Intensive Care (album)

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Intensive Care
File:Robbie intensivecare.jpg
Studio album by Robbie Williams
Released 24 October 2005
Recorded June 2003–May 2005 in Los Angeles
Genre
Length 53:02
Label Chrysalis / EMI
Producer
Robbie Williams chronology
Escapology
(2002)Escapology2002		 Intensive Care
(2005)		 Rudebox
(2006)Rudebox2006
Singles from Intensive Care
  1. "Tripping"
    Released: 3 October 2005
  2. "Make Me Pure"
    Released: 14 November 2005
  3. "Advertising Space"
    Released: 12 December 2005
  4. "Sin Sin Sin"
    Released: 22 May 2006
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 2.5/5 stars[1]
BBC Music (positive)[2]
Entertainment.ie 3/5 stars[3]
The Guardian 4/5 stars[4]
MusicOMH (positive)[5]
PopMatters (7/10)[6]
Yahoo! Music UK 6/10 stars[7]

Intensive Care is the sixth studio album by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, released on 24 October 2005 in the United Kingdom.

Background

After touring Latin America in late 2004 for the promotion of his Greatest Hits album, Williams started working on what would become his sixth studio album. Recorded in his bedroom in the Hollywood Hills, the album was co-written by Stephen Duffy over the course of 24 months.[8] The album was launched in Berlin, Germany on 9 October 2005. It was not shown on television, but broadcast to various locations around the world in cinemas and theatres, in a high-definition "cine-cast". It was shown on Saturday 22 October 2005 on Channel 4.[9]

The album's artwork was designed by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, in response to Williams' request that they "turn [Williams] into a superhero" for the tour.[10] The "talismanic images" and "witchy hieroglyphs" include a "sigil" that, in Morrison's words, "can be activated by finding the CD in the shops or pulling the cover up on-screen and pressing Rob's finger. If enough of us do this the world will most certainly enter a new Golden Age of peace, creativity, and prosperity!"[10]

Success

When Intensive Care was released in October 2005, it became a smash hit around the world, hitting number-one in the United Kingdom, selling 373,832 copies in its first week,[11] as well as topping charts in twenty other counties including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, New Zealand and many other countries. Following the success of the album, Williams won the MTV Europe Music Award for 'Best Male', and also entered The Guinness Book of World Records for selling 1.6 million tickets in a single day for his 2006 world tour.[12] The album became the best selling album in Europe by the end of 2005, with sales of over four million copies.[13] However, it only managed to become the third best selling album in the United Kingdom that year.

Williams kicked off his Close Encounters World Tour in South Africa in April 2006 in promotion of the album. More than 2.5 million attended the early stages of the tour, with nearly three million having been reported to have seen one or more shows.[14] In January 2007, it was revealed Intensive Care had sold over 5 million copies in Europe, and as such, was certified 5× Platinum by the IFPI.[15] It was also certified 5× Platinum in the United Kingdom around the same time.[16] In Mexico, the album was certified platinum shortly after its release, for shipping 150,000 copies of the physical album, and in December 2008 the album was certified 2× diamond for pre-loaded digital sales of 1,000,000 copies.[17] By shipping 1,100,000 copies and reaching 11× gold,[18] Intensive Care became the eighth best-selling album of the decade in Germany.[citation needed] It also became Williams' fifth album to reach a position in the top twenty of the best-selling album of the decade, with Swing When You're Winning, Escapology, Live at Knebworth and Greatest Hits also earning places. According to EMI, the album has sold 6.2 million copies worldwide.[19]

Singles

  • "Tripping" was released as the album's lead single on 3 October 2005, becoming an international success, topping the charts in Germany, The Netherlands, Taiwan, Argentina and Mexico. In the United Kingdom, it was released as a double A-side with "Make Me Pure", however, "Make Me Pure" was also released separately in Australia, New Zealand and Mexico.
  • "Advertising Space" was released as the album's second single in December 2005, becoming another international hit, reaching the top ten in Europe, Australasia and Latin America.
  • "Sin Sin Sin" was released as the album's third and final single in the summer of 2006. It was the first song Williams and Stephen Duffy co-wrote together.[20] The video was shot in Cape Town, South Africa just days before the start of Williams' tour there. It became Williams' first single to miss the UK Top 20, charting at number twenty-two, however, it performed much better internationally, hitting the top ten in Europe and Latin America.

Track listing

Intensive Care – Standard edition
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Ghosts"   Robbie Williams • Stephen Duffy 3:42
2. "Tripping"   Williams • Duffy 4:36
3. "Make Me Pure"   Williams • Duffy • Chris Heath 4:33
4. "Spread Your Wings"   Williams • Duffy 3:50
5. "Advertising Space"   Williams • Duffy 4:37
6. "Please Don't Die"   Williams • Duffy 4:47
7. "Your Gay Friend"   Williams • Duffy 3:21
8. "Sin Sin Sin"   Williams • Duffy • Heath 4:09
9. "Random Acts of Kindness"   Williams • Duffy 4:15
10. "The Trouble with Me"   Williams • Duffy 4:20
11. "A Place to Crash"   Williams • Duffy 4:34
12. "King of Bloke and Bird"   Williams • Duffy 6:13

Musicians

  • Robbie Williams: Lead vocals, backing vocals, guitar, bass guitar, Epiphone Casino, synthesizer
  • Stephen Duffy: Guitar, keyboards, Nord Lead, wine glass, sitar, harp, sequencers, shakers, dilruba, harmonica
  • Claire Worrall: Backing vocals, (track 11) piano, mellotron, Hammond B3, helicopter
  • Melvin Duffy: Pedal steel guitar (track 11)
  • Neil Taylor: Guitar (track 11)
  • Greg Leiz: Guitar
  • Justin Duarte: Acoustic guitar
  • Jerry Meehan: Bass guitar, fender precision (track 11)
  • Matt Chamberlain: drums, percussion (track 11)
  • Kate Kissoon: Backing vocals
  • Tessa Niles: Backing vocals
  • Jeff Babko: Trombone (track 11)
  • Cleto Escobedo: Baritone saxophone (track 11)
  • Waddy Wachtel: Guitar (track 11)
  • Jebin Bruni: Synthesizer
  • Davey Farragher: Bass guitar, Fender Precision
  • John Paterno: Guitar
  • Buddy Judge: Guitar
  • Max Beesley: Percussion, vibes
  • Gary Nuttall: Backing vocals (track 11)
  • Carlton E. Anderson: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
  • Maxi Anderson: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
  • Randy Crenshaw: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
  • Judith Hill: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
  • Julia Tillman: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
  • Carmen Twillie: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
  • Oren Waters: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
  • Maxine Waters Willard: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
  • Will Wheaton Jnr: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
  • Terry Wood: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
  • Charlie Bisharat: Violins (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12)
  • Mario De Leon: Violins (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8)
  • Armen Garabedian: Violins (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 and 12)
  • Berj Garabedian: Violins (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8)
  • Alan Grunfeld: Violins (tracks 1, 3 and 5)
  • Sara Pakins: Violins (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12)
  • Michelle Richards: Violins (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12)
  • Sarah thornblade: Violins (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8)
  • Josefina Vergara: Violins (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12)
  • John Wittenburg: Violins (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12)
  • Denyse Buffum Violas (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12)
  • Matt Funes: Cello
  • Roland Kato: Cello
  • Evan Wilson: Cello
  • Larry Corbett: Cello
  • Suzie Katayama: Cello
  • Dan Smith: Cello

Credits

  • Album produced by Stephen Duffy and Robbie Williams
  • Original production by Andy Strange
  • Mixed by Bob Clearmountain at Mix This
  • Engineered by John Paterno, Andy Strange, Stephen Duffy Pablo Munguia, Tony Phillips, Adam Noble and Dan Porter
  • Strings arranged and conducted by David Campbell
  • Strings engineered by Alan Sides at NRG
  • Mastering by Tony Cousins at Metropolis Studios, London
  • A&R: Chris Briggs
  • Photography: Hamish Brown
  • Design and artwork: Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely
  • Art co-ordination by Tom Hingston Studio

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Argentina (CAPIF)[37] Platinum 40,000
Australia (ARIA)[38] Platinum 70,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[39] 3× Platinum  
Belgium (BEA)[40] 2× Platinum 100,000
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[41] 2× Platinum 80,000
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[42] Platinum 62,524[42]
France (SNEP)[43] 2× Platinum 400,000
Germany (BVMI)[18] 11× Gold 1,100,000
Hungary (MAHASZ)[44] Platinum  
Ireland (IRMA)[45] 5× Platinum 75,000
Italy (FIMI)[46] Platinum 80,000
Mexico (AMPROFON)[17] 2× Diamond 1,000,000
Netherlands (NVPI)[47] 2× Platinum 160,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[48] Platinum 15,000
Portugal (AFP)[49] Platinum 20,000
Russia (NFPF)[50] Gold  
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[51] Platinum 100,000
Sweden (GLF)[52] Platinum 60,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[53] 3× Platinum 120,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[16] 5× Platinum 1,500,000
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[15] 5× Platinum 5,000,000
Worldwide 6,200,000[19]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Entertainment.ie review at the Wayback Machine (archived 13 January 2009)
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Music OHM review
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Supergods, by Grant Morrison; published 2011 by Spiegel & Grau; page 395-96 (chapter 26)
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "EuropeRobbie_WilliamsIntensive_CarealbumCertRef" defined multiple times with different content
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Intensive Care in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Search Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "United_KingdomRobbie_WilliamsIntensive_CarealbumCertRef" defined multiple times with different content
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "MexicoRobbie_WilliamsIntensive_CarealbumCertRef" defined multiple times with different content
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "GermanyRobbie_WilliamsIntensive_CarealbumCertRef" defined multiple times with different content
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Hung Medien.
  22. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care" (in German). Hung Medien.
  23. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care" (in French). Hung Medien.
  24. ↑ "Robbie Williams: Intensive Care" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  25. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Hung Medien.
  26. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Top 100 Longplay". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  27. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Hung Medien.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  30. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Hung Medien.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Hung Medien.
  33. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Hung Medien.
  34. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Hung Medien.
  35. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Hung Medien.
  36. ↑ "Robbie Williams | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Robbie Williams in the field Interpret. Enter Intensive Care in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Click on næste to go to page if certification from official website
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "FinlandRobbie_WilliamsIntensive_CarealbumCertRef" defined multiple times with different content
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Select the "Chart", enter ' in the field "Year". Select ' in the field "Semana". Click on "Search Charts"
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Preceded by UK number-one album
29 October 2005 – 5 November 2005		 Succeeded by
Face to Face by Westlife
Preceded by Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
29 October 2005 – 5 November 2005		 Succeeded by
Tea and Sympathy by Bernard Fanning
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Intensive_Care_(album)&oldid=710464707"