Rod Stewart - It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook

It's the kind of concept that seems brilliant on paper: revive the career of one of the great vocalists of the rock era by having him sing the great American pop songs of the pre-rock era. It was done before with Linda Ronstadt, and it worked well, so why not Rod Stewart, whose career was in shambles in 2002 following the disastrous modern r&b record Human? Clive Davis, the man behind Santana's comeback, masterminded the whole thing, and It Had to Be You was born. Again, the whole thing sounds good on paper, but in practice, it's a bit of a mixed bag. Certainly, following a throat operation, Stewart is singing better than he has in years, and he feels much more comfortable here than he did on Human, but the whole project has an artificial undercurrent that's hard to shake, especially since the song selection, the arrangements, and the performances play it so safe they're largely undistinguished. It's not necessarily bad, but it doesn't have much character outside of Rod's voice, and his soulful rasp isn't really suited for these songs. Nevertheless, this is exactly what it's billed as -- Rod sings the Great American Songbook -- and it's done with professionalism and ease, so it's a pleasant listen. But it won't replace Sinatra, of course, or even Ronstadt's similar work with Nelson Riddle. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alex Gibson Engineer, Digital Editing Allan Schwartzberg Drums Alli Truch Creative Director Andrew Felluss Assistant Engineer, Digital Editing, Mixing Assistant Andrew McPherson Photography Andy Chuckerman Synthesizer Pads Andy Chukerman Synthesizer Pads Arnold Stiefel Management Arturo Sandoval Flugelhorn, Trumpet, Soloist Ben McCarthy Production Coordination Bill Zehme Liner Notes Bob Magnusson Bass Bob Mann Arranger, Soloist, Guitar Brian Cook Engineer, Digital Editing Brian Dixon Assistant Engineer Bryan Cook Engineer, Digital Editing Carter Humphrey Mixing, Engineer Chris Steinmetz Engineer Clive Davis Producer Dan Higgins Soloist, Clarinet, Sax (Alto) Daphna Kastner Music Consultant, Music Contractor Dave Carpenter Bass Dave Koz Sax (Tenor), Soloist David Finck Bass Dennis Budimir Guitar Don C. Tyler Producer, Production Support Don Sebesky Rhythm Arrangements, Piano, Arranger, Conductor, Orchestral Arrangements Doug Katsaros Conductor, Piano, Rhythm Arrangements, Arranger Frank Filipetti Mixing, Engineer Freddy Piñero, Jr. Engineer Harvey Mason, Sr. Drums J.D. Blair Engineer, Digital Editing J.J. Blair Engineer, Digital Editing Jeff Mironov Guitar, Soloist Jeffrey "Woody" Woodruff Engineer Jeremy Lubbock Woodwind Arrangement, String Arrangements, String Conductor, Conductor Jeri Heiden Art Direction Jeri Helden Art Direction Jill Dell'Abate Contractor, Production Coordination Jimmy Rip Guitar Joel Moss Engineer John "Hot Fat Reynolds" Ferraro Percussion, Drums John Ferraro Percussion, Drums Johnny Kubelka Digital Editing, Engineer Joseph M. Palmaccio Mastering Keith Naftaly A&R Larry Emerine Production Support, Producer Lauren Wild Production Support Lee Musiker Piano, Introduction Mark Valentine Engineer Michael Brecker Sax (Tenor), Soloist Nick Howard Assistant Engineer Pete Karam Digital Editing Phil Ramone Producer, Vocal Producer Philippe Saisse Conductor, Orchestral Arrangements, Keyboards Randy Kerber Piano, String Arrangements, Synthesizer Strings, Synthesizer Randy Waldman Piano Reggie McBride Bass Renato Neto Piano, Synthesizer, Associate Producer, Arranger, Synthesizer Strings, Synthesizer Flute Richard Perry Producer, Arranger Rob Mounsey Keyboards, Rhythm Arrangements, Piano, Conductor Russ Kassoff Piano Ryan J-W Smith Assistant Engineer Ryan Smith Assistant Engineer Shawn Pelton Drums Stephen Marcussen Mastering Tal Bergman Drums, Associate Producer, Arranger, Drum Programming, Percussion Ted Jensen Mastering Thom Cadley Mixing Timothy Olmstead Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer Trent Slatton Engineer, Digital Editing Wade Childers Assistant Engineer Willie Hollis Piano, Synthesizer Arrangements, Arranger, Synthesizer Strings, Synthesizer, Soloist Woody Woodruff Engineer