Intensive Care (album)

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Professional reviews
Intensive Care

Studio album by Robbie Williams
Released	October 24, 2005 (UK)
Recorded	2003-2005 in Los Angeles, California, USA
Genre	Pop
Length	53:02
Label	Capitol/EMI
Producer(s)	Stephen Duffy
All Music Guide (2.5/5) link musicOMH.com (Positive) link PopMatters (7/10) link
Robbie Williams chronology
Greatest Hits (2004)	Intensive Care (2005)	Rudebox (2006)

Intensive Care is the ninth album and sixth solo studio album by English pop singer Robbie Williams, released on October 24, 2005 in the United Kingdom.

Although not originally intended to be released in North America, it was made available on iTunes there most likely because of Williams's appearance at Live 8.

1 Single & album sales
2 Track listing
3 Track details
- 3.1 "Ghosts"
- 3.2 "Please Don't Die"
4 Musicians
5 Credits
6 External links

[edit] Single & album sales

In its opening week in the UK, it sold an incredible 375,000 copies. It reached #1 in 18 countries and sold over 800,000 worldwide in the first week. EMI confirmed that the album has passed 6.5 million worldwide and sales are now approching 7 million confirmed by Williams at his 5 sell out gigs in Milton Keynes in September, making it his best selling album of his career. The album was the third best selling album of 2005 in the UK despite only being released late October. It sold 1.5 million copies.

The first single from the album, "Tripping", was released on October 3, 2005 which first aired on The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1, with the music video debuting on Channel 4 on September 5, 2005. The song peaked at number 2 in the UK charts.

The second single to be released was "Make Me Pure", released as a promotional single only in New Zealand and Australia on November 7, 2005, although it still reached Number 15 in the The Netherlands and Number 27 in Mexico.

A third single, "Advertising Space", an Elvis Presley tribute, was released on December 12, 2005, entering the UK chart at number 8.

"Sin Sin Sin" was the fourth single from Intensive Care, released on May 22, 2006, giving Robbie his first single outside the top 20 of the UK Singles Charts, only reaching Number 22.

"A Place To Crash" was originally planned to be one half of the fifth single from the album, as a double A-side with the song "Ghosts". The song is said to be influenced heavily by the music of The Rolling Stones. The single was never released, and Williams' next release was to be the song "Rudebox", taken from his tenth album of the same name.

In March 2006, IFPI stated that the album was the biggest-selling title in Europe in 2005, despite only being released in October. Also, Williams gained his fifth platinum level for the album, meaning the album sold over 5 million copies in Europe alone. ^[1]

[edit] Track listing

"Ghosts" – 3:42
"Tripping" – 4:36
"Make Me Pure" – 4:33
"Spread Your Wings" – 3:50
"Advertising Space" – 4:37
"Please Don't Die" – 4:48
"Your Gay Friend" – 3:21
"Sin Sin Sin" – 4:09
"Random Acts Of Kindness" – 4:15
"The Trouble with Me" – 4:20
"A Place To Crash" – 4:34
"King Of Bloke And Bird" – 6:13

[edit] Track details

[edit] "Ghosts"

"Ghosts" was intended to be one-half of the fifth single from Intensive Care, with "A Place To Crash." However, this was cancelled in favor of releasing a single from his new album Rudebox. "Ghosts" was written as the response from the point of view of Louise featured in Human League's song "Louise" about a man who spots his former lover at a bus stop and realises he still cares for her.

[edit] "Please Don't Die"

This song may be unreleased, but it could be a very sensitive song to release at the time the album was released given the tragedies that happened in 2005. This song deals with the insecurities some people have with their loved ones. The chorus is a pessimistic but relistic question of the vulnerability and helpnessless one feels if their love one dies or goes away to far away places.

[edit] Musicians

Robbie Williams: Lead vocals, backing vocals, guitar, epiphone casino, synthesizer
Stephen Duffy: Guitar, keyboards, nord lead, wine glass, sitar, harp, secquencers, shakers, dilruba, harmonica
Claire Worall: Backing vocals, piano, mellotron, Hammond B3, helicopter
Melvin Duffy: Guitar
Neil Taylor: Guitar
Greg Leiz: Guitar
Justin Duarte: Acoustic Guitar
Jerry Mehan: Bass guitar, fender precision
Matt Chamberlain: Drums, percussion
Kate Kisson: Backing Vocals
Tessa Niles: Backing vocals
Jeff Babko: Trombone
Cleto Escobedo: Baritone saxophone
Waddy Wachtel: Guitar
Jebin Bruni: Synthesizer
Davey Farragher: Bass guitar, fender precision
John Paterno: Guitar
Buddy Judge: Guitar
Max Beesley: Percussion, vibes
Gary Nuttall: Backing vocals

[edit] Credits

Album produced by Stephen Duffy and Robbie Williams
Original production by Andy Strange
Mixed by Bob Clearmountain at Mix This
Engineered by John Paterno, Andy Strange, Stephen Duffy Pablo Munguia, Tony Phillips, Adam Noble and Dan Porter
Strings arranged and conducted by David Campbell
Strings engineered by Alan Sides at NRG
Mastering by Tony Cousins at Metropolis Studios, London
A&R: Chris Briggs
Photography: Hamish Brown
Design and artwork: Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely
Art coordination by Tom Hingston Studio