ROBBIE WILLIAMS

[hpooch]

I did not review all the subject headings, but I could not find the vocalist Robbie Williams, and I just discovered him on Amazon.com and received the DVD "Live at Albert Hall" yesterday which blew me away as a performer with a salute to Sinatra. I discovered on his website that he has sold more records than any other UK entertainer (Is this accurate?), and his first million seller song was "Angels" which he wrote with Guy Chambers & I also have by Patricio Baumme. He seems to have had Drug and Alcohol problems in the past, and also questions on his sexual preferences. Another singer from the 50s who can match Al Martino in vocal timber was dick Lee. Is he still living either in the USA or UK??

[mariana44]

Hi Henry--not sure if Robbie has sold more than any other UK artist---but you can be sure that he has sold a lot. "Angels" is probably one of his most popular songs.

I loved his album "Swing when you're winning"--and I think he sings songs from this cd on that dvd. My favourite from that album was "They can't take that away from me".

I read last year that he was doing another "Swing" album, but for some reason it was postponed--but I have also heard he is recording another album, which I hope will be the "Swing" album.

I do not ever remember hearing of a singer called dick Lee--but if he was around the 50's, I have no doubt that Lena and Harry will know something about him.

[maureen & harry]

I am a fan of Robbie Williams but I have to say that I prefer him singing swing as he did on his DVD at the Albert Hall and also on the Swing CD.

Didn't know that there might be another album in the pipeline so thanks for the info Mariana. Like you I hope he chooses to do another Swing one.

It's a shame Robbie has such a lot of problems in his personal life so let's hope that the future will be brighter for him and that he doesn't waste the talent he has been given.

Maureen

[mariana44]

Maureen & Harry, I will let you know if I get more info on Robbie Williams---it should have been out last September, and I even had it on pre-order from CDWOW, but it just fizzled out--it was going to be called "Swinging again"--or something similar.,

[maureen & harry]

Hi Mariana,

Thanks - I will keep looking to see if there is any news from time to time. Perhaps now all the hype of Take That has died down perhaps Robbie will think about releasing an album later in the year or perhaps early next year and hopefully it will be a Swing one.

Maureen

[ROBERT M.]

Henry, Robbie Williams (as Maureen and Harry mentioned) was a member of 90's boy band Take That, he went solo a few years ago now. He apparently signed a £80 million contract with EMI. I do not know about the drink/drug problems, but I do believe Robbie is 100% straight in his sex.ual preferences

[paul jh]

It's interesting Robert that you have a direct line to Robbie's personal life.

I don't care for Robbie singing standards. His live version of My Way was the only one I liked. If I want to hear standards sung well, I will listen to Matt Monro, Buddy Greco, Jack Jones, or Sammy Davis Jnr.

Robbie did a breathtaking cover of She's The One. I think that may be Mariana's favourite by Robbie.

I love the songs he co-wrote with Guy Chambers. I think they are some of the best songs written in the past 15 years and many are now standards. Two of them are my top 2 songs of the Noughties. There's five months left so something may overtake them, but I doubt it.

[mariana44]

Yes Paul-you are right-I do like Robbie singing "She's the one" also "Angels"

[ROBERT M.]

I agree Jeff, I prefer Matt (or one or two others) singing the standards over a "lesser" singer like Robbie

[mariana44]

News for Maureen & Harry---Robbie has another new album out in November I think---but this is NOT another swing album. So we still have quite a while to wait for the next swing cd from Robbie.

[ROBERT M.]

Yes Marian, and guess what Robbie says about his "new" material............"it's the best I have ever recorded" !!!!!!............now where have I heard that said before ...........Robbie is also on a crash diet, no chocolate or cakes for the next few months, as Robbie says, he doesn't want to look like Michelin Man when his new album comes out

[paul jh]

The exciting news is the new album includes one song that Robbie wrote with Guy Chambers. I wish they wrote the entire album together. Their pairing is as good as Bacharach and David, Rodgers and Hart, Lerner and Lowe.

[ROBERT M.]

[mariana44]

Sorry Paul, I am with Robert on this. I agree that those 2 have written a couple of good songs--but nowhere near as prolific as Bacharach/David ; Rodgers/Hart : Lerner and Lowe---in fact, no comparison really.

[ROBERT M.]

Surely Jeffs remark was a joke ..............but then again, probably not