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21 of 22 found the following review helpful:
 Consumate entertainerMar 30, 2002
By Michael T. Rognlien
I can't imagine any American pop star at the top of his game taking a risk like Robbie Williams did in recording "Swing When You're Winning" and this accompanying DVD.Fresh off a string of huge chart successes, Mr. Williams has created a tribute to the Rat Pack like nobody else could. Allergic to taking himself too seriously, he threw caution to the wind and released the CD and then, to a packed house of fans and stars like George Michael, Rupert Everett, etc, brought the house down at the Royal Albert Hall last October. This DVD is a great memento of that concert, and, unlike the British version, has lots of extra features such as the making of the album, and the video/making of for "Something Stupid", the UK Christmas #1. Robbie Williams may not be for everyone, and he may not be Sinatra, but he's turned a potentially risky career move into a fine album and video. Don't forget to check out his other great work, including one of my favorite albums ever, "Sing When You're Winning" - you won't be disappointed. Let's hope for a successful bid for stardom here in the states!
25 of 28 found the following review helpful:
Are You A Swinger?Oct 10, 2002
By Mr. N. Carnegie
The rat pack's cool image made something of a comeback in 2002 with Stephen Soderbergh's remake of Ocean's Eleven, although it seems that for Mr Robbie Williams, in his 2001 concert Live at the Albert, the rat pack sense of style never went out of fashion. Live At The Albert is primarily a showcase for Robbie's multi million selling Swing When You're Winning, an astonishing album of vintage classics from the '50s swing era, originally sung by Robbie's heroes, namely, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jnr and of course, the legendary Frank Sinatra. Live At The Albert features several live duets including "Well, Did You Evah?" with Jon Lovitz and thanks to the miracle of modern technology, a duet with the late great Frank Sinatra himself. Live At the Albert is a young man fulfilling a childhood dream; wearing a tux, backed by an old style big band and playing to an adoring (sold out) audience at London's famous Royal Albert Hall, with his mom in the front row. The first time I watched Robbie Williams live concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, on a Saturday evening last November, I was so impressed I went straight online at Amazon to review his debut U.S. release The Ego Has Landed. "The Ego Has Landed" refers to Robbie's often brash public statements about himself, which (if taken at face value) suggest that he is a bit of an ego-maniac. However, despite much of his rhetoric, Robbie Williams has in the past turned to both booze and drugs to conquer his fears and self-doubt. Thankfully he survived both or we would have been deprived of the world's greatest showman. For in a pop world inhabitated by characterless pre-packaged record company girl and boybands and goody two shoes solo-singers (a la Ricky Martin and Britney Spears) Robbie Williams is something of a rarity; the genuine article, a complete showman with a checkered past and a very bright future, having recently signed a British record deal with EMI worth a cool £80 million (approx $110 million), to deliver four more albums. Robbie Williams formerly of Boy band Take That graduated to the forefront of the British music scene with his single "Angels" and has never looked back since. Several number ones and many many hits later he is not only established as a credible singer/songwriter, he is quite simply Britain's biggest and brightest star. Robbie Williams makes fantastic, original and very funny videos (Rock DJ, She's The One, Millenium and A Love Supreme for example) and regularly plays to sold out stadiums around the world and the only two nuts he still has to crack are America and the movies. But why is America still cynical? A lack of airplay in America? A lack of record company publicity? I don't know. All I know is that, in my opinion, he is the greatest showman to have graced a music stage since the late great Freddie Mercury. He is so good live that he has played at several festivals on the same bill as Indie bands such as the Prodigy, and stolen the show from them, in front of what would traditionally be hostile audiences for a pop performer. Live tickets for Robbie Williams shows are like gold dust in every place bar North America, such is his reputation for putting on a great live show. If you don't believe the hype then you need to watch Live at the Albert and be converted. Robbie Williams has got a great sense of humour, a great sense of style and a great deal of class and frankly America, you don't know what you are missing!!
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
Another Robbie Triumph!Jul 24, 2002
By G. Paula
Why hasn't the U.S. wised up and gotten on the Robbie Williams bandwagon?! I think he's amazing. When I first heard that Robbie was doing a swing album, I was very disappointed. I love all of his previous albums, so I wanted something else in the same vein. I did give "Swing When You're Winning" a try, though, and I have to say it is good. The CD won't be one of those that never leaves my CD player, but it is worth listening to. I liked the DVD a whole lot more, however. Robbie is a born entertainer, and that shines through in whatever he does. Even if he got on stage and read from the phone book, I think I would find it compelling. Watching Robbie spend an evening performing the swing music that he loves was intoxicating. The bonus material on the DVD was quite good as well. I would recommend this DVD to anyone who likes Robbie, even if you don't like swing.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Robbie Williams: Big Talent + Humor = Hardcore Goodness!May 16, 2002
By Kevinduran
I really don't understand why Robbie isn't the household name in America that he is all over the rest of the world. His first American release "The Ego Has Landed" (a compilation of his first two U.K. albums) is one of the best albums EVER. This is Robbie's third DVD to be released on these shores and it's every bit as good as the first two! If this is your first experience of Robbie- be forewarned. His previous albums are not swing music at all. He's a pop/rock GOD. Doing a swing album just shows that he is an artist in the truest sense. He could have easily recorded another album of pop gems (why fix something that isn't broken?), but instead decided on doing something a bit risky. Imagine Harry Connick, Jr. by way of Tom Jones doing a Las Vegas show and Robbie is what you get. Robbie has packed the DVD FULL o' his out of this world goodness. Anyone that purchases this DVD will not be sorry! Robbie performs most of the songs that are on his "Swing When Your Winning" cd (which hasn't been released in the U.S. yet, inexplicably! How strange that this DVD came out here!) Someone forgot to include the track listing on the DVD cover, so here are the songs that he performs: 1.) Have You Met Miss Jones?
2.) Mack The Knife
3.) Straighten Up And Fly Right
4.) Let's Face The Music And Dance
5.) Well, Did You Evah
6.) The Lady Is A Tramp
7.) Things
8.) One For My Baby
9.) Mr. Bonjangles
10.) I Will Talk And Hollywood Will Listen
11.) Do Nothin' Until You Hear From Me
12.) Beyond The Sea
13.) Me And My Shadow
14.) Ain't That A Kick In The Head
15.) It Was A Very Good Year
16.) My Way Robbie's duet with Nicole Kidman, "Somethin' Stupid" (from the "Swing When You're Winning" cd) isn't performed live (although Nicole is in the audience), but the video is featured here. It's one of the BEST videos EVER! This is the uncut version of the video. (An alternate version of the video that featured scenes from Nicole Kidman's "Birthday Girl" movie with scenes from this video appeared on Vh-1.) Also appearing on this DVD are Rupert Everett, Jane Horrocks (Bubble from "Absolutely Fabulous" and star of the movie "Little Voice") and ex-Saturday Night Live cast member Jon Lovitz (who knew he could sing? And why did Robbie choose him for a duet? It's sort of weird, but it works!) With this concert Robbie proves that he is an absolutely brilliant performer. It's only a matter of time until he winds up with a huge movie career. (Hopefully there's a little bit of truth to the rumor that he could be the next James Bond!) I was sort of hoping that Robbie's entire video for "Millennium" would have been tucked away on this DVD as an extra (about a minute or two of it appear in the extras section). It's his biggest U.S. hit but for some reason it does not appear on EITHER of his previous DVD's "Angels" or "Where Egos Dare". It wouldn't really fit in with the context of this, but it would have been nice to have that video on DVD finally. Anyway, this DVD also contains backstage and aftershow footage, a documentary on the making of the "Swing When You Are Winning" album, and a gallery of Robbie photos. Not to be missed!
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
BrilliantDec 18, 2002
If he dared to be any more fabulous, God would strike him dead.
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