Album Review: Jools Holland - The Golden Age Of Song

This album is obviously a Christmas cash in – get hot young pop stars (and a few old favourites) to record a bunch of Nana's favourite songs to soundtrack the family's festive season. However, it's being done under the guidance of Jools Holland, host of one of the best music content shows on TV… anywhere. In Holland's hands, singers such as Paloma Faith, Joss Stone, Cee Lo Green, Caro Emerald and even the polarising Jessie J get to show off their captivating voices in style.

Thankfully, though the song choices are familiar, they're not picked from that over-used pool of 50 or so tracks that seem to be mandatory for standards albums these days. There are a couple of songs here that have been taken from Holland's TV show from various New Year's Eve Hootenanny episodes, including a beautiful Don't Go To Strangers performed by Amy Winehouse with a crooning Paul Weller, and a rendition of My Baby Just Cares For Me featuring Florence Welch that never quite manages to get off the ground.

At a mammoth 17 tracks there are songs that work and others that don't. American jazz singer Gregory Porter charms with his airy Sweet Country Love Song, while Mick Hucknall could've been left off and Weller's September In The Rain drags. Surprisingly it's Jessie J that lifts this album above its station as marketing ploy. She takes on Brenda Russell's Get Here and the result is dazzling. This is certainly fun for the whole family, but if it's your Christmas day soundtrack make sure someone's paying enough attention to skip those few clunkers.