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Formed in Manchester, England, this vocal group arguably came closest to
emulating the Beatles' legacy of phenomenal mass popularity. Teen pop can be a
fickle career, but one similarity they displayed in common with their
Liverpool cousins was the rare ability to unite both young and middle-aged
music fans. The group was led by lead vocalist Gary Barlow (b. 20 January
1971, Frodsham, Cheshire, England), with Mark Owen (b. Mark Anthony Owen, 27
January 1972, Oldham, Lancashire, England), Howard Paul Donald (b. 28 April
1968, Droylsden, Manchester, England), Jason Thomas Orange (b. 10 July 1970,
Manchester, England) and Robbie Williams (b. Robert Peter Williams, 13
February 1974, Stoke on Trent, England). As a child Barlow was a talented
musician, and backed Ken Dodd shows on the organ by the time he was 14. His
first break came when he submitted a song, "Let's Pray For Christmas", which
was short-listed and played on the "A Song For Christmas' competition on BBC
Television's Pebble Mill. Owen had failed soccer trials for Manchester United
before taking work at an Oldham bank, while Orange was a former breakdancer
brought up as a Mormon. Williams' mother was a singer and his father a
comedian and prior to the commencement of Take That he had a small role in
Channel 4"s Brookside.
Donald's parents, too, had a musical background, before he took up work in a
garage and joined Orange in a breakdancing unit, Street Beat. Barlow, Owen and
Williams were formerly part of the Cutest Rush.
Take That released their debut single, "Do What U Like", on their own Dance
U.K. label in July 1991. Much of the publicity they initially attracted
surrounded the risqué video that accompanied it, featuring the band revealing
their buttocks. The furore helped to make up the minds of RCA Records, who
signed the band in September, and "Promises" reached number 38 in the UK
charts two months later. In February 1992, "Once You've Tasted Love" reached
number 47, coinciding with a "Safe Sex" club tour undertaken with the support
of the Family Planning Association, before June brought their UK chart
breakthrough with a cover version of the Tavares' "It Only Takes A Minute". By
the time it reached number 7 in the UK charts the country's pop press swooped
on them for their clean-cut (with the exception of the bearded Orange) good
looks, dance routines and simple, catchy songs. Barlow also stepped up his
reputation as a songwriter for the ensuing Take That And Party, which debuted
at number 5 in the UK album charts.
 October's A Million Love Songs EP, led off by its powerful title ballad (originally
written by Barlow aged 16), also reached number 7. Their popularity was
confirmed by the receipt of seven trophies at the Smash Hits Poll Winners
Party Awards in December, as effective a barometer as any of the prevailing
tastes of the UK's youth.
By the following year the fortunes of the group's debut album were
resuscitated as it climbed to number 2 in the UK charts, following the number
3 success of their cover version of Barry Manilow's "Could It Be Magic". This
also won them a BRIT Award for Best British Single in February, before "Why
Can't I Wake Up With You" rose to number 2 at the end of the same month. By
April the group's debut album and "It Only Takes A Minute" had been launched
in the USA, with the help of a Take That cereal box, but initial forays into
the American market proved unsuccessful. "Pray" became their first UK number 1
in July 1993, a feat repeated with "Relight My Fire", featuring a guest
appearance from Lulu, in October. In the meantime the band were concentrating
on recording their second album, and when Everything Changes emerged on 23
October 1993 it debuted at number 1 in the UK charts.
Proving that their popularity was not impinging on their prolific release
schedule, "Babe" became a third successive UK number 1 in December, though it
eventually lost the coveted Christmas number 1 spot to Mr Blobby. The band's
success continued throughout 1994 and into 1995, when "Everything Changes",
"Sure", "Back For Good" and "Never Forget" earned them four more UK number 1
placings. "Back For Good" demonstrated much more substance than their usual
lightweight pop, and was also a US Top 10 hit. There were strong signs that
Take That were finally being accepted by the music critics. Fans were shocked
when Williams announced his departure for a solo career in mid-1995, although
the writing had been on the wall for some time - his participation in Nobody
Else had been minimal. Further disaster ensued when, after weeks of rumours,
it was confirmed at a press conference in February 1996 that the band members
were going their separate ways, and they bowed out with a chart-topping cover
version of the Bee Gees' "How Deep Is Your Love" in June. Barlow, Owen and
Williams all embarked on solo careers, with the latter's proving the most
spectacular.
DISCOGRAPHY: Take That And Party (RCA 1992)***, Everything Changes (RCA
1993)***, Nobody Else (RCA 1995)***.
COMPILATIONS: Greatest Hits (RCA 1996)***.
VIDEOGRAPHY: Take That And Party (BMG 1992), Take That: The Party-Live At
Wembley (BMG 1993), Greatest Hits (BMG 1995), From Zeros To Heroes (Wienerworld
1995), Everything Changes (BMG 1995), Hometown: Live At Manchester G-Mex (BMG
1995), Berlin (BMG 1995), Nobody Else: The Movie (BMG 1996).
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Take That: Our Story, Piers Morgan. The Unofficial Biography,
Mick St. Michael. Everything Changes, Take That. Talk Back, Luke Taylor.
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Copyright Muze UK Ltd. 1989 - 2002
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"TAKE THAT"
albums |
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Covers of "Take That & Party",
"Everything Changes", "Nobody Else"
& "Greatest Hits". |
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