Intensive Care
Recorded in Robbie Williams' bedroom high in the Hollywood Hills, Intensive Care was co-written with Stephen Duffy over the course of 24 months.
"Lyrically, this is the best album I've written," Robbie says, "although I do say that before every album comes out. But I think I mean it this time. Anyway, I'm very pleased with it, and very pleased with the way it worked out with Stephen (Duffy). It's given me a whole new perspective on the future as well."
Ultimately, says Robbie, the album is inspired , at least in part, by the Human League's classic 1984 single Louise, about a man who sees his former girlfriend at a bus stop and realised that he still has strong feelings for her. "It's one of my all-time favourite tracks," he says, "and I liked the idea of writing from Louise's point of view. And so several tracks on the album, things like Ghosts and Spread Your Wings in particular, run along similar themes, about ex-lovers who still yearn for one another. There's a lot of pining on this record, I think."
Intensive Care is richly melancholic and steeped in nostalgia. While recording it, Robbie would revisit the key songs of his youth - everything from Oran Juice Jones' The Rain to Prefab Sprout's When Love Breaks Down. "When I think about school and hear some of the songs from the 80s, it breaks my heart, it really does," he says. "But I think I might have finally purged myself of that, it might finally be out of my system, which is probably a good thing. But it's definitely been an influence in the making of this album. I wanted to write the kind of songs that could break somebody else's heart in 15, 20 years, and give them the same sense of nostalgia as my favourite songs gave me."
Collectors' Edition
Each of Robbie's first seven studio albums, including Intensive Care, 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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Sales of 373,000 in the first week made Intensive Care Robbie's fastest-selling album to date and ensured it took the No.1 position in the UK Charts.
Releases
| Titre | Track Length | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
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| Ghosts | 3:41 |
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Buy |
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| Tripping | 4:36 |
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Buy |
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| Make Me Pure | 4:33 |
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Buy |
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| Spread Your Wings | 2:08 |
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Buy |
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| Advertising Space | 4:37 |
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Buy |
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| Please Don't Die | 4:47 |
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Buy |
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| Your Gay Friend | 3:21 |
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Buy |
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| Sin Sin Sin | 4:09 |
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Buy |
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| Random Acts of Kindness | 4:12 |
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Buy |
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| The Trouble With Me | 4:00 |
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Buy |
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| A Place to Crash | 4:34 |
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Buy |
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| King of Bloke and Bird | 6:10 |
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Buy |
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| Titre | Track Length | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghosts | 3:41 |
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Buy |
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| Tripping | 4:36 |
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Buy |
|
|
| Make Me Pure | 4:33 |
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Buy |
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| Spread Your Wings | 2:08 |
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Buy |
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| Advertising Space | 4:37 |
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Buy |
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| Please Don't Die | 4:47 |
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Buy |
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| Your Gay Friend | 3:21 |
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Buy |
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| Sin Sin Sin | 4:09 |
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Buy |
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| Random Acts of Kindness | 4:12 |
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Buy |
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| The Trouble With Me | 4:00 |
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Buy |
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| A Place to Crash | 4:34 |
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Buy |
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| King of Bloke and Bird | 6:10 |
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Buy |
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| Titre | Track Length | Lyrics | Buy | Robbie says | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghosts | 3:41 |
|
Buy |
|
|
| Tripping | 4:36 |
|
Buy |
|
|
| Make Me Pure | 4:33 |
|
Buy |
|
|
| Spread Your Wings | 2:08 |
|
Buy |
|
|
| Advertising Space | 4:37 |
|
Buy |
|
|
| Please Don't Die | 4:47 |
|
Buy |
|
|
| Your Gay Friend | 3:21 |
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Buy |
|
|
| Sin Sin Sin | 4:09 |
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Buy |
|
|
| Random Acts of Kindness | 4:12 |
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Buy |
|
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| The Trouble With Me | 4:00 |
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Buy |
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| A Place to Crash | 4:34 |
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Buy |
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| King of Bloke and Bird | 6:10 |
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Buy |
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| Radio (Top Of The Pops 02/10/04) | 3:48 |
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Buy |
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| Radio (Later...with Jools Holland 15/10/04) | 3:57 |
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Buy |
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| Misunderstood (Top Of The Pops 04/12/04) | 3:58 |
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Buy |
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| The Trouble With Me (Top Of The Pops 23/10/05) | 4:25 |
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Buy |
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| Tripping (Later...with Jools Holland 04/11/05) | 4:57 |
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Buy |
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| Ghosts (Later...with Jools Holland 04/11/05) | 3:48 |
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Buy |
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| A Place To Crash (Later...with Jools Holland 04/11/05) | 4:41 |
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Buy |
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| Advertising Space (Top Of The Pops Christmas Special 25/12/05) | 4:38 |
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Buy |
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| Misunderstood (Wetten daß?!, Germany 11/12/04) | 4:02 |
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Buy |
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| Tripping (Especial Nochebuena Con Los Lunnis, Spain 24/12/05) | 4:49 |
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Buy |
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'Lock up your daughters-Robbie Williams is back with another hit-charged album. Covering all bases from heartache to hedonism, Intensive Care could be the cheeky king of pop's best album yet.'
Sunday Express, October 2005
'Williams and co-writer Stephen Duffy have crafted a beautifully-turned pop/rock album with a personality of its own. It sounds like a smart move.'
Sunday Express, October 2005
'With 21 Top 10 singles and 6 number one albums under his belt, Robbie decided to throw the rulebook out of the window on his new album. as well as the reggae-style first single Tripping, there's also Make Me Pure, which doesn't have a chorus - just seven verses. The album's still a corker, though, with lots of varied influences.'
Closer, October 2005
