I much prefer do what you like to once you've tasted love.

The video itself wasn't widely played but it was rather notorious at the time. "Number One" magazine (a rival to smash hits in the late 80s/ early 90s) did a spread on it (pun intended) with pictures so it was known about in the pop mags of the day which was of course the point of it.

Ooh, Number One magazine was certainly a bit before my time - I Googled and it seems from looking at some other covers that this magazine was very supportive of them in those early days! I remember seeing those pictures before. :kink:

 

 

I rather like their cover of How Deep Is Your Love! Although I didn't pay much attention to music until after Take That had split, I do seem to have a memory of hearing their version back then... maybe at a school disco.

 

I wouldn't say there's any really major losses from your count down yet, Joseph! I also think it's interesting how 'Why Can't I Wake Up With You' did so well for them as the last single from the debut, and kind of served to bridge the gap between their first two albums. I prefer the single mix, the original album mix seemed more nondescript.

Once You've Tasted Love feels like a Pointless answer on the hit gameshow.

 

It doesn't have the notoriety of Do What U Like, the Top 40 chart breakthrough status of Promises or the mania which followed future releases.

 

The song is ok but feels like a song their manager may have liked in his youth as opposed to that of the young group who came more into their own identity after this point.

Edited September 1, 2024Sep 1 by nirvanamusic

Promises is only ok and I'd say both take that and the label were disappointed with ihow it performed after the success of it only takes a minute. Thankfully after promises the real success story was to come and the steps to huge stardom was just around the corner.

Thank you all for your comments so far, great to hear everyone's thoughts :wub:

36 Windows

 

 

I hadn't realised just how big a gap it had been between eras for Take That by the time Windows was released last year. Five years (and a whole pandemic) between Odyssey and This Life feels like a surprisingly big gap, and it's more than six years between studio album, which is their biggest gap other than the obvious one between Nobody Else and Beautiful World! Windows is certainly no Patience-style comeback, though. I like it, I think it generally sets the vibe of This Life quite well, displaying their pivot towards the American-influenced soft rock that inspired the album. That said, it's not one of the strongest songs on the album and it falls out as the lowest of the five singles/promotional tracks from that era. I wouldn't have picked it as the lead single myself, or a single at all probably, but I do appreciate its breezy vibe.

 

I wasn't aware but that is a long gap for a pop act between records. They definitely lost momentum with the general public somewhere within that time.

 

I think Windows is fine as a single, but agree not as a lead.

 

The album is good, not great, and I like the fact they once again have expanded sounds and genres. The group are in a catch 22 situation, they don't want to just produce the same song and sound for their core audience, like Westlife for example.

 

They continue to develop and expand as a group, not just rely on a safe formula. Whether it works or not at least they have tried new avenues.

Edited September 1, 2024Sep 1 by nirvanamusic

Yes that's one thing I really underestimated about Take That - their ability to shake their sound up! I really respect that they always try something new on each album, and I think This Life was a successful experiment, albeit not one of their very best albums for me personally. I have a similar view of it as I do of Wonderland actually - I think it lacks some of the high highs that Beautiful World through to III had, but as a full project it's actually pretty decent.

Windows doesnt do anything for me and pretty much prefer all the songs below it.

Windows didn't do much for me when it was released, and I didn't listen to the album when it was released (I only got around to it about a week ago :lol: ). But I heard Windows a couple of times since and I'm finding more of an appreciation for it. Still, I think there were perhaps better choices to lead with!

35 I Found Heaven

 

 

Reading the Wikipedia page for this song was rather enlightening - I would not have called that Gary (and the whole band apparently) hate the song! :lol: Gary said I Found Heaven "was truly f***ing awful. I still hate it to this day. In fact, we all hate it and absolutely refuse to perform it on stage. It is, by a huge margin, the worst song of Take That's and my career." I... do not think it's anywhere near that bad, though I'd agree with Gary that it's a long way off being Take That's best song regardless. Perhaps it has something to do with being their only non-cover that isn't written by the band? Nevertheless, with both Gary and Robbie on lead vocals, it's nice to hear a bit more balance, and I find the song and instrumental more memorable than some of the singles from Take That & Party. It's fun, if nothing more really.

 

I actually like I Found Heaven a lot! It's a pleasantly uplifting pop song. I consider it to be one of the stronger songs on the debut, so definitely not one of their worst for me! :lol:

 

Admittedly #15 may have seemed like a backwards step to them after being #7 with It Only Takes a Minute, but nevertheless at that stage of their career it was their second best result, so not a disaster. It must have had some appeal given that the album entered at #5 directly off the back of its release!

I Found Heaven as you say remains the only Take That single to remain on the black list. It once had company there until Do What U Like was removed upon the band finally embracing it years later. For me I don't like I Found Heaven, a few of the lyrics make me cringe.

 

A great pub quiz question with many wrong answers. People for the most part incorrectly state Could It Be Magic or Everything Changes as Robbie's first ever lead vocal on a single due to its higher recognition and the fact is wasn't shared.

 

Personally, I would have preferred Give Good Feeling released as a single over this. I can't believe THE classic original song of theirs from the debut still hadn't been released at this point, five singles in, considering their fluctuating chart success.

 

It could have changed their whole singles trajectory and future choices. Take That were going to do things the hard way.

Edited September 2, 2024Sep 2 by nirvanamusic

34 Cry (Sigma feat. Take That)

 

 

I've been listening to the Official Chart Show almost every week since the start of 2013 - shockingly, that means I've only heard three Take That songs played on the chart! :o The middle one of these is an unusual part of Take That's discography - a feature! Between III and Wonderland, the band joined production duo Sigma for Cry, co-penned by both groups. For Sigma, it became their sixth top 40 hit, albeit their lowest peaking of those six when it entered at #21. For Take That, it was a return to the top 40 almost two years after These Days topped the chart. The song is decent enough, I didn't think much of it at the time and while I maintain it's not an essential Take That song, it's a competent track and definitely slots in among Sigma's discography - dare I say it's aged better than one or two of their bigger hits, too?

 

I like Cry, though I couldn't hear it on repeat. It is great live and adds a different energy and style. I think for that reason it is a good single choice and like you say returned them to the Top 40. The song was also certified Silver (200,000) despite its low peak, three years after release, so proved a hit for both parties.

 

Aided by the live exposure given to the track over time. Not many, if any, boybands have a Drum 'n' Bass track in their catalogue.

Edited September 3, 2024Sep 3 by nirvanamusic

if I recall correctly it was actually Ian Levine (producer) that wanted Robbie to sing lead on IFH as he thought Robbie had a better voice which (allegedly) annoyed Gary and started the riff that would grow over the years between the two.

I found heaven is not a song i revisit, i don't hate it but its kinda one of those forgettable songs from them but i didnt know they all hated the song themselves.

Cry i must admit i do forget about but when i listen to it i enjoy it and its very different for them but it ,musnt have truly resonated with them as they never really followed that sound after and for me i would prefer that direction to the one they took with the this life album.

33 Sure

 

 

Nobody Else features two stone cold classic Take That singles, but interestingly, its lead single isn't really one of them. The lead single from the band's third (and final for over a decade) album was a smooth midtempo, led by Gary, and, as was expected from the group at the time, it debuted at #1, spending two weeks at #1. Despite a strong start, it only spent five total weeks top 40, which I'd say feels like a fair indicator of its quality - it doesn't hold up against the two singles that followed and it's not really a standout track in their discography, but it does what it does pretty well and I can totally see its appeal. Its CD1 artwork is truly terrible though and possibly one of the worst pop group artworks I've ever seen x

 

 

I like Sure and feel it is a good single option, though not as a lead. It sounds very American New Jack Swing and East 17 inspired, trend of the year 1994 as opposed to being original or classically constructed (timeless). This also marked the (brief) change in their image: shaved head, dreadlocks, eyebrow piercing, beards, Mark nose ring, jet black single artwork and dingy lighting etc. Again perhaps copying East 17 for a stronger, broader image.

 

Nobody Else had loads of great single options in my opinion: The Day After Tomorrow, Sunday to Saturday --Japan only release, #9 peak--, Nobody Else, Holding Back the Tears. With the exception of the TV show 'Derry Girls' which loves to play a snippet of the track -the pause after the piano intro when the song comes back in and lyrics begin ''sure, so sure'', it is largely forgotten.

 

I agree the two classics which followed this doesn't help Sure's cause and identity.

 

Interesting note about the graphics, I read Tom Watkins (East 17 manager) comment in an interview about how Nigel Martin Smith (Take That manager) was clueless about artwork in contrast to himself and East 17. I have to agree he was right, they had better artwork.

 

The long music video isn't a hit with me either and makes me want to skip the track altogether. I suppose Robbie coming back from the shops is mildly funny but what was the purpose? Did music video stations at the time play it in full? I have only ever seen the video start on music channels when the group first sing and are dancing in the string vests. Basically the part Derry Girls loves.

Edited September 3, 2024Sep 3 by nirvanamusic

Was never really a fan of Sure and i never play it now, its crazy to think that the album that had back for good and never forget on it ended up having sure as the lead single although id say the logic behind their thinking was it had to be a lead or not a single at all as im not sure how sure would have performed as a 3rd single if it followed back for good and never forget. Nobody else was a strange enough era as back for good was such a huge hit and never forget was also big at the time ( although i did think it had sold more in its original run than it did) but the album sold way less than the previous 2. I know it had far less singles than the others but as big as back for good was it didnt seem to benefit the album as much as it should have.

Nobody else isnt one of my fave albums from them at all, i never really go back to the album tracks, never forget i adore but in general i find the album on the disappointing side.