Tom Jones: 'If He Should Ever Leave You'

Tom Jones has had quite a career. Best mates with Elvis, adored by knicker-throwing women, and scoring hits as recently as 1999 with the crowd-pleasing pop covers of his Reload album. At the ripe old age of 68, he should probably be hanging up his mike and medallions, but the perma-tanned Welshman seems intent on defying the doubters.

This comeback single finds him in safe territory, with lashings of brass, sweeping strings and some huge notes to give his aging, husky vocals a healthy work-out. Perfectly pleasant, it's cruise ship pop done by a pro. His upcoming 24 Hours album has been billed as a "mature" new direction for the singer, but it's going to be tough to view Jones - whose hits less we forget include 'What's New Pussycat?' and 'Sex Bomb' - as an entirely sophisticated elder statesman.