Features Stewart’s stunning interpretations of sixties / seventies era soul classics including “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher”, “It’s The Same Old Song” and more

Superstar duets include Mary J. Blige on “You Make Me Feel Brand New” and Jennifer Hudson on “Let It Be Me”

Stevie Wonder accompanies Rod on harmonica on his very own massive hit “My Cherie Amour”

Smokey Robinson guests on one of his signature Songs “Tracks of My Tears”

Grammy Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Rod Stewart will be releasing SOULBOOK on November 9, 2009, (RCA Records), a collection of classic Sixties / Seventies-era soul favourites all newly recorded by the quintessential “blue eyed soul” singer of our generation.

Rod Stewart possesses one of the most distinctive and interpretive voices in music — his Grammy-Award winning recordings of the Great American Songbook have sold over 19 million albums and is the biggest selling ongoing series of new music recordings in history. With the same passion, Rod approaches some of the greatest soul songs ever written.

Rod recently said in Rolling Stone’s “Greatest Singers of All Time” issue that at the age of 15, he used to listen to soul singers on the radio like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, and blues singers like Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters, and knew that is how he wanted to sing.

Elton John said “Bar none, Rod’s the best singer I’ve heard in rock ‘n’ roll. He’s also the greatest white soul singer” and in 2006, James Brown called Stewart “the best white soul singer.”

Comments Rod Stewart:

“This is the album I’ve waited my whole lifetime to record. These are the songs that I’ve danced to, made love to, cried to and yes, even fell on the floor to as a young man in the infancy of my career. These songs and singers were the oxygen that fuelled my passion to sing. When I was a skinny, cocky, all-mouth and trousers teenager living in North London without two pennies to rub together, I discovered the artistry of Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, James Brown, The Temptations, The Four Tops and so many more. They were my Gods and my heroes.”

The album features two stunning superstar duets, one with Mary J. Blige joining Rod on the Stylistics’ 70s hit “You Make Me Feel Brand New” and the other with Jennifer Hudson on “Let It Be Me,” inspired by the Jerry Butler/Betty Everett duet.

In addition, soul great Smokey Robinson guests on “Tracks of My Tears” which he made famous as a member of the Miracles who recorded that track in 1965, and musical giant Stevie Wonder accompanies Rod on harmonica on his massive 1969 hit “My Cherie Amour.”

Album producers include Stewart’s longtime collaborator Steve Tyrell who worked with Rod on his Grammy award-winning Songbook series, and joining Rod for the first time is Grammy/Emmy award-winning producer Steve Jordan (Keith Richards, John Mayer) who bring legendary musicians into the studio including Motown players Bob Babbitt and George Bohannen, Memphis legends Willy Mitchell, Charles Hodges, Wayne Jackson and Jack Hale.

Additional musical heavyweights include Ray Parker, Jr., Dean Parks, Waddy Wachtel, Darryl Jones, Leland Sklar, David Paich, Greg Phillinganes, Michael Bearden, Tom Scott, Chuck Finley, Ricky Lawson, many of whom played on the original recordings of these classic songs.

Recorded this summer and engineered by Al Schmitt, Sam Cooke’s original producer/engineer, along with Niko Bolas (Neil Young, Warren Zevon, Keith Richards) and Bill Schnee (Steely Dan, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight), the album features Rod singing great landmark tracks such as “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me” (originally performed by The Miracles), “Wonderful World” (Sam Cooke), “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” (Jimmy Ruffin), “Tracks of My Tears” (The Miracles), “My Cherie Amour (Stevie Wonder)”, “Just My Imagination” (The Temptations), “Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher & Higher” (Jackie Wilson), ”It’s The Same Old Song” (The Four Tops), “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” (Harold Melvin and & Blue Notes), and “Love Train” (O’Jays). Find a complete track listing below.

With an estimated 250 million in album and single sales, Rod Stewart is one of the most successful performers of all time. A Grammy-Award winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Rod Stewart’s Great American Songbook series has been a record-breaking success.

In 2006, he released Still The Same, Great Rock Classics of Our Time, his first rock album in over eight years, which entered the UK charts at #4 and in the U.S. at #1. He has sold out concerts across the globe and his last 5 studio albums have held the top spots on the Billboard charts. Rod spent this summer recording the album and criss-crossing the country on a 20 city North American tour.

Buy Music:

Rod Stewart on amazon.com

Rod Stewart on amazon.co.uk

Soulbook Track Listing

It’s The Same Old Song
My Cherie Amour (Featuring Stevie Wonder)
You Make Me Feel Brand New (Duet with Mary J. Blige)
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher
Tracks Of My Tears (Featuring Smokey Robinson)
Let It Be Me (Duet with Jennifer Hudson)
Rainy Night In Georgia
What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted
Love Train
You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me
Wonderful World
If You Don’t Know Me By Now
Just My Imagination

Rod Stewart Official Website

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Motown Records (on January 12th 2009) Universal Music has released Motown 50 – a compilation of tracks chosen by Motown fans worldwide.

Motown 50 on amazon.co.uk

Motown on amazon.com

Universal Motown embraced social networking and the internet to create a unique compilation album by partnering with www.pollthepeople.com, a global online polling community, to launch the Greatest Motown Songs poll. The poll ran for four weeks throughout October and the ultimate Motown Top 50 has been selected combining the entries from both the UK and International polls*.

No surprises that (drum roll) Marvin Gaye’s phenomenal “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” topped the poll worldwide as the world’s no 1 Motown hit!

The top 5 also consisted of Diana Ross – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, The Supremes “You Can’t Hurry Love”, Diana Ross “I’m Still Waiting” and the legendary Stevie Wonder with “Superstition”.

As well as 50 of the hottest Motown tunes of all time from the 60s to the 80s, the 3 CD UK version also features some hard to find covers with some of the most outstanding artists singing songs from their peers. The legend that is Stevie Wonder gives us a mesmerising and very funky take on “Light My Fire”. There’s also a cracking version of “Everybody’s Talking” by The Four Tops followed by unbelievable renditions of classic tracks from The Temptations with “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas with girly sing-along favourite “I Say A Little Prayer”.

The album also contains three rarely compiled Stevie Wonder tracks; “Superstition”, “Sir Duke” and “Masterblaster (Jammin)”.

The public have decided on their favourite 50 to mark the anniversary of arguably the most influential record label ever.

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The Motown Sound went worldwide in the ’60s, and that sound still resonates today. With more than 180 No.1 songs and counting, Motown hits continue to appear in commercials, TV series and movies, and remain a massive influence on today’s biggest pop and R&B stars.

But Motown stands for more than just the music. It’s a reflection of the hard work of dedicated individuals overcoming incredible obstacles to achieve great success. Berry Gordy Jr., a young African American man, founded Motown Records with a loan of $800 from his family. Through determination and support of the Motown family of artists, Gordy forged new grounds for minorities and made the “Motown Sound” a worldwide phenomenon adored by millions.

Track List

CD1

1) Marvin Gaye – I Heard It Through The Grapevine
2) Martha Reeves & The Vandellas – Dancing In The Street
3) The Supremes – Baby Love
4) Four Tops – I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
5) The Velvelettes – Needle In A Haystack
6) The Temptations – Get Ready
7) The Supremes – You Can’t Hurry Love
8 The Elgins – Heaven Must Have Sent You
9) Martha Reeves & The Vandellas – Nowhere To Run
10) Martha Reeves & The Vandellas – Jimmy Mack
11) The Isley Brothers – This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)
12) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – The Tears Of A Clown
13) Jackson 5 – ABC
14) Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston – It Takes Two
15) Mary Wells – My Guy
16) The Contours – Do You Love Me
17) Frank Wilson – Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)
18) R. Dean Taylor – There’s A Ghost In My House
19) The Supremes – Stop! In The Name Of Love
20) Jr. Walker & The All Stars – Shotgun
21) Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)
22) Jackson 5 – I Want You Back
23) Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye – You Are Everything
24) Diana Ross – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

CD2

1) Stevie Wonder – Superstition
2) The Temptations – Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone
3) Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
4) Commodores – Brick House
5) Edwin Starr – War
6) The Temptations – My Girl
7) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – The Tracks Of My Tears
8 Lionel Richie & Diana Ross – Endless Love
9) Commodores – Easy
10) Diana Ross & The Supremes – Reflections
11) Four Tops – Reach Out, I’ll Be There
12) Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get It On
13) Jimmy Ruffin – What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted
14) Michael Jackson Got To Be There
15) Smokey Robinson – Being With You
16) Stevie Wonder – Sir Duke
17) The Miracles – Love Machine
18) Lionel Richie – All Night Long (All Night)
19) Diana Ross – Love Hangover
20) Thelma Houston – Don’t Leave Me This Way

CD3

1) Stevie Wonder – Masterblaster (Jammin)
2) Commodores – Nightshift
3) Diana Ross – Upside Down
4) Rick James – Super Freak
5) The Temptations – Treat Her Like A Lady
6) Lionel Richie – My Destiny

THE COVER VERSIONS

7) Stevie Wonder – Light My Fire
8 Four Tops – Everybody’s Talking
9) Rare Earth – Get Ready
10) Kim Weston & Marvin Gaye – Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love)
11) Martha Reeves & The Vandellas – I Say A Little Prayer
12) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Wichita Lineman
13) Thelma Houston – Jumpin’ Jack Flash
14) The Temptations – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
15) The Supremes – Come Together
16) David Ruffin – Put A Little Love In Your Heart
17) Michael Jackson – You’ve Got A Friend

*Top 50 was subject to track clearance and artist consent.

Motown Official Website

Dionne Warwick is one of the most astounding female singers of the 20th century. Her career spans over 40 years – she has won 5 Grammy Awards and is second only to Aretha Franklin with the most Billboard Hot 100 singles during 1955-1999.

Her first Hit in the UK was in 1964 with “Walk On By”. This went to #9, and since then she has gone on to have great chart success with “Heartbreaker” and “All The Love In The World”. She is one of the only African-American female recording artists that has stayed true to her soul roots and not branched into Pop or mainstream R&B.

Dionne Warwick – ‘The Love Collection’, set for release 4th February, 2008, is a selection of all her best Love Songs on one amazing disc. The album includes solo work “Say A Little Prayer” and “I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself”.

Also present are duets with legends Luther Vandross, “How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye”, and Stevie Wonder, “It’s You” and the incredible ensemble with Elton John, Glady’s Knight and Stevie Wonder in “That’s What Friends Are For”. To celebrate ‘The Love Collection’ Dionne Warwick shall be performing at the London Palladium the night before the release.

Show that special someone how much you care with one of the most romantic singers of all time.

Dionne Warwick – ‘The Love Collection’ track list:

1. Heartbreaker
2. Walk On By
3. I Say A Little Prayer
4. Do You Know The Way To San Jose
5. All The Love In The World
6. That’s What Friends Are For (with Elton John Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder)
7. Deja Vu
8. So Amazing
9. It’s You (with Stevie Wonder)
10. The Look Of Love
11. How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye (with Luther Vandross)
12. Anyone Who Had A Heart
13. Friends In Love (with Johnny Mathis)
14. I Don’t Need Another Love (with The Detroit Spinners)
15. I’ll Never Fall In Love Again
16. Reach Out For Me
17. Love Power (with Jeffrey Osborne)
18. (They Long To Be) Close To You
19. I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself
20. What The World Needs Now

Dionne Warwick is scheduled to perform at the London Palladium on 3rd February 2008.

For more information, go to:

Dionne Warwick Official Website