Open Road (Gary Barlow album)

Open Road

Studio album by Gary Barlow

Released

26 May 1997 (Europe)
13 January 1998 (America)

Recorded

1996

Genre

Pop

Length

50:54

Label

BMG, RCA, Arista

Producer

Clive Davis (exec.), David Foster, Gary Barlow, Mike Rose, Nick Foster, Kristian Lundin, Max Martin, Carsten Schack, Kenneth Karlin, Stephen Lipson, Absolute, Grant Mitchell, Walter Afanasieff, Chris Porter, Simon Willis

Gary Barlow chronology

Open Road
(1997)

Twelve Months, Eleven Days
(1999)

Singles from Open Road (European Version)

"Forever Love"
Released: 5 July 1996
"Love Won't Wait"
Released: 25 April 1997
"So Help Me Girl"
Released: 11 July 1997
"Open Road"
Released: 31 October 1997
"Hang on in There Baby"
Released: 3 April 1998

Singles from Open Road (American Version)

"So Help Me Girl"
Released: 30 September 1997
"Superhero"
Released: 17 February 1998

Open Road is the debut solo album by British singer-songwriter Gary Barlow. It was released by BMG and RCA Records on 26 May 1997 in Europe, and on 13 January 1998 in America.

Album information

Following the break-up of Take That, Barlow went straight into the recording studio and began recording a solo album. On 5 July 1996, the album's lead single, "Forever Love", was released, peaking at #1 on the UK Singles Chart. A second single, "Love Won't Wait", was released in April 1997, also peaking at number one.^[1] On 26 May 1997, the album was subsequently released, peaking at number one on the UK Albums Chart on the week of release.^[1] The album was certified platinum.^[2] Following the album's release, a further two singles, "So Help Me Girl" and "Open Road" were released, which charted at 11 and 7 respectively with the third single becoming Barlow's first solo material to chart in America.^[1] The album has sold over 2 million copies worldwide to date.^[3]

International success

Following the success of the album in the United Kingdom and the album charting in over 21 countries internationally, Barlow set about releasing the album in the United States, and signed a record deal with Arista. He soon decided to re-work the album for the American market, and began promotion by releasing a remixed version of "So Help Me Girl" as the lead single, complete with a brand new video, on 30 September 1997. The album was subsequently released on 13 January 1998, and on 17 February, one of the new tracks for the American issue, "Superhero", was released as the second single. Although it became widely known for its use as the Yankees main theme, it failed to achieve any commercial success.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[4]

The San Diego Vista gave the album a positive review stating that as a "singer and songwriter [Barlow] demonstrates his potential as a successful solo artist on Open Road. The album shows a diversity of musical styles, many acoustic-based tracks, a few haunting ballads and some scintillating up-tempo dance numbers." Rodel goes on to state that "on the title track, "Open Road," Gary's brilliant songwriting abilities are showcased in all its glory. A song that he wrote at the young age of 16, "Open Road" reveals Gary's journey through life [making it] perhaps the best song on Gary's debut album."^[5]

Track listing

European edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Love Won't Wait"	Madonna, Shep Pettibone	Stephen Lipson	4:17
2.	"So Help Me Girl"	Howard Perdew, Andy Spooner	David Foster	4:29
3.	"My Commitment"	Gary Barlow, Diane Warren	Walter Afanasieff	4:48
4.	"Hang on in There Baby"	Johnny Bristol	Trevor Horn	3:39
5.	"Are You Ready Now"	Gary Barlow	Grant Mitchell, Barlow	4:19
6.	"Everything I Wanted"	Gary Barlow	Absolute	3:32
7.	"I Fall So Deep"	Larry Loftin, Mattias Gustafsson, Amy Powers	Foster	4:02
8.	"Lay Down for Love"	Gary Barlow, Richard Stannard, Matt Rowbottom	Mitchell, Barlow	5:33
9.	"Forever Love"	Gary Barlow	Chris Porter, Barlow	4:55
10.	"Never Knew"	Gary Barlow	Afanasieff	3:50
11.	"Open Road"	Gary Barlow	Porter, Barlow, Absolute^[a]	4:23
12.	"Always"	Gary Barlow	Porter, Barlow	3:32

Japanese edition bonus tracks
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
13.	"The Meaning of a Love Song"	Gary Barlow	Porter, Barlow	3:37
14.	"Cuddly Toy"	Andrew Roachford	Mark Picchiotti	3:42

Spanish edition bonus track
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
13.	"Ayúdame"	Howard Perdew, Andy Spooner, Nani Mano	Foster	4:26

GB40 Anniversary Edition: Disc 1
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Love Won't Wait"	Madonna, Shep Pettibone	4:17
2.	"So Help Me Girl"	Howard Perdew, Andy Spooner	4:29
3.	"My Commitment"	Gary Barlow, Diane Warren	4:48
4.	"Hang on in There, Baby"	Johnny Bristol	3:39
5.	"Are You Ready Now"	Gary Barlow	4:19
6.	"Everything I Wanted"	Gary Barlow	3:32
7.	"I Fall So Deep"	Larry Loftin, Mattias Gustafsson, Amy Powers	4:02
8.	"Lay Down For Love"	Gary Barlow, Richard Stannard, Matt Rowbottom	5:33
9.	"Forever Love"	Gary Barlow	4:55
10.	"Never Knew"	Gary Barlow	3:50
11.	"Open Road"	Gary Barlow	4:23
12.	"Always"	Gary Barlow	3:32
13.	"The Meaning of a Love Song"	Gary Barlow	3:37
14.	"Cuddly Toy"	Andrew Roachford	3:42
15.	"Superhero"	Gary Barlow, Max Martin, Joylon Skinner, Kristian Lundin	3:35
16.	"I Miss It All"	Gary Barlow	4:02
17.	"Million to One"	Gary Barlow, Richard Stannard, Matt Rowbottom	3:25
18.	"Offer My Peace"	Gary Barlow	3:56
19.	"Hard To Handle"	Gary Barlow	3:04

GB40 Anniversary Edition: Disc 2
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Forever Love" (Instrumental)		4:37
2.	"Love Won't Wait" (Junior Vasquez Radio Mix)		4:21
3.	"Cuddly Toy" (Lush Vocal Radio Edit)		3:44
4.	"Cuddly Toy" (Full on Retro Vocal)		8:51
5.	"Cuddly Toy" (Dumb & Funky Dub)		7:45
6.	"So Help Me Girl" (US Version)		4:29
7.	"Ayudame" (So Help Me Girl - Spanish Version)		4:26
8.	"So Help Me Girl" (C Swing Mix)		4:30
9.	"So Help Me Girl" (Peter Mokran Mix)		4:38
10.	"So Help Me Girl" (Live)		4:16
11.	"Open Road" (Rose & Foster Mix)		4:23
12.	"Open Road" (Mr. Pink Mix)		4:44
13.	"Open Road" (Live)		4:24
14.	"Hang on in There, Baby" (featuring Rosie Gaines)		3:39
15.	"Hang on in There, Baby" (Live)		3:53
16.	"Back For Good" (Live Version)	Gary Barlow	4:19
17.	"A Million Love Songs" (Live)		3:53
18.	"My Commitment" (Soulshock Mix)		7:01
19.	"Hard To Handle" (Live)		4:13
20.	"Labour of Love" (Live)		5:01
21.	"Luv Luv Luv" (Live)		3:40
22.	"Your Song" (Live)		4:18
23.	"Forever Love" (Live version dedicated to Princess Diana and Gianni Versace)		4:03
24.	"Interview" (Summer 1998)		11:35

GB40 Anniversary Edition: Disc 3
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Forever Love" (Video)		4:55
2.	"Love Won't Wait" (Video)		4:17
3.	"So Help Me Girl" (Video)		4:29
4.	"Open Road" (Video)		4:24
5.	"Superhero" (Video)		3:40
6.	"Hang on in There, Baby" (Video) (featuring Rosie Gaines)		3:39
7.	"Open Book" (Documentary)		63:00

US edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"I Fall So Deep"	Larry Loftin, Mattias Gustafsson, Amy Powers	David Foster	4:02
2.	"Open Road"	Gary Barlow	Chris Porter, Barlow, Mike Rose^[a], Nick Foster^[a]	4:23
3.	"Superhero"	Barlow, Max Martin, Joylon Skinner, Kristian Lundin	Martin, Lundin	3:35
4.	"My Commitment"	Barlow, Diane Warren	Walter Afanasieff, Soulshock & Karlin^[b]	4:13
5.	"Love Won't Wait"	Madonna, Shep Pettibone	Stephen Lipson, Junior Vasquez^[c]	4:21
6.	"So Help Me Girl"	Howard Perdew, Andy Spooner	Foster	4:29
7.	"Everything I Wanted"	Barlow	Absolute	3:32
8.	"Hang on in There Baby"	Johnny Bristol	Rose, Foster	3:39
9.	"Lay Down For Love"	Barlow, Richard Stannard, Matt Rowbottom	Grant Mitchell, Barlow	5:33
10.	"Never Knew"	Barlow	Afanasieff	3:50
11.	"Forever Love"	Barlow	Chris Porter, Barlow	4:55
12.	"Back for Good" (Live)	Barlow	Simon Willis	4:19

Australian special edition bonus CD-rom tracks
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Forever Love" (Video)	4:55
2.	"Love Won't Wait" (Video)	4:17
3.	"So Help Me Girl" (Video)	4:29

Notes

^{^[a]} signifies an additional producer
^{^[b]} signifies a remixer
^{^[c]} signifies a co-producer

Charts

Chart (1997)	Peak Position
Australian Albums Chart (ARIA)^[6]	30
Austrian Albums Chart (Ö3 Austria Top 75)^[7]	13
Belgian (Ultratop 50 Vlaanderen) Albums Chart^[8]	7
Belgian (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) Albums Chart^[9]	20
Danish Albums Chart (Nielsen Music Control)^[10]	6
Dutch Albums Chart (Top 100)^[11]	13
European Albums Chart (Hot 100)^[12]	4
Finnish Albums Chart (SNEP)^[13]	29
German Albums Chart (Media Control AG)^[14]	10
Greek Albums (IFPI Greece)^[15]	3
Hungarian Albums Chart (Rádiós Top 40)^[16]	33
Irish Albums Chart (IRMA)^[17]	1
Italian Albums Chart (FIMI)^[18]	8
Japanese Albums Chart (Oricon)^[19]	40
Malaysian Albums Chart (RIAM)^[20]	3
New Zealand Albums Chart (RIANZ)^[21]	43
Norwegian Albums Chart (VG-lista)^[22]	34
Scottish Albums Chart (OCC)^[23]	2
Spanish Albums Chart (PROMUSICAE)^[12]	5
Swedish Albums Chart (Sverigetopplistan)^[24]	25
Swiss Albums Chart (Schweizer Hitparade)^[25]	6
Taiwanese Albums Chart (IFPI)^[26]	1
United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company)^[1]	1

Preceded by Romeo + Juliet by Various Artists	Irish Albums Chart 29 May 1997 – 5 June 1997	Succeeded by Romanza by Andrea Bocelli
Preceded by Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix by Michael Jackson	Taiwan Albums Chart 23 June 1997 – 13 July 1997	Succeeded by Middle of Nowhere by Hanson
Preceded by Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix by Michael Jackson	UK number one album 7 June 1997 – 13 June 1997	Succeeded by Wu-Tang Forever by Wu-Tang Clan

Certifications


Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
United Kingdom (BPI)^[27]	Platinum	300,000^{^}

Personnel

Credits for Open Road adapted from Allmusic.^[28]

Gary Barlow - Composer, Piano, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals (Background)
Absolute - Mixing, Multi Instruments, Producer
Walter Afanasieff - Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Organ, Producer, Programming, Synthesizer
Alex Black - Assistant Engineer
Greg Calbi - Mastering
Andreas Carlsson - Vocals (Background)
Jake Chessum - Photography
Clive Davis - Executive Producer
Joey Diggs - Vocals (Background)
Felipe Elgueta - Engineer
David Foster - Arranger, Guest Artist, Keyboards, Producer
Nick Foster - Keyboards, Producer, Programming, Remixing
Simon Franglen - Programming
Paul Gendler - Guitar
David Gleeson - Engineer, Mixing
Nathaniel Goldberg - Photography
Jeff Griffin - Assistant Engineer
Sandy Griffith - Vocals (Background)
Mick Guzauski - Mixing
Phillip Ingram - Vocals (Background)
Judy Kirschner Assistant Engineer
Bob Kraushaar Mixing
Kristian Lawing - Producer
Steve Lipson - Producer
Richard Lowe - Mixing
Milton Mcdonald - Guitar

Madonna - Composer
Manny Marroquin - Engineer, Mixing
Max Martin - Producer, Vocals (Background)
Grant Mitchell - Arranger, Producer, Programming
P. Dennis Mitchell - Mixing
Heff Moraes - Engineer
Joey Moskowitz - Programming
Esbjörn Öhrwall - Guitar
Dean Parks - Guitar
Shep Pettibone - Composer
Chris Porter - Producer
Claytoven Richardson - Vocals (Background)
Marnie Riley - Mixing Assistant
Mike Rose - Keyboards, Producer, Programming, Remixing
Marc Russo - Guest Artist, Sax (Tenor)
Mike Scott - Assistant Engineer
Dan Shea - Keyboards, Programming
Andy Spooner - Composer
Christopher Stern - Art Direction
Ren Swan - Engineer
Michael Thompson - Guitar
Jeanie Tracy - Vocals (Background)
Junior Vasquez - Producer
Norman Watson - Photography
Dave Way - Mixing
Wil Wheaton - Vocals (Background)
Simon Willis - Producer
Tim Willis - Engineer

References

1 2 3 4 "UK Chart Archive". everyHit.com. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
↑ Open Road British Sales Certificate. British Phonographic Industry. 12 December 1997. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1328974/Robbie-Williams-relights-Take-That.html?ito=feeds-newsxml Daily Mail
↑ Allmusic review
↑ http://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/nexis/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T12772348936&format=GNBFI&sort=BOOLEAN&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T12772348940&cisb=22_T12772348939&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=172244&docNo=2 Nexis Lexis, Search Gary Barlow Open Road, 2nd source on list. Rodel Divina, The Vista San Diego
↑ http://danishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Gary+Barlow&titel=Open+Road&cat=a AustralianCharts.com. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
↑ "Discographie Gary Barlow". AustrianCharts.com. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
↑ "Gary Barlow – Open Road". UltraTop.be. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
↑ "Gary Barlow – Open Road". UltraTop.be. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
↑ http://books.google.ca/books?lr=&rview=1&id=AwoEAAAAMBAJ&q=gary+barlow#v=snippet&q=gary%20barlow&f=false Retrieved 17 November 2007.
↑ "Discography Gary Barlow". DutchCharts.nl. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
1 2 http://books.google.ca/books?id=KBAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA51&dq=Gary+Barlow+Malaysia&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RIQeUarxLPL44QTun4HwAQ&ved=0CEAQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Gary%20Barlow%20Malaysia&f=false. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
↑ "Discography Gary Barlow". FinnishCharts.com. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
↑ "Gary Barlow". Charts-Surfer.de. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
↑ "IFPI Greece – Gary Barlow – Open Road". IFPI Greece. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
↑ http://www.mahasz.hu/?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=archivum Hungarian album Archive.
↑ The Irish Charts - All there is to know
↑ http://books.google.ca/books?id=KBAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA50&dq=gary+Barlow+Open+Road+Italy&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UTavUsenM4PAhAes6oHoAw&ved=0CEUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=gary%20Barlow%20Open%20Road%20Italy&f=false. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
↑ http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/68069/ranking/cd_album/ Oricon Archive - Gary Barlow Open Road.
↑ . Retrieved 17 November 2007.
↑ "Discography Gary Barlow". Charts.org.nz. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
↑ "Discography Gary Barlow". NorwegianCharts.com. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
↑ "Discography Gary Barlow". SwedishCharts.com. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
↑ "Discography Gary Barlow". SwissCharts.com. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
↑ IFPI Taiwan - International Top 10 (1997/24) at the Wayback Machine (archived February 24, 1998)
↑ "British album certifications – Gary Barlow – Open Road". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 July 2012. Enter Open Road 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
↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/open-road-mw0000024917/credits Open Road album credits.

Gary Barlow

Studio albums	Open Road Twelve Months, Eleven Days Sing Since I Saw You Last

Singles	"Forever Love" "Love Won't Wait" "So Help Me Girl" "Open Road" "Superhero" "Hang On in There Baby" "Stronger" "For All That You Want" "Lie to Me" "Everybody Hurts" "Shame" "Sing" "Let Me Go" "I Should've Followed You Home" "Face to Face" "Since I Saw You Last"

Concert tours	The Open Road Tour For the Fans Tour GB40 Gary Barlow: In Concert Since I Saw You Last Tour

Other releases	Open Book My Take Gary Barlow: On Her Majesty's Service "Since You Saw Him Last"

Musical theatre	Finding Neverland

Related articles	Take That Take That discography Gary Barlow discography Future Records Songs written by Barlow Recorded songs by Barlow CIN Rocks

Take That

Gary Barlow Howard Donald Mark Owen Jason Orange Robbie Williams

Studio albums	Take That & Party (1992) Everything Changes (1993) Nobody Else (1995) Beautiful World (2006) The Circus (2008) Progress (2010) III (2014)

Other albums	The Greatest Day – Take That Present: The Circus Live Progressed Progress Live

Compilation albums	Take That: Greatest Hits The Best of Take That Forever... Greatest Hits Never Forget – The Ultimate Collection The Platinum Collection

Singles	"Do What U Like" "Promises" "Once You've Tasted Love" "It Only Takes a Minute" "I Found Heaven" "A Million Love Songs" "Could It Be Magic" "Why Can't I Wake Up with You" "Pray" "Relight My Fire" "Babe" "Everything Changes" "Love Ain't Here Anymore" "Sure" "Back for Good" "Never Forget" "How Deep Is Your Love" "Patience" "Shine" "I'd Wait for Life" "Reach Out" "Rule the World" "Greatest Day" "Up All Night" "The Garden" "Said It All" "Hold Up a Light" "The Flood" "Kidz" "Happy Now" "Love Love" "When We Were Young" "These Days" "Let in the Sun" "Hey Boy"

Tours	Party Tour Everything Changes Tour Pops Tour Nobody Else Tour The Ultimate Tour Beautiful World Tour 2007 Take That Present: The Circus Live Progress Live Take That Live 2015

Television	Take That: For the Record Take That's Countdown to Midnight

Related articles	Discography Songs Nigel Martin-Smith John Shanks Stuart Price Never Forget: The Musical SingStar Take That

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, January 08, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.