Rod Stewart - It Had To Be You (The Great American Songbook)

It Had To Be You (The Great American Songbook)

By  Rod Stewart

Very Good Condition

Rod Stewart's mellowing years have neatly coincided with a commitment to smart ballad choices and a generally warmer musical persona. Rod the Mod liberated at last? Like many a pop singer, Stewart returns here to what's become generally known as the Great American Songbook, that evergreen body of mid-20th century songcraft that continues to inspire singers across oceans and generations. It's said that Stewart has been vocalizing many of these songs in private for years, and given the warm, human scale of most of the performances here, it's not hard to believe. Producer Phil Ramone's spare, unobtrusive arrangements inspire the singer to some of his most subtle and rewarding performances in years. Stewart's slightly weary vocal tack handsomely suggests the smoke, booze, and aching heart that lie at the best of these songs. Such back-to-the-future efforts can often sound like a last career gasp; here, they seem a refreshing breath of fresh air. --Jerry McCulley

A Review:

For a former radio DJ and a guy who likes everything from Bonzo Dog to Iron Butterfly to the Moody Blues, this was quite a pleasant surprize! I got it partly because my wife likes RS, and partly because these songs, although before my time, are real classics. I did sing some in high school, and my parents no doubt played some. Regardless of your age, RS does a fine job, not inserting some overt personal style that might make them unrecognizable.

He sounds very comfortable with these songs and the orchestration is not over the top. "It's got a beat and you can dance to it" is very true here. I popped the CD in a small player in the kitchen and we just both fell spontaneously into each other's arms and began slow dancing...which scared Harry the cat to the point that he fled after staring in disbelief.

Highly recommended.

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