Roots of Rod Stewart's Great American Songbook, Vol. 2

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 second 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 in the '40s and '50s) is a classic, and there is enough variety, with songs ranging from Johnny Mercer's "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and the Mills Brothers' "Nevertheless," to Chet Baker's "My Funny Valentine," to make it well worth a listen, even without the Stewart connection.