14 DAY TRIAL // Fans were ecstatic when official confirmation finally came that, after long years of feuding and working on solo careers, Take That was reuniting – and that Robbie Williams was back in the picture as well. Sales figure confirm just how ecstatic they were.
“Progress” is the first Take That album since coming together and initial numbers seem to suggest that it will be an even bigger hit than expected.
Figures released by the Official Charts Company and cited by the Daily Mail show that it’s the biggest opener in 13 years, which would mean that earlier estimates about ruling the charts over Christmas will most likely come true.
And it’s all thanks to Robbie Williams, the Mail says. Though his latest solo album failed to catch on with the public, though it was praised by critics, it seems fans love him best when he’s with the other guys in Take That.
“Progress, the band’s new album, has sold almost 520,000 copies – more than the rest of the album charts top ten put together, according to the Official Charts Company,” the Mail writes.
“The last album to exceed sales of 500,000 copies was Oasis’s Be Here Now, which sold 663,000 in its first chart week in 1997,” the same report notes.
Such an incredible performance upon release of the album also confirms that fans love Take That more as a 5- than as a 4-piece.
“Since their reunion as a four-piece four years ago, Take That have firmly established themselves as the UK’s favourite band,” Martin Talbot, managing director of the Official Charts Company, says for the Mail.
With Robbie also on board, they are practically unstoppable.
“Following the return of Robbie Williams to their ranks, that record has been further cemented – and they are now well on course to rule Christmas 2010, just as they dominated Christmas 2006 and 2008,” Mr. Talbot further notes.