Mr. Jones

It's the Rhondda meets the Rap or as one newspaper put it "the return of the Pontypridd mack!" Not content with duetting with the likes of The Stereophonics, Robbie Williams and Cerys Matthews on the fantastically successful Re-load, Tom Jones at the grand old age of 62 now turns his vocal chops to r’n’b and hip-hop.

Few of his vintage would get away with such an audacious move without looking ridiculous but Jones, who has always been a major soul and r’n’b fan, carries it off with consummate style and no little cred. Not that the Welsh Wonder has taken to rapping himself – that's left to his collaborator, ex-Fugee Wyclef Jean, who produced and wrote much of this lively outing.

In truth, a lot of this is just classic Jones belting it out the way he has always done, albeit with a baseball cap (on backwards of course) and a pair of Nikes making up the rhythm section. Opening with the current single, 'Tom Jones International' where he immodestly lays claim to his place in the scheme of things, he roars "Gonna set the whole house on fire, won't stop bopping 'till I retire."

He certainly lives up to this promise on a funked-up version of 'Black Betty' – Ram Jam's proto metal ’70s classic while his take on Bob Seger's ballad, 'We've Got Tonight' way outpaces Kenny and Sheena Easton's insipid duet on the same song.

He comes over all nostalgic on 'Younger Days' while the entire breathless affair ends with an r’n’b take on his 1970 hit 'I Who Have Nothing'.

All together now: "One time..."