Thanks For The Memory...The Great American Songbook IV - Rod Stewart

Description

Album Description
Japanese pressing features the tracks 'My Funny Valentine', 'Nevertheless', 'Let's Fall In Love', 'Taking A Chance On Me', the title track and more plus an exclusive bonus track. J-Records. 2005.


Accuse Rod Stewart of what you like--through the years he's been called a philanderer, a has-been, a pageant-ish progenitor of puff rock--but as he has consistently proved with his Great American Songbook series, the concept of dignity is not lost on him. There is a time, after all, for leaping across stages in leopard-print spandex while shamelessly parading an unparalleled gift for scratchy-voiced seduction, and he is past it. Past his prime is another thing. On this fourth installation of the Clive Davis-produced series, Stewart again makes excellent use of his rolodex: Diana Ross, whose affection for this material comes through as convincingly as her spike-haired partner's, cuddles up for opener "I've Got a Crush On You," Chaka Khan packs her bags but not her mighty vocals for "You Send Me," and Sir Elton shelves the recent balladeer's instincts for a rip-roaring run through "Makin' Whoopee." A handful of marquee instrumentalists also returned Rod's calls-- Dave Koz blows sax on "Nevertheless," and trumpeters Chris Botti and Roy Hargrove turn up the heat on "I Wish You Love" and "My One and Only Love" respectively. As on earlier discs, though, it's when Rod rules the spotlight alone that he can be most compelling: Cue up "My Funny Valentine" in the right frame of mind and you may never need to hear it sung by another. Retiring the satin shirts in favor of this material was the smartest move Stewart ever made. --Tammy La Gorce

More from the Great American Songbook

It Had To Be You	As Time Goes By	Stardust
Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook	Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook	The Great American Songbook

Rod Stewart

Ratings of Thanks For The Memory...The Great American Songbook IV

7.7/10 3 global ratings samira doudouce55 Griffith

0 want this

Reviews of Thanks For The Memory...The Great American Songbook IV - View all - Post review