IT'S often said that no one can improve on an original recording. Obviously, this is not the case but it takes a brave artist to try to match the majesty of say The Eagles' The Best Of My Love or Cat Stevens' Father & Son.

However, Rod Stewart has come up trumps and delivered 14 of the best cover versions this year.

Although many adored Rod's albums of jazz standards, at heart he's still a rocker, and by interpreting Bob Dylan, Bob Seger and David Gates, he's playing to his strengths. It's amusing to hear Rod sing Bonnie Tyler's It's A Heartache and John Waites' Missing You, as many noted the originals were pastiches of his earlier material.