De Niro

Williams: Solo album 'a compromise' http://media.tcm.ie/media/images/r/RobbieWilliamsComebackGigOct09PA.jpg Breakingnews.ie 21/10/2010 - 13:11:22 Robbie Williams has dismissed his last solo album as a "compromise" - and admitted his comeback single 'Bodies' was "gibberish". The star - who has now rejoined Take That - said he was more interested in secretly working with the group than he was in promoting his own 2009 release. In an interview with Q magazine, to be published next week, he confessed his 'Reality Killed The Video Star' album was something of a "panic" measure. Williams said the words to 'Bodies' made little sense. "A great track but the lyrics are f***ing gibberish. You look at them and go 'stop watching documentaries, you knob'," he said. "Who knows what I was going on about? I was f***ing stoned. The edge had gone." He said 'Reality' was a reaction to the drubbing his previous release 'Rudebox' had been given. "When suddenly you're not on top of the wave any more and the imperial phase is over, you panic," he said. "You're left to compromise, basically. The last album was schizophrenic - it was like, I'll put 'Morning Sun' on it because I know (the fans) will like that kind of thing." Williams said he was disappointed to have to break off from working on his Take That comeback to head out to promote 'Reality Killed The Video Star'. "I was gutted about it. And unfortunately for EMI, disinterested," Williams told Q, which is out on Tuesday. Williams is at number one in the album charts with his greatest hits package 'In And Out Of Consciousness'. Take That's new album 'Progress', featuring Williams, will be released on November 22. Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/entertainment/w...l#ixzz130Ex5bPb

Who and singing what - but only a rumour so far. If true - pretty shocking that Gary is taking such a dramatic step back and getting only one full solo. I find that a little hard to believe tbh - and another thing - why on earth are there only 10 tracks? If the creative process went so amazingly well then surely a double album would be more appropriate after 15 years or at least above the average number of tracks? :lol: The Flood - Robbie & Gary SOS - Robbie Wait - Mark Kidz _ Robbie Pretty Thing - Gary Happy Now - Jason Underground Machine - Mark What do you want from me - Mark Affirmation - Howard Eight Letters - All

#1 in Europe now too - let's hope he makes it to the top on the World Chart as well. :yahoo: Robbie Williams' Hits Set Debuts Atop Euro Chart http://www.billboard.com/photos/stylus/105202-robbie_williams_617_409.jpg October 21, 2010 - Global | Retail | Rock and Pop By Paul Sexton, London Billboard.biz Robbie Williams makes a No. 1 start across Europe with "In and Out of Consciousness - Greatest Hits 1990-2010" (Virgin/EMI). It debuts atop Billboard's European Albums chart as Eminem's "Love The Way You Lie" (Interscope/Universal), featuring Rihanna, starts a third week at the European Hot 100 Singles summit. Williams' retrospective is his ninth solo No. 1 album in the United Kingdom, where opening sales of 121,000 compare with 238,000 for last year's "Reality Killed The Video Star" and 147,000 for "Rudebox" in 2006. The new best-of is also in at No. 1 in Germany and Austria, No. 2 in Ireland, No. 3 in Spain and Holland, and No. 4 in Portugal, Denmark and Switzerland. Source: Billboard

New We Sing Robbie Williams Trailer Released With We Sing Robbie Williams still being three weeks away from its November release, fans of singing at TVs,Original Take That, Robbie Williams and Latest Take That (but not 4 person, non-Robbie, Take That) are literally quivering on their sofas in anticipation. Knowing this, Nordic Games have seen fit to release a new trailer for We Sing Robbie and ease the Manc-pop cravings. The video gives a glimpse of the upcoming sing-along, showing some of the eight multiplayer modes, twenty-six Robbie tracks and hints at extra content on offer in this shrine to Mr Williams. The game will be available for Nintendo Wii in two bundles (one with two microphones and the game, one with just the game) on November 12th, celebrating Robbie’s twenty years in music. And timed neatly to coincide with a recent Greatest Hits recording from Williams. Probably a coincidence. Enjoy the trailer below. =PIES0K9gV18 source:godisageek.com

Take That Cover ‘Q’ Magazine, Reveal ‘Progress’ Tracklist Idolator 20th October 2010 http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af167/therobbiewilliamssiteukau/Take-That-Progress-Q-Magazine.jpg One of Canada’s most respected pop stars has photographed one of the UK’s biggest bands for the December cover of Q magazine. And, no—we’re not referring to Justin Bieber and the Spice Girls. Rather, Bryan Adams—who over the past two decades has built up a respectable second career as celebrity photographer—snapped glossy pics of Take That for the publication. Peek at the mag’s cover and the tracklist for the That’s upcoming album Progress after the jump! Paul Rees, Q’s editor-in-chief, said of the lads, “Even before Robbie [Williams] returned they were arguably the biggest band in Britain. On those factors alone they’d be a Q cover band. The return of Robbie has only magnified that.” http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af167/therobbiewilliamssiteukau/Take-That-Q-Smash-Hits.jpg Take That on Q (2010) and Smash Hits (1995). This marks the first time all five original members of the Manchester act have been featured on the cover of a magazine since 1995. Below is the tracklist for Take That’s upcoming sixth album Progress, which is due out in the UK on November 22. And don’t think we didn’t notice they have a song called “What Do You Want From Me?” (Holy Adam Lambert—what is it with artists doubling up on track titles this year?) 1. The Flood 2. SOS 3. Wait 4. Kidz 5. Pretty Things 6. Happy Now 7. Underground Machine 8. What Do You Want From Me? 9. Affirmation 10. Eight Letters idolator.com via TRWS

Reformed Take That Do Q Magazine, December 2010 20th October 2010 Softpedia Before taking Robbie Williams back and starting work on a new album as a 5-member band again, Take That were considering going by the name The English, the boys reveal in the December 2010 issue of Q Magazine. In the same interview, they also talk about working together after 15 years without Robbie and of constant feuding between him and Gary Barlow, and how they hope their upcoming album will mark a new stage in the band’s evolution. It’s no wonder it’s called “Progress” then. The former teen idols have come a long way, learning to put aside all their differences and to work together for a common goal, that of making music and ensuring their staying power in the industry. Speaking of differences put aside, both Robbie and Gary are very open about the fight that broke up the band and how they acted towards each other in the years that followed it. “[it was] One of the most amazing nights of my life, I went from having a real problem with this person to literally rolling on the floor laughing with him 10 minutes later. We were genuinely sorry that we’d upset each other,” Robbie recalls of the moment they made peace. “[Expletive]-ing right I was [envious],” Gary says of Robbie’s incredible career after the split. “The thing I’ve learned from having Rob back in my life is that it wasn’t being envious of him, it was more that I love being in the industry,” Gary adds. “He was getting all the stuff I wanted. I hated it when he had a pop at me, but it didn’t keep me awake at night. I was just longing to get back into the industry. It was snatched away from me overnight,” he explains. Now that they’re back together, they’re also determined to prove it’s not for nothing they’re the biggest band in Britain at the moment. In fact, another album for the reformed Take That without Robbie Williams wouldn’t even have been possible, Gary insists. “After those last two records the thought of the four of us just going in and doing another... it solved all that Rob coming back. It’s made it interesting,” he says. Starting with the artwork for the forthcoming album: shot by Nadav Kander (who also photographed US President Barack Obama), the cover shows the five members of Take That recreating the famous “ascent of man” image. The album “Progress” is out on November 22 and includes only tracks on which all 5 bandmembers have contributed to in one capacity or another. source: Softpedia.com via TRWS

VERY difficult question. There have been lists compiled a few years back but they are out of date - based on over the counter sales (as oppose to official record company sales/shipments) I'd estimate VERY roughly the following from the above list: 1. The Beatles: 31M 2. Queen: 21.5M 3. Madonna: 19M 4. Elvis: 18.5M 5. Michael Jackson: 18.5 6. U2.: 18.2M 7. Robbie Williams: 17.2M 8. ABBA: 16.5M 9. Oasis: 14.5M 10. Rolling Stones: 13M 11. David Bowie: 12.5M 12. REM: 11M 13. Led Zep: 9.5M 14 Bruce: 8M

U2 to release new album in 'early 2011' Irish Times, October 18, 2010 By: Ronan McGreevy U2 will have a new album out early in the new year, the band's manager Paul McGuinness has said. McGuinness said the band has already debuted several of the songs live, including "Mercy," "Every Breaking Wave," and "Boys Fall from the Sky." The album has been provisionally titled Songs of Ascent. "I would expect a new U2 album sooner than anybody thinks. I would guess early 2011 before the next leg of the American tour which starts in May," he said. McGuinness defended sales figures for U2's last album No Line on the Horizon, which he said had held up "remarkably well" despite the perception that the record had been a flop. It sold "roughly" five million copies, while its 2004 predecessor How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb had sold twice that number. He said record sales across the industry had declined by half because of illegal downloading. McGuinness accused internet service providers such as UPC of being "utterly disingenuous" in stating that they could not be responsible for the behaviour of their customers. © Irish Times, 2010. http://www.atu2.com/news/u2-to-release-new...early-2011.html

Bigger pic http://www.takethat.com/media/11609/tt_progress_300dpi_500x500.jpg

TT album cover has been revealed. A clever idea to go with the title but I dunno - it looks a bit cheap looking. The font and the horrible colour ruin quite a clever idea if you ask me. http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af167/therobbiewilliamssiteukau/Picture5-40-1.png

Looks as though Rob has just reached #1 in Germany now too. :dance: :yahoo: That is also his 9th (consecutive in this case) #1 album in Germany too, just like the UK. And just like the UK - he is the best selling artist of the millennium thus far. ^_^ Some translations: http://www.mediabiz.de/musik/news/robbie-w...kord-auf/296513 The EMI Music singer Robbie Williams is the most successful artists in the German album charts for the past ten years. 28 weeks spent the Briton, according to Media Control in 2000 at the head of the long-play rankings. 135 times he made the jump into the Top Ten. "A unique record in the decade to a close," says Media Control. The most successful was the Take That member here in the "Sing When You're Winning". The album from 2001 was located 105 weeks in the German charts. In second place follows "Greatest Hits" with 102 weeks in the charts. "Swing When You're wining" 81 weeks listed in the rankings, followed by "Escapology" at 68 weeks. Even with his current best-of album Willimas prices remain at the top of the Music Week Top 100 Long Play: "In & Out Of Consciousness: Greatest Hits 1990-2010" is, according to Media Control Trend Charts currently in the "clear ahead of the competition" . In the UK charts has Williams on 17 already put October on the pole. Source: Music Week

Robbie Williams scores his ninth solo number one album Music Week 10:00 | Monday October 18, 2010 By Alan Jones With Robbie Williams’ second hits compilation blasting its way to the top, leadership of the album chart changes hands for the 11th week in a row, but Cee-Lo Green’s Forget You remains atop the singles chart, where it is only the second title out of the last 14 number ones to extend its reign beyond a week. Already the biggest selling albums artist of the 21st century – with sales of 13,339,555 up to last week, 24.19% more than runners-up Westlife’s 10,741,065 – Robbie Williams moves even further ahead, after landing his ninth number one solo album with In And Out Of Consciousness: Greatest Hits 1990-2010 making an emphatic debut at the top, on first week sales of 121,688 copies. Williams’ first number one since Rudebox (2006), it outsold its nearest challenger by a margin in excess of three to one. The only male soloist to have more number ones than Williams is Elvis Presley (10). Securing the second highest weekly sale for an artist album thus far in 2010 - falling short of the mark of 139,438 set by Eminem’s Recovery 16 weeks ago - In And Out Of Consciousness has made a modest start compared to Williams’ previous compilation, Greatest Hits, and also many of his regular album releases. Williams’ previous albums, in reverse chronological order, with first week sales and years shown in brackets, are as follows: Reality Killed The Video Star (238,126, 2009), Rudebox (147,236, 2006), Intensive Care (373,832, 2005), Greatest Hits (320,081, 2004), Live At Knebworth (117,863, 2003), Escapology (264,104, 2002), Swing When You’re Winning (295,024, 2001), Sing When You’re Winning (313,585, 2000), I’ve Been Expecting You (131,836, 1998), Life Thru A Lens (14,533, 1997). Williams has sold 17,285,422 albums since launching his solo career in 1997. Thanks to Mikey

Robbie Williams scores his ninth solo number one album Music Week 10:00 | Monday October 18, 2010 By Alan Jones With Robbie Williams’ second hits compilation blasting its way to the top, leadership of the album chart changes hands for the 11th week in a row, but Cee-Lo Green’s Forget You remains atop the singles chart, where it is only the second title out of the last 14 number ones to extend its reign beyond a week. Already the biggest selling albums artist of the 21st century – with sales of 13,339,555 up to last week, 24.19% more than runners-up Westlife’s 10,741,065 – Robbie Williams moves even further ahead, after landing his ninth number one solo album with In And Out Of Consciousness: Greatest Hits 1990-2010 making an emphatic debut at the top, on first week sales of 121,688 copies. Williams’ first number one since Rudebox (2006), it outsold its nearest challenger by a margin in excess of three to one. The only male soloist to have more number ones than Williams is Elvis Presley (10). Securing the second highest weekly sale for an artist album thus far in 2010 - falling short of the mark of 139,438 set by Eminem’s Recovery 16 weeks ago - In And Out Of Consciousness has made a modest start compared to Williams’ previous compilation, Greatest Hits, and also many of his regular album releases. Williams’ previous albums, in reverse chronological order, with first week sales and years shown in brackets, are as follows: Reality Killed The Video Star (238,126, 2009), Rudebox (147,236, 2006), Intensive Care (373,832, 2005), Greatest Hits (320,081, 2004), Live At Knebworth (117,863, 2003), Escapology (264,104, 2002), Swing When You’re Winning (295,024, 2001), Sing When You’re Winning (313,585, 2000), I’ve Been Expecting You (131,836, 1998), Life Thru A Lens (14,533, 1997). Williams has sold 17,285,422 albums since launching his solo career in 1997. Thanks to Mikey

Yeah it is holding up well on 2nd week sales wise. Here is the performance from London last week. Enjoyable actually - being able to hear the crowd singing along improves the song imo - It always amuses me the amount of times Gaz does that 'catching the air' or whatever it's called with his hand when performing. He manages to fit it in a few dozen times every time I see him perform Shame :lol: p5sQTy_rtmE

Yeah he looked well alright and sounded great too. Two great vids here. I had forgotton how much I adore MMP :wub: BOCXCon_pGQ CLL3tcfHw6U

Yep - I have it all posted in the Charts and Sales thread pinned. I need to update the thread though. Here are the following albums in the top 50 fastest sellers ever. 6. Robbie Williams - Intensive Care - 373,832 (2005) 13. Robbie Williams - Greatest Hits - 320,081 (2004) 16. Robbie Williams - Sing When You're Winning - 313,585 (2000) 20. Robbie Williams - Swing When You're Winning - 295,024 (2001) 29. Robbie Williams - Escapology - 264,104 (2002) 33. Robbie Williams - Reality Killed The Video Star - 238,126 (2009) Plus Rudebox 147,236(2006) I've Been Expecting You - 131,836 (1998) Live At Knebworth - 117,863 (2003) Life Thru A Lens - 14,533 (1997)

With thanks to UKMIX - the top 10 acts of all time who have had the most #1 albums - he is in great company. :D 1) THE BEATLES - 15 2)=ELVIS PRESLEY - 11 2)=MADONNA - 11 4)=THE ROLLING STONES - 10 4)=U2 - 10 6)=ABBA - 9 6)=MICHAEL JACKSON - 9 6)=ROBBIE WILLIAMS - 9 6)=QUEEN - 9 10)=DAVID BOWIE - 8 10)=OASIS - 8 10)=LED ZEPPELIN - 8 10)=BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - 8 10)=REM - 8 (13W) UK MALE SOLO ACTS WITH THE MOST UK No.1 ALBUMS (To W/E 23rd October 2010) 1) ROBBIE WILLIAMS - 9 2) DAVID BOWIE - 8 3)=CLIFF RICHARD - 7 3)=ROD STEWART - 7 5)=ELTON JOHN - 6 5)=PHIL COLLINS - 6 5)=GEORGE MICHAEL - 6 5)=PAUL McCARTNEY - 6

It's already shaping up to be their biggest single since Patience outside the UK after only a few days on sale and before any promotion kicks in. I can see it easily outselling Patience is a strong European marketing campaign is put in place, especially in key markets such as Germany - a country where as we know Rob is the biggest thing since sliced bread - and TT also have a fanbase there - more so than in other countries. France will be interesting - TT have not charted there since Never Forget reached 40 something - Rob apparently said they would deffo be performing in Paris on the tour so unless a big promo campaign is organised for France it is not going to be plane sailing. I think the chart positions of the single and especially the album will help decide which countries they will be performing in and the venue size.

Well done to The Robster - he has officially broken the record and now has more #1 albums than any British solo artist in music history. :hic: :hic: :hic: :party: :party2: Not only that but IAOOC is the second fastest selling album of the year so far. And what a fantastic collection it is. Thoroughly deserved :yahoo: http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af167/therobbiewilliamssiteukau/Picture2-95.png "I am so thrilled... you have been amazing" 17 Oct 2010 Blog Author: Robert Williams Robbie's latest album, In And Out Of Consciousness, has rocketed to No.1 in the UK album charts in its first week of release and he has written a few words to thank you all for its amazing success. "I am so thrilled to have my ninth No.1 album. It couldn't come at a better time for me - 20 years into my career, and just as I embark on a new adventure with Take That. Thanks to all the fans who have supported me over the years - you have been amazing." The album, his ninth No.1 in the UK, is not only the second fastest-selling album of the year, but has sold 120,000 copies since it was released last Sunday, which the Official Charts Company have announced is more than the rest of the top five albums combined... wow! Keep checking back to RobbieWilliams.com early this week for an international round-up of the success of In And Out Of Consciousness and don't forget to leave a message for Robbie below... http://www.robbiewilliams.com/news-blogs/i-am-so-thrilled via TRWS

I've just had word from someone on I know who gets the info early and.... ROBBIE HAS JUST SCORED HIS 9TH #1 ALBUM IN THE UK :hic: :party: :party2: :jump: :smoke: :drink: :spin: :wave: He sold a very impressive 121,689 copies of IAOOC - the second fastest selling album of 2010 - and now Rob has the most #1 albums by any British solo artist in history. Perfect way to end off this part of his career B)

So glad you got it Jups. You will love reading it as would any fan. It is worth a good £20 if you ask me. I was ashamed to have to buy a magazine with Cliff Richard on the front cover tohugh :rofl: I read a bit of Cliff's interview and he says he had the idea of a Swing album before Rob but when Rob release SwingWYW he didnt bother with his until now :lol:

Williams: 'X Factor Mary better than SuBo' Digital Spy By Daniel Sperling, Entertainment Reporter Robbie Williams has revealed that he is backing Mary Byrne on this year's X Factor. The Take That star announced his support of the former supermarket worker at a special Magic FM gig and blasted Britain's Got Talent runner-up Susan Boyle in the process. According to The Mirror, Williams told the crowd: "I love Mary. I mean, she’s no SuBo in any way - she’s not mental. But we could all do with a bit of Mary in our lives." The 'Shame' singer, who performed a duet with Olly Murs in last year's X Factor final, also praised the vocal abilities of another contestant in this year's series. "I also like Aiden [Grimshaw]," he revealed. "He has a great voice and it was a great performance from him on Saturday." Williams previously shared his concern that X Factor finalist Cher Lloyd will crack during the live shows.

Come Undone - there is no bleeps but there is a gap on every other word. :angry: 'f***, $h!t and even whore are out' -_- Rudebox also has parts censored including 'Special Olympics' :huh:

Glad you got it Nada :D I just watched a bit of the Berlin concert this evening. He was brilliant that night - the opening with 'Ghosts' 'Feel' and than my fave 'A Place To Crash' is just perfection. It is so great to have that gig in full (No Regrets was not shown on TV) and in perfect quality :D Btw I forgot to mention. EMI France tweeted to say there would be 2 DVD's being released in November and a 17 DISC boxset released in December. Firstly what on earth could the 2 DVD's be (isnt the video DVDs already available on their own?) - one can only hope it is 'And Through It All' continued - or better yet Slane in HD, or any of the endless gigs that have been filmed but never released on DVD. The Forum, Slane, Manchester, Cologne, Abbey Road, Rio, The River Plate gig in Argentina, Mexico, Leeds etc the list goes on. The 17 Disc one is CDs - so a boxset with all 8 studio albums with an extra disc with the B-sides for each - along with unreleased songs? I know - very unrealistic but perhaps EMI are doing a stock clearance and want to flog as much Rob stuff as possible as soon as possible. It would cost a fortune though :lol:

A lot of fans seem to be finding it very hard to find this. Ridiculous to limit it to just MW - a huge amount of time and effort has gone into making this brilliant tribute and it should be widely available for the fans and not just a few industry types - many of whom probably won't bother reading it. It should at the very least be made available to buy on the official site (speaking of which - there is a long interview with the people behind the OS and the way they go on makes it sound like the single greatest website on the WWW :lol:) I've read most of it and the content is worth £20 tbh. Fantastic. The interviews are so interesting. The Guy one in particular. He has always been asked a few questions in the past but has this much detail been given. I have often heard people say that Guy wrote the chorus to 'Angels (lyrics and all) by himself - he says they wrote them together. It really is amazing that it only took 9 days to write 'Life Thru A Lens' which is imo one of the greatest Pop/Rock albums of all time. It is a masterpiece imo and it still amazes me how quickly it was put together. And you can tell - it has that raw edgy and fresh sound to it which I adore. None of that over-produced nonsense that pollutes the charts these days I enjoyed how much credit he gave Rob. He said that 'Feel' would not be a good song if it was not for the lyrics - which Guy says Rob wrote alone. He says without great lyrics - it doesnt matter how good the music is. He explains how most artists are scared to be honest when it comes to lyrics and Rob isnt one of them. He also says they made a great team because he was good at everything Rob was weak at and Rob was really good at everything he was weak at. Explains he wasnt surprised Rob did the Swing album but was shocked at how well Rob sang the songs. On the subject of why they broke up - Guy admits he took things for granted - and didnt give Rob enough respect for the songs he wrote without Guy and how important they were to him. He said Rob wanted to work with others as creatively it was getting a bit stale. I was glad to read the following though "Post-Robbie, and it's been 8 years now, I've written with literally hundreds of people some of whom are multi-platinum and really good artists, and there's hardly anyone who's on his level - maybe two or three. That's my experience. Time has proven to me quite how unbelievably creative he is" B) He also says how unique Rob is and how is surprised that nobody has challenged him to be the next huge male star or taken his place and how amazing it is that he is still the biggest star in the UK. Mentions 'Starstruck' is his fave post-split Rob song and how shocked he was it was not a single as he thinks it would have been a smash. Reveals that Tina Turner recorded a cover of 'Feel' which is great by the sound of it. He goes into detail of how in 2007 he stayed at Rob's house and they tried to write together again but it didnt work. They wrote a track Guy was excited about but Rob didnt share the excitement and Guy felt he had come up against a brick wall and it knocked him back. He says he can't get past Rob's lack of interest and how frustrating it was for him but says he would love to work with Rob again, also indicating a possible second Swing album and says he sees no reason why Rob can't sell 7 million albums again. Finishes off by saying he compares every male act he works with to Rob and it is hard to find anyone who matches up to him. So overall Guy gave a very good interview. Shame the media don't pick up on any of his comments about how talented and creative Rob is - I bet had he said anything negetive it would be all over the place. :rolleyes: The Duffster praises him also by saying "His ability to extemporise a melody and words that make sense out of nowhere is something I've never seen with anyone else. He's a little hook machine. As a writer he's been completely underestimated". Also explains how shocked he was when he got the call about IC selling a million copies worldwide in the first week, and how they have 60 unfinished tracks they wrote together, many of them very adventurous. Would love to hear them myself, they wrote loads of brilliant tracks together, many of them left off IC such as Don't Stop Talking, Don't Say No and Bag Full Of Silly. :wub: