'As
Time Goes By' the second of the songbook series hit number 2 on
the US charts but only made it to number 4 in his home country,
the UK. but made number 1 in the 'red maple', Canada. The duet
with Cher, "Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered",
went top 20 on the US adult contemporary charts and top 5 in Taiwan
which I think was the combination of both talented artists. . "Time
After Time" was another top 30 track on the US charts.
In 2003, many of Rod's songs were featured in a musical,
written and directed by Ben Elton, which opened on 7 November at
the London's Victoria Palace theatre. Mr. Elton had previously
created a similar production, We Will Rock You, with music by Queen.
In 2004, Rod again reunited with Ron Wood for concerts
of The Faces material. As a result the compilation, 'Changing
Face', its outcome, reached the top 20 of the UK album charts.
The box set, 'Five Guys Walk Into A Bar' hit the shops and was
widely regarded as a "must have" in Rock & Roll history.
Together with Ron Wood he is still working on the album You Sing
I'll Strut.
In late 2004, yet another volume of The Great American
Songbook (Volume III), Stardust, was released. This was Rod's first
US number one album in a quarter of a decode, again. It sold over
200,000 albums in its first week, hit number 1 in Canada, number
3 in the UK and went on to top the Australian charts to boot. His
version of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World",
featuring Stevie Wonder hit the top 20 of the global and awarded
Rod his first ever Grammy Award for this album.
''Thanks For The Memory, (you guessed it - another
songbook, volume IV!) which was released in September 2005 included
duets with Dianna Ross and even Elton John. Within weeks of its
release the CD hit number 2 on the top 200 list! . Named Thanks
For The Memory...The Great American Songbook IV, it included duets
with Diana Ross and Elton John. Within weeks of its release, the
CD made it to number 2 on the top 200 list.
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