Escapology
Robbie's fifth studio album, Escapology, was released shortly after the announcement of his reported £80 million contract with EMI - the biggest music deal in British History. The album's famous artwork picture an upside down Robbie hanging precariously over a sun drenched LA.
After a year out from recording, the album heralded a new era for Robbie; he had taken a more active role in the making of Escapology, giving an indication of his growing confidence in the studio, and Nan's Song and Come Undone were the first songs to be written without the input of Guy Chambers.
"I've never enjoyed the process of recording," he said, "I've always found it very boring. But the Swing album changed all that because it was just amazing. And I thought it's just a shame that recording my own material can't be this much fun...then blow me, if this hasn't been as much fun as the Swing album. It's been amazing."
Produced by the dynamic forces of Guy Chambers and Steve Power, the album delivered something altogether different from previous offerings. Robbie wanted the sound to be raw, raunchy and honest, without over production.
Steve Power said: "He did dictate the whole tenor of the record really. He didn't want things to be made slick. You have to have some courage to do that and if anyone has to have the courage it's the artist. And we follow him."
The album was recorded mainly in Los Angeles, with many of the vocals sung naked...one song, which didn't make the album, was even sung in a Superman costume! The Escapology band featured Guy Chambers, Neil Taylor and Gary Nuttall on guitars, Phil Spalding on bass and Jeremy Stacey on drums.
In Robbie's words: "We had a good set of lads in and we rocked hard, man! I enjoyed it, it was a good vibe."
Collectors' Edition
Each of Robbie's first seven studio albums, including Escapology, have been upgraded and expanded with an extra DVD full of previously unreleased material! Also available on digital download and as a digital video album (if you're only after those vintage Robbie videos), you can order your copy below. Scroll down to see the full tracklist.
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Escapology stormed the charts at the end of 2002, hitting No.1 in the UK and throughout Europe, and reaching the Top Ten in the Latin American, Southeast Asian and Australasian charts. By Christmas 2002, Escapology had been the UK's No.1 for five weeks and has sold more than 1.2 million copies in Britain alone, becoming the UK's biggest selling album of the year.
Releases
| Title | Track Length | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How Peculiar | 3:13 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Feel | 4:22 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Something Beautiful | 4:48 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Monsoon | 3:46 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Sexed Up | 4:11 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Love Somebody | 4:10 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Revolution | 5:44 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Handsome Man | 3:54 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Come Undone | 3:55 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Me and My Monkey | 7:12 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Song 3 | 3:48 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Hot Fudge | 4:05 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Cursed | 4:01 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Nan's Song | 2:12 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says |
| Title | Track Length | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How Peculiar | 3:13 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Feel | 4:22 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Something Beautiful | 4:48 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Monsoon | 3:46 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Sexed Up | 4:11 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Love Somebody | 4:10 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Revolution | 5:44 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Handsome Man | 3:54 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Come Undone | 3:55 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Me and My Monkey | 7:12 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Song 3 | 3:48 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Hot Fudge | 4:05 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Cursed | 4:01 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Nan's Song | 2:12 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says |
| Title | Track Length | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How Peculiar | 3:13 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Feel | 4:22 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Something Beautiful | 4:48 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Monsoon | 3:46 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Sexed Up | 4:11 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Love Somebody | 4:10 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Revolution | 5:44 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Handsome Man | 3:54 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Come Undone | 3:55 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Me and My Monkey | 7:12 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Song 3 | 3:48 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Hot Fudge | 4:05 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Cursed | 4:01 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Nan's Song | 2:12 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| My Culture (1 Giant Leap ft. Robbie & Maxi Jazz) (Later...with Jools Holland 06/12/02) | 5:04 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available | |
| Feel (Wetten daß?!, Germany 07/12/02) | 4:18 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available | |
| Feel (Top Of The Pops 13/12/02) | 4:13 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available | |
| Sexed Up (Top Of The Pops 10/01/03) | 3:08 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available | |
| Come Undone (The National Lottery 12/04/03) | 4:29 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available | |
| One Fine Day (The National Lottery 12/04/03) | 3:35 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available | |
| Something Beautiful (CD:UK 23/11/02) | 4:49 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available | |
| Come Undone (TV4 Late Night with Luuk, Sweden 25/04/03) | 4:26 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available |
"Robbie has proven his detractors (and I have been among them) wrong the best way: by making pop that is fascinating, refreshing and suggests, despite his own apparent doubts, that he is worth every penny EMI have paid for him."
The Daily Telegraph, November ‘02
"Our favourite has to be the toe-tapping Something Beautiful. With its punchy beat and catchy melody, you'll pick up the tune on the first listen and it's guaranteed to have the Mr Williams wannabes reaching for the karaoke mic. He might have been away for a while, but there's no danger of his king of pop crown slipping. Welcome back, Rob."
Company, December ‘02
"...given a few listens Escapology reveals all the dark emotion, showmanship and tongue-in-cheek arrogance that gives Robbie his charm... Cynics may scorn at Robbie; he's got it all and he isn't afraid to acknowledge it. The thing to remember though is that we should forgive him, because he's Robbie and he's great."
BBC News, November ‘02
"Like Eminem, Williams is desperate to give his own spin on tabloid coverage and determined to prove himself as human as the rest of us, but incapable of letting us forget he's a star. Except Eminem is the voice of a generation while Robbie Williams is just the voice of Robbie Williams..."
NME, November ‘02
DVDs
Books
Documentaries
Interviews
- Disney Pixar Talk To Robbie About Cars 2
- Five Go (Amost) Mad: The Take That Interview
- Robbie Talks To Q Magazine
- Confessions Of A Success Addict
- Observer Sport Monthly Interview
- Robbie Talks To The Big Issue
- Rude And Ready
- Sky Magazine
- Music Week
- A Close Encounters Catch Up
- Robbie Meets Nick Duerden
- 2002 MSN Webchat
- 2000 MSN Webchat
- 1999 MSN Webchat
Singles
- Be A Boy
- Different
- Candy
- When We Were Young
- Love Love
- Kidz
- The Flood
- Shame
- Morning Sun
- You Know Me
- Bodies
- She's Madonna
- Lovelight
- Rudebox
- Sin Sin Sin
- Advertising Space
- Tripping
- Misunderstood
- Radio
- Sexed Up
- Something Beautiful
- Come Undone
- Feel
- Somethin' Stupid
- Eternity/The Road to Mandalay
- Let Love Be Your Energy
- Supreme
- Kids
- Rock DJ
- No Regrets/Antmusic
- She's The One/It's Only Us
- Strong
- Millennium
- Let Me Entertain You
- Angels
- South Of The Border
- Lazy Days
- Old Before I Die