Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook, Vol. 4

Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook, Vol. 4

by Rod Stewart
Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook, Vol. 4

Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook, Vol. 4

by Rod Stewart

CD

$7.99 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Qualifies for Free Shipping
    Choose Expedited Shipping at checkout for delivery by Wednesday, April 3
  • PICK UP IN STORE
    Check Availability at Nearby Stores

Related collections and offers


Overview

Fourth album, same as the first. Ever since he successfully reinvented himself as a lazy lounge singer in 2002 with It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook, Rod Stewart has been reliable as clockwork, releasing a collection of classic pop standards -- predictable choices performed predictably -- every second or third week of October. Four albums in, producers may have come and gone -- Phil Ramone left last time, Richard Perry is no longer around, leaving producer Steve Tyrell and arranger Bob Mann as the men in charge (of course, Clive Davis, the mastermind behind this whole shebang, is still around) -- but it's nearly impossible to tell the differences between Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook, Vol. 4 and the first or either that came between. Sure, there is an ever-increasing number of duets on the records -- the first had none, the second had two, the third had four, and this has seven, including instrumental appearances by George Benson and Chris Botti -- but the arrangements never are risky and always sound better suited for background music in a cocktail bar than on record. Needless to say, it makes for rather boring listening and Stewart is starting to seem a little restless too, interjecting more "baby"s and "oh, Diana"s to his duet with Diana Ross on "I've Got a Crush on You" than necessary. He didn't do that kind of ad lib on the first three albums, and he sounds a lot more casual overall on this fourth volume than he has before, but these are very minor differences: this remains the same sleepy, faux-classy music as before. Rod's voice is still not suited for these songs and the songs aren't arranged imaginatively; they're arranged to remind the listener of other, better versions of the same tunes. So, they're not great records, either by the yardstick of Rod Stewart's own work -- and, don't forget, he's made more than his fair share of great records -- or by the standard of traditional pop. But they are successful, since they appeal to listeners raised on rock yet who are nostalgic for their parents' music, without wanting to hear the original recorded versions. So, bully for Rod the Mod -- he's found a way to have a successful career as a veteran without embarrassing himself as he did on Human. But for fans who not only cherish his '70s work, but stuck by him through the patchy '80s and could find worthwhile moments on such latter-day albums as When We Were the New Boys, these Great American Songbooks are not just tiresome, but rather depressing. And, in that light, Rod's promise in the liner notes of "just think, this is only Volume IV" reads a bit like a threat. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date: 03/27/2008
Label: Bmg / J Records / Sony Music Entertainment
UPC: 0888837148825
Rank: 6939

Tracks

  1. I've Got a Crush On You
  2. I Wish You Love
  3. You Send Me
  4. Long Ago and Far Away
  5. Makin' Whoopee
  6. My One and Only Love
  7. Taking a Chance On Love
  8. My Funny Valentine
  9. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
  10. Nevertheless
  11. Blue Skies
  12. Let's Fall In Love
  13. Thanks For the Memory

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Rod Stewart   Primary Artist
Diana Ross   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Dave Koz   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Soloist,Saxophone,Featured Artist
Roy Hargrove   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
George Benson   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Elton John   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Chris Botti   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Chaka Khan   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Dolly Parton   Guest Artist
Arturo Sandoval   Guest Artist
Dave Grusin   Guest Artist
Bette Midler   Guest Artist
Stevie Wonder   Guest Artist
Eric Clapton   Guest Artist
Queen Latifah   Guest Artist
Cher   Guest Artist
Gene Cipriano   Clarinet,Saxophone
Keith Greene   Viola
Warren Luening   Soloist,Trumpet
Vahe Hayrikyan   Cello
Gil Romero   Violin
Roberto Cani   Violin
David Low   Cello
Sid Page   Violin
Kenny Ascher   Piano,Keyboards
Bob Sheppard   Clarinet,Saxophone
Larry Corbett   Cello
Armen Garabedian   Violin
Bob Mann   Guitar,Keyboards
Lee Musiker   Keyboards
Ed Howard   Bass
Philippe Saisse   Keyboards
Lisa Dondlinger   Violin
Andrew Duckles   Viola
Timothy Landauer   Cello
Stephen Erdody   Cello
Lorenz Gamma   Violin
Dan Higgins   Soloist,Clarinet,Saxophone
Darius Campo   Violin
Simon Oswell   Viola
Berj Garabedian   Violin
Robert Becker   Viola
David Finck   Bass
Paula Hochhalter   Cello
Julie Gigante   Violin
Dan Tobin Smith   Cello
Steve Richards   Cello
Dave Walther   Viola
Haim Shtrum   Violin
Anatoly Rosinsky   Violin
Trevor Handy   Cello
Irina Voloshina   Violin
Dan Neufeld   Viola
Bill Liston   Clarinet,Saxophone
Allan Schwartzberg   Drums
Gayle Levant   Harp
Greg Huckins   Clarinet,Saxophone
Quinn Johnson   Keyboards
Endre Granat   Violin
Tina Soule   Cello
Kenneth Burward-Hoy   Viola
Ana Landauer   Violin
Melissa Phelps Beckstead   Violin
Lily Ho Chen   Violin
Phillip Levy   Violin
Victoria Miskolczy   Viola
Kevin Connolly   Violin

Technical Credits

Bill Schnee   Audio Engineer,Engineer
Al Schmidt   Audio Engineer,Engineer
Andy Zulla   Audio Engineer,Mixing
Bob Mann   Audio Production,Arranger,Producer
Clive Davis   Audio Production,Producer
Steve Tyrell   Audio Production,Producer
Walter Donaldson   Composer
Doug Epstein   Engineer
Charles Trenet   Composer
Bert Kalmar   Composer
Ted Fetter   Composer
Ted Koehler   Composer
Bobby Ginsburg   Engineer
John Latouche   Composer
Jerome Kern   Composer
Harold Arlen   Composer
Larry Corbett   Artwork
Vernon Duke   Composer
Irving Berlin   Composer
George Gershwin   Composer
Ira Gershwin   Composer
Lorenz Hart   Composer
Sam Cooke   Composer
Robert Mellin   Composer
Ralph Rainger   Composer
Stephen Erdody   Artwork
Guy Wood   Composer
Simon Oswell   Artwork
Matt Still   Engineer
Gus Kahn   Composer
Darius Fong   Engineer
Joe Yannece   Mastering
Dan Garcia   Engineer
Harry Ruby   Composer
Carter William Humphrey   Engineer
Jon Allen   Engineer,Coordination
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Leo Robin   Composer
Saro Lyn Killian   Mixing Assistant
Darwin Best   Engineer
Albert Beach   Composer
Lewis Karpel   Production Assistant
Steve Ferrera   A&R
John Heiden   Design,Art Direction
Heidi Hall   Production Assistant
Lotus Donovan   Project Manager
Jeri Jeiden   Design,Art Direction
Luka Scheurer   Assistant
John Swannell   Photography
Ryan Petrie   Engineer
From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews