Turnaround (Westlife album)

Turnaround
Studio album by Westlife
Released 24 November 2003
(See Release History)
Recorded 2003;
Rokstone Studios, (London)
Olympic Studios, (London)
Sphere Studios, (London)
The Location, (Stockholm, Sweden)
Quiz & Larossi, (Stockholm, Sweden)
Angel Studios, (London, England)
Sony Music Studios London, (London)
Genre Pop, pop rock
Length 47:39
Language English
Label BMG, RCA, S
Producer Cutfather & Joe, Jake Schulze, Karl Engström, Quiz & Larossi, Steve Mac
Westlife chronology
Unbreakable: The Greatest Hits Volume 1
(2002)		 Turnaround
(2003)		 Allow Us to Be Frank
(2004)
Alternative cover
Special Edition cover
Singles from Turnaround
  1. "Hey Whatever"
    Released: 15 September 2003
  2. "Mandy"
    Released: 10 November 2003
  3. "Obvious"
    Released: 23 February 2004

Turnaround is the fourth studio album by Irish boy band Westlife, released on 24 November 2003 by BMG. The first single released was the upbeat track, "Hey Whatever". The next single was a cover of the Barry Manilow hit, "Mandy". The band's version earned them their 12th UK number one and an Irish record of the year award. "Obvious", an original song, was the third and final single released from the album.

Turnaround was the last album to feature member Brian McFadden before he announced leaving the group in March 2004. It is also the last album to feature their full original lineup The album was the 23rd best selling album of 2003 in the UK. The album was re-released in a box set on 25 January 2005 with their debut album, Westlife. The album received favourable reviews from music critics, while it attained commercial success, topping the UK and Ireland charts, while reaching the top-ten in many countries.

Background and McFadden's departure

Brian McFadden stated that he left Westlife for his family and children.

After three successful albums, Westlife (1999), Coast to Coast (2000) and World of Our Own (2001), the band released their first greatest hits album, Unbreakable: The Greatest Hits Volume 1, in 2002, amidst rumours of a split.[1] After the greatest hits, the band released Turnaround as their fourth studio album, on 23 December 2003.[1] Kian Egan said, "the passion and love we have for Westlife is still 100%", and the group felt that Turnaround is their best album yet.[2]

Turnaround was the band's final album with lead vocalist Brian McFadden, who left the group three weeks prior to embarking on their fourth world tour, stating that, "It's hard to juggle two lives when you've got a family." He subsequently re-emerged as a solo artist and professed disgruntlement over the requirements associated with boy band captivity. When interviewed by Wil Marlow of The Journal, McFadden said, "I was standing there trying to sing a song like "Mandy" and be all emotional when I've never even met a Mandy."[3]

Music

"Turnaround" is a pop album, with many songs being "down-tempo" ballads, mixing with plenty of "upbeat" tracks, as well.[4] The album features 2 covers and 10 new tracks. It features writing contribution from Wayne Hector, Steve Mac, Diane Warren, Andreas Carlsson and others.[3]

The album kicks off with "Mandy", who first hit the charts, as "Brandy", 32 years ago before Barry Manilow renamed it "Mandy" and took it to number 11 in 1975.[4] "Hey Whatever" is an upbeat pop song with gospel influence, with its "shun-the-world-and-find-your-bliss" message,[3] "Why don't you liberate your mind / Let your colour fill the sky," the sing.[5] "Obvious" is a soft ballad, with backing vocals that sound "either wistful or magical," according to Peter Fawthrop of Allmusic.[3] Eamonn McCuske of The Digital Fix commented that the song "bears similarity to Take That's Back For Good.[5]

"When A Woman Loves A Man" was considered a "classic Westlife ballad,"[6] while the title track "Turnaround" has funky, electronic, 80s influences,[2] being called "heavily synthesised."[6] Diane Warren contributed to the ballad "I Did It For You," while "Thank You" is another "upbeat" track.[3] "To Be With You is a re-recording of the Mr. Big song.[5] It was named a "faithful"[5] and "nevertheless adequate" cover.[3] "Home" was considered a "soaring ballad."[2] Final track "What Do They Know" closes the album off, tying all the styles together.[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]
BBC Musicmixed[4]
NZgirl[2]
RTÉ.ie[6]
The Music Fix(2/10)[5]

Turnaround received generally favourable reviews from music critics. Peter Fawthrop of Allmusic gave the album a rating of 3 out of 5 stars, writing that " Turnaround involves a pebble toss toward rock, and it's all the better for it. If it had gone all the way, if it had found a producer willing to risk fortunes on morphing a pop group into a rock group, something remarkable may have happened. As it stands, it is a notch above typical, but only a notch."[3] Linda McGee of RTÉ.ie gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, commenting, "Refreshingly, much of the material reveals a grittier side to the band that was never evident before. By finding a formula that was capable of sticking the distance, Westlife have defied the odds by making it to their fifth album. Few would have thought it. Vocally, 'Turnaround' is faultless. Commercially, you've got to hand it to the lads on a market sewn up."[6]

Clea Marshall of NZ Girl called it "upbeat, catchy and slick," writing, "this album is quintessential Westlife. Easy on the ears, 'Turnaround' is sure to bring a smile to any pop fan's face."[2] Jack Smith of BBC Music called it "average," declaring that, "The title Westlife chose is lost on us because this seems like more of the same from the puppy-dog-eyed five piece."[4] Eamonn McCusker of The Digital Fix commented that the songs "all sound somewhat alike with there being precious little to get excited about across any of the thirteen tracks here."[5]

Commercial performance

Turnaround debuted at number-one on the UK Albums Chart, becoming the band's fourth album to debut at the top.[7] It spent 21 weeks on the chart.[7] It also debuted at number-one on the Irish Albums Chart, spending a further week at the top. It spent a total of 18 weeks inside the chart.[8] The album was also successful in Sweden, where it debuted at number 10, on 28 November 2003. Later, it climbed to number 6, while in its third week, it peaked at number 5, on 12 December 2003.[9]

In Denmark, the album debuted at number 4 on the Danish Albums Chart on 5 December 2003. It spent 16 weeks on the chart.[10] In Austria, the album debuted and peaked at number 42 on the Austrian Albums Chart, on 7 December 2003. Later, it fell to number 63, while in its third week, it climbed to number 53. After weeks fluctuating the charts, the album jumped from number 73 to number 60. After the jump, it climbed to number 48. It spent 10 weeks on the chart.[11]

Promotion

Singles

The album's lead-single "Hey Whatever" attained success, reaching number 4 on the UK Singles Chart, therefore becoming the lowest-charting single from the album. It eventually was a success around the world, reaching number 2 in Denmark and Ireland, number 5 in Sweden and the top-forty in some other countries.[12] The album's second single, "Mandy", topped the UK Singles Chart, becoming their 12th number one hit on the UK charts.[3] The song also topped the Irish Singles Chart and was a success in Europe, reaching the top-ten in Denmark and Sweden and the top-twenty in Austria, Germany and Norway.[13] The third single, "Obvious," was also a success, reaching number 2 in Ireland, number 3 in the UK and number 7 in Denmark, while also charting in many countries.[14]

The Turnaround Tour 2004

Main article: Turnaround Tour

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Mandy"  Scott English, Richard KerrSteve Mac 3:21
2. "Hey Whatever"  Wayne Hector, Mac, Carl Papenfus, Ken Papenfus,Mac 3:30
3. "Heal"  Nick Jarl, Savan KotechaMac 3:08
4. "Obvious"  Pilot, Savan Kotecha, Andreas CarlssonJake Schulze, Kristian Lundin, Karl Engström, Quiz & Larossi (add.) 3:32
5. "When a Woman Loves a Man"  Andreas Romdhane, KotechaQuizlarossi 3:39
6. "On My Shoulder"  Hector, MacMac 3:58
7. "Turn Around"  Hector, MacMac 4:23
8. "I Did It For You"  Diane WarrenMac 3:31
9. "Thank You"  Hector, Mac, Simon PerryMac 4:04
10. "To Be With You"  David Grahame, Eric MartinMac 3:22
11. "Home"  Hector, MacMac 4:06
12. "Lost In You"  Sims, Kirkpatrick, KenneyCutfather & Joe  
13. "What Do They Know?"  Hector, Mac, Jimmy McCarthyMac 3:20
Total length:
 43:54

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (2003) Peak
position
Austrian Albums Chart[8] 42
Belgian Albums Chart[11] 78
Danish Albums Chart[11] 4
Dutch Albums Chart[11] 33
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] 5
German Albums Chart[8] 20
Irish Albums Chart[8] 1
New Zealand Albums Chart[11] 42
Norwegian Albums Chart[11] 37
Scottish Albums Chart[16] 1
Swedish Albums Chart[8] 5
Swiss Albums Chart[8] 24
UK Albums Chart[7] 1

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[17] Gold 20,000^
Sweden (GLF)[18] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[19] 2× Platinum 600,000^

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

References

  1. 1 2 "Westlife – Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Marshall, Clea (5 December 2003). "Review: Westlife – Turnaround – nzgirl". NZ Girl. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Fawthrop, Peter. "Turnaround – Westlife : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Smith, Jack (19 December 2003). "BBC – Music – Review of Westlife – Turnaround". BBC. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Eamonn, McCusker (28 November 2003). "Westlife – Turnaround | Review | Music @ The Digital Fix". The Digital Fix. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 McGee, Linda (12 February 2004). "Westlife – Turnaround – RTÉ.ie". RTÉ.ie. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 "Westlife | Artist | Official Charts". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Westlife – Turnaround – Music Charts". A Charts. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Swedish Charts.com – Westlife – Turnaround". Swedish Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "Danish Charts.com – Westlife – Turnaround". Danish Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Westlife – Turnaround – austriancharts.at". Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "Westlife – Hey Whatever – Music Charts". A Charts. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  13. ↑ "Westlife – Mandy – Music Charts". A Charts. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  14. ↑ "Westlife – Obvious – Music Charts". A Charts. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  15. ↑ "Billboard – Google Books". 13 December 2003. Retrieved 20 February 2014 – via Google Books.
  16. ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20031130/40/
  17. ↑ "Danish album certifications – Westlife – Turnaround". IFPI Denmark. Click on næste to go to page 10 if certification from official website
  18. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2003" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
  19. ↑ "British album certifications – Westlife – Turnaround". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Turnaround in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search

External links

Preceded by
Number Ones by Michael Jackson		 UK number one album
6 December 2003 – 13 December 2003 		Succeeded by
Friday's Child by Will Young
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