Soulbook is the 25th studio album by Rod Stewart . Like his previous five albums, Soulbook features Stewart singing old material; for this album he sings classic material from Motown and the soul genre. It was released on 17 October 2009 and was produced by Steve Tyrell , Steven Jordan and Chuck Kentis.
The album became Stewart's sixth consecutive album to debut in the Top 5 on the U.S. Billboard 200 , peaking at #4. It also found success in Canada and the UK, making it to #3 on the Canadian Albums Chart and #9 on the UK Albums Chart . Furthermore, the album featured at #41 on the Canadian Albums Year-End Chart of 2010.[ 13]
Standard version Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "It's the Same Old Song " Lamont Dozier , Brian Holland , Eddie Holland Steve Jordan 4:15 2. "My Cherie Amour " (featuring Stevie Wonder ) Henry Cosby , Sylvia Moy , Stevie WonderJordan 3:10 3. "You Make Me Feel Brand New " (duet with Mary J. Blige ) Thom Bell , Linda Epstein Steve Tyrell 4:36 4. "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher " Gary Jackson, Raynard Miner, Carl Smith Jordan 3:21 5. "Tracks of My Tears " (featuring Smokey Robinson ) Warren Moore , Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin Tyrell 3:36 6. "Let It Be Me " (duet with Jennifer Hudson ) Gilbert Bécaud , Manny Curtis , Pierre Delanoë Jordan, Harvey Mason Jr. [a] 3:16 7. "Rainy Night in Georgia " Tony Joe White Tyrell 4:13 8. "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted " James Dean, Paul Riser , William Weatherspoon Jordan 3:19 9. "Love Train " Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff Chuck Kentis, Jordan, Tyrell 3:03 10. "You've Really Got a Hold on Me " Robinson Jordan 3:17 11. "Wonderful World " Lou Adler , Herb Alpert , Sam Cooke Jordan 3:33 12. "If You Don't Know Me by Now " Gamble, Huff Tyrell 3:59 13. "Just My Imagination " Barrett Strong , Norman Whitfield Tyrell 3:35
Notes
^a signifies Jennifer Hudson vocal producer
Musicians [ 1]
Rod Stewart – lead vocals , backing vocals (9)
Michael Bearden – keyboards (1), Fender Rhodes (2), acoustic piano (4, 11)
Greg Phillinganes – acoustic piano (2, 14), keyboards (5, 12, 13), backing vocals (5), arrangements (5, 12, 13, 14), synthesizers (14)
Bob Mann – keyboards (3, 15), guitars (3, 7, 15), arrangements (3, 7, 15), mandolin (5)
David Paich – keyboards (6, 8, 10)
Henry Hey – acoustic piano (7, 15)
Chuck Kentis – keyboards (9)
Charles Hodges – organ (11)
Ray Parker Jr. – guitars (1, 2, 4, 6, 8-11)
Dean Parks – guitars (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11)
Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (3, 5, 12–15)
Michael Landau – guitars (5, 13, 15)
Don Kirkpatrick – guitars (9)
Paul Warren – guitars (9)
Bob Babbitt – bass (1, 2, 4, 8, 10)
Reggie McBride – bass (3, 5, 13, 14)
Darryl Jones – bass (6, 11)
Leland Sklar – bass (7)
Conrad Korsch – bass (9)
Nathan East – bass (12, 15)
Steve Jordan – drums (1, 2, 4, 6, 8-11), percussion (1, 2, 4, 6, 8-11), backing vocals (9)
Ricky Lawson – drums (3, 5, 12–15)
Russ Kunkel – drums (7)
David Palmer – drums (9)
Milt Chocolate – vibraphone (2)
Clayton Cameron – vibraphone (4)
Lenny Castro – congas (5)
Tom Scott – baritone saxophone (1), saxophone (8, 9, 10), alto sax solo (9)
Lou Marini – saxophone (9)
James Spake – tenor saxophone (11)
George Bohanon – trombone (8, 10)
Larry Farrell – trombone (9)
Jack Hale – trombone (11)
Nick Lane – trombone (15)
Chuck Findley – trumpet (8, 10)
Wayne Jackson – trumpet (11)
Matt Fronke – trumpet (15)
Gayle Levant – harp (6)
Jeff Driskill – flute (13)
John Yoakum – oboe (13)
Brian O'Connor – French horn (14)
The Los Angeles Strings – strings (1, 2, 6, 8)
Strings (3, 5, 7, 12): Cello – Matt Cooker, Tim Loo, Miguel Martinez and Giovanna Moraga-Clayton; Violin – Brian Benning, Charlie Bisharat, Mark Cargill, Susan Chatman, Nicole Garcia, Neel Hammond, Gina Kronstadt, Joel Pargman, Kathleen Robertson, John Wittenburg and Shari Zippert
The New Memphis Strings – strings (4)
Howard Drossin – string arrangements (1, 2, 6, 8)
Willie Mitchell – string arrangements (4), horn arrangements (11)
Lester Snell – orchestration (4), music copyist (4)
David Low – string contractor (1, 2, 6, 8)
JoAnn Tominaga – string contractor (3, 5, 7, 12)
Bruce Dukov – concertmaster (1, 2, 6, 8)
Charlie Bisharat – concertmaster (3, 5, 7, 12)
Steve Juliani – music copyist (1, 2, 6, 8)
Jonathan Kirkscey – string session leader (4)
Bridget Anne Cady – backing vocals (1-4, 7-11, 14, 15)
Di Reed – backing vocals (1-4, 7-11, 14, 15)
Dorian Holley – harmony vocals (2), backing vocals (5)
Stevie Wonder – lead vocals (2)
Judith Hill – backing vocals (3, 12)
Natasha Pearce – backing vocals (3, 7-10, 14, 15)
Darryl Tookes – backing vocals (3, 5, 7, 12–15)
Will Wheaton – backing vocals (3, 5, 12, 13)
Mary J. Blige – lead vocals (3)
Smokey Robinson – lead vocals (5)
Lynn Fiddmont – backing vocals (5)
Pam Trotter – backing vocals (5)
Lisa Vaughn – backing vocals (5, 13)
Jennifer Hudson – lead vocals (6)
Steve Tyrell – backing vocals (9)
Album Producers – Steve Jordan (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6 & 8-11); Steve Tyrell (Tracks 3, 5, 7, 9 & 12–15); Chuck Kentis (Track 9).
Vocals produced by Steve Tyrell; Jennifer Hudson vocals on Track 6 produced by Harvey Mason Jr.
A&R – Keith Naftaly
Production Coordinator – JoAnn Tominaga
Track Recording – Niko Bolas (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 9 & 11); Jon Allen (Tracks 3, 5, 7, 12 & 13); Al Schmitt (Tracks 6, 8 & 10); Chuck Kentis (Track 9); Bill Schnee (Tracks 14 & 15).
BGV Recording – Steve Genewick (Tracks 1 & 11); Paul Smith (Tracks 8 & 10); Jon Allen (Tracks 14 & 15).
Jennifer Hudson vocal recording on Track 6 – Andrew Hey
Horns Recording – Niko Bolas (Tracks 1, 8, 9 & 10); Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell (Tracks 4 & 11); Jon Allen (Track 15).
Strings Recording – Al Schmitt (Tracks 1, 2, 6 & 8); Bill Schnee (Tracks 3, 5, 7 & 12); Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell (Track 4).
Additional Engineers – Darwin Best, Kenny Moran and Ryan Petrie.
Assistant string recording on Tracks 3, 5, 7 & 12 – Charlie Bybee
Mixing – Niko Bolas (Tracks 1, 4, 8, 9 & 10); Bill Schnee (Tracks 2, 3, 5, 7 & 12–15); Al Schmitt (Tracks 6 & 11).
Additional Pro Tools Editing – Martin Pradler
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound (New York, NY).
Drum Technicians for Steve Jordan – Ross Garfield, Chris Gott and Paul Jamieson.
Project Manager – Loftus Donovan
Art Direction and Design – Josh Cheuse
Photography – Mark Seliger
Management – Arnold Stiefel for Stiefel Management.
Sleeve Notes – Rod Stewart