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Continuing his stroll through pop's back pages, Rod Stewart moves on from the "Great Rock Classics of Our Time" and dives into the Soulbook, shorthand for all the great Motown and soul songs that still are in heavy rotation on oldies radio well into the new millennium. Apart from an oddly funkified spin of Sam Cooke's "Wonderful World" and a version of Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" that illustrates just how much range he's lost over the years, Rod doesn't spend much time with the soul and blues singers so influential on him, choosing instead to run through a bunch of Motown hits -- a full six of the 13 songs here are from the Motor City -- adding a couple of smooth soul hits from the early '70s, plus Chuck Jackson and Maxine Brown's "Let It Be Me," which gives him an opportunity to duet with Jennifer Hudson. All this is firmly within Stewart's wheelhouse, perhaps too much so, an impression not helped by the overly familiar arrangements, right down to Stevie Wonder reprising his harmonica on "My Cherie Amour" -- these are all designed to evoke memories, not to dig into the heart of the songs. It's all pleasing enough, flowing better than the Great American Songbook albums, and not feeling as karaoke as the Great Rock Classics album, but it's so comfortable, so easygoing, it verges on the forgettable.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Ray Parker, Jr., Guitar - Karen Elaine, Viola - Mark Robertson, Violin - Dean Parks, Guitar - Searmi Park, Violin - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer - Roger Wilkie, Violin - L. Dozier, Composer - Rob Brophy, Viola - Steve Genewick, Recording Engineer - Michael Bearden, Keyboards - Julie Gigante, Violin - Steve Jordan, Drums - Steve Jordan, Percussion - Steve Jordan, Producer - Howard Drossin, Other - Marlow Fisher, Viola - David Walther, Viola - E. Holland, Composer - Di Reed, Background Vocal - Anatoly Rosinsky, Violin - Neli Nikolaeva, Violin - David Low, Acoustic Cello - Darwin Best, Engineer - Phillip Levy, Violin - Martin Pradler, Engineer - B. HOLLAND, Composer - Tom Scott, Baritone Saxophone - Bruce Dukov, Violin - Bridget Ann Cady, Background Vocal - Andrew Shulman, Acoustic Cello - Bob Babbitt, Bass - Niko Bolas, Recording Engineer - Niko Bolas, Mixing Engineer - Niko Bolas, Misc. Prod. - Kenny Moran, Engineer - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Rod Stewart, Performer - Ryan Petrie, Engineer
(P) 2009 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Andrew Shulman, Acoustic Cello - Milt Chocolate, Vibraphone - Dean Parks, Guitar - Niko Bolas, Recording Engineer - Martin Pradler, Edited By - Rob Brophy, Viola - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer - Greg Phillinganes, Piano - Neli Nikolaeva, Violin - Bruce Dukov, Violin - Dorian Holley, Vocal - Searmi Park, Violin - Anatoly Rosinsky, Violin - Rod Stewart featuring Stevie Wonder, Performer - David Walther, Viola - Bob Babbitt, Bass - Marlow Fisher, Viola - David Low, Acoustic Cello - Di Reed, Background Vocal - Steve Genewick, 2nd Engineer - Mark Robertson, Violin - Henry Cosby, Composer - Henry Cosby, Lyricist - Howard Drossin, Other - Julie Gigante, Violin - Paul Smith, 2nd Engineer - Phillip Levy, Violin - Michael Bearden, Arranger - Michael Bearden, Keyboards - Steve Jordan, Drums - Steve Jordan, Percussion - Steve Jordan, Producer - Roger Wilkie, Violin - Bill Schnee, Mixing Engineer - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Bridget Ann Cady, Background Vocal - Sylvia Moy, Composer - Sylvia Moy, Lyricist - Karen Elaine, Viola - Ray Parker, Jr., Guitar - S. Wonder, Lyricist - S. Wonder, Composer
(P) 2009 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Thomas Bell, Composer - Thomas Bell, Lyricist - Ricky Lawson, Drums - Bill Schnee, Mixing Engineer - Nicole Garcia, Violin - Matt Cooker, Acoustic Cello - Giovanna Moraga-Clayton, Acoustic Cello - Kathleen Robertson, Violin - Darryl Tookes, Background Vocal - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Rod Stewart with Mary J. Blige, Performer - Bob Mann, Arranger - Bob Mann, Guitar - Bob Mann, Keyboards - Tim Loo, Acoustic Cello - John Wittenburg, Violin - Reggie McBride, Bass - Mark Cargill, Violin - Linda Creed, Composer - Linda Creed, Lyricist - Di Reed, Background Vocal - Miguel Martinez, Acoustic Cello - Brian Benning, Violin - Judith Hill, Background Vocal - Darwin Best, Engineer - Martin Pradler, Engineer - Joel Pargman, Violin - Gina Kronstadt, Violin - Charlie Bisharat, Violin - Bridget Ann Cady, Background Vocal - Will Wheaton, Background Vocal - Susan Chatman, Violin - Kenny Moran, Engineer - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Paul Jackson, Jr., Guitar - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Natasha Pearce, Background Vocal - Shari Zippert, Violin - Jon Allen, Recording Engineer
(P) 2009 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Ray Parker, Jr., Guitar - Gary Jackson, Lyricist - Gary Jackson, Composer - Jennifer Puckett, Viola - Dean Parks, Guitar - Willie Mitchell, Other - Mark Wallace, Viola - Greg Phillinganes, Piano - Roy Brewer, Violin - Beth Luscombe, Viola - Michael Bearden, Keyboards - Clayton Cameron, Vibraphone - Steve Jordan, Producer - Jesica Munson, Violin - Di Reed, Background Vocal - Raynard Miner, Composer - Raynard Miner, Lyricist - Darwin Best, Engineer - Martin Pradler, Engineer - Barrie Cooper, Violin - Lawrence Mitchell, Recording Engineer - Bridget Ann Cady, Background Vocal - Marisa Polesky, Violin - Bob Babbitt, Bass - Niko Bolas, Recording Engineer - Niko Bolas, Mixing Engineer - Jonathan Kirkscey, Viola - Kenny Moran, Engineer - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Rod Stewart, Performer - Carl Smith, Composer - Carl Smith, Lyricist - Ryan Petrie, Engineer
(P) 2009 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Shari Zippert, Violin - Giovanna Moraga-Clayton, Acoustic Cello - Brian Benning, Violin - Martin Pradler, Engineer - Paul Jackson, Jr., Guitar - Charlie Bisharat, Violin - Mark Cargill, Violin - Greg Phillinganes, Background Vocal - Greg Phillinganes, Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes, Other - Marvin Tarplin, Composer - Marvin Tarplin, Writer - Darryl Tookes, Background Vocal - Susan Chatman, Violin - Dorian Holley, Background Vocal - William Robinson, Composer - William Robinson, Writer - Kenny Moran, Engineer - Lisa Vaughn, Background Vocal - Tim Loo, Acoustic Cello - Warren Moore, Writer - Warren Moore, Composer - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Ricky Lawson, Drums - Matt Cooker, Acoustic Cello - Miguel Martinez, Acoustic Cello - Bob Mann, Mandolin - Rod Stewart, Performer - Reggie McBride, Bass - Michael Landau, Guitar - Darwin Best, Engineer - Gina Kronstadt, Violin - Nicole Garcia, Violin - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Pam Trotter, Background Vocal - Lynn Fiddmont, Background Vocal - Joel Pargman, Violin - Lenny Castro, Congas - Kathleen Robertson, Violin - Bill Schnee, Mixing Engineer - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Jon Allen, Recording Engineer - Will Wheaton, Background Vocal - John Wittenburg, Violin
(P) 2009 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Ray Parker, Jr., Guitar - Karen Elaine, Viola - Gayle Levant, Harp - Mark Robertson, Violin - Dean Parks, Guitar - Andrew Hey, Recording Engineer - Searmi Park, Violin - Rod Stewart with Jennifer Hudson, Performer - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer - Roger Wilkie, Violin - David Paich, Keyboards - Rob Brophy, Viola - Julie Gigante, Violin - Steve Jordan, Producer - Steve Jordan, Drums - Howard Drossin, Arranger - Marlow Fisher, Viola - David Walther, Viola - Gilbert Bécaud, Composer - Gilbert Bécaud, Lyricist - Manny Kurtz, Lyricist - Manny Kurtz, Composer - Anatoly Rosinsky, Violin - Darryl Jones, Bass - Neli Nikolaeva, Violin - Harvey Mason, Jr., Producer - David Low, Acoustic Cello - Phillip Levy, Violin - Darwin Best, Engineer - Martin Pradler, Engineer - Bruce Dukov, Violin - Andrew Shulman, Acoustic Cello - Pierre Leroyer, Lyricist - Pierre Leroyer, Composer - Kenny Moran, Engineer - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Ryan Petrie, Engineer
(P) 2009 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Henry Hey, Piano - Nicole Garcia, Violin - Bill Schnee, Mixing Engineer - Matt Cooker, Acoustic Cello - Tony Joe White, Lyricist - Tony Joe White, Composer - Giovanna Moraga-Clayton, Acoustic Cello - Kathleen Robertson, Violin - Darryl Tookes, Background Vocal - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Bob Mann, Guitar - Tim Loo, Acoustic Cello - John Wittenburg, Violin - Mark Cargill, Violin - Di Reed, Background Vocal - Leland Sklar, Bass - Miguel Martinez, Acoustic Cello - Brian Benning, Violin - Darwin Best, Engineer - Joel Pargman, Violin - Gina Kronstadt, Violin - Martin Pradler, Engineer - Charlie Bisharat, Violin - Bridget Ann Cady, Background Vocal - Susan Chatman, Violin - Kenny Moran, Engineer - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Rod Stewart, Performer - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Russ Kunkle, Drums - Natasha Pearce, Background Vocal - Shari Zippert, Violin - Jon Allen, Recording Engineer
(P) 2009 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Paul Riser, Lyricist - Paul Riser, Composer - Andrew Shulman, Acoustic Cello - Dean Parks, Guitar - Niko Bolas, Recording Engineer - Niko Bolas, Mixing Engineer - JAMES DEAN, Composer - JAMES DEAN, Lyricist - Tom Scott, Saxophone - Chuck Finley, Trumpet - Martin Pradler, Engineer - Rob Brophy, Viola - Al Schmitt, Misc. Prod. - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer - Neli Nikolaeva, Violin - Bruce Dukov, Violin - David Paich, Keyboards - Searmi Park, Violin - Anatoly Rosinsky, Violin - Natasha Pearce, Background Vocal - Kenny Moran, Engineer - David Walther, Viola - Bob Babbitt, Bass - Marlow Fisher, Viola - David Low, Acoustic Cello - Di Reed, Background Vocal - William Weatherspoon, Composer - William Weatherspoon, Lyricist - Rod Stewart, Performer - Darwin Best, Engineer - Mark Robertson, Violin - Howard Drossin, Other - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Julie Gigante, Violin - George Bohanon, Trombone - Phillip Levy, Violin - Paul Smith, Recording Engineer - Steve Jordan, Drums - Steve Jordan, Producer - Roger Wilkie, Violin - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Bridget Ann Cady, Background Vocal - Karen Elaine, Viola - Ray Parker, Jr., Guitar
(P) 2009 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Ray Parker, Jr., Guitar - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Steve Tyrell, Background Vocal - Larry Farrell, Trombone - Conrad Korsch, Bass - Steve Jordan, Drums - Steve Jordan, Percussion - Steve Jordan, Background Vocal - Steve Jordan, Producer - Paul Warren, Guitar - Leon Huff, Composer - Leon Huff, Lyricist - Di Reed, Background Vocal - David Palmer, Drums - Don Kirkpatrick, Guitar - Chuck Kentis, Recording Engineer - Chuck Kentis, Producer - Chuck Kentis, Keyboards - Lou Marini, Saxophone - Tom Scott, Saxophone - Bridget Ann Cady, Background Vocal - Niko Bolas, Recording Engineer - Niko Bolas, Mixing Engineer - Niko Bolas, Misc. Prod. - Rod Stewart, Performer - Rod Stewart, Background Vocal - Natasha Pearce, Background Vocal - Kenneth Gamble, Lyricist - Kenneth Gamble, Composer
(P) 2009 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Ray Parker, Jr., Guitar - William 'Smokey' Robinson, Composer - William 'Smokey' Robinson, Lyricist - Dean Parks, Guitar - Paul Smith, Recording Engineer - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer - David Paich, Keyboards - George Bohanon, Trombone - Steve Jordan, Drums - Steve Jordan, Percussion - Steve Jordan, Producer - Di Reed, Background Vocal - Chuck Finley, Trumpet - Darwin Best, Engineer - Martin Pradler, Engineer - Tom Scott, Saxophone - Bridget Ann Cady, Background Vocal - Bob Babbitt, Bass - Niko Bolas, Recording Engineer - Niko Bolas, Mixing Engineer - Kenny Moran, Engineer - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Rod Stewart, Performer - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Natasha Pearce, Background Vocal
(P) 2009 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Ray Parker, Jr., Guitar - James Spake, Tenor Saxophone - Dean Parks, Guitar - Charles Hodges, Organ - Willie Mitchell, Other - Al Schmitt, Mixing Engineer - Steve Genewick, Recording Engineer - Michael Bearden, Keyboards - Steve Jordan, Drums - Steve Jordan, Percussion - Steve Jordan, Producer - Wayne Jackson, Trumpet - Jack Hale, Trombone - Di Reed, Background Vocal - Darryl Jones, Bass - Darwin Best, Engineer - Lou Adler, Composer - Lou Adler, Lyricist - Martin Pradler, Engineer - Bridget Ann Cady, Background Vocal - Lawrence Mitchell, Recording Engineer - Niko Bolas, Recording Engineer - Kenny Moran, Engineer - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Rod Stewart, Performer - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Sam Cooke, Lyricist - Sam Cooke, Composer - Herb Alpert, Lyricist - Herb Alpert, Composer
(P) 2009 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Ricky Lawson, Drums - Bill Schnee, Mixing Engineer - Nicole Garcia, Violin - Matt Cooker, Acoustic Cello - Giovanna Moraga-Clayton, Acoustic Cello - Kathleen Robertson, Violin - Darryl Tookes, Background Vocal - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Greg Phillinganes, Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes, Other - Tim Loo, Acoustic Cello - John Wittenburg, Violin - Mark Cargill, Violin - Leon Huff, Composer - Leon Huff, Lyricist - Miguel Martinez, Acoustic Cello - Brian Benning, Violin - Judith Hill, Background Vocal - Darwin Best, Engineer - Martin Pradler, Engineer - Joel Pargman, Violin - Gina Kronstadt, Violin - Nathan East, Bass - Charlie Bisharat, Violin - Susan Chatman, Violin - Will Wheaton, Background Vocal - Kenny Moran, Engineer - Paul Jackson, Jr., Guitar - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Rod Stewart, Performer - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Kenneth Gamble, Lyricist - Kenneth Gamble, Composer - Shari Zippert, Violin - Jon Allen, Recording Engineer
(P) 2009 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Ricky Lawson, Drums - Bill Schnee, Mixing Engineer - Jeff Driskill, Flute - Darryl Tookes, Background Vocal - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Michael Landau, Guitar - Lisa Vaughn, Background Vocal - Greg Phillinganes, Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes, Other - Reggie McBride, Bass - Norman Whitfield, Composer - Norman Whitfield, Writer - Darwin Best, Engineer - Martin Pradler, Engineer - John Yoakum, Oboe - Will Wheaton, Background Vocal - Kenny Moran, Engineer - Paul Jackson, Jr., Guitar - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Rod Stewart, Performer - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Barrett Strong, Writer - Barrett Strong, Composer - Jon Allen, Recording Engineer
(P) 2009 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
Continuing his stroll through pop's back pages, Rod Stewart moves on from the "Great Rock Classics of Our Time" and dives into the Soulbook, shorthand for all the great Motown and soul songs that still are in heavy rotation on oldies radio well into the new millennium. Apart from an oddly funkified spin of Sam Cooke's "Wonderful World" and a version of Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" that illustrates just how much range he's lost over the years, Rod doesn't spend much time with the soul and blues singers so influential on him, choosing instead to run through a bunch of Motown hits -- a full six of the 13 songs here are from the Motor City -- adding a couple of smooth soul hits from the early '70s, plus Chuck Jackson and Maxine Brown's "Let It Be Me," which gives him an opportunity to duet with Jennifer Hudson. All this is firmly within Stewart's wheelhouse, perhaps too much so, an impression not helped by the overly familiar arrangements, right down to Stevie Wonder reprising his harmonica on "My Cherie Amour" -- these are all designed to evoke memories, not to dig into the heart of the songs. It's all pleasing enough, flowing better than the Great American Songbook albums, and not feeling as karaoke as the Great Rock Classics album, but it's so comfortable, so easygoing, it verges on the forgettable.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:47:13
- Main artists: Rod Stewart
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: J Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock
(P) 2009 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
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