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Soulbook

2009 studio album by Rod Stewart

Image credit is listed at the end of this article.

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 US Billboard 200, peaking at number 4. It also found success in Canada and the UK, making it to number 3 on the Canadian Albums Chart and number 9 on the UK Albums Chart. Furthermore, the album featured at number 41 on the Canadian Albums year-end chart of 2010.

01Track listing

Standard version
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."It's the Same Old Song"Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, Eddie HollandSteve Jordan4:15
2."My Cherie Amour" (featuring Stevie Wonder)Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie WonderJordan3:10
3."You Make Me Feel Brand New" (duet with Mary J. Blige)Thom Bell, Linda EpsteinSteve Tyrell4:36
4."(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher"Gary Jackson, Raynard Miner, Carl SmithJordan3:21
5."Tracks of My Tears" (featuring Smokey Robinson)Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Marvin TarplinTyrell3:36
6."Let It Be Me" (duet with Jennifer Hudson)Gilbert Bécaud, Manny Curtis, Pierre DelanoëJordan, Harvey Mason Jr.[a]3:16
7."Rainy Night in Georgia"Tony Joe WhiteTyrell4:13
8."What Becomes of the Broken Hearted"James Dean, Paul Riser, William WeatherspoonJordan3:19
9."Love Train"Kenneth Gamble, Leon HuffChuck Kentis, Jordan, Tyrell3:03
10."You've Really Got a Hold on Me"RobinsonJordan3:17
11."Wonderful World"Lou Adler, Herb Alpert, Sam CookeJordan3:33
12."If You Don't Know Me by Now"Gamble, HuffTyrell3:59
13."Just My Imagination"Barrett Strong, Norman WhitfieldTyrell3:35
Total length:47:13
UK version (bonus tracks)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Never Give You Up"Jerry Butler, Kenneth Gamble, Leon HuffTyrell3:24
15."Only the Strong Survive"Jerry Butler, Kenneth Gamble, Leon HuffTyrell3:19
Total length:53:56

Notes

  • ^a signifies Jennifer Hudson vocal producer

02Personnel

Musicians

  • 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 guitar (1, 2, 4, 8, 10)
  • Reggie McBride, bass guitar (3, 5, 13, 14)
  • Darryl Jones, bass guitar (6, 11)
  • Leland Sklar, bass guitar (7)
  • Conrad Korsch, bass guitar (9)
  • Nathan East, bass guitar (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)

Production

  • 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.
  • 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 City)
  • 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
  • Sleeve notes, Rod Stewart

03Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) 11
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) 37
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) 11
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) 17
Canadian Albums (Billboard) 3
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) 95
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 33
Irish Albums (IRMA) 17
Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico) 22
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 4
Polish Albums (ZPAV) 17
Scottish Albums (Official Charts) 7
Spanish Albums (Promusicae) 10
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 4
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) 46
UK Albums (Official Charts) 9
US Billboard 200 4
Chart (2010) Peak
position
Hungarian Albums Chart 12

Year-end charts

Chart (2009) Position
Australian Albums (ARIA) 55
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) 99
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 18
UK Albums (OCC) 31
Chart (2010) Position
Australian Albums (ARIA) 82
Canadian Albums (Billboard) 41
US Billboard 200 162

04Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada) Platinum 80,000^
Hungary (MAHASZ) Platinum 6,000^
Ireland (IRMA) Gold 7,500^
New Zealand (RMNZ) Platinum 15,000^
Poland (ZPAV) Gold 10,000*
Sweden (GLF) Gold 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) 2× Platinum 600,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article Soulbook, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

Images, from Wikimedia Commons:

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