- Open Road (Gary Barlow album)
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Open Road Studio album by Gary Barlow Released 26 May 1997 (Europe)
13 January 1998 (America)Recorded 1996—1997 Genre Pop Length 50:54 Label BMG, RCA, Arista Producer 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: July 5, 1996 - "Love Won't Wait"
Released: April 25, 1997 - "So Help Me Girl"
Released: July 11, 1997 - "Open Road"
Released: October 31, 1997 - "Hang on in There Baby"
Released: April 3, 1998
Singles from Open Road (American Version) - "So Help Me Girl"
Released: September 30, 1997 - "Superhero"
Released: February 17, 1998
Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating Allmusic [1]
Open Road is the solo debut album by British pop singer Gary Barlow. It was released by BMG and RCA Records on 26 May 1997 in Europe, and on January 13, 1998 in America.
Contents
Album information
Following the break-up of Take That, Barlow went straight into the recording studio and began recording a solo album. On July 5, 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 #1.[2] On May 26, 1997, the album was subsequently released, peaking at #1 on the UK Albums Chart on the week of release.[2] The album was certified platinum.[3] 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.[2] The album has sold over 2 million copies worldwide to date.[4]
International success
Following the success of the album in the United Kingdom, 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 September 30, 1997. The album was subsequently released on January 13, 1998, and on February 17, 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
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
- "Love Won't Wait" (Madonna, Shep Pettibone) – 4:17
- "So Help Me Girl" (Howard Perdew, Andy Spooner) – 4:29
- "My Commitment" (Gary Barlow, Diane Warren) – 4:48
- "Hang On in There, Baby" (Johnny Bristol) – 3:39
- "Are You Ready Now" (Gary Barlow) – 4:19
- "Everything I Wanted" (Gary Barlow) – 3:32
- "I Fall So Deep" (Larry Loftin, Mattias Gustafsson, Amy Powers) – 4:02
- "Lay Down For Love" (Gary Barlow, Richard Stannard, Matt Rowbottom) – 5:33
- "Forever Love" (Gary Barlow) – 4:55
- "Never Knew" (Gary Barlow) – 3:50
- "Open Road" (Gary Barlow) – 4:23
- "Always" (Gary Barlow) – 3:32
- Japanese Bonus Tracks
- 13. "The Meaning of Love Song" (Gary Barlow) – 3:37
- 14. "Cuddly Toy" (Andrew Roachford) – 3:42
- Spanish Bonus Track
- 13. "Ayudame" (Howard Perdew, Andy Spooner, Nani Mano) – 4:26
- Deluxe Edition Bonus CD-Rom
- "Forever Love" [Video] (Gary Barlow) – 4:55
- "Love Won't Wait" [Video] (Madonna, Shep Pettibone) – 4:17
- "So Help Me Girl" [Video] (Howard Perdew, Andy Spooner) – 4:29
- American Issue[6]
- "I Fall So Deep" (Larry Loftin, Mattias Gustafsson, Amy Powers) – 4:02
- "Open Road" (Rose & Foster Mix) (Gary Barlow) – 4:24
- "Superhero" (Gary Barlow, Max Martin, Joylon Skinner, Kristian Lundin) – 3:35
- "My Commitment" (Gary Barlow, Diane Warren) – 4:48
- "Love Won't Wait" (Junior Vasquez Radio Mix) (Madonna, Shep Pettibone) – 4:21
- "So Help Me Girl" (US Edit) (Howard Perdew, Andy Spooner) – 4:38
- "Everything I Wanted" (Gary Barlow) – 3:32
- "Hang On In There, Baby" (Duet With Rosie Gaines) (Johnny Bristol) – 3:39
- "Lay Down For Love" (Gary Barlow, Richie Stannard, Matt Rowbottom) – 5:33
- "Never Knew" (Gary Barlow) – 3:50
- "Forever Love" (Gary Barlow) – 4:55
- "Back For Good" [Live] (Gary Barlow) – 4:03
Charts
Chart (1997) Peak
PositionAustralian Albums Chart (ARIA)[7] 30 Austrian Albums Chart (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[8] 13 Belgian (Ultratop 40 Vlaanderen) Albums Chart[9] 7 Belgian (Ultratop 40 Wallonie) Albums Chart[10] 20 Dutch Albums Chart (Top 100)[11] 13 Finnish Albums Chart (SNEP)[12] 29 German Albums Chart (Media Control AG)[13] 10 Hungarian Albums Chart (Rádiós Top 40)[14] 33 Irish Albums Chart (IRMA)[15] 1 New Zealand Albums Chart (RIANZ)[16] 43 Norwegian Albums Chart (VG-lista)[17] 34 Swedish Albums Chart (Sverigetopplistan)[18] 25 Swiss Albums Chart (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 6 United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company)[2] 1 Preceded by
Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix
by Michael JacksonUK number one album
7 June 1997 – 13 June 1997Succeeded by
Wu-Tang Forever by Wu-Tang ClanReferences
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ a b c d "UK Chart Archive". everyHit.com. Retrieved November 16, 2007.
- ^ Open Road British Sales Certificate. British Phonographic Industry. December 12, 1997. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
- ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1328974/Robbie-Williams-relights-Take-That.html?ito=feeds-newsxml Daily Mail
- ^ 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
- ^ Amazon.com: Open Road: Gary Barlow: Music
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Discography Gary Barlow". DutchCharts.nl. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
- ^ "Discography Gary Barlow". FinnishCharts.com. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
- ^ "Gary Barlow". Charts-Surfer.de. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
- ^ http://www.mahasz.hu/?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=archivum Hungarian album Archive.
- ^ The Irish Charts - All there is to know
- ^ "Discography Gary Barlow". Charts.org.nz. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
- ^ "Discography Gary Barlow". NorwegianCharts.com. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
- ^ "Discography Gary Barlow". SwedishCharts.com. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
- ^ "Discography Gary Barlow". SwissCharts.com. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
Studio albums Open Road · Twelve Months, Eleven DaysSingles "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" · "Shame"Featured Singles Concert Tours The Open Road Tour · For the Fans Tour · GB40Other Releases Related articles Gary Barlow · Howard Donald · Jason Orange · Mark Owen · Robbie Williams Studio albums Other albums The Greatest Day · Progressed · Progress LiveCompilation albums Take That: Greatest Hits · The Best of Take That · Forever... Greatest Hits · Never Forget – The Ultimate Collection · The Platinum CollectionSingles "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"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 LiveTelevision Take That: For the Record · An Audience With Take That: Live · Take That's Countdown To Midnight · Take That Come To Town · Look Back, Don't StareSee also Discography · Nigel Martin-Smith · John Shanks · Stuart Price · Never Forget (musical) · SingStar Take ThatCategories:- 1997 albums
- Gary Barlow albums
- Albums produced by Stephen Lipson
- Albums produced by David Foster
- Albums produced by Max Martin
- "Forever Love"
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