Take That enjoys major sales in UK album launch

London: Take That, which reunited with estranged star Robbie Williams, became the first band in Britain this century to sell more than half a million albums in one week, the UK`s Official Charts Company said on Sunday.The five-member group, looking considerably less boyish than in their original 1990s heyday, have seen their star soar since Williams rejoined them in the summer.

Their new album "Progress" enjoyed the biggest opening week of any album in Britain in 13 years, selling nearly 520,000 copies, the Charts Company said. It was the biggest opening week for an album in Britain since Oasis`s "Be Here Now." Williams quit the group in the 1990s for a solo career as Britain`s top pop star, although he never managed to repeat his success in the biggest market of all, the United States. Take That re-formed without Williams in 2006 and had two hit albums as a foursome before Williams decided to rejoin. Bureau Report