Rod Stewart some time ago he kindly informed his fans that he would soon give up his current sound and focus on a different genre of music. The legendary singer decided to join forces with Jools Holland and pay tribute to the golden years of big bands. The duo’s new album titled “Swing Fever” has just appeared in stores and streaming services.
The album will feature as many as 13 of the best songs performed by big bands. Songs that their achievements included, among others: Frank Sinatra Whether Nat King Cole. The first teaser of the album is a song “Almost Like Being in Love”. In addition, the list of songs includes such classics of the genre as “Ain’t Misbehavin”, “Frankie And Johnny”, “Sentimental Journey” Whether “Lullaby Of Broadway”.
Let us recall that a big band is a group composed of many musicians performing jazz or pop music. This type of bands were most popular at the turn of the 1930s and 1940s, i.e. in the swing era.
“I was just packing to go away for Christmas when you called me. We hadn’t talked for a long time before. I was like ‘I love Rod, this is so exciting’ and you said ‘I want to make a record’. I’ve been a fan of yours forever, and listening to your old music made me realize realized that we like a lot of the same things,” says Jools Holland about the genesis of the album.
Although Holland is known mainly as a TV presenter, he has one more talent up his sleeve – he is a talented pianist and head of a private orchestra. Some time ago, in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, the artists revealed that initially what brought them together was not music, but their passion for electric model trains.
The material for the album was created during several joint sessions, where the intimacy of the recording space was combined with the everlasting timelessness of classic songs, creating infectious songs that are irresistible and sound like they were played live. Because that’s what it was like.
Jools Holland (born Julian Miles Holland) is a pianist, singer, composer and television presenter. During his career, he collaborated with artists such as: Marc Almond, Joss Stone, Sting, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, David Gilmour Whether Bono. He was the co-founder of the British pop band Squeeze. In 1987, he founded the Jools Holland Big Band, later renamed Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. This band took part in the recording of “Swing Fever”.
Rod Stewart, on the other hand, needs no introduction. The artist is one of the most popular singers in the world with over 250 million albums sold around the globe. His distinctive voice, style and songwriting have transcended all genres of popular music – from rock, folk, soul, R&B and even the Great American Songbook – making him one of the few stars to enjoy top albums in every decade of his career.
Stewart has won countless awards and accolades, including being twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, being a New York Times best-selling author and Grammy winner, and officially becoming Sir Rod Stewart in 2016 after being inaugurated knighted at Buckingham Palace for services to music and charity.
His greatest hits include: “Gasoline Alley”, “Every Picture Tells a Story”, “Mandolin Wind”, “You Wear It Well”, “The Killing of Georgie”, “Tonight’s the Night”, “You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim) “, “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?”, “Young Turks”, “Forever Young”, “Hot Legs”, “Infatuation”, unforgettable “Maggie May” and many others.
1. Lullaby of Broadway
2. Oh Marie
3. Sentimental Journey
4. Pennies from Heaven
5.NightTrain
6. Love Is the Sweetest Thing
7. Them There Eyes
8. Good Rockin’ Tonight
9. Ain’t Misbehavin’
10. Frankie and Johnny
11. Walkin’ My Baby Back Home
12. Almost Like Being in Love
13. Tennessee Waltz.