Never Forget – The Ultimate Collection Explained

Never Forget – The Ultimate Collection
Type:greatest
Artist:Take That
Cover:2005 Never Forget - The Ultimate Collection.jpg
Recorded:1990–1995, 2005
Length:72:11
Label:RCA
Prev Title:Greatest Hits
Prev Year:1996
Next Title:Beautiful World
Next Year:2006

Never Forget – The Ultimate Collection is the third greatest hits album by English boy band Take That. It was released on 14 November 2005, nearly ten years after their initial split. It has sold over 2.36 million copies in the UK since release.[1]

Background and release

Never Forget – The Ultimate Collection was released to coincide with the ITV1 documentary , in which band members Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams aired their views over their fame, success, the split and what the post-Williams line-up had done since.[2] The launch of the album took place at the Coronet Cinema in Notting Hill, London on 14 November 2005, the same day as the album's release. Williams did not make an appearance at the launch as he had chosen not to take part in the band's reunion. Owen said: "It would have been great to have had Robbie here tonight, but we were really glad he was involved in the documentary. I know Rob left early, but our memory is of us as a five, and I wouldn't have liked it if it was just us four."[2]

The album contains 16 of the band's 18 singles, excluding their debut single, "Do What U Like", and the internationally released "Sunday to Saturday", as well as three bonus recordings. One of the bonus recordings, "Today I've Lost You", was recorded especially for the album after it was originally scrapped in 1995. "Relight My Fire" was remixed, and was due to be issued as a single to promote the release of the album, but it was withdrawn just two days before its initial release date. All editions of the album feature the same track listing.

A DVD was released at the same time.[3]

Critical reception

In a highly positive review, The Guardians Marc Burrows called the album "18 tracks of brilliance".[4]

Commercial performance

The album sold 90,000 copies in its first week, peaking at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart behind Confessions on a Dance Floor by Madonna.[5] It has been certified as 8× Platinum in the UK and has sold 2.36 million copies.[1] Since its release, the album spent 218 weeks in the UK Top 100.[6]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Never Forget – The Ultimate Collection! Chart (2005–2007)! Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[7] 72
European Albums Chart[8] 14

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for Never Forget – The Ultimate Collection!Chart (2005)!Position
UK Albums (OCC)[9] 19
Chart (2006)Position
UK Albums (OCC)[10] 52
Chart (2007)Position
UK Albums (OCC)[11] 35
Chart (2008)Position
UK Albums (OCC)[12] 52
Chart (2009)Position
UK Albums (OCC)[13] 77
Chart (2010)Position
UK Albums (OCC)[14] 88
Chart (2011)Position
UK Albums (OCC)[15] 82

Decade-end charts

Decade-end chart performance for Never Forget – The Ultimate Collection!Chart (2000–2009)!Position
UK Albums (OCC)32

Release history

RegionDateLabelCat. no
United Kingdom (Slipcase Edition)14 November 2005RCA82876748522[16]
Europe21 November 2005
Japan22 February 2006BMGBVCM-31185[17]
United Kingdom (Standard Edition)27 November 2007RCA82876748522
United Kingdom ("Girls Night In" Edition)14 January 2008
Europe ("Girls Night In" Edition)7 April 2008

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Greatest of the greatest? The Top 10 biggest hits collections revealed. Myers. Justin. 12 July 2016. Official Charts Company. 15 July 2016.
  2. News: 15 November 2005 . Robbie misses Take That reunion . en-GB . 3 July 2023.
  3. Web site: Take That Never Forget - The Ultimate Collection UK DVD (340947). eil.com.
  4. News: Burrows . Marc . 20 November 2013 . Why a greatest hits album can be the band's greatest . en-GB . The Guardian . 3 July 2023 . 0261-3077 . In the 90s, Take That released three really patchy pop records. In 2006, they gave us Never Forget: The Ultimate Collection and it's 18 tracks of brilliance..
  5. Madonna Floors Euro Chart Rivals. Sexton. Paul. 24 November 2005. Billboard. 11 April 2017.
  6. Web site: Take That: Artist Chart History . Official Charts Company. 24 April 2020.
  7. 274.
  8. Hits of the World - Eurochart. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 3 December 2005. 25 July 2012. 54.
  9. Web site: End Of Year Charts: 2005. UKChartsPlus. 10 August 2011.
  10. Web site: End Of Year Charts: 2006. UKChartsPlus. 10 August 2011.
  11. Web site: End Of Year Charts: 2007. UKChartsPlus. 10 August 2011.
  12. Web site: End Of Year Charts: 2008. UKChartsPlus. 10 August 2011.
  13. Web site: End Of Year Charts: 2009. UKChartsPlus. 10 August 2011.
  14. Web site: End Of Year Charts: 2010. UKChartsPlus. 10 August 2011.
  15. Web site: End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2011. Official Charts Company. 11 May 2021.
  16. Web site: Take That Never Forget - The Ultimate Collection UK CD album (CDLP) (340945). eil.com.
  17. Web site: Never Forget-Ultimate Collection. 22 February 2006. Amazon.