Progressed (EP) explained

Progressed
Type:studio
Longtype:(reissue) / EP
Artist:Take That
Cover:Progressed cover.png
Released:13 June 2011
Recorded:2009–2010
Studio:
Genre:
Length:34:58
Label:Polydor
Producer:Stuart Price
Prev Title:Progress
Prev Year:2010
Next Title:Progress Live
Next Year:2011

Progressed is the first extended play by English band Take That. The collection was released on 10 June 2011 and features eight previously unreleased tracks packaged alongside Take That's sixth studio album, Progress. It was preceded by the lead single "Love Love" on 11 May. One more single, "When We Were Young", was released from the EP.

Background

Initially it was believed that Robbie Williams would rejoin Take That in a short term capacity for the album Progress which debuted at number 1 in the UK and achieved similar success across Europe, and the subsequent record breaking Progress Live tour. On 19 May 2011 Take That officially confirmed the upcoming release of Progressed, due for release on 13 June 2011 in the United Kingdom, following the release of its first single, "Love Love".[1]

Critical reception

Progressed received positive reviews from music critics upon its release.

Simon Gage of the Daily Express praised the new material and awarded it 5 stars stating that it is "essential listening" whilst commenting that "there has been a full-bodied love affair between Take That and the British public for so long it’s difficult to imagine them ever putting a foot wrong."[2]

Nick Levine of BBC Music similarly reviewed the album positively, concluding that the collection is "a fine Progress-complementing EP from the 10-legged national treasure."[3]

The Independent awarded Progressed 3 stars, calling the collection a "galumphing disco electropop whose swaggering synth riffs on 'Love Love' and occasional dubstep/electro moves, as on the intro to 'Man', are swept up by standard stomp-beats"[4] whilst Q believed it was "a bold step to add to the biggest selling album of the year but one that ultimately pays off".[5]

Gavin Martin of the Daily Mirror reviewed the new material positively, opining that "from the trad Barlow ballad setting of 'When We Were Young' through the evolutionary electro of 'Man', the new songs successfully extend the original album's balancing act between dignified nostalgia and commercially crafted experimentation."[6]

Heat reviewed the album positively, summarising: "all in all, we have to say this album is utterly weird and wonderful and the perfect extension to Take That's defiant Progress album of 2010. Progressed is a winner in our book."[7]

Lewis Corner of Digital Spy praised the new material and felt that "the self-penned collection proves once again why Take That's comeback was better than everyone else's – by out-growing the stereotypical boyband branding to become a group of credible and genuinely artistic group of musicians."[8]

Personnel

Adapted from liner notes.[9]

Musicians

Production

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2011)Peak
position
Danish Albums (Tracklisten)[10] 1
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[11] 21
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[12] 11
Irish Albums (IRMA)[13] 2
Scottish Albums (OCC)[14] 1
South Korean Albums (Gaon Chart)[15] 81
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[16] 46
UK Albums (OCC)[17] 1

Year-end charts

Release history

RegionDateFormat
Ireland[19] 10 June 2011 CD, digital download
United Kingdom13 June 2011
Italy[20] 14 June 2011
Denmark[21] 15 June 2011
Australia[22] 17 June 2011
Germany[23]
Brazil[24] 28 June 2011

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Take That – 'Progressed'. Takethat.com. 20 May 2011. 19 May 2011.
  2. http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/251745/Album-review-Take-That-Progressed-Polydor- Simon Gage, The Express 10/06/11
  3. https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/6xzb Nick Levine, BBC Music 09/06/11
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20110612131214/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-take-that-progressed-polydor-2295227.html The Independent
  5. Web site: Q Music Review Section . Q-music.nl . 2011-09-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110930002959/http://www.q-music.nl/page/home . 30 September 2011 . dead .
  6. https://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/columnists/gavin-martin/2011/06/10/take-that-progressed-album-review-115875-23192869/ Gavin Martin, Daily Mirror 10/06/11
  7. http://www.heatworld.com/Entertainment/Music/2011/06/Squeal-Take-Thats-Progressed-EP-just-landed-on-our-desks-Heres-a-rundown/ Heatworld 09/06/11
  8. Web site: Lewis Corner, Digital Spy 12 June 11 . Digitalspy.co.uk . 12 June 2011 . 2011-09-28.
  9. Progressed . . 2011 . liner notes . Polydor Records.
  10. Web site: Steffen . Hung . danishcharts.dk – Danish Charts – Albums – 22/07/2011 . Danish Charts . 2011-09-28.
  11. Web site: Steffen . Hung . Take That – Progressed . swisscharts.com . 2011-09-28.
  12. Web site: Chartverfolgung / Take That / Longplay . musicline.de . 28 April 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180421031358/http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Take+That/24880/?type=longplay . 21 April 2018 . dead .
  13. Web site: Chart Track. Irish Albums Chart. GfK. 2011-06-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20120612110130/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240002&arch=t&lyr=2011&year=2011&week=24. 12 June 2012. dead.
  14. Web site: Scottish Official Charts . . 25 June 2011 . 2011-09-28.
  15. Web site: South Korean Charts . Gaonchart.co.kr . 2011-09-28.
  16. Web site: Steffen . Hung . Take That – Progressed . swisscharts.com . 2011-09-28.
  17. Web site: Official Chart Company . . 25 June 2011 . 2011-09-28.
  18. Web site: Album-Top 100 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20120609045421/http://www.hitlisterne.dk/yearlist2011.asp?list=Album%20100 . 9 June 2012 . 23 January 2012 . dead .
  19. Web site: Take That To Release A Collection of New Songs. Umusic.ie. Universal Music Ireland. 20 May 2011. 20 May 2011.
  20. Web site: Progressed, il CD di Take That – BOL.IT. it. Universal.dk. M.I.E. S.p.A. – Divisione BOL. 7 June 2011.
  21. Web site: Take That – Progressed – Deluxe Edition (2CD). da. CDON Group . 9 June 2011.
  22. Web site: Progressed . JB Hi-Fi. 7 June 2011.
  23. Web site: Take That – Detail – Progressed – (CD) – Universal Music. de. Universal Music Entertainment GmbH. 7 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110717131952/http://www.universal-music.de/take-that/detail/product/176278/progressed. 17 July 2011. dead.
  24. Web site: Take That – Progressed (2CD). pt. Livraria Cultura. 18 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120325070838/http://www.livrariacultura.com.br/scripts/resenha/resenha.asp?nitem=22635513&sid=9601621881367241298411874. 25 March 2012. dead.