Ultimate Album: Rod Stewart, Time (Decca)

The audio companion piece to Rod Stewart’s laugh-out-loud and illuminating autobiography, Time not only marked a return to form, but also saw Rod top the album charts again.

She Makes Me Happy, Can’t Stop Me Now, It’s Over and Brighton Beach have the potential to form the basis of a West End musical, and are essential additions to future greatest hits collections.

As if the original album wasn’t already wonderful, a super deluxe but reasonably priced double album was released for the Christmas market, containing three brand new songs and ten tracks from a concert at the West Hollywood Trouadour.

A very close runner up: Elton John, Diving Board (Mercury).

Even better than Robbie’s Swings Both Ways (but only slightly): Gary Barlow, Since I Saw You Last (Polydor)

Euro album of the year: Could have been Daft Punk or Agnetha Faltskog, but goes to Caro Emerald, The Shocking Miss Emerald (Dramatico).

Most infectious track of the year (even if the lyrics are dodgy): Robin Thicke, Blurred Lines (Polydor).