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

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Editorial Reviews:

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.

Album Details
The Fourth of the Throaty Voiced Singer's Salute to Great American Song features Duets with Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Old Pal Elton John, George Benson and More. Includes the Exclusive Bonus Track "Cheek to Cheek".

Amazon.com
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

Customer Reviews: Read 124 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Simply Splendid! October 19, 2005
113 out of 144 found this review helpful

"Success is great, but even sweeter when you get to experience it with the gifted, passionate, hardworking and - equally important to me - fun-loving professionals at J Records. And just think, this is only Volume IV." ~ Rod Stewart

My friends and I have been anticipating the release of Rod Stewart's fourth of a series of Great American Songbook ever since Steve Tyrell (one of the album producers with Clive Davis) made an announcement about it during his concert at the Starlight Bowl in July of this year. Finally, the wait is over - for now - that is! It's so great to know that we're in for more wonderful Volumes to come. What he said about this being only Volume IV is an assurance that there will be more to look forward to. Recently, before this CD was released, I watched him perform on Tonight Show with Jay Leno where he sang "I Wish You Love" and CNN's Larry King Live where he sang "Long Ago And Far Away" to the delight of the viewers.

This fabulous recording presents a new set of gorgeous and timeless standards. Topping my list is a lovely song that brings back a chock-full of memories to me, "My One And Only Love," featuring Roy Hargrove on trumpet. This is also one of the songs I mentioned in my review on Volume I that I wish he would record. Thanks so kindly, Mr. Stewart for including this charming ditty in this repertoire of beautiful classics. An added delight to this recording is the presence of the equally talented guest artists, the likes of Diana Ross, Elton John, Chaka Khan, Chris Botti, George Benson, Dave Koz and Roy Hargrove, as well as a versatile musician and the main man, Alan Broadbent, who splendidly arranged and conducted the magnificent Orchestra. The credit also goes to Bob Mann, a fine guitarist/keyboardist/arranger, who co-produced and arranged this album and the rest of the musicians - Kenny Ascher (piano), Ed Howard (bass), Allan Schwartzberg (drums), David Finck (bass), Dan Higgins (clarinet) and Warren Luening (trumpet).

My favorites include Gershwins' "I've Got A Crush On You," a delightful duet with the Queen of Motown, Diana Ross. After all these years her voice is still great. Hers is a kind of voice that doesn't change with the passing of time. Their duet is one of the highlights and blended perfectly with this gem of a song. The duet with Chaka Khan "You Send Me" is also remarkable and deserves a special mention. All the tracks are absolutely noteworthy and are on my "Listmania Lists." It's one CD that you want to listen all the way through without skipping any track at all. And these songs are my late parents' music that I've been hearing when I was growing up and were glued to my ears all these years and became my all-time favorites. The best tracks for me are "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm," "Nevertheless, I'm In Love With You," "Makin' Whoopee" (a terrific duet with Elton John), "Blue Skies" (I love Bob Mann's guitar intro), "My Funny Valentine," "Taking A Chance On Love" and "Let's Fall In Love," a composition by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler and featuring the guitar artistry of George Benson.

"Let's close our eyes
And make our own paradise
Little we know of it
Still we can try to make a go of it
We might have been made for each other
To be or not to be, let our hearts discover."

I would classify this as one of my 'Desert Island CDs' along with the first three of his Great American Songbook series. This is one of Rod Stewart's CDs that you'll enjoy listening to "not for just an hour, not for just a day, not for just a year but always, always!"

I wholeheartedly recommend it for your listening pleasure! ;)

* * * * * TEN STARS * * * * *

4 out of 5 stars

Thanks for the Memories November 9, 2005
39 out of 60 found this review helpful

People never cease to amaze me. With the fourth installment of Rod Stewarts American Songook series it should perfectly clear to any and all reviewers exactly what one might find in purchasing one of these discs. Rod and U:ber-Producer Clive Davis set this wheel in motion with the very first release and have nary strayed from that winning formula. So when you stop by your local retailer and decide to purchase a copy of your very own it's painfully obvious what contents within will be found. Yet...here in Amazonland we have yet another slew of one star temper-tantrums ( I refuse to call some of these critiques 'reviews' ) from misguided music-lovers who feel the need to prove to the world just how musically sophisticated they truly are. So getting their knickers in a twist they hurridly get on-line, post a few silly comments and just as hurridly disappear. Of course none of them having actually purchased the disc and giving it a proper listen. Sadly, they ultimately do little more then pollute this fine web-site with opinions that mean very little and prove to the world that some people should have their keyboards taken away from them until they can learn how to play nice. But thats the price we pay for certain freedoms. Even cranky one-star mental midgits must have their day!

As to the disc itself as previously stated if you enjoyed Rods first three installments then you will probably enjoy the final disc as well. Again, he doesn't stray from that immensely successful formula and while for many thats a blessing it, unfortunatley, is also a small curse. I'll be blunt. Rod Stewart doesn't know the first thing about tackling standards but unlike many musically-challenged detractors I'm perfectly aware of that and am not seeking that when making my purchase. Comparsions with Sinatra ( which some reviewers seem intent on making ) is beyond ludicrous. If I want Sinatra I'll put Frank on my turntable. My reasons for enjoying these cd's is simply because Rod Stewart evidently enjoys these songs, seems to have a grand time singing them and that sense of enjoyment is what comes thru my speakers here at home. If I want pharsing I'll listen to Mel Torme or Ella. If vibrato is what I seek then I got plenty of Sarah Vaughn or Tony Bennett. But asking this singer to be compared with the greats of years before not only shows a complete lack of understanding popular song and also belies any real empathy and understanding of these discs. Trust me, not one of these cd's will ever be considered a "classic" but that's hardly the point here. The sheer pleasure, at least from this music lover, comes from hearing a standard, knowing its lyrics and singing along with Rod. Knowing full well that neither of us will ever be considered great vocalists and not caring either. Can anyone here truly believe that Rod the Mod actually subsctibed to the very idea that he's a tremendous vocalist. Of course not! Thats why he's having such a grand time. Its a labor of true love for him and the very fact that fans of these discs are hip to that fact makes it even more enjoyable. And for those out there who only wish to hear him sing " Maggie May " I suspect nothing that this singer could ever do would eventually please them.

Overall, I take great pleasure in these cds. No, there not perfect, no there far from being considered classics. And no, not one track to be found on any of these offerings would be considered definative but who cares. Its a great disc to throw on, roll back the carpet, sing and dance to and thoroughly enjoy.

1 out of 5 stars

Fetid December 11, 2005
22 out of 34 found this review helpful

I feel sorry for the workers at grocery food chains who are going to have to listen to this vile dreck, over and over again! I get a kick out of the people complaining about the one-star reviews this album gets. Instead of writing 4 paragraphs about how mean and abusive all this is, why not write 4 paragraphs about the good points of this recording. I can probably guess 'why not' :)

1 out of 5 stars

Uncle! Uncle! December 22, 2005
21 out of 30 found this review helpful

Few, if any, have accused Rod Stewart of having any artist integrity over the past 30 years. That was when he decided that being a "rock star" and dating super models was more important than artistic honesty and he took his powerful voice away from the bluesy rock he was making and put both feet squarely in MOR land with utterly dreadful songs like "Tonight's the Night," "Passion," "Infatuation," and the completely horrendous "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy." To this day it remains, quite possibly, the single most appalling sellout in rock history.

With baby boomers having long since aged out of the target demographic of radio, folks like Stewart had to find a new schtick, and viola! cover albums of standards were born. So now we have acts like Stewat churning out album after album after album (after album) of covers of songs their parents listened to and that they (the boomers) loathed in their youth. Obviously it causing the cash registers to ring or otherwise there would not be so many of them, but Stewart is now on his fourth go around of this tiresome formula and it is simply time to take a stand and say ENOUGH ALREADY. Please. Somebody put a stop to this.

Destined for dentist offices across America.

1 out of 5 stars

borrrrring December 1, 2005
19 out of 29 found this review helpful

no more please. This is another album, another piece of junk. Why do we even listen to this gunk. No way. I wont fall for it anymore.

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