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It Had To be You... The Great American Songbook

Stardust... The Great American Songbook, Vol. III

List Price: $8.99 Price: $7.86 You Save: $1.13 (13%)

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It's a little hard to take Rod Stewart seriously when, on the first track of this third installment in his Great American Songbook series, he sings ruefully about his love life being "lean" ("Embraceable You"). But otherwise, Stardust...Volume III is as note-for-note solid as its predecessors--a cozy-up-to-the-fire treat that's also a pleasant reminder of these songs' staying power. "S'Wonderful" settles on the ears winningly, and Stewart's scratchathon voice scalpels the cobwebs off of "Isn't It Romantic" in a way that compels the average listener to reconsider thinking it dopey. In addition, the parade of high-wattage pals recruited to pitch in continues here, resulting in a couple of must-hear combinations. Eric Clapton delivers a rather un-Clapton-like guitar solo on "Blue Moon" and Stevie Wonder blows harp like he means it on "What a Wonderful World," but it is the duets--"Baby It's Cold Outside" with the unsinkable Dolly Parton and "Manhattan" with the indomitable Bette Midler--that the dazzle most. --Tammy La Gorce Read more...

As Time Goes By...The Great American Songbook: Volume II

The Great American Songbook Collection (4CD/DVD)

List Price: $39.98 Price: $23.26 You Save: $16.72 (42%)

All four volumes of Rod Stewart's phenomenally successful Great American Songbook series together for the first time in a brand-new box set.

Contains: -It Had to Be You... -As Time Goes By... -Stardust... -Thanks For The Memory... -Plus a bonus DVD of four live tracks and one music video -Deluxe 5" x 10" display book. Including a full-color 20-page book containing new liner notes and never-before-seen photos. Read more...

Often as people age, they grow more interested in ancestry. Rod Stewart's musical family tree certainly includes the great crooners of the past--those who took the pop songs included in his Great American Songbook series and turned them into standards. It's fitting, that he should find a late middle-age career revival by paying homage to the music that paved the way for rock clubs, discothèques, and screaming groupies the world over. Stewart's series has only grown stronger since it debuted with It Had to Be You. Most vocalists could spend sleepless nights trying to figure out how to make "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" their own. It's no problem for Rod. His jetsetter barring coupled with that unmistakable, husky voice is more than enough for him to leave his own stamp on the songs. And with the addition of guest stars from Cher to Chaka Kahn, well, there's a little something for everyone… especially those who remember when "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" was haunting the charts. For fans who sampled and loved a portion of this collection, the box set is a handsome addition to their library. It contains not only the four American Songbook CDs, but a DVD sampler of concert footage. (The set says "Big Band Era." The saxophonist in the mini skirt says it's a Rod Stewart show.) There's also a booklet of glamour shots featuring Rod and one or more leggy blondes, and notes on Stewart's musical career. Rod doesn’t quite convey the ease performing these tunes on stage that he does on the CDs, and the bio is far from unbiased, but who can help but love this music? Especially for sentimental reasons. --Leah Weathersby Read more...