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Right Now (Atomic Kitten album)

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Right Now
Original UK cover
Studio album by
Atomic Kitten
Released16 March 2000 (2000-03-16)[1]
Genre
Length38:07
Label
Producer
Atomic Kitten chronology
Right Now
(2000) 		Feels So Good
(2002)
Alternative covers
2001 re-issued cover featuring replacement member Jenny Frost.
Singles from Right Now
  1. "Right Now"
    Released: 29 November 1999[2]
  2. "See Ya"
    Released: 27 March 2000[3]
  3. "I Want Your Love"
    Released: 3 July 2000[4]
  4. "Daydream Believer"
    Released: 26 July 2000 (Japan only)[5]
  5. "Follow Me"
    Released: 9 October 2000[6]
  6. "Whole Again"
    Released: 29 January 2001[7]
  7. "Eternal Flame"
    Released: 23 July 2001[8]
  8. "You Are"
    Released: 26 November 2001[9]

Right Now is the debut studio album by English girl group Atomic Kitten, released on 16 March 2000. The first release of the album originally peaked at number 39, putting the group at risk of being dropped by their record label. Following the departure of Kerry Katona in January 2001, the album was re-released on 6 August 2001 featuring vocals from new member Jenny Frost with additional new tracks featured on the album. The re-release was a success, peaking at number 1. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark members and Atomic Kitten founders, Andy McCluskey and Stuart Kershaw, were among the album's principal songwriters.

Background

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There are three versions of the album: the rare original Japanese release, the original UK edition which peaked at number thirty-nine, and the re-issue which topped the UK Albums Chart.

Atomic Kitten embarked on an Asian tour early on in their career and the album was first released in Japan. One of the early ideas for Atomic Kitten was that of an animated pop band influenced by Japanese anime and manga; leading to the original version of Right Now being highly bubblegum pop-oriented. Right Now was subsequently released in the United Kingdom on 23 October 2000 with a slightly modified track listing, but at first there were no plans to focus on the worldwide market. When Kerry Katona left the band during the promotion of "Whole Again", she was replaced by Jenny Frost. After the success of "Whole Again", the video was reshot and the album was re-released globally except for the United States with Frost's vocals added to a number of tracks, including a newly recorded cover song, "Eternal Flame", as well as an additional single for the European, Australian, South African and New Zealand audiences, "You Are", giving the album a more mature pop sound.

A combination of tracks from this album and their next album Feels So Good were later included on a 2003 compilation album for the United States entitled Atomic Kitten.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
NME[11] (original)
NME[12] (reissue)
RTÉ[13]

Right Now received generally mixed reviews from music critics. AllMusic rated the album four out of five stars.[10] Andrew Wagstaff from British music website NME called Right Now "a fizzing pop album; unashamedly fun, funky and shot through with class. Really. It’s a belter." He found that "instead of padding out the [latter] half an hour or so with boring, boring ballads and ill-conceived cover versions, there are at least four or five [more] songs on Right Now that would make great singles [...] Atomic Kitten have scored a brilliant victory for pure pop."[11]

In a less enthusiastic review of the 2001 re-release of Right Now, his colleague Steven Wells wrote that "the fact is that Atomic Kitten have conquered the ickle girl, camp gay and dirty ole man markets and, for this week (and this week only), they are the cock-a-hoop, lustily crowing ding-dong King Kongs of Britpop. Which leaves only one (hugely irrelevant) question: is the rest of the album any frikkin’good? And the answer is (of course): No, don’t be daft. It’s shite."[12] John Raftery, writing for RTÉ, found that "the album is a 14-track wade through the most risible, sugary mess you could ever find yourself in [...]The fact that three young women are performing it does not excuse the excruciating boredom and, frankly, disquiet, that listening to the orgasmic pleadings of these three creates [...] This album may be the first sign of the decline of Western civilisation as we know it – or just the worst record of the new millennium."[13]

Chart performance

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The original version of the album debuted at number thirty-nine, dropping to seventy-four in its second week.[14] It spent a total of four weeks on the chart. It was re-issued due to the success of "Whole Again", where it topped the charts. It stayed in the top 100 for thirty-seven weeks.[14] It was eventually certified double platinum. In Switzerland, the album debuted at number twenty-six. However, it wasn't until fourteen weeks later that the album reached its peak position of number four. This was around the time of the release of "Eternal Flame". It was certified gold. The album was also peaked at number four and was certified gold in Denmark. The album also reached the top ten in Germany, Austria, Belgium, and the Republic of Ireland. In New Zealand the album was certified platinum in and it peaked at number twelve, managing to spend twenty-five weeks on the chart. In Australia, the album peaked at number eighty-six, something the group was not expecting after "Whole Again" was certified double platinum. The album peaked at sixty-one in France.

Editions

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There are three versions of the album: the original Japanese edition and the original UK edition were released with the original line-up featuring Kerry Katona, while the re-issue was released with the second line-up featuring Jenny Frost.

The original Japanese edition was released first and features rare versions of various tracks. The album features an exclusive song entitled "Real Life", the final mix version of "Holiday" (included as the B-side to the single "Whole Again" in demo form), demo versions of "Cradle", "I Want Your Love" (titled "All the Right Things"), and "Whole Again" (mainly featuring Katona speaking all of the verses), and an exclusive remix of "Right Now".

The original UK edition features a different track listing. Replacing "Holiday" and "Real Life" are "Get Real", "Turn Me On" and the fourth single "Follow Me". Also included are new versions of "I Want Your Love", "Cradle", and "Whole Again" (where the verses are sung by Natasha Hamilton and Liz McClarnon); the latter song reaching No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart when released as a single. The Japanese edition was re-released to match the UK edition and featured a bonus cover of the Monkees' "Daydream Believer".

Due to the success of "Whole Again" and Katona's departure from the group, a re-issue was released in the UK featuring a new track order and re-recordings of songs to feature Frost performing Katona's solo parts, such as "Right Now" and "Whole Again". "See Ya" and "I Want Your Love" were not re-recorded and were relegated to bonus tracks at the end of the album, while "Do What You Want" was excluded in favour of new songs "Tomorrow & Tonight", "You Are" and the re-issue's lead single (sixth overall), "Eternal Flame", which would become another big hit for the group, becoming their second No. 1. "Bye Now" was also re-recorded with a new arrangement and newly added vocals from Frost. "Cradle" was not re-recorded, but was slightly remixed for the reissue.

The UK re-issue is the only edition available through digital outlets like iTunes. However, this edition replaces the ballad-like album version of "Eternal Flame" with the commercial mid-tempo single version ("You Are" remains the album version).

Track listing

[edit]
Original Japan release (2000)[15]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Right Now"
Absolute3:35
2."See Ya"
2:52
3."Hippy"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
Engine2:50
4."All The Right Things"
3:19
5."Whole Again"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • Engine
3:19
6."Cradle"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • Peter Strudwick
Simon Franglen3:18
7."Real Life"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • Jan Carr
Engine3:18
8."Do What You Want"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
Engine3:43
9."Bye Now"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • Engine
  • Pete Cragie
3:57
10."Holiday"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
Cutfather & Joe3:05
11."Strangers"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
Engine2:49
12."Right Now" (Dance Man Remix)
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • Absolute
  • Dance Man[a]
4:10
Original UK release (2000)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Right Now"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
Absolute3:35
2."Follow Me"
3:15
3."Cradle"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • Strudwick
Quiz & Larossi3:45
4."I Want Your Love" (album version)
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • McClarnon
  • Drummond
  • Cauty
  • Ricardo Lyte
  • Moross
  • Mendis
  • Bradbury
3:15
5."See Ya"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • McClarnon
  • Engine
  • Craigie
  • Cutfather & Joe[a]
2:52
6."Whole Again"
3:03
7."Bye Now"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • Engine
  • Cragie
3:57
8."Get Real"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
Engine3:39
9."Turn Me On"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
Engine3:40
10."Do What You Want"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
Engine4:02
11."Hippy"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
Engine2:48
12."Strangers"
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
Engine2:44
Japanese bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Daydream Believer"John StewartK-Muto3:07
UK reissue (2001)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Right Now" (1)
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • Absolute
  • Engine[b]
3:35
2."Follow Me" (2)
  • Abbot
  • Eker
  • Joseph
  • Robson
  • Kearney
  • Steel
  • Holliday
  • Quiet Money[a]
3:15
3."Whole Again" (1)
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • Padley
  • Godfrey
3:05
4."Eternal Flame" (1)
Ray Ruffin3:30
5."Tomorrow and Tonight" (1)
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • Ray Ruffin
  • Ruffin
  • Engine[b]
3:26
6."Get Real" (2)
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
Engine3:40
7."Turn Me On" (2)
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
Engine3:42
8."Hippy" (1)
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
Engine2:50
9."You Are" (1)
Mac3:33
10."Cradle" (alternate mix) (2)
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • Strudwick
  • Quiz & Larossi
  • Ruffin[b]
3:50
11."Bye Now" (1)
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • Engine
  • Spiral[b]
3:32
12."Strangers" (2)
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • Engine
  • Craige[b]
2:44
13."See Ya" (2)
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • McClarnon
  • Engine
  • Craigie
2:52
14."I Want Your Love" (album version) (2)
  • Kershaw
  • McCluskey
  • McClarnon
  • Moross
  • Mendis
  • Bradbury
  • Engine[b]
3:15

Notes

  • ^a signifies remix and additional production
  • ^b signifies additional production
  • ^c signifies a vocal producer
  • 1 features vocals by Jenny Frost
  • 2 features vocals by Kerry Katona

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[36] Gold 25,000^
Germany (BVMI)[37] Gold 150,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[38] Platinum 15,000^
South Africa (RISA)[39] Gold 25,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[40] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[41] 2× Platinum 600,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Right Now release history
Region Date Edition Label
Japan 16 March 2000 Original Virgin
United Kingdom 23 October 2000
Worldwide 6 August 2001 Re-issue

References

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  1. ^ "ライト・ナウ | アトミック・キトゥン" [Right Now | Atomic Kitten] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  2. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 29 November, 1999: Singles". Music Week. 27 November 1999. p. 23.
  3. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting March 27, 2000: Singles". Music Week. 25 March 2000. p. 35.
  4. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting July 3, 2000: Singles". Music Week. 1 July 2000. p. 23.
  5. ^ "デイドリーム・ビリーヴァー | アトミック・キトゥン" [Daydream Believer | Atomic Kitten] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  6. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting October 9, 2000". Music Week. 7 October 2000. p. 29.
  7. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting January 29, 2001: Singles". Music Week. 27 January 2001. p. 39.
  8. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting July 23, 2001: Singles". Music Week. 21 July 2001. p. 27.
  9. ^ Evans, Beverley (12 January 2002). "Airborne". Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 2–3. p. 12.
  10. ^ a b Right Now at AllMusic
  11. ^ a b Wagstaff, Andrew. "Atomic Kitten : Right Now". NME. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  12. ^ a b Wells, Steven. "Atomic Kitten : Right Now". NME. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  13. ^ a b Raftery, John (13 September 2001). "Atomic Kitten – Right Now". RTÉ. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  14. ^ a b "The Official Charts Company – Atomic Kitten – Right Now". 18 October 2012.
  15. ^ "Atomic Kitten Right Now Japanese Promo CD album (CDLP) (167838)". eil.com.
  16. ^ a b "Atomic Kitten | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  17. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  18. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Atomic Kitten – Right Now" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  19. ^ "Ultratop.be – Atomic Kitten – Right Now" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  20. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Atomic Kitten – Right Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  21. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Atomic Kitten – Right Now" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  22. ^ "Atomic Kitten Blasts Onto European Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  23. ^ "Lescharts.com – Atomic Kitten – Right Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  24. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Atomic Kitten – Right Now" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  25. ^ "Tonlist Top 10". Fréttablaðið. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  26. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Atomic Kitten". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  27. ^ "Charts.nz – Atomic Kitten – Right Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  28. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  29. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Atomic Kitten – Right Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  30. ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 2001". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  31. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2001". Ultratop. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  32. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts (2001)". Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  33. ^ "Schweizer Hitparade – Album Charts 2001". Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  34. ^ "2001 UK Albums Chart" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  35. ^ "UK Year-End Charts 2002" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  36. ^ "Danish album certifications – Atomic Kitten – Right Now". IFPI Danmark.
  37. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Atomic Kitten; 'Right Now')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  38. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Atomic Kitten – Right Now". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  39. ^ "Atomic Kitten at Canal Walk". Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  40. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Right Now')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  41. ^ "British album certifications – Atomic Kitten – Right Now". British Phonographic Industry.
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