Rod Stewart: Rod Stewart bares his soul

With a catalogue spanning 40 years, Rod Stewart catalogue has shown he has no problem baring his soul, or wearing his heart on his sleeve, as in the ballads “Have I Told You Lately” and “You’re In My Heart.”
The spiky haired Englishman has covered essentials such as Sam Cooke’s “Twistin’ the Night Away” and the Isley Brothers’ “This Old Heart of Mine” in a stretch of time where he has managed to merge his more rock oriented persona with a more soulful sensibility. The combination has led him to create the highly successful “Songbook” series of albums that feature him wrapping his rasp around “It Had to Be You” and “They Can’t Take That Away from Me,” pulling

e and not only reaching a new audience, but reinventing himself in the process.
“Soulbook” (J Records) is his latest album of covers. Stewart’s impeccable taste in material is only matched by the genuine love he has for these melodies that he shamelessly exhibits on the first few a capella moments of the opening track, the Four Tops’ “It’s the Same Old Song.” It hardly is, as the track’s tastefully restrained arrangements serve as a comfortable backdrop against which Stewart can sing these songs without sounding self conscious or overwrought.
And while his version of Jackie Wilson’s “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” sounds somewhat flat, he more than makes up for it on luminous versions of Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes’ “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” and Brook Benton’s “Rainy Night in Georgia.”
To make the affair even more impressive, Stewart shares the microphone with some of soul’s best: Smokey Robinson (“Tracks of My Tears”) and Stevie Wonder (“My Cherie Amour”).
But Stewart isn’t interested in creating duets with only the legends, as he offers a sweet and sultry version of “Let It Be Me” with Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and a smooth reworking of the Stylistics’ “You Make Me Feel Brand New” with Mary J. Blige.
His affection for these songs is most obvious on his gorgeous reading of the Temptations’ “Just My Imagination,” a song that ironically fits his latest persona of a man who is far from being caught up in a daydream.
Hall, Oates hit it
Daryl Hall and John Oates hit their first No. 1 single in 1977 with “Rich Girl,” but the duo’s breakthrough album, “Voices” didn’t happen until 1980.
That album spun off four Top 40 hits that included “How Does It Feel To Be Back,” a cover of the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin,” the infectious “You Make My Dreams” and the runaway chart-topper “Kiss On My List.”
The duo’s musical story is presented in a collection of rarities, demos and million elling songs on “Do What You Want Be What You Are: The Music of Daryl Hall and John Oates” (RCA/Legacy), an ambitious four baisc box set. Every No. 1 hit is here including “Private Eyes,” “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” and “Out of Touch” as well as every Top 10 hit, among which “Say It Isn’t So,” “One on One” and “Family Man” are highlights.
Rare live performances, including songs from their first British concert in 1975 and outtakes from their best selling albums, not only offer a peek into the duo’s creative process, but cast a new light on their albums as some of these tracks are as good as the material released.
The impressive booklet not only houses an expansive collection of memorabilia, but also includes interesting testimonials from such luminaries as Gamble and Huff, Todd Rundgren, Carly Simon, Mick Jagger and Rick Neilsen of Cheap Trick.
The title of the collection is taken from an early Hall and Oates hit that reflects the duo’s collective and individual philosophies of being true to oneself, and with their unabashed love of soul music along with their uncanny pop sensibilities successfully executed through their stellar musicianship, Hall and Oates have created history by simply being themselves.

Rod Stewart: Hot for no8

RANDY Rod Stewart still thinks he's sexy at 64 - and is trying for CHILD No8.
But then the red blooded rocker - who first became a dad 45 years ago - says he's going to "close the office".
The singer's seven kids include four year old Alistair with wife Penny Lancaster. And he revealed he and ex-model Penny, 38, are "working on" a sibling for their young son.
Rod added: "We're gonna try for one more, then I'm going to close the office."
He joked: "I'll be 95 when the child graduates!"

Rod Stewart Sings: Legendary Lyrics on 'Soulbook'

Following an enormously successful album series in which he covered classics from the 'Great American Songbook,' Rod Stewart is digging even deeper into his pockets for a new collection of soul tunes entitled, appropriately, 'Soulbook.' The album's 13 tracks include covers of timeless gems from Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations and the like. But as with all of Stewart's new recordings these days, he's the singer, not the songwriter. Granted, he's covering some of the greatest songs ever written, but one could argue that Stewart's originals belong right there in that lineage. Surprisingly, the man himself disagrees."Songwriting was never something that came naturally to me," Stewart tells Spinner. "I can't imagine that I'll ever put pen to paper ever again. I'm having too much fun doing these."Indeed, taken a respectfully playful approach to these revered classics, sprucing some of them up with additional vocals by modern artists like Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Hudson. And he doesn't plan on slowing down anytime soon. "I've been enjoying recording these albums, these 'concept' albums, for wont of a better word," he says. "I could go on and on and on. I want to do a blues album, a country album. I've got 50 'American Songbook' songs already recorded."'Soulbook' is in stores now, and if it gets a reception anything like its 'Songbook' predecessors, expect sales in the tens of millions. Yes, even in 2009.

Rod Stewart shoots and scores

Rod Stewart, who realized a life long goal when he finally recorded an album of soul music classics (Soulbook, out Oct. 27), scored in another way this past weekend when he potted his first soccer goal in six long years. "Grown men were seen to be weeping," the forever young football fanatic told the Globe and Mail. "My wife ran on the field to congratulate me."

Rod Steward 'Tonight's the night'

When Jason Blake declared “tonight’s the night," he wasn’t talking about a Rod Stewart song.
The Maple Leafs’ left winger hopes a new assignment some might call it a demotion will snap him and the team out of a scoring funk. Blake, who has just one assist in three games, will be with physical centre John Mitchell and winger Jamal Mayers when Toronto takes on the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins at the Air Canada Centre.
“I’m feeling good, but I haven’t played as well as I could,” Blake said this morning. “We haven’t done as good a job as forwards as we can do. We need more. Tonight’s the night.”
Regular centre Matt Stajan Blake has been split, who enters the game with three of Toronto’s eight goals.
“What Jason hasn’t done is shoot the puck as much as in the past,” coach Ron Wilson said. “He had (302) shots last year and he’s got seven. He should be leading our team. Hopefully, he gets a little more room tonight.”
But Wilson pointed out the double dangers when playing the Pens, getting into a run-and-gun game with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin or carried away in a physical match that could look Pittsburgh’s power play in full operation.
“This team will pick you apart,” Wilson warned. “First and foremost, try and stay out of the penalty box. I don’t want to see that group of five stepping out there and lashing the puck around against the best penalty killing team, which obviously to this point we’re not.
“We have to be aware of who we are playing against. We can’t have all our eyes on Crosby and Malkin. Their defence likes to jump in.”
Vesa Toskala gets the start in goal for Toronto, with a opportunity to redeem himself in the eyes of fans after an overtime loss to Montreal and poor start versus the Capitals led to Jonas Gustavsson playing ahead of him. Gustavsson is now on short term IR with a groin injury.
The Leafs were 3-1 against the Penguins last year, which led Wilson to recount a humourous tale from encountering Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero at the Team USA Olympic development camp meeting last summer.
“I kidded Ray whether Brian (Burke) and I get rings, too. By beating the Penguins, it was the last straw bychancely for (fired coach Michel Therrien). They made their coaching change and everything turned around. So I’m still waiting for my ring.”

Superstars Harbor Beach hosts Salute

HARBOR BEACH —In three years for the seventh time , a Salute to the Superstars concert was conducted in Harbor Beach. The concert gave tribute to three of this country’s legendary performers Shania Twain, Cher, and Rod Stewart.
Bringing life to Shania Twain, Kelly Smith gave an brillent tribute to the county singer. When one reads Smith’s credentials, it is no wonder that she is able to portray Twain. Her credits include working with Roy Clark, Wayne Newton, Jim Stafford and others.

The second outstanding performance was given by Mr. Art Reed. He performed a stellar tribute to the great Rod Stewart. Whether singing or talking to the audience, Reed never fell out of character. His voice and accent was remarkably close to the legendary Stewart.
Last, but certainly not least, was a tribute to Cher. The salute to her was specially noteworthy because it was also performed by Kelly Smith. Totally changed in character and vocal pattern, Smith sang several of Cher’s hits from the 1970s to present day. From the long black hair to the gravel voice, Kelly Smith was ‘right on’ in this spectacular impersonation of this renown story.
Cher/Kelly took time out after the concert to mingle with the audience. She shook hands, posed for individual footages and talked to anyone who stayed afterward. She was an obvious hit with Steve McHugh (above right), one of several people to stay after the show to have a photograph taken with her.
According to Al Kleinknecht, this concert series began 3-4 years ago.
“It started by daydreaming,” he said.
While attending a local wedding, he was highly impressed by a Frank Sinatra impersonator. Kleinknecht, head of the Harbor Beach Maritime Festival Committee, thought the use of impersonators may be a good way to generate funds for the summer festival.
After researching tribute performers, Kleinknecht gathered a pair of volunteers. And, as they say on television, “the rest is history.”
Of course, it wasn’t quite that simple. But after a lot of hard work, it did turn out to be remunerative.
Five concerts have been held to benefit the Maritime Festival.
Two were conducted to benefit American soldiers who have ties with the Harbor Beach area.
And, according to Kleinknecht, over $10,000 has been raised.

Treat for Rod Stewart fans

ROD STEWART is a top lad.
The Scottish lord has given Biz readers the opportunity to listen to a selection of previously unreleased and exclusive tracks this weekend.
New versions of hits You Wear It Well, The First Cut Is The Deepest and Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright) all feature on his new Rod Stewart Sessions 1971-1998 album.