Greatest Day -- Take That Present: The Circus Live

Audio Mixers: Richard Flack; Bob Clearmountain.
Recording information: Abbey Road; Smecky Music Studios, Prague; Wembley Stadium.
Illustrator: James Taylor .
Photographers: Rick Guest; David Hogan.
A DVD/CD souvenir of Take That's successful comeback tour, The Circus Live documents the group's two-night stand at Wembley Stadium in July 2009. Given the size of the venue, it follows that spectacle was key to Take That's performance, something that translates visually a little better than aurally where the parade of hits -- assisted by several medleys and an odd solo spotlight -- feels like nothing more than the well-oiled greatest-hits machine it is. Of course, Take That never hid that they were pros, so such slickness has appeal providing that you're dialed in on their wavelength -- and if you're entertaining the idea of listening/purchasing to a 2009 live set from Take That, you are probably riding that wave. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine