Intensive Care (album)

Intensive Care
Studio album by Robbie Williams
Released	24 October 2005
Recorded	June 2003–May 2005 in Los Angeles
Genre	Pop pop rock adult contemporary
Length	53:02
Label	Chrysalis / EMI
Producer	Robbie Williams Stephen Duffy
Robbie Williams chronology
Escapology (2002) Intensive Care (2005) Rudebox (2006)
Singles from Intensive Care
"Tripping" Released: 3 October 2005 "Make Me Pure" Released: 14 November 2005 "Advertising Space" Released: 12 December 2005 "Sin Sin Sin" Released: 22 May 2006

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
BBC Music	(positive)[2]
Entertainment.ie	[3]
The Guardian	[4]
MusicOMH	(positive)[5]
PopMatters	(7/10)[6]
Yahoo! Music UK	[7]

Intensive Care is the sixth studio album by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, released on 24 October 2005 in the United Kingdom.

Background

After touring Latin America in late 2004 for the promotion of his Greatest Hits album, Williams started working on what would become his sixth studio album. Recorded in his bedroom in the Hollywood Hills, the album was co-written by Stephen Duffy over the course of 24 months.^[8] The album was launched in Berlin, Germany on 9 October 2005. It was not shown on television, but broadcast to various locations around the world in cinemas and theatres, in a high-definition "cine-cast". It was shown on Saturday 22 October 2005 on Channel 4.^[9]

The album's artwork was designed by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, in response to Williams' request that they "turn [Williams] into a superhero" for the tour.^[10] The "talismanic images" and "witchy hieroglyphs" include a "sigil" that, in Morrison's words, "can be activated by finding the CD in the shops or pulling the cover up on-screen and pressing Rob's finger. If enough of us do this the world will most certainly enter a new Golden Age of peace, creativity, and prosperity!"^[10]

Success

When Intensive Care was released in October 2005, it became a smash hit around the world, hitting number-one in the United Kingdom, selling 373,832 copies in its first week,^[11] as well as topping charts in twenty other counties including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, New Zealand and many other countries. Following the success of the album, Williams won the MTV Europe Music Award for 'Best Male', and also entered The Guinness Book of World Records for selling 1.6 million tickets in a single day for his 2006 world tour.^[12] The album became the best selling album in Europe by the end of 2005, with sales of over four million copies.^[13] However, it only managed to become the third best selling album in the United Kingdom that year.

Williams kicked off his Close Encounters World Tour in South Africa in April 2006 in promotion of the album. More than 2.5 million attended the early stages of the tour, with nearly three million having been reported to have seen one or more shows.^[14] In January 2007, it was revealed Intensive Care had sold over 5 million copies in Europe, and as such, was certified 5× Platinum by the IFPI.^[15] It was also certified 5× Platinum in the United Kingdom around the same time.^[16] In Mexico, the album was certified platinum shortly after its release, for shipping 150,000 copies of the physical album, and in December 2008 the album was certified 2× diamond for pre-loaded digital sales of 1,000,000 copies.^[17] By shipping 1,100,000 copies and reaching 11× gold,^[18] Intensive Care became the eighth best-selling album of the decade in Germany. It also became Williams' fifth album to reach a position in the top twenty of the best-selling album of the decade, with Swing When You're Winning, Escapology, Live at Knebworth and Greatest Hits also earning places. According to EMI, the album has sold 6.2 million copies worldwide.^[19]

Singles

• "Tripping" was released as the album's lead single on 3 October 2005, becoming an international success, topping the charts in Germany, The Netherlands, Taiwan, Argentina and Mexico. In the United Kingdom, it was released as a double A-side with "Make Me Pure", however, "Make Me Pure" was also released separately in Australia, New Zealand and Mexico.
• "Advertising Space" was released as the album's second single in December 2005, becoming another international hit, reaching the top ten in Europe, Australasia and Latin America.
• "Sin Sin Sin" was released as the album's third and final single in the summer of 2006. It was the first song Williams and Stephen Duffy co-wrote together.^[20] The video was shot in Cape Town, South Africa just days before the start of Williams' tour there. It became Williams' first single to miss the UK Top 20, charting at number twenty-two, however, it performed much better internationally, hitting the top ten in Europe and Latin America.

Track listing

Intensive Care – Standard edition
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Ghosts"	Robbie Williams • Stephen Duffy	3:42
2.	"Tripping"	Williams • Duffy	4:36
3.	"Make Me Pure"	Williams • Duffy • Chris Heath	4:33
4.	"Spread Your Wings"	Williams • Duffy	3:50
5.	"Advertising Space"	Williams • Duffy	4:37
6.	"Please Don't Die"	Williams • Duffy	4:47
7.	"Your Gay Friend"	Williams • Duffy	3:21
8.	"Sin Sin Sin"	Williams • Duffy • Heath	4:09
9.	"Random Acts of Kindness"	Williams • Duffy	4:15
10.	"The Trouble with Me"	Williams • Duffy	4:20
11.	"A Place to Crash"	Williams • Duffy	4:34
12.	"King of Bloke and Bird"	Williams • Duffy	6:13

Intensive Care – Additional recordings
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
13.	"Meet the Stars"
14.	"Bag Full of Silly"	Williams • Duffy • Heath	4:17
15.	"Family Coach"	Williams • Duffy	4:48
16.	"Twist"
17.	"Don't Say No"
18.	"Overture for Berlin"
19.	"Our Love"	Williams • Duffy	4:14

Intensive Care – Special edition bonus DVD
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"In Intensive Care" (Documentary)
2.	"Make Me Pure" (music video)
3.	"Tripping" (Tarot Card Visuals)

Intensive Care – RW 20th Anniversary edition bonus DVD
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Radio" (Live on TOTP)
2.	"Radio" (Live on Later... with Jools Holland)
3.	"Misunderstood" (Live on TOTP)
4.	"Trouble with Me" (Live on TOTP)
5.	"Tripping" (Live on Later... with Jools Holland)
6.	"Ghosts" (Live on Later... with Jools Holland)
7.	"A Place to Crash" (Live on Later... with Jools Holland)
8.	"Advertising Space" (Live on TOTP Christmas special)
9.	"Misunderstood" (Live in Germany)
10.	"Tripping" (Live in Spain)

Musicians

• Robbie Williams: Lead vocals, backing vocals, guitar, bass guitar, Epiphone Casino, synthesizer
• Stephen Duffy: Guitar, keyboards, Nord Lead, wine glass, sitar, harp, sequencers, shakers, dilruba, harmonica
• Claire Worrall: Backing vocals, (track 11) piano, mellotron, Hammond B3, helicopter
• Melvin Duffy: Pedal steel guitar (track 11)
• Neil Taylor: Guitar (track 11)
• Greg Leiz: Guitar
• Justin Duarte: Acoustic guitar
• Jerry Meehan: Bass guitar, fender precision (track 11)
• Matt Chamberlain: drums, percussion (track 11)
• Kate Kissoon: Backing vocals
• Tessa Niles: Backing vocals
• Jeff Babko: Trombone (track 11)
• Cleto Escobedo: Baritone saxophone (track 11)
• Waddy Wachtel: Guitar (track 11)
• Jebin Bruni: Synthesizer
• Davey Farragher: Bass guitar, Fender Precision
• John Paterno: Guitar
• Buddy Judge: Guitar
• Max Beesley: Percussion, vibes
• Gary Nuttall: Backing vocals (track 11)
• Carlton E. Anderson: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
• Maxi Anderson: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
• Randy Crenshaw: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
• Judith Hill: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
• Julia Tillman: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
• Carmen Twillie: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
• Oren Waters: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
• Maxine Waters Willard: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
• Will Wheaton Jnr: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
• Terry Wood: Choir (tracks 3 and 11)
• Charlie Bisharat: Violins (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12)
• Mario De Leon: Violins (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8)
• Armen Garabedian: Violins (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 and 12)
• Berj Garabedian: Violins (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8)
• Alan Grunfeld: Violins (tracks 1, 3 and 5)
• Sara Pakins: Violins (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12)
• Michelle Richards: Violins (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12)
• Sarah thornblade: Violins (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8)
• Josefina Vergara: Violins (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12)
• John Wittenburg: Violins (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12)
• Denyse Buffum Violas (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12)
• Matt Funes: Cello
• Roland Kato: Cello
• Evan Wilson: Cello
• Larry Corbett: Cello
• Suzie Katayama: Cello
• Dan Smith: Cello

Credits

• Album produced by Stephen Duffy and Robbie Williams
• Original production by Andy Strange
• Mixed by Bob Clearmountain at Mix This
• Engineered by John Paterno, Andy Strange, Stephen Duffy Pablo Munguia, Tony Phillips, Adam Noble and Dan Porter
• Strings arranged and conducted by David Campbell
• Strings engineered by Alan Sides at NRG
• Mastering by Tony Cousins at Metropolis Studios, London
• A&R: Chris Briggs
• Photography: Hamish Brown
• Design and artwork: Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely
• Art co-ordination by Tom Hingston Studio

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2005) Peak position Argentinian Albums (CAPIF) 1 Australian Albums (ARIA)[21] 1 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[22] 1 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[23] 1 European Top 100 Albums 1 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[24] 3 French Albums (SNEP)[25] 2 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[26] 1 Hungary 2 Ireland 1 Italian Albums (FIMI)[27] 1 Japan[28] 128 Mexico 2 Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[29] 1 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[30] 1 Polish Albums Chart[31] 11 Portuguese Albums (AFP)[32] 1 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[33] 1 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[34] 1 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 1 UK Albums (OCC)[36] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2005) Peak position Spanish Albums Chart 45 UK Albums Chart 3 Decade-end charts Chart (2000–2009) Peak position UK Albums Chart 53

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[37]	Platinum	40,000^*
Australia (ARIA)[38]	Platinum	70,000^^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[39]	3× Platinum
Belgium (BEA)[40]	2× Platinum	100,000^*
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[41]	2× Platinum	80,000^^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[42]	Platinum	62,524[42]
France (SNEP)[43]	2× Platinum	400,000^*
Germany (BVMI)[18]	11× Gold	1,100,000^^
Hungary (MAHASZ)[44]	Platinum
Ireland (IRMA)[45]	5× Platinum	75,000^^
Italy (FIMI)[46]	Platinum	80,000^*
Mexico (AMPROFON)[17]	2× Diamond	1,000,000^^
Netherlands (NVPI)[47]	2× Platinum	160,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[48]	Platinum	15,000^^
Portugal (AFP)[49]	Platinum	20,000^^
Russia (NFPF)[50]	Gold
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[51]	Platinum	100,000^^
Sweden (GLF)[52]	Platinum	60,000^^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[53]	3× Platinum	120,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[16]	5× Platinum	1,500,000^^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[15]	5× Platinum	5,000,000^*
Worldwide		6,200,000[19]
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. Allmusic review
2. "BBC - Music - Review of Robbie Williams - Intensive Care". bbc.co.uk.
3. Entertainment.ie review at the Wayback Machine (archived 13 January 2009)
4. Alexis Petridis. "CD: Robbie Williams, Intensive Care". the Guardian.
5. Music OHM review
6. "Music Reviews, Features, Essays, News, Columns, Blogs, MP3s and Videos - PopMatters". PopMatters.
7. "Yahoo Celebrity UK". Yahoo.
8. "Discography>Albums>Intensive Care". Robbiewilliams.com. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
9. "Intensive Care". Britandgrit.wordpress.com. 15 February 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
10. Supergods, by Grant Morrison; published 2011 by Spiegel & Grau; page 395-96 (chapter 26)
11. "Westlife top singles chart, Williams dominates albums". Music Week.
12. "Robbie Williams Enters The Guinness Book of World Records". News.softpedia.com. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
13. "IFPI Certification for "Intensive Care"". Zpav.pl. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
14. Time. "EMI Music México". Emimusic.com.mx. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
15. "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2006". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
16. "British album certifications – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Intensive Care in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Search
17. "Certificaciones – Robbie Williams" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas.
18. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Robbie Williams; 'Intensive Care')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
19. Cashmere, Paul (13 January 2007). "EMI Share Price Drops on Restructure Announcement". Undercover Media Pty Ltd. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
20. "Discography>Singles>Sin Sin Sin". Robbiewilliams.com. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
21. "Australiancharts.com – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Hung Medien.
22. "Austriancharts.at – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care" (in German). Hung Medien.
23. "Ultratop.be – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care" (in French). Hung Medien.
24. "Robbie Williams: Intensive Care" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
25. "Lescharts.com – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Hung Medien.
26. "Officialcharts.de – Top 100 Longplay". GfK Entertainment Charts.
27. "Italiancharts.com – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Hung Medien.
28. "ロビー・ウィリアムスのアルバム売上ランキング". ORICON STYLE.
29. "Dutchcharts.nl – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
30. "Charts.org.nz – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Hung Medien.
31. "OLiS: sales for the period 24.10.2005– 06.11.2005". OLiS.
32. "Portuguesecharts.com – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Hung Medien.
33. "Spanishcharts.com – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Hung Medien.
34. "Swedishcharts.com – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Hung Medien.
35. "Swisscharts.com – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Hung Medien.
36. "Robbie Williams | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart
37. "Argentinian album certifications – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers.
38. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
39. "Austrian album certifications – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care" (in German). IFPI Austria. Enter Robbie Williams in the field Interpret. Enter Intensive Care in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
40. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2006". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
41. "Danish album certifications – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". IFPI Denmark. Click on næste to go to page if certification from official website
42. "Robbie Williams" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
43. "French album certifications – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
44. "Adatbázis – Arany- és platinalemezek – 2005" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
45. "Irish album certifications – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Irish Recorded Music Association.
46. "TV: Domani Robbie Williams in concerto da Berlino su Italia 1" (in Italian). Adnkronos. 19 December 2005. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
47. "Dutch album certifications – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.
48. "New Zealand album certifications – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care". Recorded Music NZ.
49. "Portuguese album certifications – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa.
50. "Russian album certifications – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care" (in Russian). National Federation of Phonogram Producers (NFPF).
51. "Spanish album certifications – Robbie Williams – Intensive Care" (PDF) (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Select the "Chart", enter ' in the field "Year". Select ' in the field "Semana". Click on "Search Charts"
52. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2005" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
53. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Robbie Williams; 'Intensive Care')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.

External links

• Official site