| Progressed | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP by Take That | ||||
| Released | 10 June 2011 | |||
| Recorded | 2010–2011; Future Studios, Sarm West Studios, Tracques and Abbey Road Studios, (London, United Kingdom); Electric Lady Studios, (New York City, United States) |
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| Genre | Pop, electropop, rock | |||
| Length | 34:50 | |||
| Label | Polydor | |||
| Producer | Stuart Price | |||
| Take That chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Progressed | ||||
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Progressed is the first extended play by British band Take That. The collection was released on 10 June 2011 and features eight previously unreleased tracks packaged alongside Take That's sixth studio album, Progress. It was preceded by the lead single "Love Love" on 11 May, which serves as the main theme for the film X-Men: First Class.
Contents |
Initially it was believed that Robbie Williams would rejoin Take That in a short term capacity for the album Progress which debuted at number 1 in the UK and achieved similar success across Europe, and the subsequent record breaking Progress Live tour. However on 29 March 2011, Gary Barlow revealed that Take That had been looking into the possibility of creating new material as a five-piece by stating that "at the beginning we all said it was going to last for one album, but we're starting to write again" which Barlow suggested may result in a new release in the future.[1] On 19 May 2011 Take That officially confirmed the upcoming release of Progressed, due for release on 13 June 2011 in the United Kingdom, following the release of its first single, "Love Love".[2]
The new material was released halfway through the band’s Progress Live tour, which saw them play to 1.8 million people over a series of stadium dates across Europe. Polydor senior marketing manager Emma Powell said of the new release, "With two million copies of Progress sold in the UK alone it is amazing the band have delivered eight new songs for the fanbase. It is a great package for the fans." She added that a new Take That app for iPhones, iPads and Android was also being launched to coincide with the tour, featuring exclusive behind the scenes footage of the band to follow the previous Progress App, which has had more than 300,000 downloads.[3]
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| BBC Music | (positive)[4] |
| Daily Mail | [5] |
| Daily Mirror | [6] |
| Digital Spy | [7] |
| The Express | [8] |
| The Independent | [9] |
| Heat | (Positive)[10] |
| Orange | (Positive)[11] |
| The Sun | [12] |
| Q | [13] |
Progressed received positive reviews from music critics upon its release.
Simon Gage of The Express praised the new material and awarded it 5 stars stating that it is "essential listening" whilst commenting that "there has been a full-bodied love affair between Take That and the British public for so long it’s difficult to imagine them ever putting a foot wrong."[14]
Nick Levine of BBC Music similarly reviewed the album positively, concluding that the collection is "a fine Progress-complementing EP from the 10-legged national treasure."[15]
The Independent awarded Progressed 3 stars calling the collection a "galumphing disco electropop whose swaggering synth riffs on 'Love Love' and occasional dubstep/electro moves, as on the intro to 'Man', are swept up by standard stomp-beats"[16] whilst Q believed it was "a bold step to add to the biggest selling album of the year but one that ultimately pays off".[17]
Gavin Martin of The Daily Mirror reviewed the new material positively concluding that "from the trad Barlow ballad setting of 'When We Were Young' through the evolutionary electro of 'Man', the new songs successfully extend the original album's balancing act between dignified nostalgia and commercially crafted experimentation."[18]
Gordon Smart of The Sun stated "as a double album it hangs together very well" with the "bombast of 'Aliens' and the apocalyptic anthem of 'Man' welcome additions to the set list [of the tour]" and alongside "the tear jerking ballad, 'Don't Say Goodbye' there won't be a dry eye in the stadium."[19]
Heat reviewed the album positively concluding that "all in all, we have to say this album is utterly weird and wonderful and the perfect extension to Take That's defiant Progress album of 2010. Progressed is a winner in our book."[20]
Lewis Corner of Digital Spy praised the new material and stated that "the self-penned collection proves once again why Take That's comeback was better than everyone else's – by out-growing the stereotypical boyband branding to become a group of credible and genuinely artistic group of musicians."[21]
The Daily Mail awarded the collection 4 stars stating that as a revamp of Progress "the outcome is remarkably filler-free: Robbie sings lead on the nostalgic When We Were Young; the Muse-like stomp of Love Love is already in the man-band’s live show; and producer Stuart Price brings a trademark electro-pop sheen to the brilliant Beautiful."[22]
| No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "When We Were Young" | Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow | 4:34 |
| 2. | "Man" | Gary Barlow and Mark Owen | 4:39 |
| 3. | "Love Love" | Gary Barlow and Mark Owen | 3:43 |
| 4. | "The Day the Work Is Done" | Mark Owen and Gary Barlow | 4:04 |
| 5. | "Beautiful" | Gary Barlow | 4:14 |
| 6. | "Don't Say Goodbye" | Gary Barlow | 3:54 |
| 7. | "Aliens" | Howard Donald and Mark Owen | 4:48 |
| 8. | "Wonderful World" | Mark Owen and Jason Orange | 4:58 |
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Danish Albums Chart[23] | 1 |
| Dutch Albums Chart[24] | 21 |
| German Albums Chart[25] | 29 |
| Irish Albums Chart[26][A] | 2 |
| Spanish Albums Chart[27] | 46 |
| UK Albums Chart[28][A] | 1 |
| Preceded by Suck It and See by Artic Monkeys |
UK number one album 19 June 2011 – 26 June 2011 |
Succeeded by 4 by Beyoncé |
| Preceded by Doo Wops and Hooligans by Bruno Mars |
European Top 100 Albums number-one album 18 June 2011 – 2 July 2011 |
Succeeded by 21 by Adele |
| Preceded by 21 by Adele |
Danish Albums Chart 22 July 2011 – 29 July 2011 |
Succeeded by 21 by Adele |
| Preceded by The Priests by The Priests |
Scottish Albums Chart number-one album 19 June 2011 – 26 June 2011 |
Succeeded by 4 by Beyoncé |
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Credits adapted from Progressed album notes.[29]
| Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland[30] | 10 June 2011 | CD, digital download |
| United Kingdom[2] | 13 June 2011 | |
| Italy[31] | 14 June 2011 | |
| Denmark[32] | 15 June 2011 | |
| Australia[33] | 17 June 2011 | |
| Germany[34] | ||
| Brazil[35] | 28 June 2011 |
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