Following on from the huge success of "What Will The Neighbours Say", third album "Chemistry" had a lot to live up to.  And it seemed to do just that when the album gave Girls Aloud widespread critical acclaim from just about everyone who reviewed it, including broadsheets, tabloids, magazines and music websites.

The album was released in two formats - a normal 1 CD version, and a limited edition 2 CD version with a bonus Christmas CD featuring well known covers and new Christmas themed tracks.

Released at the beginning of December 2005 and containing "Long Hot Summer" (#7) and "Biology" (#4), there was worry that the album might suffer in the Christmas rush.  Despite debuting with very strong sales of 82,000 in its first week, just short of the "What Will The Neighbours Say?" opening total, the album actually missed the Top 10 altogether, debuting and peaking at the frustrating position of #11 - their first and only release so far not to reach the Top 10. 

Despite this disappointing position, the actual sales figures for "Chemistry" were fantastic over the Christmas period - and in its third week (the actual Christmas week) the album sold just short of 100,000 copies - a career high, and a major step up from their debut album, which had struggled to sell a similar amount over a period of three months. 

To date "Chemistry" has sold over 350,000 copies in total.  Like "What Will The Neighbours Say?", the momentum of the album was cut short due to just one single being released afterwards ("Whole Lotta History").  In fact, with a peak of #11 and just 10 weeks in the Top 75, you'd be forgiven for thinking the album had been something of a flop for Girls Aloud.  However, it did very well considering this album gave the group their worst performing singles to date - just one out of four releases managed to reach Top 5 at all.  When compared to their first album "Sound Of The Underground", a #2 with 20 weeks on the chart, which saw all of its four releases go Top 3 it is interesting to note that it actually sold less than "Chemistry" in total.

The 1 CD version of "Chemistry" featured in Woolworth's summer 2006 sale, retailed for £5, and caused it to climb back into the Top 200, peaking at #102.  Further price cuts in September (it sold for as low as £1.99 in Sainsbury's) saw the album re-enter the charts at #81, the highest the album has been since "Whole Lotta History" was released.

11-20-17-29-39-56-55-77-98-127-145-123-133-66-61-71-97-137-128-101-139-162-186-
OUT-194(re)-159-152-108-102-127-OUT-81(re)-97-90-121-OUT

34-36-33-31-51-67-OUT

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UK Release Date: 5th December 2005

1. Intro [0.42]
2. Models [3.28]
3. Biology [3.35]
4. Wild Horses [3.23]
5. See The Day [4.04]
6. Watch Me Go [4.05]
7. Waiting [4.13]
8. Whole Lotta History [3.47]
9. Long Hot Summer [3.52]
10. Swinging London Town [4.02]
11. It's Magic [3.52]
12. No Regrets [3.21] *UK Bonus Track*
13. Racy Lacey [3.06] *UK Bonus Track*
 
1. Intro [0.42]
2. Models [3.28]
3. Biology [3.35]
4. Wild Horses [3.23]
5. See The Day [4.04]
6. Watch Me Go [4.05]
7. Waiting [4.13]
8. Whole Lotta History [3.47]
9. Long Hot Summer [3.52]
10. Swinging London Town [4.02]
11. It's Magic [3.52]
12. No Regrets *UK Bonus Track* [3.21]
13. Racy Lacey *UK Bonus Track* [3.06]

1. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday [3.59]
2. I Wanna Kiss You So (Christmas In A Nutshell) [3.36]
3. Jingle Bell Rock [1.57]
4. Not Tonight Santa [2.42]
5. White Christmas [2.57]
6. Count The Days [3.54]
7. Christmas Round At Ours [3.02]
8. Merry Xmas Everybody [3.43]

Note: This was a strictly limited edition release at Christmas time, and is now no longer widely available in music stores.

 


[Chemistry spent 10 weeks in the UK Top 75 / 33 weeks in the UK Top 200]
[Chemistry spent 6 weeks in the Irish Top 75]
 

First Week Sales: 81,962
Total Sales: 370,638 [up to 30/12/07]

Previous figures:

357,684 [up to 28/01/07]
351,696 [in first 48 weeks]
306,490 [in first 15 weeks]

EOY 2005 Position: #74
Certificate = Platinum
Albums: | Sound Of The Underground | What Will The Neighbours Say? | Chemistry |
| The Sound Of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits  | Tangled Up | Out Of Control |
   

Singles:

 | Sound Of The Underground | No Good Advice | Life Got Cold | Jump | The Show | Love Machine |
 | I'll Stand By You | Wake Me Up | Long Hot Summer | Biology | See The Day | Whole Lotta History |
| Something Kinda Ooooh | I Think We're Alone Now | Walk This Way |
| Sexy! No No No... | Call The Shots | Can't Speak French | The Promise |