Life Thru a Lens
The long awaited debut solo album, Life Thru A Lens, was released in September 1997. During a harrowing period for Robbie, recording began at London's Maison Rouge studios in March of that year, shortly after his introduction to Guy Chambers.
After his brief creative fling with writers Eric Bazilian and Desmond Child, Robbie and Guy were keen to create a rockier sound. "Robbie constantly writes lyrics and has some good ideas," said A&R Chris Briggs. "We tried various collaborators, and the one Robbie clicked with was Guy. The demos confirmed we had found a direction."
Released in September - not long after Robbie's stint in rehab, from which he emerged two stones lighter - the album launched with his first live solo gig at the Elysee Monmatre theatre in Paris...
Asked why the album had taken so long to release, Robbie told The Star: "I don't know, it's probably because I've been off me head."
At first the album was slow to take off, despite reasonably good reviews. As the album hit the nation's bargain bins, no one could have prepared Robbie for the success of Angels - now considered one of the most popular songs of all time!
Robbie recalled: "The album had sold about 33,000 copies - which is bugger all as far as I'm concerned. Then Angels comes out and suddenly the album goes from 33,000 to 300,000 sales. Then two weeks later it went double platinum. I was a very happy boy!"
The first band line-up included Guy Chambers, Fil Eisler, Chris Sharrock, Gary Nuttall and Martin Slattery.
Collectors' Edition
Each of Robbie's first seven studio albums, starting with Life Thru a Lens, 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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Highest UK chart position: No. 1
Life Thru a Lens first entered the chart at No.11 before climbing to No.1 in its 28th Week of release - fuelled by the overwhelming success of Angels, which almost single-handedly revived Robbie's career!
It remained in the Top 10 for a total of 40 weeks and provided three top five hit singles, reaching multi-platinum status in the UK alone.
The album failed to make any significant impact in European charts, but reached No.9 in the Argentinean chart.
Releases
| Title | Track Length | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angels | 4:24 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Clean | 3:54 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Killing Me | 3:56 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| One of God's Better People | 3:33 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Life Thru a Lens | 3:08 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Ego a Go Go | 3:32 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Old Before I Die | 3:54 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Lazy Days | 3:53 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Let Me Entertain You | 4:21 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Baby Girl Window | 3:16 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says |
| Title | Track Length | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lazy Days | 3:53 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Life Thru a Lens | 3:08 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Ego a Go Go | 3:32 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Angels | 4:24 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| South of the Border | 3:53 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Old Before I Die | 3:54 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| One of God's Better People | 3:33 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Let Me Entertain You | 4:21 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Killing Me | 3:56 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Clean | 3:54 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Baby Girl Window | 3:16 | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
| Old Before I Die (Top Of The Pops 25/04/97) | 3:37 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available | |
| Lazy Days (Top Of The Pops 25/07/97) | 3:23 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available | |
| South Of The Border (Top Of The Pops 26/09/97) | 3:25 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available | |
| Angels (Top Of The Pops 19/12/97) | 3:53 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available | |
| Angels (Unplugged) (Top Of The Pops 16/01/98) | 3:55 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available | |
| BRIT Awards Medley Performed With Tom Jones | 5:05 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available | |
| Interview (Parkinson 13/02/98) | 10:21 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available | |
| Let Me Entertain You (Top Of The Pops Special 30/08/00) | 5:52 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available | |
| Killing Me (Top Of The Pops 17/04/98) | 3:53 | No lyrics available | Buy | Robbie says isn't available |
"(Robbie's) new-found self-consciousness makes for a solo album that is often smart, sharp and prickling with personality far beyond the call of teenpop duty...there are enough tunes, enough point and enough style here to keep this crazy fool in rehab fees for a while yet. Take That and... er, party a bit more."
NME, September ‘97
"Significantly, ‘Freedom' is nowhere to be found on ‘Life Thru A Lens'. If Robbie's claim of last year that ‘The best thing about me is my huge willy' still ‘stands' then Robbie must be a very lucky boy indeed, because this album is actually rather fantastic."
Time Out, September ‘97
"Life Thru A Lens contains all the elements you'd expect from Rob - it's funny and shamelessly brash, but with a wibbly, sensitive side. The words are as sharp as you'd expect...you get raucous stompers, trembling epics and full-throated roaring all the way."
Smash Hits, September ‘97
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