Take That - III [CD]

Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen announced today that the seventh Take That studio album would be called 'III'. The band also unveiled the album artwork, track listing and are due to have their first single ‘These Days'played on radios across the nation tomorrow morning for the first time. ‘III’ marks another poignant moment in the band's legacy as a newly created three-piece and will be released through Polydor Records on December 1st. The single ‘These Days’ will be released on November 23rd. This is the first time Take That have written and recorded as a three and with that new dynamic has come a new sound; this time around choosing an eclectic mix of producers to work on the album:Greg Kurstin (Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence, Lykke Li - I Never Learn, Katy Perry - Prism), John Shanks (Take That- Beautiful World, The Circus), Stuart Price (Take That - Progress, Madonna - Confessions on a Dance Floor, The Killers - Day & Age) and Jeff Lynne(ELO, Paul McCartney - Flaming Pie, Regina Spektor - Far, Tom Petty - Into The Great Wide Open, Travelling Wilburys - Travelling Wilburys Vol.1). The guys started writing tracks for this album at the beginning of the year with the blessing of Jason Orange who announced in a statement on Wednesday September 24th that after more than twenty years he was leaving the band. He went on to say that they had his 'full support and encouragement to continue on with what is to be another chapter for the band'. 'III' is scheduled to be completed at the end of next week, with the majority of the recording being done at the band’s own studios and Abbey Road Studios. The first single ‘These Days’ was produced by Greg Kurstin and features all three members of the band on vocal duty. It’s a nod to the sound that defined their early years, an out-and-out feel good pop smash that isn’t like anything they’ve produced since the 2006 reunion. From the 70s-esque electric guitar riff to a chorus you’ll be singing before the song ends you could be forgiven for thinking it’s still the height of summer; but this song shows just one element from the new album, which incorporates a mix of styles and sounds influenced by their last three LPs. The last time Take That released an album was in 2010, when they were a five piece: Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Their album Progress became the fastest selling album of the century and the second fastest selling album of all time - shifting more than 235,000 copies in just one day. They also sold out eight Wembley Stadiums in 2011 on The Progress Tour (the most ever played in a row since it was built and re-built) and played to almost two and a half million people that year. Take That have had eight Number One albums, 15 Number One singles, sold over 30 million albums, won six Ivor Novellos, eight BRITs and sold over seven million concert tickets in their lifetime.