Reload

THERE’S CERTAINLY no keeping up with this particular Jones. As if a collaboration with The Art Of Noise wasn’t trendy enough, the man who legions of Joe Dolan fans would have us believe is Wales’ answer to Joe Dolan goes one better with an entire album of instantly recognisable classics recorded beside an array of the great, the good and the Simply Red of the current musical milieu.

Reload does contain a number of murdered ballads: Heather Small’s sonorous pipes are criminally underused on ‘You Need Love Like I Do’ while Mick Hucknall’s are . . . well, just used, on ‘Ain’t That A Lot Of Love’. Make no mistake, though, this is Tom Jones’ party and attempts to steal his thunder will not be tolerated.

Blonde bombshell Nina Cardigan heads the guest list, rasping her way through the opener, a searing, smouldering rendition of Talking Heads’ celebrated infernal racket ‘Burning Down The House’.

Reload also sees much rallying of troops from the valleys, with Kelly Jones, James Dean Bradfield and Cerys Matthews all putting their shoulders to the wheel to potent effect. The Stereophonic-in-chief’s effortless cool complements that of Jones the elder on the suggestively-titled rock-out ‘Mama Told Me Not To Come’, while Brandfield adds raucous fire and brimstone to ‘I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone’. Ms Catatonia’s contribution, however, is as sublime as you’d expect: ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ is more deliciously cute than you could possibly imagine, and definite number one material.

Elsewhere, in their own inimitable ways, Tommy from Space, Neil Hannon and the ubiquitous Robbie Williams are as shamelessly bombastic as you’d expect on ‘Sunny Afternoon’, ‘All Mine’ and ‘Are You Gonna Go My Way’, respectively. Van the Man is in there too, amazingly, first among equals on ‘Sometimes We Cry’.

For my money, though, the finest cut on this winning collection is Jones’ collaboration with Natalie Imbruglia on INXS’ heart-rending ballad, ‘Never Tear Us Apart’. Any remaining doubts you might have about the former soapstress’ credibility will evaporate within one airing of her gutsy contribution.

Truth be told, a few days ago I would have scoffed at the notion of buying an album of this ilk. It just goes to show that you shouldn’t be blinded by my prejudices!