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Robbie Williams
Greatest Hits
(Chrysalis)
source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/pop/reviews/robbie_greatest.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gifFrom the tender beginnings of a Take That (http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/profiles/takethat.shtml) number 38 'hit' - complete with lycra shorts and 'interesting' dance routines - Robbie Williams has worked his way into the hearts and onto the bedroom walls of the nation. After 13 years we now have this, his greatest hits album, cataloguing his journey from the teenage heartbreak of leaving Take That through to the Robbie we know so well.

After 5 studio albums, this compilation isn't going to hold any surprises. It's worth noting that Robbie isn't one of those artists where the singles are great but the rest of the album isn't much cop. While [I]Sing When You're Winning probably clocks in as the weakest of the albums, each one is a great listen in itself, and this compilation is perhaps somewhat weaker for containing singles only, missing strong album tracks like I've Been Expecting You's fiery "Karma Killer" and Life Through A Lens' romping "Ego A Go Go".

We start not quite at the very beginning. The first solo single, a cover of the 1990 George Michael (http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/profiles/michaelgeorge.shtml) classic "Freedom", seems to have been erased from Robbie history; it's never performed live and gets completely overlooked on this album. Instead, we kick off with the first single from LTAL, the laddish "Old Before I Die". Also missed out are "South Of The Border", his only non-top 10 single, and the sickly "Somethin' Stupid". The now classic (and somewhat overrated) "Angels" is promoted out of chronological order to track two and will undoubtedly be a highlight of the album for many. For me, however, it's the other ballads that are the stand-out tracks; from the summer soaring of "Eternity" to the break-up pain of "Sexed Up", it's these soft rock ballads that are consistently great.

As is seemingly now the fashion (check out the forthcoming Britney and Kylie releases), this compilation also contains two new tracks. We'll all know by now the opinion-dividing "Radio", which, Robbie tells us, is the start of a new era in his music. New song number two, "Misunderstood", taken from the second Bridget Jones movie, sees Robbie return to familiar power-ballad territory. In a few weeks it'll no doubt be populating radio station playlists everywhere and will be impossible to escape.

It's been a rocky 13 years, but towering above the personality, the drugs, the girls and the drink, it's the quality of the music that will surely stand as Robbie's legacy.

Reviewer: Talia Kraines

Greatest Hits - Robbie Williams

Artist: Robbie Williams / Genre: Pop & Rock / Release Date: 2004
source: http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/music-records/greatest-hits-robbie-williams/1001416/ (http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/music-records/greatest-hits-robbie-williams/1001416/)

That cheeky chap you can't help but like has brought out a Greatest Hits album. Now to tell the truth though I've admired the ex-boy band member, as a bloody good entertainer, I'd not bothered diving into a Robbie purchase. With the Greatest Hits, I thought it worth a go. All the now classic songs are there. And that's the point I suppose! These songs have become classics!! Robbie has been a solo artist for about 9 years now, and when you listen to this album you realise how and why he has stuck it out at the top for so long.

Now the earlier stuff may have been a bit bad, and the missing George Michael cover of Freedom is very telling. However as you track through the history of Robbie, you soon find yourself going, "Oh I like this one!" Or even more amazing, you find yourself singing along... You realise you know most of the words! With his now ex song writing partner Guy Chambers, and also as a solo song writer, Robbie has knocked out some classic pop songs.

Now pop maybe a dirty word, but Robbie has made 'pop' cool again. After all the term does mean 'popular', and not 'manufacture-crap', as it has come to be known. This is a album of good work, one to be proud of. It is that time of year now when everyone living or dead seems to be banging out a Greatest Hits album, to grab their slice of the Chirstmas market. Many of these are really stretching the whole idea of greatest hits, a many of them have not had enough hits to fill such an album. However with Robbie and this album, he can truly declare it as it is, an absolute gem of a Greatest Hits album.

I could go through each track, and make comment, but that would be a waste of time. If you know Robbie and his body of work, then you'll know the songs I'm talking about. If your don't know Robbie and his body of work, then you'll still know the songs I'm talking about. If you are going to make a purchase of one of the many greatest hits albums flooding the market, you will not go far wrong with this one. Particularly if you are struggling for a present for someone who seems to have everything!

Recommend yes

Greatest Hits - Robbie Williams

Artist: Robbie Williams / Genre: Pop & Rock / Release Date: 2004
source: http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/music-records/greatest-hits-robbie-williams/1001416/ (http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/music-records/greatest-hits-robbie-williams/1001416/)


Welcome to this review which is really a tribute to the one and only Robert Peter Maximillian Williams. If you think the Maximillian bit is a lie well it isn?t, although Rob only added it because he wanted a cooler name! Not quite sure he got that one right!! Born the day before Valentines Day in 1974, he was bound to be a heart breaker from the start, with his Chinese Sign being the Tiger, well girls; we didn?t stand a chance, did we!?!

I love Robbie Williams with a passion! I have done since the 90's when he was a member of Take That. I can remember going to see him live at Manchester and thought he was the only man I would ever love.And then again at York in the 1998. Ooh dear, how sad I was (and still possibly am!!) After his heart breaking split from Take That, Robbie bounced back in 1996, with George Michaels 'Freedom'. Not one of his better tracks, hence the reason it?s not on his Greatest Hits album I guess.

The album cover is a perfectly choreographed black and white pose of Robbie semi naked, well his shirt is unbuttoned! Simple and effective. The dis inside is black with a dark grey print of the album title and artist. Again simple and effective! One thing that did disappoint me with this album is that it did not come with words for the songs as most do! I suppose I will have them all on his other albums but that is not the point! Anyway, instead of the word booklet, we are given a few outtake photographs from the making of his better videos. so these are quite nice really! Still woul dhave rather have had the words!!

Instead of running through each song, Im going to runthrough Robbies albums to shed a light on their success and charm! Hope you enjoy!

The 'Life Thru a Lens' Album which entered the UK Top 10 eventually climbed to number one 28 weeks after it was first released in 1997. This album contained several of Greatest Hits, including ?Old Before I Die?, ?Lazy Days?, ?Angels? and ?Let me Entertain You?.

After a few bad songs Robbie released ?Angels? for Christmas 1997 (I think! Seems so long ago) and hit the number 1 spot. ?Angels? has become a classic ballad that will be remembered for ever!

In 1998, Robbie?s second album, ?I?ve been Expecting You!? was released in September 1998 topping the charts following the hit single ?Millennium?; the James Bond based video with that Robbie Williams flavour! Also included on this album was ?No Regrets? which reached number 4 in December 1998. This beautifully written song describes a break-up in a way only Robbie could. Robbie seemed to have a run of ballads from here because his next hit was ?Strong?, which also reached number 4 for Easter 1999.A perfect description of how Humans are just that, human and no man is invincible! Yet another ballad followed with ?She's the One?. ?She?s the One? reached the number 1 spot in November 1999.

Robbie's third album, ?Sing When You're Winning?, was released in August 2000 and surprisingly enough it hit the top spot, The classic pop hit ?Rock DJ? was the first to be released proving a massive hit despite the controversial video (when he takes his skin off in a room with women) A Guaranteed Hit!

?Kids? was next to be released the fantastic duet with Ms Minogue! although not a number one hit, ?Kids? hit number 2 in October 2000. And of course, rumours began to circulate about Kylie and Robbie?s relationship! Hands off him girly, he's mine!!!

?Supreme? reached number 4 in December 2000 followed by let ?Love be Your Energy?. I must be honest when I say that these songs never really hit a high note with me. I think them too similar and hadn?t even realised that they were actually two different songs! And call myself a fan!!

In July 2001 Double A side with ?Eternity? and ?Road to Mandalay? was released. Eternity is yet another beautiful ballad by Mr Williams, accompanied by a lovely video of a relationship in paradise. If any of you have seen the film ?Buster? with Phil Collins, this video reminded me so much of this! Of course the songs hit the top spot yet again. Robbie seemed to be on a roll!


Robbie's fourth album, ?Escapology? was released in November 2002, and surprisingly enough hit the top spot again and became the biggest selling album of 2002. The debut single being ?Feel? in my eyes is one of his best ever hits but it only reached number 4 in December 2002. ?Come Undone? is another one of my faves and still only reached number 5 in April 2003. Shows you how good my music taste is doesn?t it! Never mind! Each to their own. Finally in 2003, the powerful ?Sexed Up? was released. These last three songs are on constant repeat in my car but be careful what kind of mood you are in as they are very powerful!!!!

The Greatest Hits album also has two new songs, the fabulous ?Radio? which became Robbie's sixth number1. My son insists that Robbie keeps saying Ouch because he has banged his head! The innocence of childhood, eh! His latest single ?Misunderstood,? from the new Bridget Jones movie, ?The Edge of Reason? is not a favourite of mine and I don?t even think it sounds like him, is in the style of Elvis Costello! (I hope that?s the right guy! I?m not sure now I?ve written it!)

Despite the lack of the duet with Nicole Kidman, a massive hit from Christmas 2001, ?Something Stupid?, (God knows why!) Robbie?s greatest Hits album is in my eyes fantastic. But perhaps this will be kept in better place on his ?Swing when you?re Winning? Big Band album which despite massive disapproval and deep was a massive number 1 album.

Apparently Robbie had a lot of help with all of his songs to date from a man called Guy Chambers. Since his departure we are left to see where Robbie will go next! Surely he can?t go far wrong can he!!

CD Contents

1. Old Before I Die
2. Angels
3. Lazy Days
4. Let Me Entertain You
5. Millennium
6. No Regrets
7. Strong
8. She's The One
9. Rock DJ
10. Kids
11. Supreme
12. Let Love Be Your Energy
13. Eternity
14. The Road To Mandalay
15. Feel
16. Come Undone
17. Sexed Up
18. Radio
19. Misunderstood

Robbie Williams Greatest Hits costs around £10 although I go tmine on Special Offer through Britannia for £7.99. If you like Robbie you shoul dnot even consider missing this one. It has all your faves and more! Although there are no hidden extras on the disc, the Robbie magic is still there and is more than enough for me!

I hope you enjoy the album and thank you for reading my review!

Kerry

greatest hits - album reviews

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