Robbie Williams - Life Thru A Lens (25th Anniversary Edition) [4CD]

UMR/Island

£45
~~£61.20~~

Format: 4 x CD
Catalogue No.: 4549970
Barcode: 0602445499700
Release Date: 02 Dec 2022
Genre: Pop

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Robbie Williams’ multi-million selling solo debut album ‘Life Thru A Lens’ (originally released in September 1997 in the UK) UMC / Island Records are releasing a new expanded Deluxe Edition on 4CD set on 11 November 2022.

It brings together the original chart topping album with bonus tracks and B-Sides from the five singles lifted from it, along with tracks associated with Robbie’s (non-album) debut single ‘Freedom’ (UK No. 2, August 1996). The third disc contains previously unreleased demo recordings, alongside rehearsal recordings and rare remixes.

Disc 4 contains a first release on audio format for the complete concert recorded at the Forum in north London on 3 June 1998, released that November as ‘Live In Your Living Room’ on VHS tape and VCD but never reissued.

Original reviews of the album described it as “smart, sharp and prickling with personality” (NME), “actually rather fantastic”, (Time Out) and “raucous stompers, trembling epics and full-throated roaring all the way” (Smash Hits).

‘Life Thru A Lens’ spent two weeks at No. 1 on the UK Official Charts album chart and 92 weeks on the UK Top 40.
It sold a modest 14,533 units in the UK Week 1 but took off after the success of the anthemic ballad ‘Angels’, and has now sold 2.1 million copies in the UK (BPI certified 8 x Platinum).
The album was not originally released in the US, where key tracks from ‘Life Thru A Lens’ and ‘I’ve Been Expecting You’ were compiled on the collection ‘The Ego Has Landed’.
It includes the singles ‘Old Before I Die’ (UK No. 2 April 1997), ‘Lazy Days’ (UK No. 8 July 1997), ‘South Of The Border’ (UK No. 14 September 1997), ‘Angels’ (UK No. 4 February 1998) and ‘Let Me Entertain You’ (UK No. 3 March 1998).
‘Angels’ and ‘Let Me Entertain You’ were Robbie’s two most streamed tracks (audio and video combined) worldwide in 2021.

CD1 - Life Thru A Lens: The Original Album
Lazy Days
Life Thru A Lens
Ego A Go Go
Angels
South Of The Border
Old Before I Die
One Of God's Better People
Let Me Entertain You
Killing Me
Clean
Baby Girl Window
(silence)
Hello Sir (hidden track)

CD2 - Life On The Flipside; B-Sides and Bonus Tracks
Freedom (from 'Freedom', CD Single 1, July 1996)
Better Days (from 'Old Before I Die' , CD Single 1, April 1997)
Average B-Side (from 'Old Before I Die' , CD Single 1, April 1997)
Making Plans For Nigel (from 'Old Before I Die', CD Single 2, April 1997)
Kooks (from 'Old Before I Die', CD Single 2, April 1997)
Teenage Millionaire (from 'Lazy Days', CD Single 1, July 1997)
Falling In Bed (Again) (from 'Lazy Days', CD Single 1, July 1997)
She Makes Me High (from 'Lazy Days', CD Single 2, July 1997)
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye (from 'Lazy Days', CD Single 2, July 1997)
Lazy Days (Original Version) (from 'Millennium', CD Single 2, September 1998)
Cheap Love Song (from 'South Of The Border', CD Single 1, September 1997)
Walk This Sleigh (from 'Angels', CD Single 1, December 1997)
Karaoke Overkill (from 'Angels', CD Single 2, December 1997)
Get the Joke (from 'Angels', CD Single 2, December 1997)
Angels (acoustic version) (from 'Angels', CD Single 2, December 1997)
Angels (Spanish Version) (from 'The Ego Has Landed' (South America Editions). April 1999)
Let Me Entertain You (Full Length Version) (from 'Let Me Entertain You' CD Single 2, March 1998)
Medley Of Songs From The Motion Picture Soundtrack 'The Full Monty' (from 'Let Me Entertain You' , CD Single 1, March 1998)
I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing (from 'Let Me Entertain You' , CD Single 1, March 1998)
I Am The (Res)erection (from 'Let Me Entertain You' , CD Single 1, March 1998)

CD3 - Work In Progress: The Making of Life Thru A Lens
Freedom (Ambient Mix) (July 1996 Promo Release)
Freedom (New Sound Dub) (July 1996 Promo Release)
Hey Little Girl (Axis Studios Demo, October / November 1996)
Clean (working title Mr. Sheen) (Axis Studios Demo, October / November 1996)
Old Before I Die (Crescent Moon Studios Demo, October 1996)
Lazy Days (Tower Studios Demo, January 1997)
Angels (Tower Studios Demo, January 1997)
Red Lights (Tower Studios Demo, January 1997)
Average B-Side (Westside Studios Demo, February 1997)
Teenage Millionaire (Rehearsal Recording, Spring 1997)
South of the Border (Rehearsal Recording, Spring 1997)
Killing Me Rehearsal (Rehearsal Recording, Spring 1997)
Life Thru A Lens Rehearsal (Rehearsal Recording, Spring 1997)
South of the Border (Mother's Milkin' It Mix)
Let Me Entertain You (The Bizzaro Mix)

CD4 - Life On The Stage
Let Me Entertain You (Live at The Forum, London 3 June 1998)
I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing (Live at The Forum, London 3 June 1998)
Clean (Live at The Forum, London 3 June 1998)
South Of The Border (Live at The Forum, London 3 June 1998)
Average 'B' Side (Live at The Forum, London 3 June 1998)
Baby Girl Window (Live at The Forum, London 3 June 1998)
One Of God's Better People (Live at The Forum, London 3 June 1998)
There She Goes (Live at The Forum, London 3 June 1998)
Killing Me (Live at The Forum, London 3 June 1998)
Life Thru A Lens (Live at The Forum, London 3 June 1998)
Teenage Millionaire (Live at The Forum, London 3 June 1998)
Lazy Days (Live at The Forum, London 3 June 1998)
Ego A Go Go (Live at The Forum, London 3 June 1998)
Old Before I Die (Live at The Forum, London 3 June 1998)
Angels (Live at The Forum, London 3 June 1998)
Back For Good (Live at The Forum, London 3 June 1998)