Robbie latest escapade?

Robbie Williams could "save the UK music industry" this winter with forthcoming
new album 'ESCAPOLOGY', according to industry watchdogs. The industry has been
in the doldrums this year with sales down 15% on 2001, something a host of big
albums, led by Williams , are expected to put right. The upturn will be slowly
led by big-hitting greatest hits albums by Elvis and Rolling Stones through
October, before 'Super Monday' on November 11 when a host of stars including U2,
Westlife and Craig David will unleash their albums. All this will be merely be a
warm-up for Robbie's November 18 arrival though, chart expert Gennaro Castaldo
from HMV said. "'Super Monday' is traditionally huge," he explained. "This year
there are major releases fromU2, Westlife, Shania Twain and, provisionally,
Craig David. But Robbie Williams especially is something people seem to respond
to. "His new album is a real bonus. It was already looking like being a bumper
run-up to Christmas, but now with Robbie it looks like being the biggest ever."
Robbie''s previous album 'Swing When You're Winning' bolstered album sales in
2001. It has to date sold just under two million in the UK alone. However, his
place as industry saviour comes at an odd time. As NME goes to press, Williams
was still without a record deal - an unprecedented position for such a major
player. A bidding war is presently ongoing with Williams ' previous guardians at
EMI duking it out with Warners, Sony and Universal for his signature. A fee of
£40 million was the asking price some months ago. Williams' management company
IE Music still hold all the cards. According to Music Week, distribution,
promotions and marketing have been sorted independently, suggesting they may not
go with a major label at all. NME.COM understands that the cover for
'Escapology' features Williams pictured suspended in a glass tank in the style
of conceptual artist Damien Hirst. The album itself includes tracks 'Something
Beautiful', 'Monsoon', 'Sexed Up', the Blur pastiche 'Song 3' and a heavy The
Beatles nod in 'Me & My Monkey'. While some tracks sound a little likeQueen ,
forthcoming single 'Feel' is said to be a classic Williams ballad. There were
also suggestions in the Australian press, that in a bid to be taken more
seriously, Robbie wished to be called Robert Williams from now on. Castaldo
denies this, saying that with less than two months to go until release, HMV
buyers were still expecting to stock 'Escapology' by Robbie Williams .
Meanwhile, Robbie will debut 'Feel' at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Barcelona
on November 14. His live performance at the Palau Sant Jordi will be a world
exclusive.

Taken from NME



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]