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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 /TiVo
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Rod Stewart, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Diana Ross, Associated Performer, Featured Artist - Rod Stewart feat. Diana Ross, Associated Performer - George Gershwin, Composer, Lyricist - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Bob Mann, Arranger, Co-Producer, Guitar, Keyboards - Andy Zulla, Mixing Engineer - Ira Gershwin, Composer, Lyricist - Kenny Ascher, Keyboards, Piano - Al Schmidt, Engineer, Recording Engineer - David Finck, Bass Guitar - Allan Schwartzberg, Drums - Doug Epstein, Engineer - Allan Broadbent, Arranger, Conductor - BILL SCHNEE, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dave Koz, Saxophone - Darwin Best, Engineer - Dan Garcia, Engineer - Darius Fong, Engineer - Quinn Johnson, Keyboards - Phillipe Saiss, Keyboards - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Jon Allen, Engineer - Lee Musiker, Keyboards - Carter William Humphrey, Engineer - Bobby Ginsburg, Engineer
(P) 2005 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Rod Stewart, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Chris Botti, Associated Performer, Featured Artist - Rod Stewart feat. Chris Botti, Associated Performer - Albert Beach, Composer, Lyricist - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Bob Mann, Arranger, Co-Producer, Guitar, Keyboards - Andy Zulla, Mixing Engineer - Charles Trenet, Composer, Lyricist - Kenny Ascher, Keyboards, Piano - Al Schmidt, Engineer, Recording Engineer - David Finck, Bass Guitar - Allan Schwartzberg, Drums - Doug Epstein, Engineer - Allan Broadbent, Arranger, Conductor - BILL SCHNEE, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Darwin Best, Engineer - Dan Garcia, Engineer - Quinn Johnson, Keyboards - Darius Fong, Engineer - Phillipe Saiss, Keyboards - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Jon Allen, Engineer - Carter William Humphrey, Engineer - Bobby Ginsburg, Engineer - Lee Musiker, Keyboards
(P) 2005 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Rod Stewart, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Chaka Khan, Arranger, Associated Performer, Featured Artist - Rod Stewart feat. Chaka Khan, Associated Performer - Sam Cooke, Composer, Lyricist - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Bob Mann, Arranger, Co-Producer, Guitar, Keyboards - Andy Zulla, Mixing Engineer - Kenny Ascher, Keyboards, Piano - Al Schmidt, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Allan Broadbent, Arranger, Conductor - David Finck, Bass Guitar - Allan Schwartzberg, Drums - Doug Epstein, Engineer - BILL SCHNEE, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Darwin Best, Engineer - Dan Garcia, Engineer - Quinn Johnson, Keyboards - Darius Fong, Engineer - Phillipe Saiss, Keyboards - Lee Musiker, Keyboards - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Jon Allen, Engineer - Carter William Humphrey, Engineer - Bobby Ginsburg, Engineer
(P) 2005 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Rod Stewart, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Ira Gershwin, Composer, Lyricist - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Bob Mann, Arranger, Co-Producer, Guitar, Keyboards - Kenny Ascher, Keyboards, Piano - Andy Zulla, Mixing Engineer - David Finck, Bass Guitar - Jerome Kern, Composer, Lyricist - Al Schmidt, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Allan Schwartzberg, Drums - Doug Epstein, Engineer - Allan Broadbent, Arranger, Conductor - BILL SCHNEE, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Darwin Best, Engineer - Quinn Johnson, Keyboards - Dan Garcia, Engineer - Phillipe Saiss, Keyboards - Darius Fong, Engineer - Lee Musiker, Keyboards - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Jon Allen, Engineer - Carter William Humphrey, Engineer - Bobby Ginsburg, Engineer
(P) 2005 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Rod Stewart, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Elton John, Associated Performer, Featured Artist - Rod Stewart feat. Elton John, Associated Performer - Matt Still, Recording Engineer - Walter Donaldson, Composer, Lyricist - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Bob Mann, Arranger, Co-Producer, Guitar, Keyboards - Gus Kahn, Composer, Lyricist - Kenny Ascher, Keyboards, Piano - Andy Zulla, Mixing Engineer - Ed Howard, Bass Guitar - Al Schmidt, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Allan Schwartzberg, Drums - Allan Broadbent, Arranger, Conductor - Doug Epstein, Engineer - BILL SCHNEE, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Darwin Best, Engineer - Quinn Johnson, Keyboards - Dan Garcia, Engineer - Phillipe Saiss, Keyboards - Darius Fong, Engineer - Lee Musiker, Keyboards - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Jon Allen, Engineer - Carter William Humphrey, Engineer - Bobby Ginsburg, Engineer
(P) 2005 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Rod Stewart, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Robert Mellin, Composer, Lyricist - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Bob Mann, Arranger, Co-Producer, Guitar, Keyboards - Kenny Ascher, Keyboards, Piano - Andy Zulla, Mixing Engineer - Ed Howard, Bass Guitar - Guy Wood, Composer, Lyricist - Al Schmidt, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Allan Schwartzberg, Drums - Doug Epstein, Engineer - Allan Broadbent, Arranger, Conductor - BILL SCHNEE, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Darwin Best, Engineer - Quinn Johnson, Keyboards - Dan Garcia, Engineer - Phillipe Saiss, Keyboards - Darius Fong, Engineer - Lee Musiker, Keyboards - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Jon Allen, Engineer - Carter William Humphrey, Engineer - Bobby Ginsburg, Engineer
(P) 2005 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Rod Stewart, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Vernon Duke, Composer, Lyricist - Bob Mann, Arranger, Co-Producer, Guitar, Keyboards - Kenny Ascher, Keyboards, Piano - Andy Zulla, Mixing Engineer - David Finck, Bass Guitar - Ted Fetter, Composer, Lyricist - Al Schmidt, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Allan Schwartzberg, Drums - Doug Epstein, Engineer - John LaTouche, Composer, Lyricist - Allan Broadbent, Arranger, Conductor - BILL SCHNEE, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Darwin Best, Engineer - Quinn Johnson, Keyboards - Dan Garcia, Engineer - Phillipe Saiss, Keyboards - Darius Fong, Engineer - Lee Musiker, Keyboards - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Jon Allen, Engineer - Carter William Humphrey, Engineer - Bobby Ginsburg, Engineer
(P) 2005 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Rod Stewart, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Richard Rodgers, Composer, Lyricist - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Bob Mann, Arranger, Co-Producer, Guitar, Keyboards - Kenny Ascher, Keyboards, Piano - Andy Zulla, Mixing Engineer - David Finck, Bass Guitar - Lorenz Hart, Composer, Lyricist - Al Schmidt, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Allan Schwartzberg, Drums - Doug Epstein, Engineer - Allan Broadbent, Arranger, Conductor - BILL SCHNEE, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Darwin Best, Engineer - Quinn Johnson, Keyboards - Dan Garcia, Engineer - Phillipe Saiss, Keyboards - Darius Fong, Engineer - Lee Musiker, Keyboards - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Jon Allen, Engineer - Carter William Humphrey, Engineer - Bobby Ginsburg, Engineer
(P) 2005 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Rod Stewart, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Irving Berlin, Composer, Lyricist - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Bob Mann, Arranger, Co-Producer, Guitar, Keyboards - Kenny Ascher, Keyboards, Piano - Andy Zulla, Mixing Engineer - Ed Howard, Bass Guitar - Al Schmidt, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Allan Broadbent, Arranger, Conductor - Allan Schwartzberg, Drums - Doug Epstein, Engineer - Warren Luening, Trumpet - BILL SCHNEE, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Darwin Best, Engineer - Dan Garcia, Engineer - Quinn Johnson, Keyboards - Darius Fong, Engineer - Phillipe Saiss, Keyboards - Lee Musiker, Keyboards - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Jon Allen, Engineer - Carter William Humphrey, Engineer - Bobby Ginsburg, Engineer
(P) 2005 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Rod Stewart, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Dave Koz, Associated Performer, Featured Artist - Rod Stewart feat. Dave Koz, Associated Performer - Bert Kalmar, Composer, Lyricist - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Bob Mann, Arranger, Co-Producer, Guitar, Keyboards - Andy Zulla, Mixing Engineer - Harry Ruby, Composer, Lyricist - Kenny Ascher, Keyboards, Piano - Al Schmidt, Engineer, Recording Engineer - David Finck, Bass Guitar - Allan Schwartzberg, Drums - Doug Epstein, Engineer - Allan Broadbent, Arranger, Conductor - BILL SCHNEE, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Darwin Best, Engineer - Dan Garcia, Engineer - Quinn Johnson, Keyboards - Darius Fong, Engineer - Phillipe Saiss, Keyboards - Lee Musiker, Keyboards - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Jon Allen, Engineer - Carter William Humphrey, Engineer - Bobby Ginsburg, Engineer
(P) 2005 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Rod Stewart, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Irving Berlin, Composer, Lyricist - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Bob Mann, Arranger, Co-Producer, Guitar, Keyboards - Kenny Ascher, Keyboards, Piano - Andy Zulla, Mixing Engineer - David Finck, Bass Guitar - Al Schmidt, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Allan Broadbent, Arranger, Conductor - Allan Schwartzberg, Drums - Doug Epstein, Engineer - Dan Higgins, Clarinet - BILL SCHNEE, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Darwin Best, Engineer - Dan Garcia, Engineer - Quinn Johnson, Keyboards - Darius Fong, Engineer - Phillipe Saiss, Keyboards - Lee Musiker, Keyboards - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Jon Allen, Engineer - Carter William Humphrey, Engineer - Bobby Ginsburg, Engineer
(P) 2005 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Rod Stewart, Associated Performer, Main Artist - George Benson, Associated Performer, Featured Artist - Rod Stewart feat. George Benson, Associated Performer - Arlen Harold, Composer, Lyricist - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Bob Mann, Arranger, Co-Producer, Guitar, Keyboards - Andy Zulla, Mixing Engineer - Kenny Ascher, Keyboards, Piano - Ted Koehler, Composer, Lyricist - Al Schmidt, Engineer, Recording Engineer - David Finck, Bass Guitar - Allan Schwartzberg, Drums - Doug Epstein, Engineer - Allan Broadbent, Arranger, Conductor - BILL SCHNEE, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Darwin Best, Engineer - Dan Garcia, Engineer - Quinn Johnson, Keyboards - Darius Fong, Engineer - Phillipe Saiss, Keyboards - Lee Musiker, Keyboards - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Jon Allen, Engineer - Carter William Humphrey, Engineer - Bobby Ginsburg, Engineer
(P) 2005 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Rod Stewart, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Ralph Rainger, Composer, Lyricist - Steve Tyrell, Producer - Allan Broadbent, Arranger, Conductor - Bob Mann, Arranger, Co-Producer, Keyboards - Andy Zulla, Mixing Engineer - Kenny Ascher, Keyboards - Leo Robin, Composer, Lyricist - Al Schmidt, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Doug Epstein, Engineer - Quinn Johnson, Keyboards - Phillipe Saiss, Keyboards - BILL SCHNEE, Engineer, Recording Engineer - Lee Musiker, Keyboards - Darwin Best, Engineer - Dan Garcia, Engineer - Darius Fong, Engineer - Ryan Petrie, Engineer - Jon Allen, Engineer - Carter William Humphrey, Engineer - Bobby Ginsburg, Engineer
(P) 2005 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Album review
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 /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:43:03
- Main artists: Rod Stewart
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: J Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
(P) 2005 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
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