as always rod is fabulous. anything he does he does beautifully.it is a great album for those of us who appreciate theseb classics.

Wonderful album of Rod Stewart! Fast shipping and great customer service.

Rod Stewart, apart to be a living legend on stages through over three decades and a half, , is a singer who has known to reinvent himself over and over. This successful idea, so desired for many others singers have found in his original voice, the perfect instrument to bring us back to all these vanished memories,
Unforgettable melodies that found the widest resonance in the decade of the forties, fifties and sixties.

Supported by a fabulous big leaguer musical team, Stewart has know to sharp every song he sung, with adequate emotion, accuracy and commitment. The result of this initial experiment has been materialized until this date in four extraordinary registers.

In what concerns this special album the result has been particularly gratifying. The achieved maturity has been reached until the last consequences. He is a crooner of a huge charisma and extraordinary melodic vein, reason which this CD has figured so many weeks in enviable ranking sellers as one the most fortunate since its release the last year.

Under any circumstance you should miss this fabulous compilation, that somehow complements decades that will never get back but that certainly feed and flamed the romantic imagination and were motives of special and pleasant attention for many couples around the world that nowadays are grandfathers or even great grand fathers.

Another great dvd by Rod Stewart, can't go wrong
with him.

Rod Stewart has a wonderful voice for this type of music. The songs are great and the music is soothing! This CD would be a great addition to the other three previous albums.

IV is great. Each volume was better than the last; if that could be possible.

Every time he comes out with a new "American Songbook" album, I buy it. I was never a fan of Rod Stewart's but I love what he has done with these songs. Since I am not a music "snob" I ignore all the negative feedback.

Excellent album with some of the all time favorite songs that could have been forgotten had it not been recorded by Rod Stewart. Exceptional interpretations with Rod Stewart's personal touch.

I can hardly wait for the next CD in this wonderful series of Rod Stewart! The songs are some of his best choices yet and make owning the entire series a must. Rod Steward delivers his own unique style to these classic hits and I sing right along with him. Sing, Dance or just Listen you can't loose.

I ordered this thru Amazon and received it right away. I have really enjoyed the album.

always do business with Amazon

actually I bought this as a gift, so I have not listened to this particular CD, but I have his other Songbook CD's, and I love them all, and this one surely is just as good or better. Rod Stewart can do the old songs just the way I like them. What a voice!

He had a great idea and pulled it off so well. This fourth CD completes my collection of standards by Rod. It's good, it's wonderful.

I have all four of the songbooks and love them all.

Having all Rod Stewart's "The Great American Songbook" CD's and being one of his biggest fans - I absolutely love this one! I treated myself to it and am I happy I did...listening to him all day & night has made me very happy! I love this CD.

Gave as a gift and he loved it no problem in recieving it.

I like Rod Stewart very much and love listening to any of his cd's - an oldie but a goodie!!

I loved the first three volumes, and this one wasn't quite as good, in my opinion. Maybe Rod is getting burned out, this one just didn't seem as "soulful" to me. On the other hand, I haven't listened to this one as much, so perhaps they'll grown on me as I hear them more. Although most of Rod's surprising duet choices have worked for me, I didn't really care for the Makin' Whoopee duet with Elton John. Their voices sound excellent together, but the song choice seemed weird. Again~that's just me. Enjoyable CD, but not "rush out and buy" quality.

I never particularly liked Rod Stewart. I had nothing against him but I was not a fan. That changed one day in Quebec when I heard a sample from the first album in this series. Since then I have become a fan when he is singing these old songs.

Like on the previous albums, he has guest artists from the modern, rock oriented world who sing with him and all do a fine job of re-interpreting these classics of a completely different style. The same is true of Stewart himself. He does not have what I would have thought of as a "great voice" but he does have mastery of it. He makes it great with his interpretation. He's not just an aging rocker; he is a competent artist and musician.

Growing up with Classical Rock and having enjoyed rock music by Rod Stewart, I didn't think I'd like this CD. One evening I was having dinner at a friend's home and they had this one playing. It was beautiful. Being a little older now (in my early 40's), I enjoy more mellow music than the head banging variety that is heard now. This CD of Rod's was nostalgic, romantic and extremely easy to listen to.

This CD should come with a warning label: not fit for mature / discreet listening audiences. Listening to this bloody dreadful CD could be hazardous to your ears.
In case anyone hasn't noticed Rod has changed careers before our very eyes. He's retired from being a legendary artist to corporate sales rep( checkout the CD cover,it resembles an employee ID badge ). He's obviously opted to trade his artistic collateral to enhance the corporate bottom line.Elvis had Col. Parker and Rod has Col. Clive. My only hope is Woody and the lads can stage an intervention and get Rod into RnR artist recovery program. Someone has to successfully curb his dependency for recording every published song in America. Does Rod really want to join the ranks of Frank Sinatra jr. and company.Rumours abound on the east coast,that Rod's next project is recording all of Elvis Presley's soundtrack music 1963-69.There's also talk on the street that a box set, American Songbook vol.6-66,the Lost Recordings, are being scheduled for a 2007 holiday release.Finally,have you noticed on the web sites that various studio musicians are claiming they don't recall participating in this recording even though they're listed on the CD sleeve?

Has America gone completely mad? A previous reviewer states: "Rod has outdone himself on this one." Huh? Did she really mean that as a compliment? I've come to the conclusion that nobody under sixty years of age in this screwed-up contemporary society, in which mediocrity reigns, has any idea what a great pop vocalist sounds like. The songs included on this travesty of a cd are standards, classics of jazz-pop. Listening to Stewart mangle them with his phlegm-saturated gargling must have Mildred Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra, etc., turning over in their graves. Stick with the few remaining major leaguers like Tony Bennett and Vic Damone---even in their eighties they sound lightyears better than this sandpaper-voiced human vegetable. Or check out the newer generation of pop-jazz crooners like Michael Buble, Harry Connick, and Peter Cincotti. They are infinitely better singers than this guy. My God! I can't believe that some people truly think this guy has talent! What's next---- Joe Cocker sings Caruso?

"Mother, you won't recognize me now... don't be embarrassed by your ugly worn-out son."
- R. Stewart, "Bad 'N' Ruin", 1971.

Rod Stewart has outdone himself with this one.
I love all of his music, but this shows the pure
talent.

He has gone to the well once too often. Lacks the enthusiasm of the first CD's. song selection mediocre.

First off to avoid any conflict of interest claims I admit that I an a huge Rod Stewart fan. That being said, I just wasn't interested in hearing him do the old American classics(which I also love). I just didn't see how he could do them justice, that is, until I saw his DVD "Live from Royal Albert Hall" in which he did several of the songs from his first "Great American Songbook". I was just blown away. These songs were now his. I went to the computer to order one of the CDs but my wife talked me into getting all four and I am surely not sorry. I believe that there are very few CDs available with no weak tracks(there are some) but here are four that just don't have a weak track(IMHO). He has made all of these great songs his. My all time favorite song is "Stardust" by Hoagy Carmichael. I had never heard a version that I thought could top his, until now. If you love the old standards you should really give these 4 CDs a listen. They'll melt your heart!!!!

Many friends and I have purchased all the SongBook series. We love them. We are senior citizens and long for the nostalgia and the type of dancing Rods CD's are giving us. Notice other musicians are coping Rod's idea. However, Rod's versions and arrangements are the best. Especially for our aging ears. Having said that I have also tried, in vain, to get the message to Rod that 48 slow Fox Trots are enough. Give us some swing and Latin arrangements, PLEASE!

i hope rod s. is as happy as we are after 56years of marrage!
this cd says everything about our merrage! THE UPS AND DOWNS and THANKS FOR THE
MEMEROYS, ROD!

Rod Stewart has for some time been the blue-collar, hard-labouring, all-American guy...

Except he is English and has this incessant will to create sell-out American styled and fused albums.

The Great American Songbook has been such a huge, gravely overrated set of albums I'm getting tired. For starter he's not American, he's not `great', nor is America (just joking honestly, I am English you see). I just question why label yourself under such false pretences.

I'll tell you why, just take a look at where those babies are in the charts...HIGH. Way too high for an incredulous false-labelled con man. Does this sh*te sell in England, not really no, and it's because he has this disregard for his roots, a hang-up.

As for the music, well, it's nothing great. I get this overwhelming feeling to cough violently when I hear Mr. America sing due to his old husky voice, which sounds like an 80 year old with throat cancer. Also, hang on...IT IS OLD. 70's ok...80's pushing it...90's mmm no more though, BUT NOW. Please just retire and shack up with some blonde thing.

He needs to grow up, cut his hair, get rid of the highlights, settle in his homeland America, marry and stop producing The Great Piece Of Self-Obsessed Ludicrous Songbook. I'm fed up to the teeth with Rodney Stewart, he's dealings with leggy young blondes half his age, his possessiveness with American Music charts, and of course the dollar he sticks up his arse every time a sheep buys this turd.

His use of the American public, idolising himself as an American singer and artist...yes of course us Brits believe you. Yep, I'm done with this old has-been.

He has never been very consistent.Never his voice has been above the average.
He is a cunning fellow,and he has been lucky...but now we just can't stand him anymore.Would he just gives us a break ?
Now that his star is fading dangerously,he has turned into a...standards crooner!! What a nonsense !
No,please,that's really too much.
Not inspired at all.I do NOT feel it.There are no feelings,emotions in it.This is just another sly cash-in-project with the clever supervision of the money-maker-producer Clive Davis...
And Amazon calls that type of junk albums.....ESSENTIAL RECORDINGS ?!?! What a nonsense !
The WORST albums (which just make a lot of money at the expenses of innocent,music-uncoscious,radio-bombarded house-wives and farmers... with ONE eye surprisingly at the best-sellers charts...) are "essential.... recordings"....( e.g. check out the latest CDs by Celine-Selline Dion, Mariah Carey, Bette Midler ,Barry Manilow ,Carly Simon ,Kenny G..They all are just in the same,same category!). This is very,very misleading....

Buy instead Michael Buble', Jamie Cullum , Cassandra Wilson , Dee Bridgewater , Dianne Reeves , Regina Belle or Steve Tyrell..

I think Rod Stewart is causing Billie Holiday to turn in her grave...Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn or how about Mark Murphy...all great vocal stylists. If you start here you may get the wrong idea that this what these songs are supposed to sound like...NO!!!
Go buy Billie Holiday with Lester Young...

This is a collection of the cream of the cream of the Great American Songbook by a rock'n'roll singer who contributes nothing at all to American culture. This rate #1 is to express my deep deception about the successful album series.

Over exposed material which has been treated so many different ways by so many different vocalists with artistry should be treated respectfully.

I am not a dictator but I would vote for a Law that would impose respect for some art expressions which represents the treasure of American culture.

More than that, the series success reflects lack of understanding of the music context by people who should search for entertainment in a more valid and truer way.

That's the deal: there is truth missing, there is a sensation of a money-make production. Mellow arrangements, neglectable performances, lacking creativeness. To be completely forgotten some years ahead.

There was a time that an artist selling a 1.000 record could claim to be a bigger seller than Rod Steward. It should have stayed this way. Instead Rod chose to come back with his interpretation of the American Songbook.

It has been an insult to both the songbook and the legendary artists who've contributed to it over time. It is hard to imagine that those who've been enamored by the likes of Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker, and Louis Armstrong or even Tony Bennet could find any beauty in these records.

With the first release I hoped it would stay at that. But Rod's audience caught on. Surprisingly the critics didn't kill him as well. Thinking I missed something before I forced myself to listen to this latest installment. Only to find that the thing is a horror, as it was with the previous releases in this series. His deliverance and timing are completely off and the arrangements are unimaginative. Rod Steward doesn't ad anything to the American Songbook, he tears it down. Rod should stick to the beautiful Soulful Rock he did in his heyday and leave well enough alone.

Words fail me,you can fool some people some of the time.
This man can fool the world all the time.
I cannot think of one song that has not been sung better by someone else.He knows perfectly how to murder the great American Songbook.People don't take the time out to listen to people who can sing.
I cried with laughter at his fist attempt, but this one defies logic.There must be some million people with cloth ears who bought these cds.

Now you not only lost your voice, you lost a lot of people's respect too. It's a memory scarred me for life, man -- your ex-fan.

I own copies of every last note Rod Stewart has EVER recorded. This is not an exaggeration. This album sucks, plain and simple.

One more album like this and I can start spending my money on things besides Rod Stewart.