Album Review: Rod Stewart with Jools Holland, Swing Fever

Through his five volumes of the Great American Songbook, the rascally Rod Stewart has been down this way before, but the addition of Jools Holland adds an extra dimension to his latest outing. Stewart’s age-worn and smoky voice can still deliver, as these 13 covers of classic big band numbers prove.

The album opens with the snappy, rousing ‘Lullaby Of Broadway’, which sets a high bar for an orchestra who come on as full-blooded as you might expect. Although Stewart says he wants to leave the rock ‘n’ roll stuff behind for a while, the versions of ‘Good Rockin’ Tonight’ and ‘Night Train’ suggest a reluctance to go all the way with that aim.

He even manages to smuggle a languid touch of mischief into the relatively sedate ‘Tennessee Waltz’. Elsewhere, the singer can still surprise with comfortable and convincing run-throughs of such harmless classics as ‘Pennies From Heaven’ and ‘Love Is The Sweetest Thing’ , while he even dusts off ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’ from volume five of his “songbook” series for a worthy re-run.

Jools is no slouch either. His strident rhythmic piano drives ‘Sentimental Journey’, and he also gives full value on ‘Them There Eyes’ (complete with Andrew Sisters-style wartime vocals) and the perennial ‘Frankie & Johnny’.

Neither Rod nor Jools are renowned for taking themselves too seriously, so it should hardly surprise that they have concocted an album that wears an effortless smile. If you fancy a taste of the music that turned your grandparents on, you’d do well to start with Swing Fever. It could be one virus you’ll be happy to catch.

7.5/10