5, 2000 |access-date=June 11, 2017 |last=Simpson |first=Dave}}</ref> The album re-entered the top 100 of the UK Albums Chart in January 2000, slowly climbing positions and finally reaching number one three months later, spending five weeks at the top.<ref name="OCC"/> It remained on the chart for the remainder of 2000,<ref name="OCC"/> and in the UK was the fifth best-selling album, as well as the best-selling [[independent record label|independent]] album, of that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/assets/files/Yearly%20best%20sellers%20-%20albums.pdf |title=Yearly Best Selling Albums |publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]] |access-date=June 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919014912/http://www.bpi.co.uk/assets/files/Yearly%20best%20sellers%20-%20albums.pdf |archive-date=September 19, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Roberts">{{cite book |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |title-link=British Hit Singles & Albums |editor-last=Roberts |editor-first=David |publisher=[[Guinness World Records|Guinness World Records Limited]] |edition=19th |year=2006 |isbn=1-904994-10-5 |page=372}}</ref> By October 2000, ''Play'' had attained platinum [[music recording certification|certifications]] in 17 countries and topped the charts in seven.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2000/oct/15/life1.lifemagazine5 |title=Definitely Moby |newspaper=[[The Observer]] |location=London |date=October 15, 2000 |access-date=June 11, 2017 |last=Smith |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Smith (author)}}</ref> While it only reached number 38 on the American [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, the album sold over two million copies in the US, enjoying steady sales for months and constant popularity.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DxUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32 |title=Chart Debut: Top Electronic Albums |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |location=New York |volume=113 |issue=29 |date=July 21, 2001 |access-date=June 11, 2017 |last=Mayfield |first=Geoff |pages=32, 40}}</ref> ''Play'' has been certified platinum in more than 20 countries,<ref name="Roberts"/> and with over 12 million copies sold worldwide, it is the biggest-selling electronica album of all time.<ref name="Zlatopolsky">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/moby-on-new-memoir-the-decade-in-nyc-that-changed-his-life-158173/ |title=Moby on New Memoir, the Decade in NYC That Changed His Life |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |location=New York |date=June 7, 2016 |access-date=June 7, 2016 |last=Zlatopolsky |first=Ashley}}</ref>

Eight singles were released from ''Play'': "Honey" on August 24, 1998,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1998/MM-1998-08-29.pdf |title=Moby: Honey |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |location=London |volume=15 |issue=35 |date=August 29, 1998 |access-date=May 16, 2021 |page=5 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> "Run On" on April 26, 1999,<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Run On |url=https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Ec8AAOSwZtJW-tfY/s-l1600.jpg |access-date=May 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210516172332/https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Ec8AAOSwZtJW-tfY/s-l1600.jpg |archive-date=May 16, 2021 |url-status=unfit |publisher=[[Mute Records]] |year=1999 |type=press advertisement}}</ref> "Bodyrock" on July 12, 1999,<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Bodyrock |url=https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41-Xj-ArRyL._AC_.jpg |access-date=May 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210516172751/https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41-Xj-ArRyL._AC_.jpg |archive-date=May 16, 2021 |url-status=unfit |publisher=[[Mute Records]] |year=1999 |type=press advertisement}}</ref> "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?" on October 11, 1999,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/moby-93-1396594 |title=Moby: Whale Meet Again |magazine=[[NME]] |location=London |date=September 20, 1999 |access-date=May 16, 2021}}</ref> "Natural Blues" on March 6, 2000,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/moby-105-1399346 |title=Moby – Let Us Play! |magazine=[[NME]] |location=London |date=February 21, 2000 |access-date=May 16, 2021}}</ref> "Porcelain" on April 25, 2000,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2000/RR-2000-04-21.pdf |title=Alternative: Going for Adds |magazine=[[Radio & Records]] |location=Los Angeles |issue=1347 |date=April 21, 2000 |access-date=June 1, 2021 |page=118 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> "South Side" on October 10, 2000,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2000/RR-2000-10-06.pdf |title=Alternative: Going for Adds |magazine=[[Radio & Records]] |location=Los Angeles |issue=1371 |date=October 6, 2000 |access-date=May 16, 2021 |page=124 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> and "Find My Baby" on October 16, 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.moby.com/albums/html/ds-findmybaby.htm |title=Find My Baby |publisher=moby.com |access-date=May 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020815000356/http://www.moby.com/albums/html/ds-findmybaby.htm |archive-date=August 15, 2002 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The first six all reached the top 40 of the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="OCC"/> "South Side", which for its single release was remixed to include additional vocals from [[No Doubt]]'s lead singer [[Gwen Stefani]],<ref name="Weingarten"/> became Moby's first single to chart on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], where it peaked at number 14.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/moby/chart-history/hsi/ |title=Moby Chart History (Hot 100) |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=May 16, 2021}}</ref> Numerous [[music video]]s were commissioned for the album's singles, directed by filmmakers such as [[Jonas Åkerlund]] ("Porcelain"), [[Roman Coppola]] ("Honey"), [[Joseph Kahn (director)|Joseph Kahn]] ("South Side"), and [[David LaChapelle]] ("Natural Blues").<ref name="DVDNotes">{{cite AV media notes |title=Play: The DVD |others=[[Moby]] |publisher=[[Mute Records]] |year=2001 |id=DVDSTUMM172 |type=liner notes}}</ref>

In October 2000, the [[compilation album]] ''[[Play: The B Sides]]'' was released, containing tracks released as [[A-side and B-side|B-sides]] on the singles from ''Play''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://moby.com/music/play-the-b-sides/ |title=Play: The B Sides |publisher=moby.com |access-date=September 22, 2011}}</ref> A [[DVD]] titled ''Play: The DVD'' was released in July 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://moby.com/news/play-the-dvd/ |title=Play: The DVD |publisher=moby.com |date=June 18, 2001 |access-date=May 16, 2021}}</ref> It features most of the music videos for ''Play''{{'}}s singles; an 88-minute [[megamix]] of various remixes of the album's songs, accompanied by animated visuals; a performance by Moby on ''[[Later... with Jools Holland]]''; a compilation of footage shot by Moby on tour titled ''Give an Idiot a Camcorder''; an interactive component that allows users to remix "Bodyrock" and "Natural Blues"; and a bonus CD containing the aforementioned megamix.<ref name="DVDNotes"/> ''Play: The DVD'' was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Music Film|Best Long Form Music Video]] at the [[44th Annual Grammy Awards|44th Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Q8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA90 |title=Final Nominations for the 44th Annual Grammy Awards |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |location=New York |volume=114 |issue=3 |date=January 19, 2002 |access-date=May 29, 2019 |pages=90–91}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
{{Music ratings
| MC = 84/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/play/moby |title=Play by Moby Reviews and Tracks |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=October 27, 2011}}</ref>
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="Bush"/>
| rev2 = ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|4}}<ref name="DeRogatis"/>
| rev3 = ''[[Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s|Christgau's Consumer Guide]]''
| rev3score = A+<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Moby: Play |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/christgausconsum00chri_0/page/208 |access-date=October 3, 2015 |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s |title-link=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |publisher=[[St. Martin's Press|St. Martin's Griffin]] |year=2000 |isbn=0-312-24560-2 |page=208}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4score = A−<ref name="Browne">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,273713,00.html |title=Play |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |location=New York |date=June 11, 1999 |access-date=September 15, 2012 |last=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526003311/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,273713,00.html |archive-date=May 26, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Grow Out the Roots |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=May 14, 1999 |last=Simpson |first=Dave}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev6score = 8/10<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19990412173158reviews.html |title=Moby – Play |magazine=[[NME]] |location=London |date=May 12, 1999 |access-date=May 11, 2016 |last=Cigarettes |first=Johnny |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001006122253/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19990412173158reviews.html |archive-date=October 6, 2000 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev7score = 5.0/10<ref name="DiCrescenzo">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/5344-play/ |title=Moby: Play |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=June 1, 1999 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |last=DiCrescenzo |first=Brent}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.qonline.co.uk/reviews/server.asp?id=18198&ss=moby&cs=artist&st=cn&stars=0&cp=1 |title=Moby: Play |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |location=London |issue=153 |date=June 1999 |access-date=January 14, 2023 |last=Malins |first=Steve |page=109 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000510081330/http://www.qonline.co.uk/reviews/server.asp?id=18198&ss=moby&cs=artist&st=cn&stars=0&cp=1 |archive-date=May 10, 2000 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Walters">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/play-2-244998/ |title=Play |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |location=New York |date=June 24, 1999 |access-date=September 15, 2012 |last=Walters |first=Barry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024020507/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/play-2-244998/ |archive-date=October 24, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev10score = 9/10<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I5x8l8IaNUMC&pg=PA125 |title=The Agony and the Ecstasy |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |location=New York |volume=15 |issue=7 |date=July 1999 |access-date=July 2, 2013 |last=Aaron |first=Charles |author-link=Charles Aaron |pages=125–126}}</ref>
}}

''Play'' received widespread critical acclaim upon release. On [[Metacritic]], which assigns a [[standard score|normalized]] rating to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has a score of 84 out of 100 based on 20 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref name="MC"/>

Reviewing for ''[[The Village Voice]]'' in 1999, [[Robert Christgau]] said the album's sampled recordings would not "shout anywhere near as loud and clear" without Moby's "ministrations—his grooves, his pacing, his textures, his harmonies, sometimes his tunes, and mostly his grooves, which honor not just [[electronic dance music|dance music]] but the entire [[rock music|rock]] tradition it's part of."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv799-99.php |title=Consumer Guide |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |location=New York |date=July 27, 1999 |access-date=July 2, 2013 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref> He deemed the album "no more focused" than Moby's previous "brilliant messes" but still "one of those records whose drive to beauty should move anybody who just likes, well, music itself."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/play/1999-06.php |title=Moby: Play / The Chemical Brothers: Surrender / Salif Keita: Papa |publisher=robertchristgau.com |access-date=July 2, 2013 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref> In his review for AllMusic, John Bush stated that ''Play'' showed Moby "balancing his sublime early sound with the breakbeat techno evolution of the '90s."<ref name="Bush"/> Barry Walters from ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' said "the ebb and flow of eighteen concise, contrasting cuts writes a story about Moby's beautifully conflicted interior world while giving the outside planet beats and tunes on which to groove."<ref name="Walters"/> [[David Browne (journalist)|David Browne]], writing in ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', felt that despite some needed editing, Moby's graceful soundscapes filter out the original recordings' antiquated sound and "make the singers' heartache and hope seem fresh again."<ref name="Browne"/> In a more critical appraisal, ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' reviewer Brent DiCrescenzo believed the "raw magnetism" of the sampled recordings was lost to "innate digital recording techniques", resulting in music that was "fun and functional, yet disposable."<ref name="DiCrescenzo"/>

At the end of 1999, ''Play'' was voted the year's best album in the [[Pazz & Jop]], an annual poll of American critics published in ''The Village Voice''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pj99.php |title=Flak on Both Sides |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |location=New York |date=February 22, 2000 |access-date=July 2, 2013 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref> Christgau, the poll's supervisor, ranked it second best on his own year-end list.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/deans99.php |title=Pazz & Jop 1999: Dean's List |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |location=New York |date=February 22, 2000 |access-date=October 3, 2015 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref> The following year, the album was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album|Best Alternative Music Performance]] at the [[42nd Annual Grammy Awards|42nd Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/04/grammy.noms.01/list.html |title=42nd Annual Grammy Awards Nominations |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=January 4, 2000 |access-date=April 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025161040/http://transcripts.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/04/grammy.noms.01/list.html |archive-date=October 25, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Since then, it has been named one of the greatest albums of all time. [[NPR]] named ''Play'' one of the 300 most important American records of the 20th century, as determined by the network's news and cultural programming staff, prominent critics, and scholars.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://legacy.npr.org/programs/specials/vote/300.html |title=The NPR 300 |publisher=[[NPR]] |access-date=October 3, 2015}}</ref> It was ranked number 341 on the 2003 and 2012 editions of ''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|list of the 500 greatest albums of all time]],<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/play-moby-19691231 |title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time: Play – Moby |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |location=New York |date=December 11, 2003 |access-date=March 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220144740/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/play-moby-19691231 |archive-date=December 20, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/moby-play-48705/ |title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |location=New York |date=May 31, 2012 |access-date=March 5, 2017}}</ref> and in 2005, a panel of recording industry pundits assembled by [[Channel 4]] voted ''Play'' the 63rd-best album ever.<ref>{{cite episode |title=100 Greatest Albums |series=100 Greatest |series-link=100 Greatest (TV series) |network=[[Channel 4]] |date=April 17, 2005}}</ref> The album was also included in the book ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]''.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Moby: Play |last=Harrington |first=Jim |title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |title-link=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |editor-last=Dimery |editor-first=Robert |publisher=[[Rizzoli Libri|Universe Publishing]] |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7893-1371-3 |page=849}}</ref>

==Legacy==
According to ''Rolling Stone'', "''Play'' wasn't the first album to make a rock star out of an insular techno nerdnik, but it was the first to make one a pop sensation. [...] ''Play'' made [[postmodernism]] cuddly, slowly but surely striking a chord with critics and record-buyers alike."<ref name="Weingarten"/> Ranking it among the best [[electropop]] albums, ''[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop]]'' suggested that "perhaps more than any album ever, ''Play'' propelled electronic music into the mainstream consciousness."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2021/08/top-15-electropop-albums/ |title=Top 15 Electropop Albums |magazine=[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop]] |location=Bath |date=August 25, 2021 |access-date=November 8, 2024 |last=Hurley |first=Oliver |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215142401/https://www.classicpopmag.com/2021/08/top-15-electropop-albums/ |archive-date=December 15, 2023 |url-status=deviated}}</ref> ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' said that the songs on ''Play''—which became the first album ever to have all of its tracks licensed for use in films, television shows, or commercials—"have been sold hundreds of times [...] a licensing venture so staggeringly lucrative that the album was a financial success months before it reached its multi-platinum sales total."<ref name="Smith"/> In a retrospective piece for ''[[eMusic|Wondering Sound]]'', Robert Christgau wrote:

{{blockquote|Although some techno futurists still disparage the gorgeous ''Play'', it qualified as a futurist work simply by redefining the concept of "commercial." Clubs would never take a CD mega, and no way could these anonymously sung tracks crack any hit-based radio format. So Moby's handlers swamped the mass market through the side door, placing swatches of all 18 songs (most many times) on movie and TV soundtracks and in ads for the likes of [[Volkswagen]], [[Baileys Irish Cream]] and [[American Express]]. [[FM broadcasting|FM]] exposure followed. But the main reason this album will sound familiar the way [[Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)|Beethoven's Ninth]] does to a [[classical music|classical]] ignoramus is that little bits of it have seeped into most Americans' brains. For this be grateful, because those bits are intensely pleasurable as melody or texture or sometimes beat, and because Moby has ordered, paced, and segued them and their intimate surroundings into something that suggests a surging and receding whole. A Treacherous Three rap powers "Bodyrock," but most of the identifiable sources are little-known blues and gospel singers first archived by folklorist Alan Lomax. Folk [[wikt:purist|purist]]s might well claim this re-use cheapens them. But here's betting musical folk like the singers themselves are plenty proud somewhere.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wonderingsound.com/review/play-moby/ |title=Moby, Play |website=[[eMusic|Wondering Sound]] |date=April 22, 2011 |access-date=October 3, 2015 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321172354/http://www.wonderingsound.com/review/play-moby/ |archive-date=March 21, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>}}

English singer-songwriter [[Adele]] cited ''Play'' as an influence on her 2015 album ''[[25 (Adele album)|25]]'', saying: "There's something that I find really holy about that ''Play'' album... The way it makes me feel. Even though there's nothing holy or preachy about it. There's just something about it—maybe the gospel samples. But it makes me feel alive, that album, still. And I remember my mum having that record."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/17-things-you-learn-hanging-out-with-adele-52602/ |title=17 Things You Learn Hanging Out With Adele |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |location=New York |date=November 30, 2015 |access-date=November 30, 2015 |last=Hiatt |first=Brian}}</ref>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Moby, except where noted
| title1 = [[Honey (Moby song)|Honey]]
| writer1 = {{hlist|Moby|[[Bessie Jones (American singer)|Bessie Jones]]|[[Alan Lomax]]}}
| length1 = 3:28
| title2 = [[Find My Baby]]
| writer2 = {{hlist|Moby|Willie Jones}}
| length2 = 4:00
| title3 = [[Porcelain (song)|Porcelain]]
| length3 = 4:01
| title4 = [[Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?]]
| length4 = 4:24
| title5 = [[South Side (song)|South Side]]
| length5 = 3:50
| title6 = Rushing
| length6 = 3:01
| title7 = [[Bodyrock (song)|Bodyrock]]
| writer7 = {{hlist|Moby|[[Spoonie Gee|Gabriel Jackson]]|[[Bobby Robinson (record producer)|Bobby Robinson]]}}
| length7 = 3:36
| title8 = [[Natural Blues]]
| writer8 = {{hlist|Moby|[[Vera Hall]]|Lomax}}
| length8 = 4:14
| title9 = Machete
| length9 = 3:38
| title10 = 7
| length10 = 1:02
| title11 = [[God's Gonna Cut You Down#Moby version|Run On]]
| length11 = 3:45
| title12 = Down Slow
| length12 = 1:35
| title13 = If Things Were Perfect
| length13 = 4:18
| title14 = Everloving
| length14 = 3:26
| title15 = Inside
| length15 = 4:49
| title16 = Guitar Flute & String
| length16 = 2:09
| title17 = The Sky Is Broken
| length17 = 4:20
| title18 = My Weakness
| length18 = 3:42
| total_length = 63:18
}}

'''Sample credits'''<ref name="Notes"/>
* "Honey" contains samples of "Sometimes" by [[Bessie Jones (American singer)|Bessie Jones]].
* "Find My Baby" contains samples of "Joe Lee's Rock" by Boy Blue.
* "Bodyrock" contains samples of "Love Rap" by [[Spoonie Gee]] and the [[Treacherous Three]].
* "Natural Blues" contains samples of "Trouble So Hard" by [[Vera Hall]].
* "Run On" contains samples of "[[God's Gonna Cut You Down|Run On for a Long Time]]" by Bill Landford and the Landfordairs.

==Personnel==
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.<ref name="Notes">{{cite AV media notes |title=Play |others=[[Moby]] |publisher=[[Mute Records]] |year=1999 |id=CDStumm172 |type=liner notes}}</ref>
* Moby – [[audio engineer|engineering]], [[audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]], [[record producer|production]], instruments, vocals on "Porcelain", "South Side", "Machete", "If Things Were Perfect", and "The Sky Is Broken"
* Pilar Basso – additional vocals on "Porcelain"
* [[Mario Caldato Jr.]] – mixing on "Honey"
* [[Corinne Day]] – photography
* Graeme Durham – [[mastering (audio)|mastering]]
* [[I Monster]] – mixing on "Natural Blues"
* Ysabel zu Innhausen und Knyphausen – design
* Reggie Matthews – additional vocals on "If Things Were Perfect"
* [[Nikki D]] – additional vocals on "Bodyrock"
* The Shining Light Gospel Choir – vocals on "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?"

==Charts==
{{columns-start}}

===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+Weekly chart performance for ''Play''
!scope="col"| Chart (1999–2002)
!scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{Album chart|Australia|1|artist=Moby|album=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"| Australian Dance Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue566.PDF |title=Dance – Week Commencing 1st January 2001 |magazine=[[ARIA Charts|The ARIA Report]] |location=Sydney |issue=566 |date=January 1, 2001 |access-date=May 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue566.PDF |archive-date=February 20, 2002 |url-status=dead}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
| 1
|-
{{Album chart|Austria|7|artist=Moby|album=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Flanders|3|artist=Moby|album=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"| Belgian Alternative Albums ([[Ultratop]] Flanders)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/alternatieve-albums/2001/20011103 |title=Alternatieve Albums |publisher=Hung Medien |date=November 3, 2001 |access-date=July 18, 2021 |language=nl}}</ref>
| 3
|-
{{Album chart|Wallonia|4|artist=Moby|album=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|BillboardCanada|11|artist=Moby|access-date=July 25, 2012|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"| Czech Albums ([[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|ČNS IFPI]])<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-09-30.pdf |title=Top National Sellers |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |location=London |volume=17 |issue=40 |date=September 30, 2000 |access-date=May 17, 2021 |page=13 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 4
|-
!scope="row"| Danish Albums ([[Hitlisten]])<ref>{{cite news |title=Listen – Danmarks Officielle Hitliste – Udarbejdet af AIM Nielsen for IFPI Danmark – Uge 35 |newspaper=[[Ekstra Bladet]] |location=Copenhagen |date=September 3, 2000 |language=da}}</ref>
| 34
|-
{{Album chart|Netherlands|5|artist=Moby|album=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"| [[European Top 100 Albums]] (''[[Music & Media]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-05-06.pdf |title=European Top 100 Albums |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |location=London |volume=17 |issue=19 |date=May 6, 2000 |access-date=May 16, 2021 |page=12 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 2
|-
{{Album chart|Finland|18|artist=Moby|album=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|France|1|artist=Moby|album=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Germany|21|id=3162|artist=Moby|album=Play|access-date=June 30, 2019|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Ireland2|1|artist=Moby|access-date=April 10, 2019|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Italy|4|artist=Moby|album=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Moby|album=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Norway|2|artist=Moby|album=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"| Portuguese Albums ([[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|AFP]])<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WxQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA50 |title=Hits of the World |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |location=New York |volume=113 |issue=12 |date=March 24, 2001 |access-date=May 17, 2021 |pages=50–51}}</ref>
| 5
|-
{{Album chart|Scotland|1|date=20000326|access-date=April 9, 2019|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Sweden|14|artist=Moby|album=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Switzerland|12|artist=Moby|album=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|UK2|1|date=20000409|access-date=December 8, 2017|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"| [[UK Dance Singles and Albums Charts|UK Dance Albums]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2000/Music-Week-2000-04-01.pdf |title=Dance Albums |magazine=[[Music Week]] |location=London |date=April 1, 2000 |access-date=April 3, 2022 |page=18 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 2
|-
{{Album chart|UKIndependent|1|date=20000319|access-date=July 28, 2018|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Billboard200|38|artist=Moby|access-date=July 25, 2012|rowheader=true}}
|}

{{column}}

===Year-end charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+1999 year-end chart performance for ''Play''
!scope="col"| Chart (1999)
!scope="col"| Position
|-
!scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/1999-12-31 |title=Top Selling Albums of 1999 |publisher=[[Recorded Music NZ]] |access-date=November 13, 2019}}</ref>
| 39
|-
!scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK1999.pdf |title=The Top 200 Artist Albums of 1999 |magazine=Chartwatch |location=Ilminster |date=November 2000 |access-date=June 1, 2021 |last=Zywietz |first=Tobias |pages=39–40 |type=1999 chart booklet}}</ref>
| 199
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+2000 year-end chart performance for ''Play''
!scope="col"| Chart (2000)
!scope="col"| Position
|-
!scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2000/albums-chart |title=ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2000 |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]] |access-date=January 18, 2020}}</ref>
| 10
|-
!scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2000&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten 2000 – Albums |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=May 10, 2017 |language=nl}}</ref>
| 10
|-
!scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2000&cat=a |title=Rapports annuels 2000 – Albums |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=May 10, 2017 |language=fr}}</ref>
| 14
|-
!scope="row"| Canadian Albums ([[MRC Data|Nielsen SoundScan]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2000_1.html |title=Canada's Top 200 Albums of 2000 |publisher=[[Jam!]] |access-date=March 24, 2022 |page=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812032100/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2000_1.html |archive-date=August 12, 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 16
|-
!scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2000&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2000 |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=January 6, 2016 |language=nl}}</ref>
| 20
|-
!scope="row"| European Top 100 Albums (''Music & Media'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-12-23.pdf |title=Year in Focus – European Top 100 Albums 2000 |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |location=London |volume=17 |issue=52 |date=December 23, 2000 |access-date=January 19, 2019 |page=9 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 2
|-
!scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-albums-annee/?annee=2000 |title=Top Albums – 2000 |publisher=[[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique]] |access-date=May 16, 2021 |language=fr}}</ref>
| 3
|-
!scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-2000 |title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts |publisher=[[GfK Entertainment Charts]] |access-date=May 19, 2018 |language=de}}</ref>
| 37
|-
!scope="row"| Italian Albums (FIMI)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl#/charts/11/2000/0 |title=Classifica annuale 2000 (dal 03.01.2000 al 31.12.2000) – Album & Compilation |publisher=[[Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana]] |access-date=July 4, 2021 |language=it}}</ref>
| 11
|-
!scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/2000-12-31 |title=Top Selling Albums of 2000 |publisher=[[Recorded Music NZ]] |access-date=May 22, 2019}}</ref>
| 1
|-
!scope="row"| Norwegian Spring Period Albums (VG-lista)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-40-album/2/dato/2000/periode/v%C3%A5r |title=Topp 40 Album Vår 2000 |publisher=[[VG-lista]] |access-date=January 26, 2021 |language=no |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910220829/http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-40-album/2/dato/2000/periode/v%C3%A5r |archive-date=September 10, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 3
|-
!scope="row"| Norwegian Summer Period Albums (VG-lista)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-40-album/2/dato/2000/periode/sommer |title=Topp 40 Album Sommer 2000 |publisher=[[VG-lista]] |access-date=January 26, 2021 |language=no |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911023808/http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-40-album/2/dato/2000/periode/sommer |archive-date=September 11, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 3
|-
!scope="row"| Swedish Albums & Compilations (Sverigetopplistan)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/42?dspy=2000&dspp=1 |title=Årslista Album (inkl samlingar), 2000 |publisher=[[Sverigetopplistan]] |access-date=December 20, 2020 |language=sv}}</ref>
| 71
|-
!scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/2000/alben |title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2000 – Alben |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=May 16, 2021 |language=de}}</ref>
| 23
|-
!scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20000109/37502/ |title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2000 |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=January 6, 2016}}</ref>
| 5
|-
!scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2000/top-billboard-200-albums |title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=January 6, 2016}}</ref>
| 69
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+2001 year-end chart performance for ''Play''
!scope="col"| Chart (2001)
!scope="col"| Position
|-
!scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2001/albums-chart |title=ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2001 |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]] |access-date=January 4, 2021}}</ref>
| 65
|-
!scope="row"| Australian Dance Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2001/dance-albums-chart |title=ARIA Top 10 Dance Albums for 2001 |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]] |access-date=May 17, 2021}}</ref>
| 10
|-
!scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2001&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten 2001 – Albums |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=January 4, 2021 |language=nl}}</ref>
| 29
|-
!scope="row"| Belgian Alternative Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2001&cat=aa |title=Jaaroverzichten 2001 – Alternatieve albums |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=January 4, 2021 |language=nl}}</ref>
| 13
|-
!scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2001&cat=a |title=Rapports annuels 2001 – Albums |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=January 4, 2021 |language=fr}}</ref>
| 25
|-
!scope="row"| Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/200-1_2001.html |title=Top 200 Albums of 2001 (based on sales) |publisher=[[Jam!]] |access-date=March 26, 2022 |page=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031212202406/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/200-1_2001.html |archive-date=December 12, 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 61
|-
!scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2001&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2001 |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=January 4, 2021 |language=nl}}</ref>
| 51
|-
!scope="row"| European Top 100 Albums (''Music & Media'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2001/MM-2001-12-22.pdf |title=Year in Review – European Top 100 Albums 2001 |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |location=London |volume=19 |issue=52 |date=December 22, 2001 |access-date=May 17, 2021 |page=15 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 56
|-
!scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-albums-annee/?annee=2001 |title=Top Albums – 2001 |publisher=[[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique]] |access-date=January 4, 2021 |language=fr}}</ref>
| 53
|-
!scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20010107/37502/ |title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2001 |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=January 4, 2021}}</ref>
| 92
|-
!scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2001/top-billboard-200-albums |title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=January 4, 2021}}</ref>
| 111
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+2002 year-end chart performance for ''Play''
!scope="col"| Chart (2002)
!scope="col"| Position
|-
!scope="row"| Australian Dance Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2002/dance-albums-chart |title=ARIA Top 20 Dance Albums for 2002 |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]] |access-date=May 17, 2021}}</ref>
| 15
|-
!scope="row"| Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/200-2_2002.html |title=Top 200 Albums of 2002 (based on sales) |publisher=[[Jam!]] |access-date=March 23, 2022 |page=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040906184132/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/200-2_2002.html |archive-date=September 6, 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 175
|-
!scope="row"| Canadian Alternative Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_alt.html |title=Top 200 Alternative Albums of 2002 |publisher=[[Jam!]] |access-date=March 26, 2022 |page=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031204012816/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_alt.html |archive-date=December 4, 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 55
|-
!scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-albums-annee/?annee=2002 |title=Top Albums – 2002 |publisher=[[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique]] |access-date=January 4, 2021 |language=fr}}</ref>
| 130
|-
!scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK2002.pdf |title=The Top 300 Artist Albums of 2002 |magazine=Chartwatch |location=Ilminster |date=October 2003 |access-date=June 1, 2021 |last=Zywietz |first=Tobias |pages=40, 42–43 |type=2002 chart booklet}}</ref>
| 190
|}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+2004 year-end chart performance for ''Play''
!scope="col"| Chart (2004)
!scope="col"| Position
|-
!scope="row"| Belgian Mid Price Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2004&cat=am |title=Jaaroverzichten 2004 – Mid price |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=February 21, 2021 |language=nl}}</ref>
| 33
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+2005 year-end chart performance for ''Play''
!scope="col"| Chart (2005)
!scope="col"| Position
|-
!scope="row"| Belgian Mid Price Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2005&cat=am |title=Jaaroverzichten 2005 – Mid price |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=February 21, 2021 |language=nl}}</ref>
| 25
|-
!scope="row"| Belgian Mid Price Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2005&cat=am |title=Rapports annuels 2005 – Mid price |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=February 21, 2021 |language=fr}}</ref>
| 25
|}

===Decade-end charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+Decade-end chart performance for ''Play''
!scope="col"| Chart (2000–2009)
!scope="col"| Position
|-
!scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2000/end-of-decade-albums-chart |title=ARIA Top 100 Albums of the 00's |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]] |access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref>
| 44
|-
!scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Noughties' Official UK Albums Chart Top 100 |magazine=[[Music Week]] |location=London |date=January 30, 2010 |page=19}}</ref>
| 36
|}
{{columns-end}}

==Certifications and sales==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for ''Play''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=4|type=album|certyear=2001|access-date=July 25, 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1999|artist=Moby|title=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|certyear=2001|relyear=1999|access-date=July 25, 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|award=Platinum|number=3|type=album|certyear=2001|relyear=1999|artist=Moby|title=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|award=Gold|type=album|certyear=2001|relyear=1999|certref=<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musik.org/publikationer/guldplatin.htm |title=Guld og Platin 2001 |publisher=[[IFPI Danmark]] |access-date=July 14, 2022 |language=da |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021005180226/http://www.musik.org/publikationer/guldplatin.htm |archive-date=October 5, 2002 |url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|award=Diamond|type=album|certyear=2003|artist=Moby|title=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|award=Gold|type=album|certyear=2000|relyear=1999|relmonth=5|artist=Moby|title=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Greece|award=Gold|type=album|certyear=2000|relyear=1999|certref=<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fBAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA53 |title=Greece Is the Word |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |location=New York |volume=112 |issue=33 |date=August 12, 2000 |access-date=May 17, 2021 |page=53}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Ireland|award=Platinum|number=6|type=album|certref=<ref name="Sexton">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0BAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55 |title=Old, New Acts Take Home Platinum Europe Awards|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|location=New York|volume=112|issue=47|date=November 18, 2000|last=Sexton|first=Paul|pages=55, 67|access-date=June 19, 2019}}</ref>|salesamount=30,000|salesref=<ref name="Sexton"/>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|certyear=2000|relyear=1999|certref=<ref name="Sexton"/>|note=sales in 2000|salesamount=250,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.festivalbar.it/artisti/scheda.php?id=93|title=Artisti - Moby|publisher=[[Festivalbar]]|access-date=January 10, 2024}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|award=Gold|type=album|certyear=2022|relyear=1999|artist=Moby|title=Play|access-date=February 28, 2022|id=9701|note=sales since 2009}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|certyear=2001|relyear=1999|artist=Moby|access-date=October 11, 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|award=Platinum|number=7|type=album|certyear=2001|artist=Moby|id=2001-05-25|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|title=Play}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|award=Platinum|type=album|certyear=2000|relyear=1999|access-date=February 9, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|award=Platinum|type=album|certyear=2001|relyear=1999|access-date=May 16, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|award=Gold|number=3|type=album|certyear=2001|relyear=1999|artist=Moby|title=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|number=6|type=album|certyear=2013|certmonth=7|id=5124-331-2|artist=Moby|title=Play|access-date=May 16, 2021|salesamount=1,850,388|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2009/2009-07-11-Music-Week.pdf |title=Jackson finds Cascada are harder to budge |magazine=[[Music Week]] |location=London |date=July 11, 2009 |access-date=December 13, 2021 |last=Jones |first=Alan |page=24 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|certyear=2001|artist=Moby|title=Play|access-date=July 25, 2012|salesamount=2,700,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046027/night-fever |title='Night' Fever |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |location=New York |date=March 30, 2008 |access-date=March 5, 2013}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|award=Platinum|number=4|certyear=2001|access-date=February 9, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|nocert=true|salesamount=12,000,000|salesref=<ref name="Zlatopolsky"/>}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* {{Discogs master|82202|Play}}
* {{MusicBrainz release group|mbid=7f6a4e72-9fee-39db-8817-63425f97a0f5|name=Play}}

{{Moby}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1999 albums]]
[[Category:Moby albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Moby]]
[[Category:Albums recorded in a home studio]]
[[Category:Mute Records albums]]
[[Category:V2 Records albums]]