Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me

About

Composed by Duke Ellington in 1940 with lyrics later added by Bob Russell, Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me has been recorded by many of jazz’s greatest interpreters, including Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Robbie Williams’ version, arranged by Steve Sidwell and recorded live with a full orchestra at Capitol Studios, captures both the song’s late-night intimacy and its sly humour. It became a highlight of Swing When You’re Winning and one of Williams’ finest vocal performances.

The track tells of a lover’s mistrust and redemption — a man insisting that gossip and suspicion mean nothing until his partner hears the truth from him. Williams delivers the lyric with relaxed phrasing and smoky restraint, channeling the swing-era crooners he admired. The song closes with a cheeky aside — “and don’t tell your mama” — which became one of the album’s most quoted lines.

When we finished recording, I just went, “F***ing hell, that was amazing.” I came out to the orchestra and said, I’ve found my spiritual home.Robbie Williams

Featuring Count Basie Orchestra drummer Harold Jones and an ensemble of veteran jazz musicians, the session was praised by producer Al Schmitt for its authenticity and warmth. Williams later performed the song live with his father, Pete Conway, during the Swings Both Ways tour in 2014. A seamless blend of charm and craftsmanship, Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me confirmed that Williams was more than a pop singer revisiting old standards — he was a natural-born entertainer in full command of the swing tradition.