Rod Stewart - Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Vol. 3

If the cover of Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Vol. 3 is any indication, Rod Stewart is getting a little tired of the classy act he's put on over the last two years, as a crooner of pop standards. Gone are the straightforward portrait shots, and in their place is a jokey picture of Rod with a pair of hot legs. It unwittingly looks like a grown-up variation of the Blondes Have More Fun cover from 26 years ago (Rod still has the same basic hairdo, bless his heart), and it's a welcome glimpse of the roguish charm and laddish sense of humor that used to be Stewart's calling card. As for the music, for all intents and purposes it's pretty much the same as it was on the first two installments of The Great American Songbook. But to Stewart's credit, he's sounding a bit more comfortable on this third go-round -- he doesn't sound as uptight, nor as mannered, as he did before. Part of this may be due to a shift in producers. Phil Ramone, who co-produced the first two, has left and has been replaced by Steve Tyrell, who releases albums in a similar vein himself. Under his watch, Stewart doesn't sound quite so studious and tentative, and the arrangements aren't quite so fussy, which ultimately makes for a better record. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adam Hawkins Engineer Alan Broadbent String Arrangements, Conductor, String Conductor Alan Pasqua Piano Allan Schwartzberg Drums Alli Truch Creative Director Ana Landauer Violin Andrew McPherson Photography Andy Chuckerman Synthesizer Strings Andy Zulla Mixing Anja Wood Cello Antoine Silverman Violin, Soloist, Concert Master Ariel Solanes Engineer Arturo Sandoval Trumpet, Soloist Barbara Porter Violin Belinda Whitney Violin Ben McCarthy Production Coordination Bette Midler Vocals, Duet Bill Schnee String Engineer, Engineer Bob Cranshaw Bass, Guitar (Bass) Bob Mann Rhythm Arrangements, Synthesizer, Arranger, Keyboards, Guitar, Conductor Bob Sheppard Ensemble, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet Bobby Ginsburg Engineer Brian Denbow Viola Bruce Dukov Violin Carter William Humphrey Engineer Cenobia Cummings Violin Chip Jackson Bass Chris Golden Bass Christopher Cardona Violin Clive Davis Producer, Audio Production Dan Neufeld Viola Danielle Farina Viola Danny Miller Cello Darwin Best Engineer Dave Grusin Piano Dave Koz Soloist, Saxophone David Creswell Viola David F. Walther Viola David Finck Bass David Low Cello Debra Shufelt Viola Dolly Parton Vocals, Duet Dorian Holley Vocals (Background) Doug Epstein Engineer Ed Howard Bass Edith Markman Violin Endre Granat Violin Eric Clapton Soloist, Guitar Franklyn d'Antonio Violin Gil Romero Violin Haim Shtrum Violin Helen Atkinson Engineer J.J. Blair Engineer Janet Lakatos Viola Jeri Heiden Design, Art Direction Jessica Troy Viola Joe "Public" Allen Keyboards Joe Sample Piano Joe Yannece Mastering Joel Evenden Assistant John Beal Bass John Ferraro Drums John Heiden Art Direction, Design Jon Allen Production Coordination, Keyboards Jonathan Dinklage Violin Jorge Moraga Viola Julie Gigante Violin Katia Popov Violin Ken Yerke Violin Kenny Ascher Keyboards, Piano, Synthesizer Lauren Wild Producer, Rhythm Arrangements Lee Thornburg Soloist, Trumpet Lotus Donovan Project Manager Luka Scheurer Personal Assistant Machito Sanchez Engineer Marlena Jeter Vocals (Background) Martin Agee Violin Maxim Moston Violin Michael Markman Concert Master, Violin Michael Teaney Engineer Mike Thompson Rhythm Arrangements, Piano, Synthesizer Strings Mortonette Jenkins Vocals (Background) Nancy Roth Viola Nick Sample Engineer Paul Woodiel Violin Penny Lancaster Photography Plas Johnson Saxophone, Soloist Raj Das Engineer Reggie McBride Bass Richard Perry Audio Production, Rhythm Arrangements, Producer Robert Peterson Violin Roberto Cani Violin Ryan Petrie Assistant Sarah Carter Cello Shauna Krikorian Administrative Assistant Simon Climie Engineer, Guitar Engineer Simon Oswell Viola Stephen Erdody Cello Steve Ferrera A&R Steve Richards Cello Steve Tyrell Audio Production, Engineer, Producer Stevie Wonder Vocals, Harmonica Sylvia Davanzo Violin Timothy Landauer Cello Tom Evans Soloist, Saxophone Vin "Vinny" D'Onofrio Guitar Warren Luening Clarinet, Saxophone, Soloist, Trumpet, Ensemble Warren Vaché Soloist, Trumpet