Westlife (album)

Westlife
Studio album by Westlife
Released 1 November 1999
(see Release history)
Recorded 1998-99;
Rokstone Studios
(London, England),
Cheiron Studios
(Stockholm, Sweden)
CaVa Studios
(Glasgow, Scotland)
Genre Pop, Song
Length 65:32 (international)
50:59 United States
Label BMG, RCA
Producer Simon Cowell, Steve Mac, Wayne Hector, Per Magnusson, David Kreuger, Rami Yacoub, TTW, David Foster, Pete Waterman, Jake Schulze, David Frank, Steve Kipner, Cutfather & Joe, Jaime Ikeda, Rovi
Westlife chronology

'Westlife'
(1999)		 Coast to Coast
(2000)
American cover
Singles from Westlife
  1. "Swear It Again"
    Released: 12 April 1999
  2. "If I Let You Go"
    Released: 9 August 1999
  3. "Flying Without Wings"
    Released: 18 October 1999
  4. "I Have a Dream / Seasons in the Sun"
    Released: 6 December 1999
  5. "Fool Again"
    Released: 17 March 2000
  6. "More Than Words"
    Released: 1 April 2000
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllRovi [1]
AllMusic [2]

Westlife is the self-titled debut studio album by Irish boy band Westlife. The album was released on 1 November 1999, spawning five UK number one hit singles "Swear It Again", "If I Let You Go", "Flying Without Wings", the double A-side "I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun", and "Fool Again".

Background

Due to all five singles from the album peaking at number one on the UK Singles Chart in less than a year, Westlife created a chart history record that remains unbroken to date. Despite this, however, the album entered and peaked at number two, being beaten only by an extra 1,000 copies of Steptacular by Steps.[3] The album became the eighth best-selling album of 1999 in the United Kingdom, and ended up being certified 4× Platinum.[4] The album went on to spend seventy-four weeks in the UK Top 100.[5] In 2000, the album was released in the United States and peaked at number 129 on the Billboard 200. The album also peaked at number 15 in Australia. Westlife also remains the best-selling international album ever in Indonesia and Philippines, receiving 20× platinum certifications for over 1 million copies sold in Indonesia and 25× Platinum certifications for over 500,000 units sold in the Philippines.[6][7] In 2005, the album was released in a compilation box collection with Westlife's fourth studio album, Turnaround. Overall, the album has sold more than five million copies worldwide.[8] A video album related to the release, entitled "The Westlife Story", was released in October 2000, peaking at number 15 on the UK Visual Chart. The release was available on both VHS and DVD. The DVD was later made available in a five disc set entitled "Westlife: The Complete Story".

Track listing

Standard edition
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Swear It Again"  Steve Mac, Wayne HectorSteve Mac 4:07
2. "If I Let You Go"  David Kreuger, Jörgen Elofsson, Per MagnussonKreuger, Magnusson 3:41
3. "Flying Without Wings"  Steve Mac, Wayne HectorMac 3:36
4. "Fool Again"  David Kreuger, Jörgen Elofsson, Per MagnussonKreuger, Magnusson 3:53
5. "No No"  Andreas Carlsson, Rami YacoubRami 3:15
6. "I Don't Wanna Fight"  Steve Mac, Wayne Hector, Peter Cetera, David FosterMac 5:03
7. "Change the World"  Lance Ellington, Topham, TwiggTTW 3:10
8. "Moments"  Steve Mac, Wayne HectorMac 4:17
9. "Seasons in the Sun"  Jacques Brel, Rod McKuenTTW 4:09
10. "I Need You"  Andreas Carlsson, Max Martin, Rami YacoubRami 3:48
11. "Miss You"  Jake Schulze, Rami YacoubSchulze, Rami 3:53
12. "More Than Words"  Gary Cherone, Nuno BettencourtMac 3:53
13. "Open Your Heart"  Andreas Carlsson, Jake SchulzeSchulze 3:40
14. "Try Again"  David Kreuger, Jörgen Elofsson, Per MagnussonKreuger, Magnusson 3:34
15. "What I Want Is What I've Got"  Alexandra Talomaa, Rami YacoubRami 3:34
16. "We Are One"  Alexadre Desplat, Steve Mac, Wayne HectorSteve Mac 3:44
17. "Can't Lose What You Never Had"  David Frank, Steve KipnerFrank, Kipner 4:26

Credits

  • Acoustic Guitar, Guitar [Electric]:
    Mats Berntoft (tracks: 2, 4, 14)
  • Arranged By [Strings]:
    Henrik Janson (tracks: 2, 4, 11, 13, 14)
    Richard Niles (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 16)
    Ulf Janson (tracks: 2, 4, 11, 13, 14)
  • Artwork By [Design]:
    root
  • Backing Vocals [Additional]:
    Anders Von Hofsten (tracks: 2, 11, 13 to 15)
    Andreas Carlsson (tracks: 2, 5, 13)
  • Bass:
    Steve Pearce (tracks: 3, 6, 12, 16)
    Tomas Lindberg (tracks: 2, 13, 15)
  • Engineer [Assistant]:
    Daniel Pursey (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 16)
  • Engineer [Mix]:
    Matt Howe (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 16)
  • Engineer, Programmed By:
    Chris Laws (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 16)
  • Guitar:
    Esbjörn Öhrwall (tracks: 11, 13, 15)
    Paul Gendler (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 16)
  • Photography:
    Brian Aris

Westlife Era

The following is a complete list of album tracks, singles, remixes and b-sides released during the Westlife era:

  • "Can't Lose What You Never Had"
  • "Change The World"
  • "Don't Calm The Storm" (Swear It Again B-side)
  • "Everybody Knows" (Platinum Edition only)
  • "Everybody Knows" (Demo)
  • "Flying Without Wings"
  • "Flying Without Wings" (Acapella)
  • "Fool Again"
  • "Fool Again" (2000 Remix)
  • "Forever" (Platinum Edition only)
  • "I Don't Wanna Fight"
  • "If I Let You Go"
  • "If I Let You Go" (Extended Mix)
  • "I Have A Dream" (Australia & Deluxe Edition only)
  • "I Have A Dream" (Single Remix)
  • "I Need You"
  • "Let's Make Tonight Special" (Platinum Edition only)
  • "Miss You"
  • "Moments"
  • "More Than Words"
  • "My Private Movie" (America & Platinum Edition only)
  • "No No"
  • "Open Your Heart"
  • "On The Wings of Love" (Deluxe Edition only)
  • "Seasons In The Sun"
  • "Seasons In The Sun" (Single Remix)
  • "Story of Love" (Japan only)
  • "Swear It Again"
  • "Swear It Again" (Rokstone Mix)
  • "That's What It's All About" (Deluxe Edition only)
  • "Try Again"
  • "Tunnel of Love" (Platinum Edition only)
  • "Until The End of Time" (Platinum Edition only)
  • "We Are One"
  • "What I Want Is What I've Got"

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1999–2000) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[12] 5
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[13] 8
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] 10
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[15] 40
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[16] 55
Irish Albums (IRMA)[17] 1
New Zealand Albums (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 5
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[19] 1
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[20] 5
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 25
UK Albums (OCC)[22] 2
US Billboard 200[23] 129

Year-end charts

Chart (1999) Position
UK Albums (OCC)

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[24] Gold 35,000^
Indonesia (ASIRI)[8] 20× Platinum 1,000,000*
Ireland (IRMA)[8] 15× Platinum 225,000x
Mexico (AMPROFON)[25] Gold 75,000^
Malaysia (RIM)[8] 8× Platinum 400,000*
Netherlands (NVPI)[26] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[27] 3× Platinum 45,000^
Philippines (PARI)[8] 5× Platinum 500,000[6]
Sweden (GLF)[28] Gold 40,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] 5× Platinum 1,500,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[30] 2× Platinum 2,000,000*
Worldwide 5,000,000[8]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Release history

Country Date Formats
United Kingdom 1 November 1999 Standard (17 Tracks)
Japan 4 April 2000 Standard (18 Tracks)
Philippines 18 April 2000 Deluxe (2xCD)
United States 7 May 2000 Standard (13 Tracks)
Australia 15 May 2000 Standard (18 Tracks)
Philippines 31 July 2000 Platinum (2xCD, CD+DVD)
United Kingdom 15 October 2000 Video (The Westlife Story)
Japan 19 December 2000 Standard (No.1 Hits & Rare Tracks)

References

  1. ↑ "Listen to Westlife by Westlife - Album Reviews, Credits, and Awards". AllRovi. 7 December 1999. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  2. ↑ "Listen to Westlife by Westlife - Album Reviews, Credits, and Awards". AllMusic. 1999. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  3. ↑ "British certifications". British Phonographic Industry.
  4. ↑ "British certifications – Westlife". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Westlife in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Click Search
  5. ↑ "Take That". Chart Stats. Archived from the original on 2012-07-21. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Google News Archive (15 May 2001). "Westlife brings Coast to Coast in Manila". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  7. ↑ Sofia, Maya (20 October 2011). "Boyband Westlife Resmi Bubar Tahun Depan" (in Indonesian). Viva News. Retrieved 2011-11-26.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 "Westlife biográfia - music.hu". pop.music.hu. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  9. ↑ "Westlife Westlife Malaysia DOUBLE CD (310176)". Eil.com. 18 November 2004. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  10. ↑ "Westlife Westlife - Platinum Deluxe Edition Indonesia DOUBLE CASSETTE (176228)". Eil.com. 31 January 2001. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  11. ↑ "Westlife Westlife Karaoke Singapore VIDEO CD (183874)". Eil.com. 1 May 2001. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  12. ↑ "Westlife – Westlife" (in Dutch). Ultratop.be. Hung Medien.
  13. ↑ "Westlife – Westlife" (in Dutch). Dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien.
  14. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard: 69. 22 January 2000.
  15. ↑ "Westlife: Westlife" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  16. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
  17. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard: 61. 27 November 1999.
  18. ↑ "Westlife – Westlife". Charts.org.nz. Hung Medien.
  19. ↑ "Westlife – Westlife". Norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien.
  20. ↑ "Westlife – Westlife". Swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien.
  21. ↑ "Westlife – Westlife". Swisscharts.com. Hung Medien.
  22. ↑ "1999-11-13 Top 40 UK Albums Archive". Official Charts Company.
  23. ↑ "Westlife – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-05.
  24. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  25. ↑ "Certificaciones – Westlife" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas.
  26. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Westlife – Westlife" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.
  27. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Westlife – Westlife". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.
  28. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1999" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
  29. ↑ "British album certifications – Westlife – Westlife". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Westlife in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  30. ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2000". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.