The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits

The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits
Greatest hits album by Girls Aloud
Released 23 October 2006
Recorded 2002–2006
Genre Pop
Length 56:01
Label Fascination
Producer
Girls Aloud chronology
The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits
(2006)		 Ten
(2012)
Singles from The Sound of Girls Aloud
  1. "Something Kinda Ooooh"
    Released: 23 October 2006
  2. "I Think We're Alone Now"
    Released: 18 December 2006

The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album of English-Irish girl group Girls Aloud. It was first released in the United Kingdom through a limited edition on 23 October 2006, while the standard version was released on 30 October 2006. The Sound of Girls Aloud features twelve of the group's singles, two of which reached number one in the UK. The album features three new tracks, with "Something Kinda Ooooh" and "I Think We're Alone Now" being released as singles and peaking inside the top five on the UK Singles Chart.

The Sound of Girls Aloud received positive reviews from critics, who praised it as a reflection of the group's success. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number one, making it Girls Aloud's first album to do so. It also peaked at number nine on the Irish Albums Chart. In 2009, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) recognised The Sound of Girls Aloud as one of the nine albums that year to sell at least 1 million units in Europe.

Release and content

On 6 October 2006, Girls Aloud announced that they would release their first compilation album, following rumours that they would split after Chemistry (2005).[1] A limited edition of The Sound of Girls Aloud was released in the United Kingdom on 23 October.[2][3] The limited edition included a bonus disc with alternate edits of the group's previous singles "No Good Advice" and "Wake Me Up", and unreleased tracks, including a cover of "Sacred Trust", originally recorded by fellow Popstars: The Rivals contestants One True Voice.[4] The bonus disc was also going to include a cover of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game",[1] however, the track did not make onto the final track listing.[4]

The standard version of the compilation album was released the following week, on 30 October.[5] The regular track listing includes three new tracks: "Something Kinda Ooooh", "Money" and a cover of Tommy James and the Shondells's 1967 single "I Think We're Alone Now".[5] Originally, a cover of "What A Feeling" from the film Flashdance was included on the track list instead of "I Think We're Alone Now", but Girls Aloud contacted the record label three days before the album was manufactured to say they would rather record the Tommy James and the Shondells song.[6] The group recorded the song the following morning and the album was mastered three days later.[6] Apart from the new tracks, the album contains twelve of the group's previous singles, two of which reached number one in the UK: "Sound of the Underground" and "I'll Stand by You".[5]

According to Irish bandmate Nadine Coyle, the first draft of the artwork included only the Union Jack, but she demanded the addition of the flag of Ireland.[7] However, the flag appears upside-down on the cover.

Reception

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[5]
BBC Music(very positive)[8]
The Guardian[9]
Pitchfork Media(8.5/10)[10]
Stylus Magazine'(A)[11]
The Times[12]

The Sound of Girls Aloud received positive reviews from critics. Talia Kraines of BBC Music called the album "a journey through the most exciting and daring pop music of recent times" and went on to add that "this reality band has surpassed all expectations,"[8] while Paul Scott of Stylus Magazine described it as "an irreverent party through the last 30 odd years of pop, taking inspiration from the most unexpected of places" and hailed Girls Aloud as "the finest singles band Britain [sic] has produced this decade."[11] Allmusic reviewer Andy Kellman noted the album for making "an ideal introduction" to the group, and said that the three new songs would most likely "keep the group's remarkable streak of dominance afloat."[5] Dan Cairns of The Times gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, stating that Girls Aloud's personality flows "through unimpeachable, sugar-rush pop singles" such as "Something Kinda Ooooh", "The Show" and "Sound of the Underground".[12]

Pitchfork Media critic Tim Finney described the album as "a whirlwind trip through bizarre but lovable pop gadgetry that may leave the uninitiated reeling."[10] He complimented the songs' "deathless hooks and multi-genre pyrotechnics" and noted that they are diverse, varying from different genres while embracing "elements of electroclash, big beat, and even skiffle."[10] Leonie Cooper of The Guardian characterised the album as "slick ... near-faultless high-octane pop all the way"; however, she felt that the ballads were not really necessary, as "Girls Aloud sound far more exciting when they're simply having fun".[9]

Chart performance

The Sound of Girls Aloud became Girls Aloud's first album to debut at number one in the United Kingdom, and stayed on the UK Albums Chart for a total of 38 weeks.[13] On 24 November 2007, Mark Sutherland of Billboard reported that the album had already sold a total of 767,000 units in the country.[14] On the week ending 2 November 2006, the album debuted at number 13 on the Irish Albums Chart, rising to a new peak of number nine the following week.[15] It was certified Platinum by the Irish Recorded Music Association, denoting shipments of 15,000 units in the country alone.[16] On 29 January 2009, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) recognised The Sound of Girls Aloud as one of the nine albums that year to sell at least 1 million units in Europe.[17] As of 21 March 2013, the album has sold over 1,2 million units in Europe.[18]

Promotion

Singles

"Something Kinda Ooooh" was released on 16 October 2006 as the lead single from The Sound of Girls Aloud, one week prior to the album's release.[19] The track debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart on download sales alone,[20] before reaching its peak position at number three on the week ending 4 November 2006.[21] The accompanying music video was directed by Stuart Gosling and produced by Jon Adams, and features the group "singing and dancing glamorously".[22] "I Think We're Alone Now" was chosen as the second and final single from the album, being released on 18 December.[23] The song peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart during Christmas week.[24] The music video was directed by Alex Hemming and Nick Collett, and portrays Girls Aloud in an attempt to rob a Las Vegas casino.[25]

Tour

In 2007, Girls Aloud went on a tour of the same name to further promote the album. The announcement of the tour and the recording of their fourth studio album helped to stop rumours that the band were splitting up, which had surfaced due to the release of their greatest hits album.[26][27] The show received mixed reviews from music critics, with Dave Simpson of The Guardian saying that the group "fare best when they are playing their own songs,"[28] while a critic for Daily Mail deemed it the group's "raunchiest tour ever [...] there was singing and dancing, but the stand out element of Girls Aloud's latest tour: sex appeal a-go-go."[27]

Track listing

All tracks were produced by Xenomania. Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits.

Standard edition: Fascination / FASC017 (UK)
No. TitleWriter(s)Album Length
1. "Sound of the Underground"  
Sound of the Underground 3:41
2. "Love Machine"  
  • Cooper
  • Higgins
  • Tim Powell
  • Nick Coler
  • Lisa Cowling
  • Myra Boyle
  • Shawn Lee
What Will the Neighbours Say? 3:25
3. "Biology"  
  • Cooper
  • Higgins
  • Powell
  • Cowling
  • Giselle Sommerville
Chemistry 3:35
4. "No Good Advice"  
Sound of the Underground 3:48
5. "I'll Stand by You"  
What Will the Neighbours Say? 3:43
6. "Jump"  
  • Steve Mitchell
  • Marti Sharron
  • Gary Skardina
Sound of the Underground (Re-issue) and What Will the Neighbours Say? 3:39
7. "The Show"  
  • Cooper
  • Higgins
  • Powell
  • Cowling
  • Jon Shave
  • Xenomania
What Will the Neighbours Say? 3:36
8. "See the Day"  Dee C. LeeChemistry 4:04
9. "Wake Me Up"  
  • Cooper
  • Higgins
  • Powell
  • Cowling
  • Lee
  • Paul Woods
  • Yusra Maru'e
What Will the Neighbours Say? 3:27
10. "Life Got Cold"  
  • Cooper
  • Higgins
  • Coler
  • Cowling
  • Xenomania
Sound of the Underground 3:57
11. "Something Kinda Ooooh"  
  • Cooper
  • Higgins
  • Powell
  • Coler
  • Sommerville
  • Jody Lei
Previously unreleased 3:22
12. "Whole Lotta History"  
  • Cooper
  • Higgins
  • Cowling
  • Sommerville
  • Tim "Rolf" Larcombe, Xenomania
Chemistry 3:47
13. "Long Hot Summer"  
  • Cooper
  • Higgins
  • Sommerville
  • Boyle
  • Lee
  • Larcombe
Chemistry 3:52
14. "Money"  
  • Cooper
  • Higgins
  • Powell
  • Coler
  • Cowling
Previously unreleased 4:13
15. "I Think We're Alone Now"  
  • Ritchie Cordell
  • Tommy James
Previously unreleased 3:18
Total length:
 56:01

Personnel

Credits adapted from Allmusic.[31]

  • Dick Beetham – mastering
  • Greg Bone – guitar
  • Myra Boyle – composer
  • Jack Clark – engineer
  • Nick Coler – bass, composer, guitar, keyboard programming, keyboards, programming
  • Miranda Cooper – composer, programming
  • Lisa Cowling – composer
  • Girls Aloud – primary artist
  • Matt Gray – keyboards, programming
  • Brian Higgins – composer, keyboards, mixing, producer, programming
  • Ash Howes – mixing
  • Chrissie Hynde – composer
  • Tom Kelly – composer
  • Tim "Rolf" Larcombe – composer, guitar, keyboards, programming
  • Shawn Lee – composer, drums, guitar, guitar (bass)
  • Steve Mitchell – composer
  • Yoad Nevo – programming
  • Lene Grawford Nystrøm – composer
  • Tim Powell – composer, keyboards, mixing, programming
  • Peter Manning Robinson – liner notes
  • Niara Scarlett – composer
  • Toby Scott – keyboards
  • Marti Sharron – composer
  • Jon Shave – composer, keyboards, production assistant, programming
  • Giselle Sommerville – composer
  • Billy Steinberg – composer
  • Matt Tait – mixing
  • Will Thom – photography
  • Jeremy Wheatley – mixing, producer
  • Andy Wood – bass
  • Paul Woods – composer, programming
  • Xenomania – composer

Charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position
Irish Albums Chart[15] 9
UK Albums Chart[13] 1

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Ireland (IRMA)[16] Platinum 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] 4× Platinum 1,200,000[18]
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[33] Platinum 1,000,000*

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

Release history

Country Date Format Label
United Kingdom 23 October 2006[2] CD – limited edition Universal Music
30 October 2006[5] CD – standard edition
United States 26 June 2007[30] Digital download Polydor Records

References

  1. 1 2 Diver, Mike (6 October 2006). "Girls Aloud best-of announced". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 Birchmeier, Jason (23 October 2006). "The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits (Bonus CD)". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "Amazon.com: Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits (Bonus CD): Girls Aloud Music". Amazon.com. 26 October 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  4. 1 2 "liner notes". The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits (Limited Edition) (booklet). Girls Aloud. London, England: Fascination Records. 2006.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kellman, Andy (30 October 2006). "The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  6. 1 2 Robinson, Peter (2009). "I Think We're Alone Now". The Singles Boxset (Booklet). Girls Aloud. London, England: Fascination Records. pp. 32–33.
  7. ↑ "Nadine Coyle: I demanded an Irish flag for Girls Aloud album cover". Hot Press. Niall Stokes. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  8. 1 2 Kraines, Talia (14 November 2006). "Girls Aloud The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits Review". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  9. 1 2 Cooper, Leonie (15 December 2006). "Girls Aloud, The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits (Fascination)". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 Finney, Tim (14 December 2006). "Girls Aloud / Sugababes The Sound of Girls Aloud / Overloaded". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  11. 1 2 Scott, Paul (8 January 2007). "Girls Aloud The Sound of Girls Aloud Fascination/Polydor 2006". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  12. 1 2 Cairns, Dan (17 December 2006). "Girls Aloud: The Sound of Girls Aloud". The Times. Times Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  13. 1 2 "Girls Aloud – Artist > Albums". UK Albums Chart. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  14. ↑ Sutherland, Mark (24 November 2007). "Aloud and Clear". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  15. 1 2 "Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 9 November 2006". Irish Albums Chart. Irish Recorded Music Association. 9 November 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  16. 1 2 "2006 Certification Awards – Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  17. ↑ Williams, Paul (29 January 2009). "Take That shine among IFPI Platinum elite". Music Week. Joe Hosken. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  18. 1 2 Caulfield, Keith (21 March 2013). "Girls Aloud: A Whole Lotta Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  19. ↑ "Something Kinda Oooh – Single by Girls Aloud". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  20. ↑ "US punk band retains chart lead". BBC News. BBC. 22 October 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  21. ↑ "2006 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive – 4 November". UK Singles Chart. Official Charts Company. 4 November 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  22. ↑ "Baraka's Eliot Milbourn gives new Girls Aloud promo funky effects". UK Screen Association. 18 October 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  23. ↑ "I Think We're Alone Now – EP by Girls Aloud". iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. 18 December 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  24. ↑ "X Factor's Leona has festive No 1". BBC News. BBC. 25 December 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  25. ↑ "Girls have Christmas all tied up". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  26. ↑ "Girls Aloud: "We're Not Splitting!"". MTV. MTV Networks. 16 April 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  27. 1 2 "Girls Aloud launch raunchiest tour ever". Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers. 15 May 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  28. ↑ Simpson, Dave (18 May 2007). "Girls Aloud at Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  29. ↑ "The Sound of Girls Aloud by Girls Aloud". iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. 30 October 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  30. 1 2 "The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits (Digital Download – Decca / Universal Music)". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. 26 June 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  31. ↑ "The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits – Girls Aloud : Credits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  32. ↑ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (To access, enter the search parameter "Girls Aloud" and select "Search by Keyword") on 11 January 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  33. ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2006". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
Preceded by
Rudebox by Robbie Williams		 UK number one album
5 November 2006 – 11 November 2006 		Succeeded by
High Times: Singles 1992-2006 by Jamiroquai

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