Three is number 44 in the latest mid-week information, this is better than i imagined as there is a flurry of new releases this week with the top 6 alone full new entries.

 

I could understand why fans were not happy with the influence of Robbie on Progress. Upon the news Robbie was recording a new album with Take That many fans openly said it wasn't something that Take That did not need to do as they were experiencing huge success and were delivering quality albums. A percentage of fans did say the Robbie influence on progress was too strong and maybe that put some people off buying the Three.

 

I would believe that if a person buys an album by an artist and is left disappointed by it they are more weary of buying an album again from the artist or will hold back before they purchase it.

 

All these points aside, we can try and come up with various reasons to justify why the sales have dropped so sharply but in reality we must realise that the interest isnt as good as it once was, Take That have passed their peak and some of the music buying public have moved on from them, combined with negative press it has all played a role in the decreasing figures.

I'm fully aware that this won't have any impact on the charts, but I'm still glad that the public will get to hear the song. HTH is on Radio 2's A list:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/playlist

 

As long as the boys manage to have enough success to allow them to carry on with music, I'm happy. They have nothing to prove anymore.

The explanation for the downturn in sales is indeed a complex one. What I find strange is that people waited 10 years for their return and each album sold in the millions, so why would the public stop buying their music right now?

 

The reasons are multiple: Firstly, the return of Robbie put some people off , although paradoxically Rob is the one who gained from the collaboration ( canny man). Secondly, the Progress album was too far removed from their earlier work and didn't represent the accepted TT sound. In my view the album sold off the back of The Flood which was more representative of TT's previous work and not the Progress album itself. Thirdly, the tax issue undoubtedly hit TT on a massive scale. Prior to this Gary's documentary had come out and the public were universally praising it, and this reflected in TT's album sales shortly after the documentary aired. Fast forward a week or so and TT were in the papers for all the wrong reasons and I don't think they've ever fully recovered from it. Fourthly, their prolonged absence and Jay leaving - although these factors would have had less of an impact if the tax issue hadn't reared its head.

 

Fast forward and although I really like 3 , These Days, whilst a catchy song isn't the quality of their earlier single releases. They need to recapture the earlier sound of BW. Why they veered so far from their initial sound isn't one I fully understand? The next album release is crucial in my view - stop the experimentation with sound and produce songs with strong melodies and harmonies. The quality of the music is key and it would result in increased sales, although I can't see them ever reaching the heights of 2006 - 2011.

Just a small observation:

 

Higher than Higher is currently doing better on Amazon than the singles that have already been released and that are being played on the tour.

HTH is #377 on Amazon - which means whatever little airplay it got has had an impact, people are buying it.

LITS and GRFI are #+10.000 and +20.000

This means that, with a minimum of promo, HTH could prove to be their best single from this era.

 

I think we should try trending HTH on Sunday. That would get at least some people's attention.

And we should try to request radio stations to play HTH at least this week and next week.

Unlike LITS, HTH will have the advantage of the physical sales being added to the downloads, which could help it chart.

 

Edit: HTH is also on Heat's playlist.

Edited June 4, 201510 yr by milly

The explanation for the downturn in sales is indeed a complex one. What I find strange is that people waited 10 years for their return and each album sold in the millions, so why would the public stop buying their music right now?

 

The reasons are multiple: Firstly, the return of Robbie put some people off , although paradoxically Rob is the one who gained from the collaboration ( canny man). Secondly, the Progress album was too far removed from their earlier work and didn't represent the accepted TT sound. In my view the album sold off the back of The Flood which was more representative of TT's previous work and not the Progress album itself. Thirdly, the tax issue undoubtedly hit TT on a massive scale. Prior to this Gary's documentary had come out and the public were universally praising it, and this reflected in TT's album sales shortly after the documentary aired. Fast forward a week or so and TT were in the papers for all the wrong reasons and I don't think they've ever fully recovered from it. Fourthly, their prolonged absence and Jay leaving - although these factors would have had less of an impact if the tax issue hadn't reared its head.

 

Fast forward and although I really like 3 , These Days, whilst a catchy song isn't the quality of their earlier single releases. They need to recapture the earlier sound of BW. Why they veered so far from their initial sound isn't one I fully understand? The next album release is crucial in my view - stop the experimentation with sound and produce songs with strong melodies and harmonies. The quality of the music is key and it would result in increased sales, although I can't see them ever reaching the heights of 2006 - 2011.

 

Overall i agree with your points, that said i would argue your point about These Days, in my own opinion i think it is a quality song and i song i will cherish on the eniitable greatest hits package at some stage.

I also think These days is a great song and rightfully up there with some of their other classic songs.

HTH climbed from 1004 to 377 in just a few hours today.

I wish fans stopped downloading this week and waited till Sunday :(

Agreed,if all downloads were done in the one week it really would help the song chart.

Are people on ATRL serious? HTH the worst song on the album? Sorry, but I have to question some people's tastes in cases like this one.

http://atrl.net/forums/showthread.php?t=796839

 

Well, they also thought LITS would be a no. 1 and we all know how that turned out.

Edited June 4, 201510 yr by milly

To be honest I don't like Higher than Higher very much. I guess it's subjective. I think Into the Wild or Freeze would have been better personally.

I, personally, love Freeze, but I don't see it as single material.

As for Into the Wild, I can't be objective, cause I simply can't warm up to Mark's voice. I like it to a certain degree, but only because it reminds of some other song (I wish I could remember which one).

 

After having heard the remix for HTH, I can hear it getting played in clubs, which means it could appeal to a younger audience. But that's just my opinion.

For me, HTH and Flaws are my favorite songs on the album, but I 've been surprised to notice that some people hate them.

HTH has entered the iTunes top 1500, at #903 with O promotion so far. To me, that's a sign that people who are hearing the song on the radio are liking it.

http://www.lpb5.com/lpb1024.php?Region=143...mp;t=1433478645

 

Leona Lewis's single, that is out also on Sunday, is nowhere near top 1500, after a radio tour this week, just for some comparison.

Edited June 5, 201510 yr by milly

Freeze and HTH should have been on the set list. :-(

Freeze and HTH should have been on the set list. :-(

 

I agree with this.

HTH keeps climbing on iTunes. #688 right now.

 

If it could reach top 200 by Sunday, then a mass download could push it in top 100 and with the physical sales added, we could end up with a decent position.

If only the boys did at least one little promo.

It seems absurd for them to let flop a song that the public obviously enjoys.

Glad to see III still in top 40.

Flaws i think would have made a better single and should have been the follow up to these days but hopefully higher than higher can do something. Really happy that Three is still top 40 as with so many new entries i thought it would have ended up in its mid week position outside the top 40.

Without promotion, nothing will happen with HTH :(

It's not even in top 500 on iTunes yet.

 

Its only chance is that fans going to concerts this week spread the word about the single. Word of mouth is the only thing that could save this single now.

 

Gary is going to be on Chris Evans's show on Friday. It would be nice if he plugged the single, but I doubt it. Even if he did, by Friday it would have been too late.

I can only agree, without promotion Higher than Higher will go nowhere. The boys should know by now that singles need promotion and if if they do not carry out any promotion they can not expect hits. I find it extremely annoying how the singles are handled and its almost like they really don't care how the singles perform anymore outside the lead single, releasing physicals indicates they care to a small degree but if only they would push the boat out some more with singles it would help.

I can only agree, without promotion Higher than Higher will go nowhere. The boys should know by now that singles need promotion and if if they do not carry out any promotion they can not expect hits. I find it extremely annoying how the singles are handled and its almost like they really don't care how the singles perform anymore outside the lead single, releasing physicals indicates they care to a small degree but if only they would push the boat out some more with singles it would help.

 

I agree. I really don't understand why this apathy. Not even an official statement saying "HTH is out". It wouldn't have required so much effort.

And I'm sure they could have afforded an iTunes banner.