On My Own (Demo)

About

On My Own was released in December 2012 as part of the Different EP, the principal B-side collection from Take the Crown. Written by Robbie Williams with Kelvin Andrews and Danny Spencer of Soul Mekanik, the track features guest vocals by Sir Tom Jones. It was produced by Soul Mekanik, the Stoke-on-Trent duo who also contributed to Rudebox and Reality Killed the Video Star.

The song’s loose, funk-driven structure and playful instrumentation reveal its origins as a demo recording. Mixing brass hooks, deep bass and spoken-style verses, it channels a retro-soul energy with a mischievous edge. Jones’s powerful baritone contrasts with Williams’s lighter phrasing, and the pair exchange lines and laughs throughout the track, their camaraderie audible in the final mix. Sound effects, comic interjections and a buoyant rhythm section add to its light-hearted tone.

“I write so many songs and love all of them, but they can’t all make it onto an album. Some of my favourites never get heard. Check out the legend that is Tom Jones on On My Own.”Robbie Williams

The recording marked the two artists’ first studio collaboration since their joint performance at the 1998 Brit Awards, and it reflected Williams’s affection for classic showmanship and British pop heritage. Though a rough cut rather than a refined single, On My Own stands out among Williams’s later B-sides for its exuberance and sense of humour. The combination of two generations of performers, each known for charisma and vocal character, makes it a memorable and unconventional highlight of the Take the Crown era.