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The Credit Crunch is biting and people need to make extra money somehow. It appears that Seal is no different to the rest of us. Despite being married to a supermodel there must be a shortage of cash in the Klum household, how else can I explain Seal releasing a collection of cover versions?

Firstly I have to say that I am not won over easily by cover versions, so Mr Seal had to pull something rather spectacular out of the bag for me to be even content. I looked at the selection of songs and I was feeling a little more assured, at least that part looked top drawer.

What makes a good cover version? A question that I was left to ponder, the one thing I don’t want to hear is a karaoke rendition of the original, but on the other hand I don’t want a song to be changed so much it is unrecognisable – I am hard to please!

James Brown was a legend as I am sure everyone will agree and It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World is a fantastic song, putting those 2 facts together meant Seal had taken on a mammoth task, however he survives it unscathed – just. I can’t deny that I was slightly disappointed that Seal appears to have taken the safe approach to cover versions, raising them just above the standard you hear in the Dog and Duck on a Friday night.

What is the fascination with recreating a time that has been and gone? It is a sad indication of the lack of ideas that are in the mainstream when I have to say this album holds its own. At no point does this album knock me for six with an edge of brilliance, although it is ‘nice’ enough and the fact that I used that word just about sums up how I feel! There are a couple of points where it does sound like Seal has totally forgotten that he is just copying and actually relaxed, hence these quickly become highlights, If You Don't Know Me By Now and Knock on Wood being prime examples with the latter almost sounding fresh!

As we count down the days to Santa coming and we are still looking for a present for Aunty Ethel here may be the answer, she will feel like she is trendy having Seal in record collection but reassured by the familiarity.

Rating 6/10 – That about covers it (I will fetch my coat!)

Reviewed by Darren