Average B-Side (Westside Studios Demo, February 1997)

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Average B-Side appears in demo form on CD3 of the 25th anniversary edition of Life Thru a Lens. Recorded in February 1997, the track offers insight into a song that would later become one of the most regarded B-sides from Robbie Williams’ debut era, despite never featuring on the original album.

The demo was recorded at Westside Studios in London and written by Williams with Kevin King, with production by Guy Chambers. The recording dates from the early months of the Williams and Chambers partnership, a period marked by rapid writing and experimentation. Unlike many demos from the era, Average B-Side is already close in structure and melody to its later released form.

Musically, the demo is raw and intimate, with a looser feel than the finished recording. Williams’ vocal is exposed and conversational, occasionally overlapping with guide vocals, which emphasises the song’s work in progress status. The arrangement is minimal, allowing the melody and lyric to take precedence over polish or performance.

Lyrically, Average B-Side reflects on self doubt, creative anxiety and feelings of ordinariness, themes that resonated strongly with listeners once the song was officially released. In demo form, these ideas feel especially direct, with fewer refinements softening their impact. The tone is reflective rather than dramatic, underscoring the song’s emotional honesty.

The inclusion of Average B-Side (Westside Studios Demo) on the anniversary edition elevates its status from cult favourite to key archival document. It demonstrates how fully formed Williams’ songwriting instincts had become by early 1997, even on material not intended for album release.