Robbie Williams has announced a surprise new album. Under the Radar Volume 1, a collection of discards and demos that “cried out for a home”, is being released today, the same day as Take That’s III.
“[These are] loads and loads of songs that I’ve written that I’m incredibly passionate about,” Williams said in a handheld video to his fans. “I want you to hear them, otherwise they’re just going to remain in my computer!”
Although the digital edition won’t be available until 8 December, the CD version is on sale now. Williams is selling them exclusively through his website for £7.50 a pop, or £25 with an autograph. Some of the material dates from the same sessions as 2012’s Take the Crown, including a song called Run It Wild. “[I] got very, very excited about [Run It Wild] and instantly added it to the [tour] setlist … [But] it didn’t make the album and it didn’t make the tour, and there are loads of songs that just for whatever reason didn’t make it.”
Williams claims that his longtime collaborator Guy Chambers “isn’t happy” about these songs being released online, instead of in “He thinks I’m a lunatic for not putting them on an album that we’ve promoted with TV performances and at radio stations and a big tour,” Williams said. “But I’m an impetuous bugger, and I want them out now, now, now!”
On Sunday, the Official Charts Company announced that Take That’s new single, These Days, had debuted at No 1 – the boyband’s 12th chart-topper. It is their first release since Williams left the group – for the second time – in 2012.
Williams’ most recent solo album, 2013’s Swings Both Ways, also debuted at No 1.
