New Releases: Rod Stewart, Jimmy Buffett, James Taylor
Rod Stewart “Still the Same … Great Rock Classics of Our Time”
Rod Stewart closes the Great American Songbook, at least for now, and returns to his roots by covering rock tunes on “Still the Same.” The album features the singer performing such well-known songs as Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” Bob Seger’s “Still the Same,” Van Morrison’s “Crazy Love” and Elvin Bishop’s “Fooled Around and Fell in Love.”
“Still the Same” comes at a time when most assumed that Stewart was content to remain in the role of standards crooner, having mined the Great American Songbook for four volumes that have sold millions of copies. It will be intriguing to see if the fans who embraced the “Great American Songbook” series will follow Stewart on his return to rock.
* * *
Jimmy Buffett “Take the Weather With You”
Mr. Margaritaville returns with his first new studio album since 2004’s “License to Chill.” The album is billed by Buffett’s Mailboat Records label as a return to his “country foundation with breezy ballads, interpretations of alt-country songs, a version of Merle Haggard’s ‘Silver Wings’ and mariachi horns in ‘Cinco De Mayo in Memphis.'”
The set also includes the ballad “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On,” which addresses the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, as well as the Mark Knopfler-penned track “Whoop De Doo,” on which the former Dire Straits member makes a guest appearance.
Buffett is currently scheduled to make six stops–in California, Florida and Las Vegas–in support of the new album.
* * *
James Taylor “James Taylor at Christmas”
The singer/songwriter kicks off the onslaught of big-name holiday releases with this collection of yuletide classics. The set features guest stars Chris Botti, Natalie Cole and Toots Theilemans.
This is the second time in recent years that Taylor has released a holiday record. The previous seasonal outing, 2003’s “James Taylor: A Christmas Album,” was sold exclusively at Hallmark stores.
Taylor does have some shows on the horizon. He’ll next perform Tuesday (10/10) in Providence, RI, and will spend the following 10 days or so touring in the Northeast and Midwest.
* * *
Bette Midler “Cool Yule”
Joining Taylor as an early entry into the holiday-CD sweepstakes, Bette Midler returns with “Cool Yule.” The album features such wintry classics as “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”
* * *
Sting “Songs from the Labyrinth”
The former chief of Police strays from his pop/rock past to interpret the music of Elizabethan songwriter John Dowland (1563-1626). Joining Sting on the album is lutenist Edin Karamazov.
* * *
Other new releases:
Lloyd Banks, “Rotten Apple” (G-Unit)
The Be Good Tanyas, “Hello Love” (Nettwerk)
Circle II Circle, “Burden of Truth” (Locomotive)
Hybrid, “I Choose Noise” (Distinctive)
Wynonna Judd, “A Classic Christmas” (Curb)
Brad Paisley, “A Brad Paisley Christmas” (Arista)
Robert Randolph, “Colorblind” (Warner Bros.)
Senses Fail, “Still Searching” (Vagrant)
Mindy Smith, “Long Island Shores” (Vanguard)
Micah Stampley, “A Fresh Wind” (Levitical)
Trivium, “The Crusade” (Roadrunner)
Zucchero, “Fly” (Universal)
Soundtracks and scores:
“A Chorus Line (New Cast Recording)” (Sony)
“Flyboys” (Varese)
“Marie Antoinette” (Verve)
Categories