Limited Special Edition CDs: Your Feedback
Not long ago we announced what we believed was exciting news that Robbie's first seven studio albums were going to be released as limited special editions, packaged with extra content. Since we published this, we've been very interested in the feedback the news has received. There have certainly been mixed feelings from you all about these, and so we wanted to share with you the thinking and creative reasoning behind these releases.
We wanted you to know the story of how everyone involved in these releases has come together to create something really quite special, as EMI explain:
'The intention of this series of releases is to relive the story of each amazing album for the first time, in an official set of album releases, using Robbie’s show-stopping TV and live performances (or ‘Shorts’ in the case of Rudebox).
Each album is packaged with a companion DVD to tell the story visually, 'as it was happening at the time', through classic TV performances. We hoped this would really get those nostalgic feelings flowing!
By releasing the DVD as a companion piece alongside the album for what is the first re-release of the original studio albums, we’re telling their whole story – setting the scenes it was at their original time of release. And they really are fantastic; as this the first time the studio albums have been re-released in any way, we felt it made absolute sense to include the TV performances within the context of the original albums.
The price of these new releases compares favourably to both a DVD only release and a typical newly released CD; in fact several very well known online retailers are currently selling them for £8.99. This is undeniably great value for what is largely previously unreleased footage packaged along with the original album on CD and complete with brand new sleeve note commentary, which takes us back to key events in Robbie's career at the time of the original album release. The format of a 'Special Edition'; an original album with extra music or 'CD with DVD', as is the case with this series, is a familiar approach to restoring and reinstating the studio album catalogue of a major artist and it seemed the appropriate moment to do this during a time in which Robbie's 20 years in music are being celebrated.
We also made the considered decision not to remaster the music on these CDs after careful discussion with all concerned as it was agreed the sound quality was state-of-the-art on the originals.
If you have discovered, or re-discovered, Robbie through the recent In and Out of Consciousness Greatest Hits release, or through the excitement around his reunion with Take That, this series gives you the chance to revisit the story of his career through these classic album releases.
If you are an iTunes customer, we have made the visual element of all the releases (except ‘Swing When You’re Winning’ due to technical reasons) available digitally too – so you don’t have to buy the audio or the CD again if you want to download the visual element only.
The new releases are limited editions – for fans and collectors. They’re limited to a worldwide run of 100K across all seven titles.
Much time and effort went into researching and licensing the various TV performances commissioning new sleeve notes and redesigning the artwork. These really were a labour of love that we hope you will enjoy them when they're released on 21st March.'
As always, we value your feedback and we want to hear your thoughts… please share your comments below, we look forward to reading them.
Comment
gimme one. xx
Why is everything so hard? I thought I'd go look at these CD's and see how much they are. I go to the section Pre-order these Special Limited Editions now! on RW.com and hit the PREORDER NOW or BUY NOW buttons, but nothing happens. The buttons just disappear as I click them. So I go to Amazon - Can see them there either. How much are these CD's? How much is Postage? Can I buy in my country? This is the information I need in order to decide whether to purchase them. Why make it so hard? I'll probably give up on buying them because it's too bloody hard to find the information. Typical RW.Com marketing! HELP!!?!
I totally agree with everything icklekitty says. I have all Robbie's stuff including The Ego has Landed and I am not spending my hard earned cash on doubling up. Don't you know there's a recession on.
so itunes customers can buy the visual element. What about non itunes customers. Besides which, I can already view it on my puny computer screen thanks to the caring sharing fans around the world. I have a fabulous wide-screen telly and a blu-ray player. It seems that those people who like to watch video's on a big screen are being penalised more and more. I do not want to watch video's on a screen smaller than my hand, thankyou very much. If you must re-release old stuff how about doing a bluray version of The Robbie Williams Show (my dvd has almost worn out) or a dvd of Live In Your Living Room? THAT is what fans want, not multiple copies of the same cd's.
Not going to lie, I saw the re-release & straight away thought "No... Don't do it, you've got them already!" ... Then, I thought about it, & being a sucker for unseen footage, & a bit of nostalgia (& seeing how cheap it was going for - £8.99, AMAZING!) I went & pre-ordered "Life Thru A Lens" ... I will get the others too... I think it is a brilliant idea for those who have only just discovered RW, because, they're getting the albums & then some, & for those of us who have already got them, well, we get shiny new copies & a little bit extra! It's a win-win situation!!
It's great to have a choice, even though I am a long term fan of Robbie's and have all of his albums in my collection anyway, I am pleased there is a new type of visual option for me with iTunes. It's a winner for me, I can start to build the collection all over again and view them in a different way, on my computer, which is far handier for me than using a DVD. It's brilliant!
As a huge fan I already have Rob's albums and lot's of extra's.....Off course I'd love to have special editions, who won't? But unfortunately I haven't got a moneytree in my garden. I'd rather like some new stuff. So I'll be patient......... I wanna see and hear Robbie solo, in small theaters doing his fantastic songs like he did last year!!
Comment removed by author - original comment made due to extreme childishness under influence of excitement. Apologies.
I think the first post by icklekitty illustrates the strength of feeling many, if not the majority of the fans feel about this situation. Great to finally have a response, but it is a shame it has taken all this time and ill feeling to get it. We love Robbie and his music. These albums may be a good opportunity for new fans to purchase these special edition albums, and they should have that opportunity. But the established fan base are upset because while new fans are being offered new stuff, we have seen it before. Only a few weeks ago the 2nd Greatest Hits album was released, which was a trip down memory lane. We are after new material now, ie b sides, while we either wait for the TT tour or if Rob chooses to do so, return to his solo career. Some fans have shown their loyalty and support for over 2o years, don't they deserve something either affordable and/or different to what we may already own? Why not ask us want we want, rather than assume we would readily accept special edition albums just because of Robbie's name? All of this could so easily have been avoided. What a pity.
Absolutely thrilled that these special editions have become available .Cannot wait to get my hands on them.
I couldn't agree more with Ails. I am your devoted fan, Robbie, therefore, I already have all you have released. I don´t think I need to buy the cd's again, but having the new visuals released in Itunes is a quite good alternative!!! Thank you, and I hope to see you on your own soon too! I was at the O2 Arena for the BRIT awards and I was very happy for you guys winning "best group", but it felt weird listening at Mark's voice instead of yours. I miss you!!!
I'm not interested in further sexual harassment. I hope things got better. I won't buy any rediculous crap. Show some unagitated talent and let us hear good music!
Although I think it is a good idea to re-release all of Robbies albums at the same time I think it is a bit of a publicity stunt to get ppls to buy albums that they already have. It is a good idea though to release the video content on itunes so everyone dosen't have to buy the cds if they don't want to. I think a better idea would have been to release a DVD on its own of all of the unseen footage. I have all of Robbies albums, books + all of his DVDs that have been released. I also bought In & Out of conciousness the ultimate edition which has a cd of some rare tracks that were previously unreleased. I love the DVDs with this pack that shows all of Robbies videos and the Germany concert that he did. I love to try and collect anything 'Robbie' but as I already have all of his albums I won't be re-buying any of them just to get the extras. I love you Robbie and I hope to see you back out on your own writing and singing your awesome songs that we all love in the near future. :) xx
Hmm, I believe I would buy a cd maybe two maybe all of them but only because I would get a bad feeling if I wouldn’t buy it. Because it is Robbie Stuff!!! I normally buy everything about Robbie... But I also have to submit that I watched sooo many performances at the internet and it is not interesting anymore. I love the performances from 2009 + 2010 but I'm bored of the older ones (because I know every single step he takes…) . And my favourite Robbie is the 2005 -2011 Robbie and not the 1998 Robbie. :) Do you know what I mean? Anyway I will love and support him forever! Kisses from Germany
The best news EVER would be (as Adry says) to see a happy Rob singing solo again. There wouldn't be a better news... But untill that, I'm looking forward to the limited editions af the albums. <3
If I could borrow the magic remote control from Adam Sandler I would go to the future...there I would like to see a happy Robbie singing solo ....his beautiful voice singing his new songs......no more re editions and no more TT--------That would be my favourite vision of the future since honestly since Robbie isn´t a soloist any longer I feel as having lost something very precious...and in fact it´s so-♥♥♥♥♥♥
i'm a big fan of Robbie´s music and i like the idea of revamping the albums ... but I dont quite like that EMI is making us to get the full cd again just to get the DVD with footage.. and i think Itunes is not the best option for everybody to get just the videos... and i would love to get them but it's too expensive for me now
Can't wait robbie you know I'm a big fan I love you <3
Fortunately in Argentina there´s everything about Robbie....cds ...dvds...(unfortunately no mechandising----and no book grrrrr) I wish there was the In And Out Of Consciousness edition including B SIDES but it didn´t came....
AQUI NO BRASIL AS PESSOAS CONFUNDEM O ROBBIE WILLIAMS COM O ATOR MAIS TUDO QUE SAI DO ROBBIE EU VOU ATRAS E CONSIGO TENHO QUASE TODOS OS CDS E DVDS POIS ROBBIE NA MINHA OPNIAÕ É UM OTIMO CANTOR ADORO TUDO NELE A VOZ A PERFORMANCE E AGORA ELE NOVAMENTE COM O TAKE THAT ME FAZ LEMBRAR DA PRIMEIRA VEZ QUE EU OUVI A MUSICA DELES .................. ROBBIE AMO MUITO VC E SUAS MUSICAS BJS DE SUA FÃ DAQUI DO BRASIL GEZIANE ..........
When was the release here in Chile of "Life Thru a Lens" , i went to the shopping center for buy it , and i told to the salesman... Do you have the album of Robbie Williams ?? He said to me.....OMG "Robin Williams" the actor is a singer now....i said nooooooooooooo THE REAL ROBBIE WILLIAMS OF TAKE THAT..and i laugh for his "BIG MISTAKE"
Is all of this an explanation EMI is giving?....and what for? They can explain today ,tomorrow and the day after...but they´re still offering the same staff of always....the interviews are great...I love Robbie in interviews and backstages....but they´re available in internet.... IF THERE WERE NEW NEW SONGS AND NEW ALBUM...NO EXPLANATIONS WOULD BE NEEDED....WHO OF ROBBIE ´S FANS ISN´T WAITING NEW SONGS?EVERYBODY WOULD BUY IT WITHOUT ANY DOUBT-
i want to have all, but its too expensive!
We all LOVE ROBBIE'S MUSIC!!! That's what you all should be thinking about in the firstplace over at EMI! Give us a black cover with only the RW logo with all the b-sides on it, with some info about why it was written and funne anekdotes and most of the fans will me more happy with that, than with what is comming out now. Wanna make us and your wallet happy? Give some real unseen footage, robbie in the studio recording songs that did not make it to an album? Robbie singing covers like Jeaulousy, One, Sex and drugs and rock an roll etc! So just to make it short, when your giving new stuff, let it be new stuff!! Robbie's (well EMI) got soo overcommercial,,a new cd,,but wait!!It's in 4 formats! A new this, a new that,, candles?Scarfes?WTF has that even got to doooo with robbie williams music??!!
Thank you for responding to the fans concerns in regards to these Limited Special Edition CD's that will be released shortly. I am very pleased that the visual content will be available on iTunes without having to buy the audio or the CD again. Ideally, b-sides is what the collector wants. Release a double b-side album. You must have a truckload of unreleased stuff from over the years. Let us get our 'nostaglic feeling flowing' by listening to these - to be able to hear to the growth and development of the songwriter through previously unreleased material. That is my wishlist anyway.
if you put all robiies b-sides on a album than i will buy it not this!!!!
I think it's fantastic! I'm really looking forward to buy the albums with all the new dvds. I'm so exited to see the tv performances :)
I think EMI just wants to set a record, robbie could be with 10 albums in the Top100 at the same time!!!!!! [the seven rereleased + In And Out Of Conc. + Progress(take that) + Never Forget the ultimate collection (take that)!!!] Imagine that fact!! I think we should support and promote, I hope it will work! ;)
Why you don't release them as a box-set ? The limited special editions would look great if they come in a box-set.
I appreciate the work that you've done but I have to agree with icklekitty, too. I remember myself reading about this re-releases in my email and thinking, ummm, thanks, but not thanks... at least this time.