ON THE strength of Since I Saw You Last and the deliciously titled Swings Both Ways, Messrs Barlow and Williams make the art of making a great album sound so easy.

But lest we forget, Barlow’s last solo album led to a humiliating sacking from Clive Davies’s company, and at last count Robbie Williams delivered four dud albums in a row.

So given that even superstars don’t always get it right, both new albums from Take That’s front men are essential classics to be cherished and enjoyed.

Swings Both Ways marks a welcome return of Guy Chambers to the Robbie camp. Chambers just gets Robbie, in a way that Stephen Duffy and Trevor Horn spectacularly failed. The album is a hybrid of fresh compositions and a handful of classics with a big band twist, recapturing the magic of Swing Whilst You’re Winning.

A host of A-list guests have been invited for the ride, including Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson, Lily Allen and Olly Murs on the brilliantly enjoyable I Wanna Be Like You, which is destined to be a wedding party disco classic.

However, some may be bemused by the album’s title song, Swings Both Ways, a duet with Rufus Wainwright. Although a buddy song in the great tradition of the Rat Pack, one suspects Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin would both have suffered seizures at the risqué lyrics.

This inability to conform may be at the root of Williams’ lack of American success. On safer ground, Wedding Bells is a collaboration with old adversary Gary Barlow.

Robbie returns the compliment by co-writing opening track Requiem on Since I Saw You Last. It is quite an achievement, but all 15 tracks on the set instantly connect with a receptive audience.

In the tradition of Paul McCartney, Barry Gibb and Elton John, Barlow is one of the few truly talented writers who can consistently write a new song which sounds like a classic. Let Me Go, God and Small Town Girls are modern-day standards. But perhaps the future hit will prove to be the upbeat and fabulous duet with Sir Elton, Face To Face. The only thing that could have improved this all but perfect album would have been the inclusion of the Meerkat collaboration.