Roots of Rod Stewart's Great America, Vol. 1

Liner Note Author: Dave Henderson.
A lot of artists besides just Rod Stewart have tackled various songs from the so-called "Great American Songbook," and that his name is attached to this set, the first of two that collect source versions of songs Stewart was influenced by or covered in his own Great American Songbook series, is really pure circumstance. Every track (this volume focuses on sides released between 1927 and 1944) is a classic, and there is enough variety, with songs ranging from Rudy Vallée's "As Time Goes By" and Al Jolson's "Blue Skies" to the Ink Spots' "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," to make it well worth a listen, even without the Stewart connection.