Rudebox (album)

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Rudebox
Rudebox cover
Studio album by Robbie Williams
Released October 23, 2006
Recorded Los Angeles California, 2006
Genre Pop, R&B, Hip Hop & Dance
Length 73:35
Label Chrysalis/EMI
Producer Several (See Article)
Professional reviews
Robbie Williams chronology
Intensive Care
(2005)		 Rudebox
(2006)

Rudebox is the name of Robbie Williams's seventh studio album (10th overall), released on October 23, 2006 in the UK. The album features collaborations with William Orbit, Mark Ronson, Soul Melanik and two collaborations with the Pet Shop Boys: "She's Madonna" and "We're the Pet Shop Boys". Lily Allen provides backing vocals on the songs "Bongo Bong and Je Ne T'aime Plus" and "Keep On".

Williams covers five songs on the album: "Louise", a 1984 hit for The Human League, "Kiss Me", the biggest hit for Stephen Duffy, "Lovelight" by Lewis Taylor, "We're the Pet Shop Boys" by My Robot Friend, and "Bongo Bong and Je Ne T'aime Plus", by Manu Chao.

Getting a mixed reception from critics, the album reached the top position in 14 countries including United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Italy and Finland, among many others. Due to Williams' touring Latin America and Australia when the album was released, the artist never got to promote the album. There were no TV/radio appearances, no big magazine interviews, and no tour for the album. His record company EMI also failed to market the album heavily, by having very few ads on TV/radio for the album.

The album debuted at number-two on the United World Chart selling 378,000 copies in its first week.[1] the album so far has moved almost 500,000 in the United Kingdom and 4.5 million worldwide[2]

Contents

[edit] Track listing

# Title Songwriters Producers Duration
1. "Rudebox" (R. Williams, B. Laswell, B. Collins, C. Aiken, R. Shakespeare, S. Dunbar) Soul Mekanik 4:44
2. "Viva Life on Mars" (R. Williams, D. Spencer, K. Andrews) Soul Mekanik 4:51
3. "Lovelight" (Lewis Taylor) Mark Ronson 4:02
4. "Bongo Bong and Je Ne T'Aime Plus" (featuring Lily Allen) (M. Chao) Mark Ronson 4:48
5. "She's Madonna" (with Pet Shop Boys) (R. Williams, N. Tennant, C. Lowe) Pet Shop Boys 4:16
6. "Keep On" (featuring Lily Allen) (R. Williams, C. Heath, S. Duffy) Marco A. Solis 4:19
7. "Good Doctor" (R. Williams, J. Meehan) Mark Ronson 3:16
8. "The Actor" (R. Williams, B. Christy, C. Russo) Brandon Christy & Craig Russo 4:06
9. "Never Touch That Switch" (K. Andrews, D. Spencer) Soul Mekanik 2:47
10. "Louise" (J. Callis, P. Wright, P. Oakey) William Orbit 4:46
11. "We're the Pet Shop Boys" (with Pet Shop Boys) (My Robot Friend) Pet Shop Boys 4:57
12. "Burslem Normals" (R. Williams, D. Spencer, K. Andrews) Soul Mekanik 3:50
13. "Kiss Me" (S. Duffy) Joey Negro 3:18
14. "The 80's" (R. Williams, J. Meehan) Jerry Meehan 4:18
15. "The 90's" (R. Williams, J. Meehan) Jerry Meehan 5:34
16. "Summertime" (R. Williams, A. Genn) William Orbit 5:41
17. "Dickhead" (Hidden Track) (R. Williams, J. Meehan) Jerry Meehan 4:09

Special edition
A special edition of the album was released along with the regular edition, presented in a special package and design including an exclusive DVD featuring the 30-minute documentary "We Are Not Alone", plus "Rudebox" Live at Roundhay Park in Leeds and the Trailer of Robbie's new DVD "And Through It All - Robbie Williams Live 1997-2006".

Japanese Bonus Track

  • Lonestar Rising

[edit] Reception

[edit] Critical opinion

The album got a very mixed reception from critics in the UK. NME praised the record, saying it was the best album of William's career and a great pop album, giving it 8/10 (though it should be noted that the album later won NME's worst album award). It received further praise from other rock magazines such as Mojo and Uncut, along with the likes of Music Week, All Music Guide, Pop Matters, and various broadsheet newspapers. However, the British tabloids were not as kind and many of them including the Mirror newspaper slammed it. Williams himself said in an interview that he was delighted to get such praise from magazines who usually do not rate him.

[edit] Sales

In the United Kingdom the album sold 54,667[3] copies on its first day in stores, taking the number-one slot on the albums chart midweek. By Wednesday the album had sold over 75,000 copies.[4] The album debuted at number-one on the Official UK Albums Chart selling over 147,000 copies on its first week[5] Despite reaching the number one spot, sales were far below what was expected by his label EMI, and overall sales were overtaken by his former band Take That's 'Beautiful World'. However, it easily outsold 'Beautiful World' outside the UK. The fallout of the album's relative failure led to the firing of two music executives responsible for the album's development.[6]

The album was released in the Netherlands on October 20, 2006, on the same day the album was certified platinum as a result of pre-order sales of over 70,000.[7]

In Belgium the album sold 50,000 copies and went Platinum. It was released on October 23, 2006 in Australia and debuted at number-one achieving Platinum status in its first week.[8]. It has since been certified 2x platinum (140,000). Since October 20th 2006 the album has sold 5.5 million copies and has reached number one in 14 countries around the globe.

The album shipped 220,000 in France in its opening week, as well as 600,000 in Germany, and 700,000 in the UK. In Australia, sales are approaching 3x platinum (210,000), and in Mexico it has gone platinum with at least 100,000 sold. On November 8th 2006, IFPI certified the album 2x Platinum in Europe with sales of over 2 million making it the fastest platinum selling album of 2006.[9] On November 20th 2006, the album reached number-one in Mexico becoming his first number-one album in that country on the main Top 100 Chart.

Rudebox was the 18th best selling album of 2006 worldwide according to the IFPI. Outside the US, it was 2006's best selling album by a solo artist.

Though not widely released in America, new copies of Rudebox have been found in select stores as an import (imported CDs have higher prices). For instance, the Borders store in Tacoma, Washington lists Rudebox at a price of $22.99 plus tax (most newly released CDs in America are sold at $14.99). However, Virgin Megastore featured the album along new releases at $11.99-$15.99. The album was a relative success on the Digital charts, reaching the top 15 on iTunes. It also peaked at #7 on the Canadian iTunes. As recently as July 2007, American stores carry the Argentinian pressing of the album listed at $14.99 and including the hidden track "Dickhead".

[edit] Singles

[edit] Controversies

"She's Madonna" was the centre of a tabloid storm after Ashley Hamilton claimed that he came up with part of the song with Williams. Hamilton has claimed he wishes to take the matter to court as he is not credited as a co-writer on the album.[10]

Further controversy arose over the track "The 90s", part of which implies that Williams was ripped off by Take That's manager Nigel Martin-Smith after the band failed to make a profit from a European tour. The song raised the ire of Martin-Smith, who demanded that the song be removed from the album.[11]

The omitted lyrics were rapped during the break before the second verse:

"Now I'm managed by a prick and I'm 16 and chubby. Told me to lose 20 pounds and you're not Rob, you're Robbie, and if I see you with a girl, then you're gonna be sorry and if you don't sign this contract, get your bags from the lobby. He's such an evil man, I used to fantasize of taking a Stanley knife and go and play with his eyes. I pray to the Lord he won't have any children. He didn't spot Elvis leaving the building."

[edit] Certifications, Peaks & Sales

Country Peak Position Certification Sales/shipments
Argentina 1 2x Platinum[12] 80,000+
Australia 1 2x Platinum[13] 140,000+
Italy 1
Austria 1 2x Platinum[14] 60,000+
Belgium 3 Platinum[15] 40,000+
Denmark Platinum[16] 30,000+
Finland 1 Platinum[17] 33,465+
France 3 Platinum[18] 200,000+
Germany 1 3x Platinum/6x Gold[19] 600,000+
Hungary 2x Platinum[20] 20,000+
Ireland 2x Platinum[21] 30,000+
Mexico 1 Platinum[22] 100,000+
Portugal 5 Gold[23] 10,000+
Spain 1 Gold[24] 40,000+
Sweden 2 Gold[25] 30,000+
Switzerland 1 2x Platinum[26] 60,000+
United Kingdom 1 2x Platinum[27] 600,000+
Preceded by
Sam's Town by The Killers		 UK Albums Chart number-one album
October 29, 2006		 Succeeded by
The Sound of Girls Aloud by Girls Aloud
Preceded by
Dancing in the Street: the Songs of Motown II by Human Nature		 Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
October 30, 2006		 Succeeded by
Dancing in the Street: the Songs of Motown II by Human Nature

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ United World Chart
  2. ^ Neil Tennant talks about Rudebox's sales
  3. ^ U.K. Midweeks 24/10 (Tuesday)
  4. ^ Midweeks 24/10 (Wednesday)
  5. ^ U.K. Top 75 - October 29th 2006
  6. ^ Can Robbie Williams Escape Drugs Demons To Save His Career?
  7. ^ Album already platinum in the Netherlands
  8. ^ ARIA Charts
  9. ^ IFPI Certifcations, November 2006
  10. ^ Robbie Williams Is Accused Of Stealing "She's Madonna" Track
  11. ^ The Sun Online | The Best for News, Sport and Showbiz | The Sun
  12. ^ CAPIF
  13. ^ ARIA
  14. ^ IFPI Austria
  15. ^ IFPI Belgium
  16. ^ IFPI Denmark
  17. ^ IFPI Finland
  18. ^ Disque En France
  19. ^ IFPI Germany
  20. ^ MAHASZ
  21. ^ IRMA
  22. ^ AMPROFON
  23. ^ AFP – Week 49 Year 2006
  24. ^ – 2006 Certifications
  25. ^ IFPI Sweden – 2006 Certifications
  26. ^ IFPI Switzerland
  27. ^ BPI

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Robbie Williams
Studio albums
Compilation and live albums
Singles
DVDs

"Live In Your Living Room" · "Angels" · "Where Egos Dare" · "Live At The Albert" · "Escape Routes" · "The Robbie Williams Show" · "What We Did Last Summer" · And Throuht It All: Robbie Williams Live 1997-2006
Tours
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