1999 studio album by Westlife
Westlife Released 1 November 1999(See Release history ) Recorded 1998–1999 Studio Rokstone Studios (London, England),Cheiron Studios (Stockholm, Sweden),CaVa Studios (Glasgow, Scotland) Genre Pop Length 65 :32 Label RCA , BMG Producer Simon Cowell (exec. ), Steve Mac (also exec.), Wayne Hector (exec.), Per Magnusson , David Kreuger , Rami Yacoub , TTW, David Foster , Pete Waterman , Jake Schulze, David Frank , Steve Kipner , Cutfather & Joe, Jaime Ikeda, Rovi, Clive Gardiner
2000 North American cover
Westlife is the self-titled debut studio album by Irish boy band Westlife . The album was released on 1 November 1999 through RCA . The album spawned the five UK number-one hit singles "Swear It Again ", "If I Let You Go ", "Flying Without Wings ", the double A-side "I Have a Dream "/"Seasons in the Sun ", and "Fool Again ".
The album broke several records: the most entries at number one by a debut act; the only music act to have four number ones on the UK Singles Chart in a calendar year; the first and only artist so far to have every single from their album reach number one on the singles chart; the male group with the most original songs from an album to reach number one on the UK Singles Chart; biggest-selling single in its first week of sale by a debut artist; the first pop band and boy band to hit number one with its first two singles; and biggest selling international/foreign album act in Philippine and Indonesian music record history.[citation needed ]
Background
Westlife signed to Arista Records for the North American territory after auditioning for the label's founder, Clive Davis .[ 4] Westlife released "Swear It Again" as their debut and only single released in the United States. The singles was serviced to radio in February and released commercially on 7 March 2000. The album was released on 4 April 2000 with an altered track listing that included the new song, "My Private Movie".[ 4]
In 2005, the album was released in a compilation box collection with Westlife's fourth studio album, Turnaround .
Due to all five singles from the album peaking at number one on the UK Singles Chart in less than a year, Westlife created a chart history record that remains unbroken to date. Despite this, however, the album entered and peaked at number two, being beaten only by an extra 1,000 copies of Steptacular by Steps .[ 5] The album was the biggest chart dropper on the top 40 in UK music history when, in its 58th week on the charts it leapt from No. 79 to No. 3 before falling to No. 37 the following week.[ 6] Despite the history, the album successfully managed to peak at No. 1 in Scotland in the year 2001 after premiering at No. 6 at the Scottish Charts in 1999.[ 7]
The album became the eighth best-selling album of 1999 in the United Kingdom , and ended up being certified 4× Platinum.[ 8] The album went on to spend seventy-four weeks in the UK Top 100.[ 9] A video album related to the release, entitled "The Westlife Story", was released in October 2000, peaking at number 15 on the UK Visual Chart. The release was available on both VHS and DVD. The DVD was later made available in a five disc set entitled "Westlife: The Complete Story".
In 2000, the album was released in the United States and debuted at number 2 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers and peaked at 129 on the Billboard 200 .
The album also peaked at number 1 in Ireland[ 10] and 15 in Australia. Westlife also remains the best-selling international album ever in Indonesia and Philippines, receiving 20× platinum certifications for over 1 million copies sold in Indonesia and 25× Platinum certifications for over 500,000 units sold in the Philippines .[ 11] [ 12]
Track listing
The album's standard edition featured 17 tracks. While the band said they recorded 22 songs for the debut album,[ 13] standard and other versions have a total of 26 tracks overall.
European standard edition Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "Swear It Again " Steve Mac , Wayne Hector Mac 4:07 2. "If I Let You Go " David Kreuger , Jörgen Elofsson , Per Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:41 3. "Flying Without Wings " Mac, Hector Mac 3:36 4. "Fool Again " Kreuger, Elofsson, Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:53 5. "No No" Andreas Carlsson , Rami Rami 3:15 6. "I Don't Wanna Fight" Mac, Hector, Peter Cetera , David Foster Mac 5:03 7. "Change the World" Lance Ellington , Topham, TwiggTTW 3:10 8. "Moments" Steve Mac, Wayne Hector Mac 4:17 9. "Seasons in the Sun " Jacques Brel , Rod McKuen TTW 4:09 10. "I Need You" Andreas Carlsson , Max Martin , RamiRami 3:48 11. "Miss You " Jake Schulze, Rami Jake, Rami 3:53 12. "More Than Words " Gary Cherone , Nuno Bettencourt Mac 3:53 13. "Open Your Heart" Andreas Carlsson , JakeJake 3:40 14. "Try Again" Kreuger, Elofsson, Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:34 15. "What I Want Is What I've Got" Alexandra Talomaa , RamiRami 3:34 16. "We Are One" Alexandre Desplat , Mac, HectorMac 3:44 17. "Can't Lose What You Never Had" David Frank , Steve Kipner Frank, Kipner 4:26
Japanese bonus track Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 18. "Story of Love" Patrick Tucker, Shepard Solomon, Arnthor Birgisson Jaime Ikeda, Rovi 3:54
North American standard edition Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "Swear It Again " Steve Mac , Wayne Hector Mac 4:07 2. "Can't Lose What You Never Had" David Frank , Steve Kipner Frank, Kipner 4:26 3. "I Don't Wanna Fight" Mac, Hector, Peter Cetera , David Foster Mac 5:03 4. "My Private Movie" Steve Kipner , David Kopatz, Jack KugellCutfather & Joe4:05 5. "Flying Without Wings " Mac, Hector Mac 3:36 6. "If I Let You Go " David Kreuger , Jörgen Elofsson , Per Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:41 7. "Fool Again " Kreuger, Elofsson, Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:53 8. "No No" Andreas Carlsson , Rami Rami 3:15 9. "Miss You" Jake Schulze, Rami Schulze, Rami 3:53 10. "Open Your Heart" Carlsson, Schulze Schulze 3:40 11. "We Are One" Alexadre Desplat, Mac, Hector Mac 3:44 12. "I Need You" Carlsson, Max Martin , Rami Rami 3:48 13. "More Than Words " Gary Cherone , Nuno Bettencourt Mac 3:53
Special edition bonus disc[ 14] Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "I Have a Dream " Benny Andersson , Björn Ulvaeus Pete Waterman 4:07 2. "On the Wings of Love" Topham, Twigg Waterman 3:22 3. "Swear It Again " (Rokstone Mix) Steve Mac , Wayne Hector Steve Mac 4:04 4. "If I Let You Go " (Extended Mix) David Kreuger , Jörgen Elofsson , Per Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 5:32 5. "That's What It's All About" Kreuger, Elofsson, Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:22 6. "Flying Without Wings " (A cappella) Mac, Hector Mac 3:33
Special edition Cassette version/Side A Title Writer(s) Producers 1. "Swear It Again " Steve Mac , Wayne Hector Mac 4:07 2. "If I Let You Go " David Kreuger , Jörgen Elofsson , Per Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:41 3. "Flying Without Wings " Mac, Hector Mac 3:36 4. "Fool Again " Kreuger, Elofsson, Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:53 5. "No No" Andreas Carlsson , Rami Rami 3:15 6. "I Don't Wanna Fight" Mac, Hector, Peter Cetera , David Foster Mac 5:03 7. "Change the World" Lance Ellington , Topham, TwiggTTW 3:10 8. "Moments" Steve Mac, Wayne Hector Mac 4:17 9. "Seasons in the Sun " Jacques Brel , Rod McKuen TTW 4:09 10. "I Need You" Andreas Carlsson , Max Martin , RamiRami 3:48 11. "Miss You " Jake Schulze, Rami Jake, Rami 3:53 12. "More Than Words " Gary Cherone , Nuno Bettencourt Mac 3:53
Special edition Cassette version/Side B Title Writer(s) Producers 13. "Open Your Heart" Andreas Carlsson , JakeJake 3:40 14. "Try Again" Kreuger, Elofsson, Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:34 15. "What I Want Is What I've Got" Alexandra Talomaa , RamiRami 3:34 16. "We Are One" Alexandre Desplat , Mac, HectorMac 3:44 17. "Can't Lose What You Never Had" David Frank , Steve Kipner Frank, Kipner 4:26 18. "I Have a Dream " Benny Andersson , Björn Ulvaeus Pete Waterman 4:07 19. "On the Wings of Love" Topham, Twigg Waterman 3:22 20. "Swear It Again " (Rokstone Mix) Steve Mac , Wayne Hector Steve Mac 4:04 21. "If I Let You Go " (Extended Mix) David Kreuger , Jörgen Elofsson , Per Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 5:32 22. "That's What It's All About" Kreuger, Elofsson, Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:22 23. "Flying Without Wings " (A cappella) Mac, Hector Mac 3:33
Platinum edition bonus disc[ 16] Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "Tunnel of Love" David Kreuger, Jörgen Elofsson , Per Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:19 2. "My Private Movie" Steve Kipner , David Kopatz, Jack KugellCutfather & Joe 4:05 3. "Fool Again " (2000 Remix) Kreuger, Elofsson, Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 4:04 4. "Until the End of Time" Steve Mac, Wayne Hector Mac 3:11 5. "Forever " Mac, Hector, Mark Johnson, Ali Tennant Mac 5:05 6. "Everybody Knows" Mac, Hector Mac 4:05 7. "Let's Make Tonight Special" Mac, Hector, Tennant Mac 4:57 8. "Ronan Keating Interviews Westlife" 3:30
Malaysian bonus karaoke VCD[ 17] Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "Swear It Again " Steve Mac , Wayne Hector Mac 4:07 2. "If I Let You Go " David Kreuger , Jörgen Elofsson , Per Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:41 3. "Flying Without Wings " Mac, Hector Mac 3:36 4. "Fool Again " Kreuger, Elofsson, Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:53 5. "No No" Andreas Carlsson , Rami Yacoub 3:15 6. "I Don't Wanna Fight" Mac, Hector, Peter Cetera , David Foster Mac 5:03 7. "Change the World" Lance Ellington, Topham, Twigg TTW 3:10 8. "Moments" Mac, Hector Mac 4:17 9. "Seasons in the Sun " Jacques Brel , Rod McKuen TTW 4:09 10. "I Need You" Carlsson, Max Martin , Rami Rami 3:48 11. "Miss You" Jake Schulze, Rami Schulze, Rami 3:53 12. "More Than Words " Gary Cherone , Nuno Bettencourt Mac 3:53 13. "Open Your Heart" Carlsson, Schulze Schulze 3:40 14. "Try Again" Kreuger, Elofsson, Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:34 15. "What I Want Is What I've Got" Alexandra Talomaa , RamiRami 3:34 16. "We Are One" Alexandre Desplat, Mac, Hector Mac 3:44 17. "Can't Lose What You Never Had" David Frank , Steve Kipner Frank, Kipner 4:26 18. "I Have a Dream " Andersson, Ulvaeus Pete Waterman 4:07
Philippine and Singaporean bonus karaoke VCD[ 17] Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "I Have a Dream " Andersson, Ulvaeus Pete Waterman 4:07 2. "Swear It Again " Steve Mac , Wayne Hector Mac 4:07 3. "If I Let You Go " David Kreuger , Jörgen Elofsson , Per Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:41 4. "Flying Without Wings " Mac, Hector Mac 3:36 5. "Fool Again " Kreuger, Elofsson, Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:53 6. "No No" Andreas Carlsson , Rami Yacoub 3:15 7. "I Don't Wanna Fight" Mac, Hector, Peter Cetera , David Foster Mac 5:03 8. "Change the World" Lance Ellington, Topham, Twigg TTW 3:10 9. "Moments" Mac, Hector Mac 4:17 10. "Seasons in the Sun " Jacques Brel , Rod McKuen TTW 4:09 11. "I Need You" Carlsson, Max Martin , Rami Rami 3:48 12. "Miss You" Jake Schulze, Rami Schulze, Rami 3:53 13. "More Than Words " Gary Cherone , Nuno Bettencourt Mac 3:53 14. "Open Your Heart" Carlsson, Schulze Schulze 3:40 15. "Try Again" Kreuger, Elofsson, Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:34 16. "What I Want Is What I've Got" Alexandra Talomaa , RamiRami 3:34 17. "We Are One" Alexandre Desplat, Mac, Hector Mac 3:44 18. "Can't Lose What You Never Had" David Frank , Steve Kipner Frank, Kipner 4:26
No.1 Hits & Rare Tracks Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "I Have a Dream " Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus Pete Waterman 4:07 2. "On the Wings of Love" Topham, Twigg Waterman 3:22 3. "Swear It Again " (Rokstone Mix) Steve Mac, Wayne Hector Mac 4:04 4. "If I Let You Go " (Extended Mix) David Kreuger, Jörgen Elofsson, Per Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 5:32 5. "That's What It's All About" Kreuger, Elofsson, Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 3:22 6. "Flying Without Wings " (A cappella) Mac, Hector Mac 3:33 7. "Fool Again " (2000 Remix) Kreuger, Elofsson, Magnusson Kreuger, Magnusson 4:04
The Westlife Story Title 1. "The Westlife Story" (Documentary) 2. "Swear It Again" (Video) 3. "If I Let You Go" (Video) 4. "Flying Without Wings" (Video) 5. "I Have a Dream" (Video) 6. "Seasons in the Sun" (Video) 7. "Fool Again" (Video) 8. "Photo Gallery" 9. "Hidden Track" 10. "Trivia Quiz" 11. "Interactive Scene & Song Selection" 12. "Weblink" 13. "Previously Unseen Footage"
Notes
"Swear It Again" is also referred to as "Swear It All Over Again" according to music repertoires.[ 18]
"No No" is also referred to as "No No I Don't Need Nobody" or "No No (I Don't Need Nobody)" according to music repertoires.[ 18]
"I Don't Wanna Fight" is also referred to as "I Don't Want to Fight" according to music repertoires.[ 18]
"Miss You" is also referred to as "I Miss You" according to music repertoires.[ 18]
"Can't Lose What You Never Had" is also referred to as "Can't Lose What U Never Had" according to music repertoires.[ 18]
Personnel
Acoustic guitar, electric guitar: Mats Berntoft (tracks: 2, 4, 14)
Arrangement (strings):Henrik Janson (tracks: 2, 4, 11, 13, 14)Richard Niles (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 16) Ulf Janson (tracks: 2, 4, 11, 13, 14)
Arrangement (vocals):Steve Mac (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 16)Wayne Hector (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 16)
Artwork (design): root
Backing vocals (additional): Anders Von Hofsten (tracks: 2, 11, 13 to 15)Andreas Carlsson (tracks: 2, 5, 13)
Bass guitar: Steve Pearce (tracks: 3, 6, 12, 16)Tomas Lindberg (tracks: 2, 13, 15)
Engineering assistance: Daniel Pursey (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 16)
Engineer for mix: Matt Howe (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 16)
Engineer and programming: Chris Laws (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 16)
Executive producer:Simon Cowell Steve Mac Wayne Hector
Guitar: Esbjörn Öhrwall (tracks: 11, 13, 15) Paul Gendler (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 16)
Keyboards:Per Magnusson (tracks: 2, 4, 14)
Photography: Brian Aris
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Chart (1999)
Position
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[ 36]
78
UK Albums (OCC)[ 37]
9
Chart (2000)
Position
UK Albums (OCC)[ 38]
32
Certifications and sales
Release history
Country
Date
Formats
United Kingdom
1 November 1999
Standard (17 tracks)
Japan
4 April 2000
Standard (18 tracks)
Philippines
18 April 2000
Deluxe (2×CD)
United States
7 May 2000
Standard (13 tracks)
Australia
15 May 2000
Standard (18 tracks)
Philippines
31 July 2000
Platinum (2×CD, CD+DVD)
United Kingdom
15 October 2000
Video (The Westlife Story )
Japan
19 December 2000
Standard (No.1 Hits & Rare Tracks )
References
^ "Listen to Westlife by Westlife - Album Reviews, Credits, and Awards" . AllRovi. 7 December 1999. Retrieved 24 September 2011 .
^ "Listen to Westlife by Westlife - Album Reviews, Credits, and Awards" . AllMusic . 1999. Retrieved 17 October 2013 .
^ "Music Zone" . The Tribune . 2000. Retrieved 17 October 2018 .
^ a b Taylor, Chuck (5 February 2000). "Dublin's Darling Westlife Wins Over Europe, Aims For Success In U.S.". Billboard . 112 (6). Nielsen Business Media : 110. ISSN 0006-2510 .
^ "British certifications" . British Phonographic Industry .
^ "Record-Breakers and Trivia – Albums" . everyhit.com .
^ a b "Scottish Albums (14 January 2001)" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 17 February 2013 .
^ "British certifications – Westlife" . British Phonographic Industry . Type Westlife in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
^ "Take That" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 24 September 2011 .
^ "Hits of the World" . Billboard : 61. 27 November 1999.
^ a b Google News Archive (15 May 2001). "Westlife brings Coast to Coast in Manila" . Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved 8 April 2012 .
^ Sofia, Maya (20 October 2011). "Boyband Westlife Resmi Bubar Tahun Depan" (in Indonesian). Viva News. Retrieved 26 November 2011 .
^ "Westlife: not just another boy band" . CNN . Retrieved 26 October 2018 .
^ "Westlife - Westlife Malaysia DOUBLE CD (310176)" . Eil.com . 18 November 2004. Retrieved 24 September 2011 .
^ "Westlife – Westlife" . discogs.com. 18 November 2004. Retrieved 24 October 2018 .
^ "Westlife - Westlife - Platinum Deluxe Edition Indonesia DOUBLE CASSETTE (176228)" . Eil.com . 31 January 2001. Retrieved 24 September 2011 .
^ a b "Westlife - Westlife Karaoke Singapore VIDEO CD (183874)" . Eil.com . 1 May 2001. Retrieved 24 September 2011 .
^ a b c d e "ACE Repertory" . www.ascap.com .
^ "Australiancharts.com – Westlife – Westlife" . Hung Medien.
^ "Ultratop.be – Westlife – Westlife" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
^ "Listen - Danmarks Officielle Hitliste - Udarbejdet af AIM Nielsen for IFPI Danmark - Uge 2". Ekstra Bladet (in Danish). Copenhagen . 16 January 2000.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Westlife – Westlife" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
^ "Hits of the World" . Billboard : 69. 22 January 2000.
^ "Westlife: Westlife" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland .
^ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH .
^ "Tonlist Top 30" . Morgunblaðið . Retrieved 9 February 2017 .
^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 1, 2000" . Chart-Track . IRMA .
^ "Hits of the World: November 27, 1999 (Pages 60, 61)" . Billboard . Billboard Magazine. 27 November 1999. Retrieved 11 June 2017 .
^ "Charts.nz – Westlife – Westlife" . Hung Medien.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Westlife – Westlife" . Hung Medien.
^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2 .
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Westlife – Westlife" . Hung Medien.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Westlife – Westlife" . Hung Medien.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company .
^ "Westlife Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved 9 November 2019.
^ "Års Hitlister 2000" (in Danish). IFPI Denmark . Archived from the original on 16 November 2001. Retrieved 5 June 2017 .
^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1999" . Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 13 August 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015 .
^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2000" . Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2015 .
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Albums" (PDF) . Australian Recording Industry Association .
^ "Danish album certifications – Westlife – Westlife" . IFPI Danmark . Scroll through the page-list below until year 2018 to obtain certification.
^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas . Type Westlife in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Westlife in the box under the TÍTULO column heading .
^ "Dutch album certifications – Westlife – Westlife" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Enter Westlife in the "Artiest of titel" box.
^ "New Zealand album certifications – Westlife – Westlife" . Recorded Music NZ .[dead link ]
^ "List of PARI Gold, Platinum & Diamond Awardees" . Philippine Association of the Record Industry .
^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1999" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden . Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
^ id MUST BE PROVIDED for UK CERTIFICATION.
^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2000" . International Federation of the Phonographic Industry .
^ "Westlife in summer's biggest musical event" . Philippine Daily Inquirer . 26 May 2001. p. 42. Retrieved 11 June 2020 .
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