When the post-Robbie Williams lineup of Manchester-bred boyband Take That regrouped for a tour promoting “Never Forget”, the 2005 singles compilation that included new old song “Today I’ve Lost You”, their success was far from guaranteed. It had been more than 10 years since their split, TT’s mostly teen female fan base would be pushing 30, and, well, the four remaining members weren’t boys any more. But not only was “The Ultimate Tour” successful at reconnecting the group to their core audience, it also rejuvenated an already meteoric career. Take That have gone on to perhaps even bigger glory since, with two hit albums and the jaunty new single, “Up All Night”, making them our Euro Express Spotlight of the week.

After press lightning-rod Williams abandoned Take That during the “Nobody Else Tour” upon discovering that he preferred Oasis’ dedication to partying over his own group’s dependable professionalism, the attrited quarter surprised even themselves when fans embraced the remaining tour dates and pushed their cover of The Bee Gees’ “How Deep Is Our Love” to No. 1. But writing met wall, and while Gary Barlow’s solo career out-charted Williams’ out of the gate, Mark Owen was the only other member to release music that was well-received by a segment of their original audience. The other two quietly disappeared; Williams went on to become a British institution and publicly feuded with Barlow; there was a great wailing and gnashing of teeth among Europe’s young women.

But never underestimate the power of putting someone on the spot while filming a TV documentary, and while participating in ITV’s “Take That: For The Record”, the various members (sans Robbie) aired their personal laundries and realized that their sum was greater than its parts. No one, however, could have imagined that the following album of new material, ’06’s “Beautiful World”, would go down as one of the greatest comebacks in pop-music history, the lads’ maturity and experience ensuring the songs’ relevance to the legions that had grown up with them. Listening, it was obvious that the remaining four were grateful for their second chance, and the fans rewarded Take That by purchasing 3 million copies of the disc.

Eager to prove their comeback no fluke, remaining members Barlow, Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange returned to the studio with American producer John Shanks (Melissa Etheridge, Bon Jovi, Stevie Nicks) and crafted “The Circus”, another set of mostly self-penned stand-outs that seamlessly transitions the former boyband into a still-sexy middle-age man-band, and sent them straight to the top of the UK charts, the second fastest album to sell 1 million copies (after fellow Mancunians Oasis). Become a part of the feel-good story at www.takethat.com.

by Mark Emge