One of my Grandsons gave me the new Rod Stewart album as a Chanukah gift. It’s called I HAD TO BE YOU...THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK. It has one disc and was released in October 2002 by the J-Records Company. If you enjoy Rod Steward’s music you might not like this Album at all.
This Album has different songs that he usually sings. He also sings the songs on the Tracts quite different from the way you are use to hearing him sing.
~O THE ARTISTS O~
Rod Stewart, Arturo Sandoval, Dave Koz, Don Sebesky, Harvey Mason, Michael Brecker and Rob Mounsey.
~O THE TRACK O~
You Go to My Head, (with Dave Kos): ’’You go to my head, like bubbles in champagne...’’
They Can’t Take That Away from Me, (with Arturo Sandoval):
’’The way you wear your hat, The way you sip your tea, The memory of all that, No they can’t take that away from me.’’
The Way You Look Tonight: ’’Some day when I’m feeling low I will remember just the way you look tonight...’’
It Had to Be You, (with Michael Brecker): ’’It had to be you. I looked all around until I suddenly found someone like you...’’
That Old Feeling, (with Michael Brecker): ’’I saw you last night and got that old feeling. When you came in sight I felt that old feeling. The moment you came into view....’’
These Foolish Things, (with Kave Koz: ’’On fighting maps we now plot shooting traces, You showed us where and when a compass faces, And how to take six swings; These foolish things Were taught me by you.’’
The Very Thought of You: ’’The very thought of you, it sees me through it keeps me going. Babe I’m caught on you, you’re all I see and all I know. Can’t you see just what you’re doing to me baby. The very thought of you’s enough to drive me crazy, And the very thought of you is keeping me alive.’’
Moonglow, (with Arturo Sandoval), This song is from a Movie called ’’Picnic’’: ’’It had to be moonglow I saw in your eyes...’’
I’ll Be Seeing You: ’’I’ll be seeing you in all the old familiar places. That my lonely hear embraces, I’ll be seeing you.....’’
Every Time We Say Goodbye , (with Dave Koz): ’’Every time we say goodbye I die a little....’’
The Nearness of You: ’’It’s not the pale moon that excites me, That thrills and delights me, oh no It’s just the nearness of you. It isn’t your sweet conversation That brings this sensation, oh no It’s just the nearness of you.’’
For All We Know: ’’For all we know we may never meet again....’’
We’ll Be Together Agai: ’’I’ve been waiting for a long time, We’re gonna be we’re gonna be together again.’’
That’s All: ’’That’s all for everyone. That’s all for me. Last call for everyone. Must be just exactly what I need. I call for everyone. I cry for more. That’s all for everyone. Must be just exactly what I need. That’s all.’’
This is the only up beat song on the Album.
~O MY REVIEW O~
Each of these songs is a love song. Rod is remembering the old songs that were popular during the 1940’s and 50’s. He never sang any of these songs before and he made this Album to honour the famous singers who made them popular in Canada, England and the United States Many of you are to young to remember them but each of them brings back wonderful memories to me.
Because this is Rod’s tribute to the Artists who sang these songs I would like to tell you who did.
’’You Go To My Head’’ is a Billie Holiday song that Chet Baker sang as well.
’’That Old Feeling’’ was first sung by Ella Fitzgerald and then Anita O’day.You can also hear it on Frank
Sinatra’s ’’Columbia Years: Complete Record’’ Album.
’’They Can’t Take That Away from Me’’ was introduced as a single by Sarah Vaughan and then Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee and Rosemary Clooney added it to one of their Albums.
’’The Way You Look Tonight’’ was sung by Fred Astaire in the 1939 Movie called
’’Swing Time’’. It is also on a Frank Sinatra Album. I love the way that Tony Bennett sand ’’It Had to Be You’’. You can also hear it sung by Shirley Horn, Ray Charles and Billie Holiday.
’’These Foolish Things’’ Was on Sarah Vaughan’s’s ’’One Night Stand At The Town Hall Concert’’, (1947), Album
’’The Very Thought of You’’ was introduced as a single my Maurine Christine.You can also hear it on Ella Fitzgerald’s
’’Carnegie Hall’’ Album.
’’Moonglow’’ was sung by Perry Como on his ’’By Request Album’’.
’’I’ll Be Seeing You ’’this is a song from WWII. I loved the way that Vera Lynne, Carmen McRae and Bing Crosby Sang it.
’’Every Time We Say Goodbye’’ was written an sung by Cole Porter for his ’’It’s All Right Collection’’.
’’The Nearness of You’’ has been recorded by a lot of Artists but I like the way Maureen Christy sings it on her
’’My Romance’’ Record.
’’For All We Know’’ has been sung by many Artists but I like the way that Barbra Streisand sings it on he ’’Simply Streisand’’ Album.
’’We’ll Be Together Again ’’was a on a single record that was sung by Mel Torme.
’’That’s All’’. His version was a Jazz Song but Steward has changed it to a slower beat.
~O ROD STEWART O~
’’Rod Stewart was my one of my one of my favourite singer during the 1960’s when he was a Rock and Roll Singer.’’ If you want to read more about him I found a site:
https://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/artistbio.asp?userid=6UMX65VCXD&vcqty=1&ctr=69437
~O SOME THOUGHTS O~
I recently saw Rod Stewart on TV. He looks quite different with his clean shaven face, slicked back hair and wearing a Tux.
I loved every song on this album. They each brought back wonderful memories to me. Since this was a gift I have no idea what this disc costs. If you don’t have this disc I highly recommend it to you. UP#: 808132003926 Comments are always welcome. Ratings don’t matter. ©LL2002