THANKS FOR THE MEMORY... THE GREAT AMERI |

Personnel: Gail Levant (harp); Lorenz Gamma, Irina Voloshina, Anatoly Rosinsky, Gil Romero, Ana Landauer, Phillip Levy , Edith Markman, Lily Ho Chen, Melissa Phelps Beckstead, Lisa Dodlinger, Kevin Connolly , Sid Page, Roberto Cani, Julie Gigante, Armen Garabedian, Darius Campo, Berj Garabedian, Endre Granat, Haim Shtrum (violin); Kenneth Burward-Hoy, Dan Neufeld, Victoria Miskolczy, Robert Becker, Keith Greene, Simon Oswell, Dave Walther , Andrew Duckles (viola); Paula Hochhalter, Trevor Handy, Timothy Landauer, Tina Soule, Dan Smith , Vahe Hayrikian, Larry Corbett, Stephen Erdody , David Low , Steve Richards (cello); Dan Higgins , Gene Cipriano, Greg Huckins, Bill Liston, Bob Sheppard (clarinet, saxophone); Phillipe Saisse, Kenny Ascher, Bob Mann, Lee Musiker, Quinn Johnson (keyboards).
Audio Mixer: Andy Zulla.
Recording information: Capitol studios, Los Angeles, CA; Deep Diner Studios, New York, NY; Larrabee Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Schnee Studios; Southern Tracks, Atlanta, GA.
Photographer: John Swannell.
Arrangers: Alan Broadbent; Bob Mann.
Apparently, Rod Stewart's desire to cover American jazz/pop classics is as great as the titular SONGBOOK itself, since this is the gravelly voiced British singer's fourth foray into standards territory. THANKS FOR THE MEMORY features more guest artists than the two previous discs in the series, with Stewart's collaborators ranging from R&B legend Diana Ross (on the playfully romantic "I've Got a Crush on You") to smooth-jazz trumpeter Chris Botti (who lends his pleasant horn lines to "I Wish You Love"). Stewart is also joined by fellow 1970s-rock icon Elton John for a breezy take on "Makin' Whoopee." Of course, Rod the Mod is fully capable of carrying a tune by himself, as best revealed on string-laden renditions of "Blue Skies" and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm." Given Stewart's consistently laid-back, straightforward interpretations, fans of earlier installments in the SONGBOOK series will find this set just as entertaining as it predecessors.

• Genre: Rock
• Released: 2008-03-27
• Format: CD
• Format: CD
• Genre: ROCK
• Released: 2008-03-27