Robbie Williams "Swings Both Ways"

I've liked this guy since his first American solo album.  Not everything has worked completely, but this will be the seventh full album by him in my personal collection.  Six covers of some classics and seven originals written for the big band treatment.  Williams reunites with songwriter Guy Chambers (Angels, Rock DJ, etc.) on a full time basis for the new songs after a decade-long hiatus which Williams was quoted saying, "There was no huge falling out, he was a bit of a knob and I was a bit of a pussy."  Notoriously egotistical, the opening track's lyrics fit the mold...



"Get out of my lane, you're not in my league," "there's no room in my bed but while you're here bow your head and you can shine my shoes."  Yeah, that pisses people off but I like it.  The man has earned the right.  His eleven #1 albums in Britain ties him with ELVIS, for crying out loud.  The only record not getting there peaked at  #2.

Here's the first of the covers, this from The Jungle Book...



I don't know much about the Murs fella but he's well-known in the UK and his latest album had a decent chart showing (#19) here in the States last year.  Michael Bublé guests on an original, Rufus Wainwright on the title track (and yes, it's very tongue-in-cheek......oooh, even that's funny), Kelly Clarkson duets on "Little Green Apples" (which I remember the Roger Miller version), and this is the one that made Mrs. Rocker happy...



"Who is the girl?  I like her voice." said wifey.  Beats the hell out of me but I must be one of the very few who don't know her.  2.3 million likes on her Facebook page.  Guess I'll be purchasing her upcoming album which I read has been in the works for twenty months.  Not sure if I like the way that sounds.

Hard to say if this has had an official release domestically.  I see "import" listed on most sites but I also found that $12 can put one in your hands from American companies.  Damn if I didn't find a deluxe version after making my purchase.  Four bucks for another eleven minutes......one tune is "16 Tons"......mmmmmmmmm.......