Rudebox

Untitled

Rudebox (also known as Dirtbox) is 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 fourteen countries including United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Italy and Finland.

Williams was touring Latin America and Australia when the album was released, and he did not promote it on television, magazines or radio. His record company EMI marketed Rudebox with a few commercials on radio and television.

The album has sold less than 5 million copies since it was released.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
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	Ricky Martin	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	4:08

Japanese Bonus Track

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lonestar Rising"

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".

Reception

Sales

In the United Kingdom the album sold 54,667 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. The album debuted at number-one on the Official UK Albums Chart selling over 147,000 copies on its first week 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.

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.

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.. 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. 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. However, the album was available in the US and a relative success as a digital download, reaching the top 15 on iTunes. It also peaked at #7 on the Canadian iTunes.

Singles

• "Rudebox"
• "Kiss Me" (Limited international release)
• "Lovelight"
• "Bongo Bong and Je Ne T'Aime Plus" (Limited international release)
• "She's Madonna"
• "We're The Pet Shop Boys" (released as a U.S. Club promo single in October 2008)

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.

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.

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."

Certifications, peaks & sales

Country	Peak Position	Certification	Sales/shipments
Argentina	1	2x Platinum	80,000+
Australia	1	2x Platinum	140,000+
Italy	1	Platinum	100,000+
Austria	1	2x Platinum	60,000+
Belgium	3	Platinum	40,000+
Denmark		Platinum	30,000+
Finland	1	Platinum	33,465+
France	3	Platinum	200,000+
Germany	1	3x Platinum/6x Gold	600,000+
Hungary		2x Platinum	20,000+
Ireland		2x Platinum	30,000+
Mexico	1	Platinum	100,000+
Portugal	5	Gold	10,000+
Spain	1	Gold	40,000+
Sweden	2	Gold	30,000+
Switzerland	1	2x Platinum	60,000+
United Kingdom	1	2x Platinum	600,000+

External links

• Official web page