Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel: Rod Stewart (vocals); Elton John (vocals, piano); Martin Quittenton (acoustic guitar); Ron Wood (guitar); Ray Jackson (mandolin); Dick Powell, Rick Gretch (violin); Pete Sears (piano); Ian McLagan (keyboards); Spike Heatley, Willie Weeks (bass); Mickey Waller (drums, trombone); Kenny Jones, Andy Newmark (drums); Ray Cooper (percussion); Doreen Chanter, Rube (background vocals); Chris Barber's Jazz Band, The Tropic Isle Steel Band, The Memphis Horns. | | All tracks have been digitally remastered. | | On SMILER, as per usual, Stewart's approach towards recording was to invite over a bunch of friends, get the spirits flowing and have a grand time laying down tracks. The gang included Elton John, who plays on his own "Let Me Be Your Car." Along with Reg's song, Stewart's other covers included a raucous "Sweet Little Rock 'N' Roller," a lovingly rendered Sam Cooke medley of "Bring It On Home To Me/You Send Me" and a reworking of Aretha Franklin's classic that reads as "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man." Ron Wood returned on guitar and co-wrote the Mott-like "Sailor" and "Dixie Toot" with Stewart, who gave the latter selection a New Orleans twist by having Chris Barber's Jazz Band play on it. Rod's creative derring-do included an instrumental version of the Lerner & Loewe standard "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face" and use of the Tropic Isle Steel Band on the Paul & Linda McCartney penned "Mine For Me." |
|
CD
