Robbie Williams and Take That will not go head to head in a chart battle as the Official Charts Company has confirmed that his new album is not eligible for chart positioning.
The singer confirmed the surprise 1 December release of his latest solo record, Under the Radar Volume I, earlier this week – the same date as Take That’s latest, III.
The NME reported that Williams’s album can’t enter the chart race, however, as it is “solely available through his website and has been released by his management rather than the label”.
Earlier this week, singer Gary Barlow told the Sun that the battle for the No 1 spot was like “Blur versus Oasis all over again”, a statement to which Williams responded:
Gaz - it’s more like Oasis vs Beady Eye, except at the end of this week WE'LL all still have a career! RW x @takethat http://t.co/bVsHGiJ8Jt
— Robbie Williams (@robbiewilliams) December 3, 2014
Williams’s album is made up of discards and demos and will get a digital release on 8 December. Meanwhile, Take That’s III is their first release since Progress, an album created by the then five-piece, with both Jason Orange and Robbie Williams still in the band.
Orange, 44, decided that he would not commit to recording and promoting this latest release: “At the start of this year, and with my full knowledge and blessing, the guys began writing new material,” he said.
Despite depleted numbers, the band are currently at No 1 on the singles charts with These Days, their 12th chart-topper.
