Five star

ROBBIE doing Sinatra is an odd and scary idea and one which has raised a few quizzical eyebrows from his sceptics.

But those who are all too quick to question why a humble member of a defunct boy band thought he could emulate such Rat Pack classics should stop with the slating and see this album for what it really is.

Rumour has it Robbie chose to make the album after recording Have You Met Miss Jones? for the Bridget Jones's Diary soundtrack and felt at ease with the style. Plus it was the music he grew up with.

His voice, although not the greatest in the world, is so well suited to these songs that they could just as easily have been written for him. And his charm and charisma, that of a true showman, shine through.

Particular marvels are Mack the Knife, Somethin' Stupid (with Nicole Kidman) It Was a Very Good Year (on which he duets with Sinatra himself), Mr Bojangles, Me and My Shadow (with best mate Jonathan Wilkes), One for My Baby and Beyond the Sea - well all of them really.

There's also one of his own, I Will Talk and Hollywood Will Listen, a theatrical song which is well suited to the album.

MC