Everything's going great. I've got a new album and single out, so it couldn't be better

It was recorded in New York with Wyclef Jean and his cousin Jerry Wonder Duplesis produced it for me and we collaborated on a lot of the songs on the album and 'Tom Jones International' is one of them.

I wanted to work with Wyclef ever since I heard The Fugees doing 'Killing Me Softly'. Then I listened to other stuff he had done which made me determined to work with him.

Yes, it does.

Yes. I enjoyed doing the 'Reload' album because it was something different. I had never recorded a duets album before. After that, I wanted to do something else that was different but this time I wanted it to be more personal. That's why I asked Wyclef to do it. I knew it would be more soulful. There would be more music that is closer to me. He said, "What would you like to record" and I said "I want good stuff". He said, "I want what's in your heart, something that's part of you". That's why we did this CD.

It's the fact that it's soulful. Wyclef told me I was a soul singer but we've got to do soul 2002, not soul 1965. I want to do well-produced records that are being produced today. I want the songs to sound modern. I don't know what the next one will be. Maybe I'll do another with Wyclef.

At the time, I couldn't have asked for better. I didn't know he knew what I was doing as well as he did. He told me that he had my records and I was prepared to tell him how much he had influenced me. I love all kinds of Elvis Presley songs, like 'Mystery Train', which was the first one I was aware of. Then 'Heartbreak Hotel' which was fantastic.

Yes. There's plenty for me to do. There are more albums. I'll record as long as I can and as long as my voice works as well as it does now and for as long as people want to hear me.

Only when I get older. I know my voice won't work as well. Hopefully, I'll have the sense to stop because if I can't be as good as I am now then I don't want to do it.

I've always worn jewellery but for a time it went out of fashion. Like grungy and punk bands didn't wear jewellery because it was stupid.

Of course, for Wyclef and these Hip Hop guys, the more jewellery you have is a status symbol. I'm pulling all my old jewellery out now and comparing my rings with Wyclef. He's got a big diamond ring and I said "That's a fantastic ring" and he said "That's a complement coming from the King of Rings".

He's got a bigger diamond than I have and on him it looks great because he is who he is. If I was to wear it people would look at it in a different way.

(Laughter) I didn't think of it that way when it happened because it's a different kind of bird. (More laughter). I can't answer that because I've never thought about it before.

It didn't enter my mind. When a real bird lands on your arm‚ you know.

If a real woman jumped on my arm, I wouldn't be able to hold her up in the same way.

I never liked that one because it was theTom Jones first time I had ever worn make up on television. They had put too much on. I thought I am never going to wear that much again because it looks false.