Track Listing

1. I Will Talk And Hollywood Will Listen
2. Mack The Knife
3. Somethin' Stupid (with Nicole Kidman)
4. Do Nothing 'Till You Hear From Me
5. It Was A Very Good Year (with Frank Sinatra)
6. Straighten Up And Fly Right
7. Well Did You Evah? (with Jon Lovitz)
8. Mr. Bojangles
9. One For My Baby
10. Things (with Jane Horrocks)
11. Ain't That A Kick In The Head?
12. They Can't Take That Away From Me (with Rupert Everett)
13. Have You Met Miss Jones?
14. Me And My Shadow (with Jonathan Wilkes)
15. Beyond The Sea

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #218 in Music
• Released on: 2001-11-19
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
Apparently, Swing When You're Winning was inspired by the praise Robbie Williams received for his contribution to the soundtrack on Bridget Jones's Diary. Recorded with an 18-piece band in Frank Sinatra's old stomping ground, the Capitol Records Studio in LA, this collection of finger-clickin', Rat Pack standards and new material features plenty of guest collaborations, such as the much-hyped Nicole Kidman effort on Sinatra's "Something Stupid". Swing... is billed by Williams as a tribute to "The Rat Pack", a gang of entertainers including Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr, as well as Ol' Blue-Eyes himself, that dominated the Las Vegas dinner-club scene of the early 1960s. The selection of tracks reflect the karaoke sessions of Robbie's childhood in Stoke, and have been given the full "tribute" treatment, with no funny business going on in the production to take away from their classic appeal. There's never been any doubt that Williams sees himself as an entertainer in the most traditional sense of the word (not to mention a bit of a swinger), and his old-time-crooner fantasies are certainly given free rein to charm the pants off us all on this classy album. --Ruby Tuesday

CD Description
'Swing When You're Winning' is Robbie Williams' tribute to the Rat Pack of the fifties. Backed by the big band sound, Robbie makes his way through classics such as 'Mack The Knife', 'Mr. Bojangles' and 'It Was A Very Good Year'. The album also includes the single 'Something Stupid' performed with Nicole Kidman.

Customer Reviews

Robbie fans in for a culture shock with this album
Released here in New Zealand to coincide with Robbie's tour which opens in my home city of Christchurch tonight 13th November, "Swing When You're Winning" is a collection of tracks that take you back to an era of the Big Bands, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington and the like. Described as a tribute to Frank, Dean and Sammy, Williams is in his element here. For anyone who might think of him as a teen pop idol, take a listen to this album and marvel at the quality of the vocals. Williams has a superb voice which is captured to great effect by a high quality recording. Ably supported by the likes of Nicole Kidman and the London Session orchestra, this album oozes class.

I think the most intriguing aspect to this CD release is to consider who Williams is targetting this album towards. A poll of my family suggests that it may leave his younger audience cold. However, the more mature members of Robbie's fan club (dare I put an age on this - say those the wrong side of 30) - thank Williams for producing something quite above the ordinary hum-drum fodder that comprises about 95% of the music industry today. Go buy this album!

A Vintage Performance!!
This is fantastic!
I am not a huge Robbie fan but liked his version of 'Have You Met Miss Jones?' on the Bridget Jones Soundtrack, and brought this album on the strength of it. If you liked that you will love this.
All but the opening track are Standards from the 50's and 60's, and each is both faithful to the original and at the same time unmistakably Robbie Williams.
He may not have the world's greatest voice, as is made plain when he 'duets' with Sinatra himself on 'It was a Very Good Year', but what he lacks in range he more than makes up for in delivery.
Many of the tracks are duets, and it on these particularly that you get the sense that this was great fun to make, and that he is not taking himself too seriously. Highlights are the comical version of 'Things' with Jane Horricks and the playful 'Something Stupid' with Nicole Kidman.
Added to all of this, the orchestral arrangement on every track is to die for. Whether a Robbie Williams fan or not this ought to be part of your record collection. It's guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face and a swing in your step.

Don't Listen to The Cynics!
Being a huge Sinatra & Rat Pack fan I have to admit when I first found out about this ambitious project I was cynical. Had Robbie (& his ego, which to be fair is backed up with a lot of natural talent) gone too far this time?
Well the answer is a clear NO! Having been blown away by the Live Show the album was a must.
Let's get a few things straight to start with. Williams does not think he's Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin or Sammy Davis Jnr and he doesn't sound like them either. There is no one on the planet who could fill the loss of the greatest singer of the 20th Century, Sinatra or hope to replace the talent of the late great Sammy Davis Jnr. He is just singing great songs he loves from the heart and he sings them with integrity and respect for the artists who sang them. He does a great job as well! If this means a whole new generation will be switched on to Sinatra & Swing .. then we can only thank the man & his talent for this great album.
My personal highlights are 'Mr Bojangles', which Robbie almost claims as his own with a stunning performance of power & emotional depth. The music from a first class Orchestra is hauntingly tragic. 'It was A Good Year' the duet with Sinatra is also very tastefully done (half of the song each) and Robbie does not disgrace himself even in the presence of the great man himself! 'One For My baby' (a personal Sinatra favourite of mine) is given justice with Mr Williams getting the mood & feel of the piece spot on.
Make no mistake Robbie Williams is a massive talent that this country should be proud of. He has more in common with those late great Rat Pack entertainers than most people give him credit for. Yes he's been described as an entertainer, a song & dance man .... but hey ... so were Frank, Sammy & Dean! Long live the spirit of the Rat Pack & It's new leader Mr Williams!