REVIEWS: Songbook 4

THANKS FOR THE MEMORY: GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK VOL. IV
A COLLECTION OF REVIEWS (updates at the top)

A COLLEAGUE’S MOTHER who has a seasoned taste in fine jazz, theater and contemporary music, loves Rod Stewart’s bafflingly popular series of standards CDs. I delighted in giving her a copy of this latest one — not only because I knew it would make the dear lady happy but because she wouldn’t have to buy it. On that end, I’d love to give every fan a free copy of Stewart’s Great American Songbook Vol. IV if only so that sales would be nil and he’d never have the incentive to make another one.

That’s not to say Stewart’s four standards albums are not without some campy charm. His duet with Cher on the second one found its way onto my iPod and Vol. IV’s duet with Diana Ross on I’ve Got a Crush On You has some appeal, too, all due to her suitable vocals.

The problem with these records isn’t a lack of musicianship. But musicians like Dave Koz, Chris Botti and Roy Hargrove are given little to do (and no solos) in arrangements that never challenge, never stray beyond conventional pop form, or show the slightest imagination or flair.

The novelty in hearing Stewart sing a tune like Blue Skies has also grown stale. His raspy, thin voice is stripped of soul and though he tries a bit more on this one to inject a barely noticeable conversational tone into his singing, he still delivers every number in the same manner. If all you’ve ever heard are these four albums you may never know that Stewart was once a soulful, commanding rock singer. Ask a long-time fan about (I Know) I’m Losing You off Every Picture Tells a Story (1971) or Scarred and Scared off Blondes Have More Fun (1978) or Weak off When We Were the New Boys (1998), to name just three.

The biggest blown opportunity here is Makin’ Whoopee, a duet with Elton John. These two pop rivals, pals and pranksters should have had a ball sending this one up — and Elton has even done so before by folding a bit of this tune into his obscure 1978 LP cut Big Dipper — but the two play it straight, humorless and surprisingly dull.

So to my friend, the Rod Stewart fan, don’t hate me for this review. Just think: Next time he feels compelled to make another standards disc you’re getting another free CD.
* ½. Howard Cohen, MIAMI HERALD

WITH HIS SERIES of ‘Great American Songbook’ albums, Rod Stewart has gone from being a has-been rocker to a has-been rocker making bank, thanks to nostalgists willing to listen to his smoky croak work over songs like ‘I’ve Got a Crush on You,’ ‘Makin’ Whoopee’ and ‘My Funny Valentine.’ Duets with Diana Ross, Elton John and Chaka Khan help, but listening to 13 songs of Rod the Once-Mod in retro-crooner mode gets monotonous. Still, fans of the other volumes will probably enjoy this one. Grade C. Dan Nailen, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

ROD STEWART CRANKS out another disc of pre-rock standards:
He’s enjoyed far more commercial clout than might be expected through three previous discs of standards, but this week’s release of Rod Stewart’s Thanks For The Memory—Great American Songbook IV (J-Records) will be a test of whether the market for these projects is overloaded.

Stewart professed a longtime love for the show tunes and sentimental fare that characterized his best-selling previous ventures into this arena. This fourth entry includes collaborations with trumpeter Chris Botti on “Long Ago and Far Away” and Diana Ross on the opening number “I’ve Got A Crush On You,” and also features Stewart interpretations and reworkings of “Blue Skies,” “My Funny Valentine” and “Taking A Chance On Love,” among others. Ron Wynn, NASHVILLE CITY PAPER

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, AMAZON.COM

DESTINED FOR A supermarket or elevator near you, the fourth installment of Stewart’s painful ‘Songbook’ series cements the once-worthy rock singer’s transformation into an artless, easy-listening imposter. Each song meanders at the same mid-tempo sway, with gushing strings smoothing out any originality or personal flair. The guests – Diana Ross, Elton John, etc. – add star power but nothing can save this sinking ship. Christopher Blagg, BOSTON HERALD