Track Listing

1. Love Won't Wait
2. So Help Me Girl
3. My Commitment
4. Hang On In There Baby
5. Are You Ready Now
6. Everything I Ever Wanted
7. I Fall So Deep
8. Lay Down For Love
9. Forever Love
10. Never Knew
11. Open Road
12. Always

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4169 in Music
• Released on: 1999-09-04
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

Amazon.co.uk Review
Former front-man of successful boy-band Take That, Gary Barlow's self-assured debut album is his attempt to be taken seriously as a credible pop talent. Barlow penned exactly half the tracks on Open Road, with a mixture of co-written, cover versions and specially commissioned tracks filling the rest of the album. His interpretations of Johnny Bristol's, "Hang On In There Baby"--produced by pop master Trevor Horn--and Shep Pettibone's "Love Won't Wait" are particularly illuminating. However, by far the best songs on this album are the ones solely composed by Gary, which highlight his ability to write addictive and emotive melodies, especially the title track, a soulful and candid account of self-discovery, and "Forever Love", a tear-jerking song of funereal magnitude. --John Galilee

Customer Reviews

a classic gary album
After Take That disbanded, I had been expecting Gary's solo album as he is the one I fancy most among the 5 lads.This was a typical Gary album,full of easy catching ballads. I was not surprised as it was as good as I expected. And the most important is that this album led me to know my very first love when I was in college.

He was standing on the stage, singing So Help Me Girl and the voice touched me. I fell in love at first sight. We'd been together for a period of time. Gary's music was our favorite topic. Though we splitted later but that was the happiest time in my life.

My fav in this album are My Commitment, Never Knew,Forever Love.

Go On Then, Gary!
Open Road is the solo debut of former Take That singer Gary Barlow. Take That, a major act in the UK and Europe, only accheived one hit here in the US with a song called "Back for Good".

Though other artists wrote most of the hit songs featured on this album, Gary's contributions do demonstrate that he is more than just a former teen idol. The title song is a reflective piece in which Gary comes to the realization that the person he's been waiting to rescue him was he himself. Also included is "Forever Love", the first single from the UK release (but not released as a single here in the US).

Among the highlights of the album, Gary does a version of a Madonna-penned song entitled "Love Won't Wait", a remake of Joe Diffie's "So Help Me Girl", a Spice Girls reject entitled "Lay Down For Love", and a cover of the old 70's classic "Hang On In There Baby". The album, good as it is, still seems a bit weak as many of the themes, rhythms, and melodies are similar. Otherwise the performance Gary delivers is wonderful.

An outstanding album for the Gary Barlow fan
If you love Take That, you will love this whole album. It is typical of Gary's style and provides his fans with endless enjoyment whatever your mood