Kingsize (Five album)

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Kingsize
Studio album by
Five
Released27 August 2001
Genre
Length56:30
Label
Producer
Five chronology
Invincible
(1999) 		Kingsize
(2001) 		Greatest Hits
(2001)
Singles from Kingsize
  1. "Let's Dance"
    Released: 13 August 2001[1]
  2. "Closer to Me"
    Released: 22 October 2001[2]
  3. "Rock the Party"
    Released: 3 December 2001[3]

Kingsize is the third studio album by English boy band Five. It was released in the United Kingdom on 27 August 2001 and later in Australia on 2 December 2001.

Three singles were released from Kingsize. The lead single, "Let's Dance", became a major hit, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart and saw the departure of Sean Conlon.[4] Other singles from the album included "Closer to Me" and "Rock the Party."

The album performed well on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number three and eventually being certified gold for strong sales. However, its impact internationally was limited, particularly in the United States where it did not chart.[5]

Kingsize was the last album released by Five before their initial breakup. Following its release, the group disbanded, only to reunite in 2013 for ITV2's The Big Reunion. This album also marked the final appearance of members J Brown and Abz Love before the group continued as a trio in 2022.

Background

[edit]

Despite only being released three months earlier, Kingsize was re-issued in the United Kingdom on 24 December 2001, containing an additional track, "The Heat", as well an enhanced section, featuring music videos and interview clips.[6] The Japanese release of Kingsize features an additional slipcase, as well as the bonus track "1,2,3,4,5", which was issued as the B-side to "Closer to Me" in the United Kingdom.[7]

Copies of the album bought at Woolworths stores in the United Kingdom came with an exclusive poster booklet, containing information and facts on the band, as well as a complete chart history and discography. The poster booklet also indicated that a VHS release was planned to be released alongside the album, entitled Kingsize: Behind the Scenes, detailing the recording of the album, featuring interviews with the band, and including the music videos for the lead single, "Let's Dance", and at the time, was planned as the album's second single, "Hear Me Now".

However, due to the band's imminent split, "Hear Me Now" was never released as a single, the VHS release was cancelled, and a Greatest Hits compilation was released just three months after the release of Kingsize. The track "Set Me Free", which was recorded during the album sessions, was later issued as an original track on the band's Greatest Hits compilation.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Penarth TimesMixed[8]
PopMattersFavorable[9]
RTÉ[10]

The critic from Penarth Times wrote that the album starts off with energy with songs like "Let's Dance" for its "funky disco beat" and "Rock The Party" for its use of a Grease sample,[8] but as the album progresses, tracks like "Take Your Chances On Me" and "On Top of the World" become repetitive and tiresome, and the album loses its momentum toward the end.[8]

The critic from PopMatters stated that, despite Five disbanding, their Kingsize showcases their ability to blend R&B, hip-hop, and pop influences better than their contemporaries like Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC.[9] The review highlights tracks like "Let’s Dance," which features an upbeat, layered sound with voice modulation, and "Lay All Your Lovin’ on Me," praised for its use of ACDC’s guitar riff.[9] The critic also notes that while their slower songs target a younger audience, Five’s energetic and catchy songs, such as "Rock the Party," demonstrate that they stood out for their funky, unapologetic approach to pop music.[9]

Sineád Gleeson from RTÉ stated that it's hard to understand what Five is trying to achieve with their album Kingsize.[10] She noted that the group attempts to incorporate snippets of various genres into pop-sized songs, but ultimately fails, producing a "hollow collection of derivatives."[10] She described the album as formulaic, advising those with musical taste to steer clear.[10]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Let's Dance" (lead vocals: Breen, Brown, Conlon, Neville)Richard "Biff" Stannard, Julian Gallagher, Ash Howes, Martin Harrington, Richard Breen, Jason Brown, Sean ConlonStannard, Gallagher3:37
2."Lay All Your Lovin' on Me" (lead vocals: Brown, Breen)Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Brian JohnsonStannard, Gallagher3:21
3."Rock the Party" (lead vocals: Breen, Brown)Stannard, Gallagher, Breen, Brown, Conlon, Barry GibbStannard, Gallagher2:57
4."Closer to Me" (lead vocals: Breen, Neville, Brown)Stannard, Gallagher, Howes, Harrington, Breen, BrownStannard, Gallagher4:28
5."Hear Me Now" (lead vocals: Neville, Robinson)Mikkel S. Eriksen, Hallgeir Rustan, Tor Erik Hermansen, Ritchie Neville, Scott RobinsonStargate3:40
6."Let's Get It On" (lead vocals: Breen, Robinson, Brown)Stannard, Gallagher, Howes, Harrington, Breen, Brown, ConlonStannard, Gallagher3:46
7."Feel the Love" (lead vocals: Robinson, Neville)Steve Mac, Chris Laws, Robinson, NevilleMac4:41
8."We're Going All Night (You Make Me High)" (lead vocals: Brown, Breen, Neville)Stannard, Gallagher, Breen, Brown, ConlonStannard, Gallagher3:03
9."Take Your Chances on Me" (lead vocals: Conlon, Breen)Stannard, Gallagher, Howes, Harrington, Breen, Brown, Conlon, Ben ChapmanStannard, Gallagher3:01
10."Something in the Air" (lead vocals: Breen, Conlon, Brown)Stannard, Gallagher, Breen, Brown, ConlonStannard, Gallagher4:10
11."Breakdown" (lead vocals: Neville, Robinson)Eriksen, Rustan, Hermansen, Neville, RobinsonStargate3:26
12."On Top of the World" (lead vocals: Robinson, Neville)Eriksen, Rustan, Hermansen, Neville, RobinsonStargate3:40
13."C'mon C'mon" (lead vocals: Breen, Brown)Stannard, Gallagher, Howes, Harrington, Breen, Brown, Conlon, ChapmanStannard, Gallagher4:50
14."World of Mine (Hidden track)" (lead vocals: Neville, Robinson)Eriksen, Rustan, Hermansen, Neville, RobinsonStargate4:02
15."All Around (Hidden track)" (lead vocals: Neville, Robinson)Eliot Kennedy, Tim Woodcock, NevilleSteelworks3:47
Total length:56:30
Special Edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."The Heat" (lead vocals: Breen, Brown)Stannard, Gallagher, Breen, Brown, ConlonStannard, Gallagher3:15
14."All Around"Eliot Kennedy, Tim Woodcock, NevilleSteelworks3:47
15."C'mon C'mon"Stannard, Gallagher, Howes, Harrington, Breen, Brown, Conlon, ChapmanStannard, Gallagher4:50
16."World of Mine" (hidden track)Eriksen, Rustan, Hermansen, Neville, RobinsonStargate4:02
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
16."1,2,3,4,5" (lead vocals: Robinson, Neville)Stannard, Gallagher, Robinson, NevilleStannard, Gallagher3:51

Notes

  • "Lay All Your Lovin' on Me" contains a sample from "Back in Black", performed by AC/DC.
  • "Rock the Party" contains a sample from the main theme from "Grease".

Personnel

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Credits adapted from Kingsize's liner notes.

  • Abs Breen – composer, vocals
  • Andy Caine – backing vocals
  • Ash Howes – mixing, programming
  • Ben Chapman – production, mixing, engineering
  • Ben Coombs – engineering
  • Daniel Pursey – engineering
  • Dave Arch – arrangement
  • Eliot Kennedy – backing vocals
  • Jason "J" Brown – composer, vocals
  • Julian Gallagher – arrangement, production
  • Martin Harrington – programming
  • Matt Howe – engineering
  • Richard Stannard – arrangement, production, backing vocals
  • Ritchie Neville – composer, vocals
  • Robin Sellers – engineering
  • Scott Robinson – composer, vocals
  • Sean Conlon – composer, vocals
  • Sharon Murphy – backing vocals
  • Stargate – production, mixing
  • Steve Mac – production
  • Tim Woodcock – backing vocals

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[26] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Country Date Format Label
United Kingdom[28] 27 August 2001 CD, cassette single Sony BMG
United States[29]

References

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  1. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting August 13, 2001: Singles". Music Week. 11 August 2001. p. 23.
  2. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting October 22, 2001: Singles". Music Week. 20 October 2001. p. 29.
  3. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 3rd December 2001" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 3 December 2001. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Five | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  5. ^ "5ive > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
  6. ^ "Kingsize". Amazon. 24 December 2001.
  7. ^ "Amazon: Buying Choices: Kingsize". Amazon.
  8. ^ a b c "CD Review". Penarth Times. 20 September 2001. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d "Five: Kingsize, PopMatters". PopMatters. 26 August 2001. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d Gleeson, Sineád (13 September 2001). "Five – Kingsize". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Five – Kingsize". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Ultratop.be – Five – Kingsize" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Five – Kingsize" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Billboard". 15 September 2001.
  15. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Five – Kingsize" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2001. 41. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  17. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Five". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  18. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Five – Kingsize". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  19. ^ "FIVEのアルバム売上ランキング". ORICON NEWS.
  20. ^ "Charts.nz – Five – Kingsize". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  22. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Five – Kingsize". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  23. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Five – Kingsize". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  24. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  25. ^ "The Official UK Albums Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  26. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  27. ^ "British album certifications – Five – Kingsize". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  28. ^ "Five – Kingsize". iTunes Store (Apple Inc.). Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  29. ^ "Five – Kingsize". iTunes Store (Apple Inc.). Retrieved 13 May 2013.
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