Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook, Vol. 4 (CD - 2005)

Personnel: Rod Stewart; Gayle Levant (harp); Lorenz Gamma, Lisa Dondlinger, Irina Voloshina, Anatoly Rosinsky, Gil Romero, Ana Landauer, Lily Chen, Melissa Phelps Beckstead, Kevin Connolly, Sid Page, Roberto Cani, Julie Gigante, Phillipe Levy, Armen Garabedian, Darius Campo, Berj Garabedian, Endre Granat, Haim Shtrum (violin); Kenneth Burward-Hoy, Dan Neufeld, Vicki Miskolczy, Robert Becker, Keith Greene, Simon Oswell, David F. Walther, Andrew Duckles (viola); Paula Hochhalter, Trevor Handy, Vahe Hayrikyan, Timothy Landauer, Tina Soule, Dan Tobin Smith, Larry Corbett, Stephen Erdody, David Low , Steve Richards (cello); Gene Cipriano, Greg Huckins, Bill Liston, Bob Sheppard (clarinet, saxophone); Philippe Saisse, Lee Musiker, Quinn Johnson (keyboards); David Finck, Ed Howard (bass instrument); Bob Mann (guitar, keyboards); Dan Higgins (clarinet, saxophone); Dave Koz (saxophone); Warren Luening (trumpet); Kenny Ascher (piano, keyboards); Allan Schwartzberg (drums); Chris Botti, Elton John, George Benson , Roy Hargrove, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan.

Audio Mixer: Andy Zulla.

Recording information: Capitol; Deep Diner Studios, New York, NY; Larrabee Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Schee Studios.

Author: Rod Stewart.

Photographer: John Swannell.

Arranger: 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. minimize