This Life (Take That album)

Last updated

This Life
This Life (Take That album) cover.jpg
Studio album by
Released24 November 2023
Studio
Genre Pop rock
Length46:27
Label EMI
Producer
Take That chronology
Odyssey: Greatest Hits Live
(2019)
This Life
(2023)
Singles from This Life
  1. "Windows"
    Released: 22 September 2023
  2. "Brand New Sun"
    Released: 17 October 2023
  3. "This Life"
    Released: 3 November 2023

This Life is the ninth studio album by English pop band Take That, released on 24 November 2023 as their label debut on EMI. It marks their first studio album in six years since 2017's Wonderland . [1]

Contents

The album debuted atop the UK Albums Chart and earned the biggest first-week sales for a British act in 2023. [2]

Background

This Life was announced on 22 September 2023, along with the release of its lead single "Windows" and an announcement of an ensuing tour. The announcement was made on The Radio 2 Breakfast Show with the debut of "Windows". Gary Barlow said of the album, "We made most of the album in Savannah in Georgia, so it had that [American] South sort of influence to it, and it's strange how an environment actually comes out in the music as well." [3] Other portions of the album were recorded in Nashville and New York City. [4]

An accompanying UK tour, called This Life on Tour, was announced on 22 September, with tickets going on sale on 29 September. English singer Olly Murs is the supporting act. [1] The single "You and Me" was released on 28 March 2024 in promotion of the tour. [5]

Singles

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and earned the biggest first-week sales for a British act in 2023, with 116,000 chart sales, 97% of which were on physical formats. [6] This Life sold the highest number of physical CD's in 2023, having sold more than 100,000 units. [7]

Deluxe edition

On 26 April 2024, a deluxe edition of This Life was announced, containing five studio tracks and five live tracks. The edition was released on 24 May 2024. The first single from the edition, "You and Me", had been released prior on 28 March 2024. Alongside the announcement, the single "All Wrapped Up", also from the deluxe edition, was released. "Serenity", while originally a HMV exclusive, is also included on the deluxe edition. [8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald; additional songwriters are noted below.

This Life track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Keep Your Head Up" (lead vocals: Barlow) Ryan Carline3:14
2."Windows" (lead vocals: Barlow) 
3:58
3."This Life" (lead vocals: Barlow)
  • Barlow
  • Platts
3:48
4."Brand New Sun" (lead vocals: Owen)
Jennifer Decilveo 4:28
5."March of the Hopeful" (lead vocals: Donald)
  • Norton
  • Mark
  • Cobb
  • Carline [a]
3:49
6."Days I Hate Myself" (lead vocals: Barlow) 
  • Cobb
  • Carline [a]
4:01
7."The Champion" (lead vocals: Owen)
  • Norton
  • Mark
Decilveo3:37
8."We Got All Day" (lead vocals: Barlow) Carline3:05
9."Mind Full of Madness" (lead vocals: Barlow) 
  • Cobb
  • Carline [a]
4:04
10."Time and Time Again" (lead vocals: Owen)
  • Norton
  • Mark
Decilveo4:03
11."One More Word" (lead vocals: Donald)
  • Norton
  • Mark
  • Cobb
  • Carline [a]
3:50
12."Where We Are" (lead vocals: Barlow)
  • Tim Woodcock
  • Cobb
  • Carline [a]
4:30
Total length:46:27
HMV bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Serenity" (lead vocals: Barlow)WoodcockCarline3:50
Total length:50:17
Deluxe edition second disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."You and Me" (lead vocals: Barlow)  Stuart Price 3:31
2."All Wrapped Up" (lead vocals: Owen)
  • Norton
  • Mark
Carline4:00
3."The Man I Am" (lead vocals: Donald)
  • Norton
  • Mark
Cobb3:03
4."Serenity" (lead vocals: Barlow)WoodcockCarline3:50
5."You and Me" (Acoustic) Carline3:34
6."This Life" (BBC Live Version)
  • Lee
  • Platts
Dan Roberts3:40
7."Brand New Sun" (BBC Live Version)
  • Norton
  • Mark
Roberts4:39
8."Windows" (BBC Live Version) Roberts4:09
9."Patience" (Live at KOKO)Carline3:37
10."Shine" (Live at KOKO)
Carline3:48
Total length:37:51

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes. [9]

Take That

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for This Life
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [22] Gold100,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. The Northern Film Orchestra consists of string arranger Dan Keen; cellists Jacob Barns, James Heathcote, and Rachel Newbold; violists Nadia Eskandari, Paula Bowes, and Tom Rowan-Young; and violinists Dylan Edge, Elena Orsi, Jody Smith, Kath Ord, Mabon Jones, Matthew Chadbond, Rebecca Howell, and Shuwei Zuo.

Related Research Articles

<i>Never Gone</i> 2005 studio album by Backstreet Boys

Never Gone is the fifth studio album released by American vocal group Backstreet Boys as the follow-up to their fourth studio album Black & Blue (2000), after a short hiatus. Never Gone was originally due for release in 2004, but the release date for the album was pushed to June 14, 2005, for unknown reasons.

<i>Trustfall</i> 2023 studio album by Pink

Trustfall is the ninth studio album by American singer Pink. It was released on February 17, 2023, through RCA Records. Her first studio album since Hurts 2B Human (2019), Pink worked on the production and lyrics with Fred Again, David Hodges, Max Martin, Johnny McDaid, and Shellback, and others. The Lumineers, Chris Stapleton and First Aid Kit feature as guest vocalists. Sonically, Trustfall is a dance-pop record, with inclusion of various subgenres, such as pop rock and folk. Lyrically, it speaks of various subjects, including motivation, self-acceptance, loss and love.

<i>Elysium</i> (Stratovarius album) 2011 studio album by Stratovarius

Elysium is the thirteenth studio album by power metal band Stratovarius, released on 12 January 2011 through Victor Entertainment (Japan) and on 14 January through Edel AG (worldwide). It is the last Stratovarius album to feature longtime drummer Jörg Michael, who left the band in 2012. Elysium reached No. 1 on the Finnish albums chart, as well as reaching the top 80 in five other countries. "Darkest Hours" was released as a single, reaching No. 4 on the Finnish singles chart.

<i>Sheezus</i> 2014 studio album by Lily Allen

Sheezus is the third studio album by English singer Lily Allen, released on 2 May 2014 by Parlophone. The album was Allen's first work after a five year hiatus since the release of her second studio album, It's Not Me, It's You (2009). Sheezus features production from longtime collaborator Greg Kurstin, along with the likes of Shellback, DJ Dahi and Fraser T. Smith. Upon release, Sheezus received generally mixed reviews from music critics. The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, becoming Allen's second consecutive number-one album.

<i>III</i> (Take That album) 2014 studio album by Take That

III is the seventh studio album by English pop band Take That. It is their first studio album since 2010's Progress and the first to feature the band as a trio, following the departures of Jason Orange and Robbie Williams. The album was released on 28 November 2014. According to Gary Barlow, the album's sound is an "amalgamation of the past eight years" of Take That material.

<i>Delirium</i> (Ellie Goulding album) 2015 studio album by Ellie Goulding

Delirium is the third studio album by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding, released on 6 November 2015 by Polydor Records. Music critics were generally impressed by the overall production of the record, although they were ambivalent in regards to its originality. It debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200, earning Goulding her highest-charting record in the latter country and her highest first-week sales figures in both territories. The album spawned three singles: "On My Mind", "Army" and "Something in the Way You Move".

<i>Wake Up</i> (The Vamps album) 2015 studio album by the Vamps

Wake Up is the second studio album by British pop band the Vamps. It was released on 27 November 2015. It debuted and peaked at number 10 on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified Gold.

<i>Wonderland</i> (Take That album) 2017 studio album by Take That

Wonderland is the eighth studio album by English band Take That. It was released on 24 March 2017 through Polydor Records.

<i>Truth Is a Beautiful Thing</i> 2017 studio album by London Grammar

Truth Is a Beautiful Thing is the second studio album by English indie pop band London Grammar. It was released on 9 June 2017 by the trio's imprint Metal & Dust and Ministry of Sound.

<i>Everyday Is Christmas</i> (album) 2017 studio album / Christmas album by Sia

Everyday Is Christmas is the eighth studio album and first Christmas album by Australian singer-songwriter Sia, released on 17 November 2017 by Atlantic Records and Monkey Puzzle. Her first album with Atlantic, it features original Christmas songs. Initially released with ten tracks in 2017, the album has since been reissued in 2018, 2021, and 2022 with new bonus tracks each time. The lead single, "Santa's Coming for Us", was released on 30 October 2017, and "Snowman" was released as the second on 9 November.

<i>Only Human</i> (Calum Scott album) 2018 studio album by Calum Scott

Only Human is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter Calum Scott, released on 9 March 2018 through Capitol Records. The album was re-released in November 2018 as the "special edition" featuring four additional tracks.

<i>All Love Everything</i> 2020 studio album by Aloe Blacc

All Love Everything is the fifth studio album by American musician Aloe Blacc. The album was released on October 2, 2020, through BMG. The album includes the singles "I Do", "My Way", and "Hold On Tight".

<i>Jordi</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Maroon 5

Jordi is the seventh studio album by American band Maroon 5. It was released on June 11, 2021, through 222, Interscope and Polydor Records. The album features guest appearances from Megan Thee Stallion, Blackbear, Stevie Nicks, Bantu, H.E.R., YG, and late rappers Juice Wrld and Nipsey Hussle. The deluxe edition of the album features additional guest appearances from Anuel AA, Tainy, and Jason Derulo.

<i>−</i> (album) 2023 studio album by Ed Sheeran

("Subtract") is the sixth studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 5 May 2023 through Asylum and Atlantic Records. A mostly acoustic album, production was handled by Aaron Dessner on every track, alongside Fred Again, Max Martin and Shellback, who all joined him to help produce lead single "Eyes Closed"; while "Boat" and "Life Goes On" served as the respective second and third singles of the album. It was also released as a visual album, with videos for twelve of the album's fourteen tracks premiering on the album's release date. The album serves as the follow-up to Sheeran's previous album, = (2021), and is his final mathematical-themed album.

<i>Yungblud</i> (album) 2022 studio album by Yungblud

Yungblud is the third studio album by English musician Yungblud, released on 2 September 2022 by Locomotion and Geffen Records. The lead single for the album, "The Funeral", was released on 11 March 2022, followed by the second single, "Memories" with Willow, on 6 May 2022. Yungblud was announced on 17 May 2022, via an online livestream in which Yungblud received a ribcage tattoo.

<i>Cracker Island</i> 2023 studio album by Gorillaz

Cracker Island is the eighth studio album by the British virtual band Gorillaz. It was released on 24 February 2023 via Parlophone and Warner Records. It features collaborations with Stevie Nicks, Adeleye Omotayo, Thundercat, Tame Impala, Bad Bunny, Bootie Brown and Beck. A deluxe edition was released with additional tracks featuring De La Soul, MC Bin Laden, Del the Funky Homosapien and Dawn Penn.

<i>Revolver: Special Edition</i> 2022 compilation album by the Beatles

Revolver: Special Edition is an expanded reissue of the 1966 album Revolver by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 28 October 2022, and includes a new stereo remix of the album by Giles Martin, with the help of de-mixing technology developed by Peter Jackson's WingNut Films, as well as the original mono mix, session recordings, demos, and an EP including new mixes of the non-album single "Paperback Writer" and its B-side, "Rain", recorded during the Revolver sessions.

<i>Higher Than Heaven</i> 2023 studio album by Ellie Goulding

Higher Than Heaven is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding, released on 7 April 2023 by Polydor Records. It is her first album in three years, since Brightest Blue (2020).

<i>The First Time</i> (The Kid Laroi album) 2023 studio album by the Kid Laroi

The First Time is the debut studio album by Australian rapper and singer the Kid Laroi. It was released on 10 November 2023 through Columbia, with the deluxe edition being released on 9 August 2024. The album contains guest appearances from Jungkook, Central Cee, Future, BabyDrill, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Robert Glasper, and D4vd. The deluxe edition adds an additional guest appearance from Lil Yachty. Production was handled by FnZ, Parisi, Omer Fedi, Blake Slatkin, Bnyx, F1lthy, Emile Haynie, Clams Casino, Michael Uzowuru, Shellback, Cirkut, Louis Bell, and Mk.gee, among others.

<i>Found Heaven</i> 2024 studio album by Conan Gray

Found Heaven is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Conan Gray, released by Republic Records on April 5, 2024. The album was preceded by the singles "Never Ending Song", "Winner", "Killing Me", "Lonely Dancers", and "Alley Rose". To support Found Heaven, Gray will embark on his fifth headlining concert tour, Found Heaven On Tour in July 2024.

References

  1. 1 2 "This Life on Tour – Take That". takethat.com. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  2. "Take That's This Life already claims biggest first-week sales for British act in 2023". Official Charts Company . 27 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  3. "The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show - It's Friends Round Friday... with Take That! – BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  4. "Take That announce new album and tour as they share comeback single Windows". Official Charts Company . 22 September 2023.
  5. Roszko, Charlotte (28 March 2024). "Take That's new single 'You And Me' is out now". Magic Radio. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  6. Smith, Carl (1 December 2023). "Take That's This Life secures biggest opening week for British act in 2023 as it hits Number 1". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  7. "Vinyl sales increase again with growth accelerating in 2023". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  8. Gotto, Connor (26 April 2024). "Take That announce new album, release single All Wrapped Up". RETROPOP. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  9. This Life (liner notes). Take That. EMI. 2023.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. "Austriancharts.at – Take That – This Life" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  11. "Ultratop.be – Take That – This Life" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  12. "Ultratop.be – Take That – This Life" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  13. "Dutchcharts.nl – Take That – This Life" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  14. "Offiziellecharts.de – Take That – This Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  15. "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  16. "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 48 (dal 24.11.2023 al 30.11.2023)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  17. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  18. "Top 100 Albums Weekly". El portal de Música. Promusicae . Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  19. "Swisscharts.com – Take That – This Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  20. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  21. "End of Year Albums Chart – 2023". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  22. "British album certifications – Take That – This Life". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 1 December 2023.