LONDON, UK (AP) - He may have ruled the boyband world with
Take That and conquered the charts as a solo star but
Robbie Williams has confessed that recording his 'Swing When You're Winning' was the "most fun" he's ever had making an album.
"I can honestly say that this is the most fun I have ever had recording," said Robbie speaking from Capitol Studios in LA.
"My only complaint is that my fingers are sore from clicking them - I'm suffering from 'swing finger'. I'm having the time of my life. It's a total blast." After wooing nearly a million UK fans during this summer's stadium shows, Robbie jetted off to LA to record what promises to be one of the most unusual albums of the year.
It has also been confirmed that the artwork for 'Swing When You're Winning' will be presented in an exclusively commissioned sleeve designed by renowned artist Peter Blake, the man behind The Beatles' 'Sergeant Pepper' cover.
Speaking about the duet with Nicole Kidman on 'Something Stupid', Robbie had only praise for the movie star saying she had "beautiful voice" that he first spotted when watching one of her recent films.
"I heard her sing in the movie Moulin Rouge and I asked if she would be interested, fully expecting to be knocked back - she's a proper Hollywood star! - but she said yes. I was amazed and thrilled."
Robbie has also recorded with Saturday Night Live star John Lovitz and actress and friend Jane Horrocks and said "prepare to be astonished" by the full list of guests on the album.
Revealing his motivations behind the idea, Robbie said he was "doffing his cap to the Rat Pack" and highlighted the important influence this style of music had been on his childhood. "I've loved this music since I was a kid in Stoke," disclosed Robbie. "For me to sing in front of the band that backed Frank Sinatra in the same studio that he used is an absolute honour."
Williams has been recording tracks with a host of jazz legends including Count Basie Orchestra drummer Harold Jones, trumpet virtuoso Chuck Findley and tenor sax supremo Pete Christlieb with the backing of an 18-piece band, under the watchful eye of arranger Steve Sidwell.
If that list wasn't impressive enough, Robbie has also managed to persuade Bill Miller - the pianist who played on Sinatra's original of 'One For My Baby' - to accompany Robbie on the same track.
The tracklisting so far:
'One For My Baby'
'Something Stupid'
'The Lady Is A Tramp'
'Did You Evah?'
'That's Life'
'Ain't That A Kick In The Head'
'They Can't Take That Away From Me'
'La Mer'
'Mack The Knife'.
A final tracklisting has yet to be announced.
'Swing When You're Winning' is released on November 19.
