Beautiful World (Take That album)
Beautiful World is the fourth studio album from the British pop group Take That. The album was released in November 2006, and was the band's first new studio album in 11 years.
Album information
The album features what Take That describe as "a throwback to the 90s, but with a modern twist". Beautiful World is their first album in which every member of the band sings lead vocals on at least one song. The album was number one in Ireland and the UK and was very well received critically. To date the album has sold over 4 million copies worldwide (including 2,820,079 in the UK alone as of July 2011).[2] The album was the 2nd best selling of 2006 in the UK, after only being on sale for one month. The album was also the 4th best selling album of 2007, and 33rd best selling of 2008. The album has been certified as 8x Platinum in the UK, and is currently the 35th best selling album in British music history.[3] It is also currently the biggest selling boyband record ever in the UK.[4] The album has currently spent 337 weeks on the charts.[5]
Critical reception
Two weeks before the official UK release of Beautiful World, iTunes UK made the album available for pre-order. It immediately shot up the online music store's Top Albums list, peaking at number 1 on the day of the release. In December 2006, Take That became the only act to secure a #1 position in the download chart, UK albums chart, singles chart, airplay chart and the video chart.[9] The album received overwhelming positive reception from across the media, all praising the new musical direction that Take That had taken.
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The album doesn't try for anything too dramatic and oozes with their obvious joy and gratitude at being back at the top of their game. Hearing Gary's voice on the majority of the tracks is a comforting reminder of times past, but having the other three as lead singers provides a refreshing change, with Jason Orange's Wooden Boat standing out particularly. |
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The songs are varied and more reflective than their previous work evoking the struggles to stick together and time passing. Their amazing comeback single 'Patience' jostles for prominence amongst a string of epic opening tracks including 'Reach Out' and 'Hold On' (Mark on lead vocal). Then there are the beautiful ballads 'Like I've Never Loved You At All', stand out track 'I'd Wait For Life' and the pensive 'What You Believe In'. The album gets its really interesting twist with the Beatles-esque 'Shine' and the folk-tinged 'Wooden Boat', with Jason taking his first lead vocal. |
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Awards
The lead single from the album, "Patience", won 'Best British Single' at the 2007 BRIT Awards[10] and the second single "Shine" won 'Best British Single' at the 2008 BRIT Awards a year later.[11]
Track listings
Writer(s) |
Lead Vocals |
1. |
"Reach Out" |
Take That, John Shanks |
Gary Barlow |
4:16 |
2. |
"Patience" |
Take That, Shanks |
Gary Barlow |
3:22 |
3. |
"Beautiful World" |
Take That, Steve Robson |
Howard Donald |
4:25 |
4. |
"Hold On" |
Take That, Shanks |
Mark Owen |
3:56 |
5. |
"Like I Never Loved You at All" |
Take That, Shanks |
Gary Barlow |
3:44 |
6. |
"Shine" |
Take That, Robson |
Mark Owen |
3:31 |
7. |
"I'd Wait for Life" |
Take That |
Gary Barlow |
4:33 |
8. |
"Ain't No Sense in Love" |
Take That, Billy Mann |
Gary Barlow |
3:51 |
9. |
"What You Believe In" |
Take That, Anders Bagge |
Mark Owen |
4:32 |
10. |
"Mancunian Way" |
Take That, Eg White |
Howard Donald |
3:48 |
11. |
"Wooden Boat" |
Take That, Mann, Shanks |
Jason Orange |
3:03 |
12. |
"Butterfly" (hidden track) |
Take That, Shanks |
Gary Barlow |
3:45 |
Writer(s) |
Producer(s) |
13. |
"6 in the Morning Fool" |
Take That, White |
Shanks |
3:37 |
Writer(s) |
Producer(s) |
13. |
"Beautiful Morning" |
Take That, Ben Mark |
Shanks |
3:37 |
14. |
"We All Fall Down" |
Take That, Shanks |
Shanks |
3:37 |
15. |
"Rule the World" |
Take That |
Shanks |
4:58 |
Director |
1. |
"Patience" |
David Mould |
3:22 |
2. |
"Shine" |
Justin Dickel |
3:31 |
3. |
"I'd Wait for Life" |
Sean Sparengo |
4:33 |
4. |
"Rule the World" |
Barney Clay |
4:58 |
5. |
"The Making of Beautiful World" |
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- "Butterfly" does not appear on the Brazilian, Canadian, Chinese and European editions.
Personnel
Musicians
Production
- John Shanks – producer, production coordinator,
- Shari Sutcliffe – production coordination
- Will Malone – arranger
- Jamie Muhoberac – engineer, mixer
- Robin Baynton – assistant engineer
- Andrew Dudman – assistant engineer
- Jake Jackson – assistant engineer
- Lewis Jones – assistant engineer
- Sam "Stovepipe No. 1" Jones – assistant engineer
- Lars Fox – digital editing
- Ted Jensen – mastering
Charts and certifications
Charts
Certifications
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Year-end charts
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Release history
Country |
Date |
Label |
Format |
Catalogue # |
United Kingdom |
27 November 2006 (2006-11-27) |
Polydor |
CD |
1715551[26] |
Taiwan |
27 November 2006 (2006-11-27) |
Universal International |
CD |
U171651-0[27] |
China |
27 November 2006 (2006-11-27) |
Universal International |
CD |
TY0191C[28] |
Japan |
27 November 2006 (2006-11-27) |
Universal International |
CD |
UICP-1078 |
United States |
4 December 2006 (2006-12-04)[29] |
Universal |
CD |
– |
United Kingdom |
12 November 2007 (2007-11-12) |
Polydor |
CD + DVD |
1747133[30] |
References
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Studio albums |
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Other albums |
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Compilation albums |
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Singles |
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Tours |
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Television |
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See also |
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1 (The Beatles, 2000) · Swing When You're Winning (Robbie Williams, 2001) · Escapology (Robbie Williams, 2002) · Life for Rent (Dido, 2003) · Greatest Hits (Robbie Williams, 2004) · Curtain Call: The Hits (Eminem, 2005) · Beautiful World (Take That, 2006) · Spirit (Leona Lewis, 2007) · The Circus (Take That, 2008) · I Dreamed a Dream (Susan Boyle, 2009)
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