Great American Songbook, The - Mel Torme

Advantages: Great album for any mood
Disadvantages: none

...It's a little hard to take Rod Stewart seriously when, on the first track of this third installment in his Great American Songbook series, he sings ruefully about his love life being "lean" ("Embraceable You"). But otherwise, Stardust...Volume III is as note-for-note solid as its predecessors. A treat that's also a pleasant reminder of these songs' staying power. "S'Wonderful" settles on the ears winningly, and Stewart's scratchy yet harmonic voice is sheer class in "Isn't It Romantic" in a way that compels the average listener to reconsider thinking it dopey. In addition, the parade of high class superstars recruited to construct the album are brilliant, resulting in a couple of must-hear combinations. Eric Clapton delivers a rather un-Clapton-like guitar solo on "Blue Moon" and Stevie Wonder blows harp like he means it on "What... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: It's got the original; it's a bit of group history
Disadvantages: Whose biggest hits?

...The opening song "Bittersweet Symphony" from the album "Urban Hymns" by The Verve was one of the most haunting sounds of 1997. It dominated the charts and airwaves that year and has continued to be used as background music in television programmes and advertisements, including those for Nike and Vauxhall. It is one of those tunes that you will surely have heard even if you cannot place its origin. The song became a bittersweet experience for its author Richard Ashcroft. The refrain he used was taken from, at that time, a little known arrangement of a Rolling Stones song (NOT the original) which had appeared on an album long since deleted from the catalogue. When it was first released in June 1966, "The Songbook" was the fourth in a series of albums recorded by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra. It was subtitled "Instrumental versions... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Easy to listen to
Disadvantages: Same old songs

...An all round good album. But people are just covering the same songs! If Westlife were American they'd sing like this. A good choice of covers (see track listing) for Rods voice. I wouldn't recommend this album if you were going to buy it for general listening, but it's just one of those that you can play in the background at a social gathering. Track List: 1. Time After Time 2. I'm In The Mood For Love 3. Don't Get Around Much Anymore 4. Bewitched Bothered And Bewildered - Stewart, Rod & Cher 5. Till There Was You 6. Until The Real Thing Comes Along 7. Where Or When 8. Smile 9. My Heart Stood Still 10. Someone To Watch Over Me 11. As Time Goes By - Stewart, Rod & Queen Latifah 12. I Only Have Eyes For You 13. Crazy She Calls Me 14. Our Love Is Here To Stay... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful