Old Oldies

Let's look at the Billboard album chart, shall we? I like album charts because they're more egalitarian than movie grosses. The big films open big, the small films open small. On the album charts, you can be a nobody with a song that people like and suddenly you're on top after months in the wilderness.

Anyway, amidst all the modern acts that the kids love so much--Ashlee Simpson, Kanye West, Kelly Clarkson--there are some artists who were number one before these kids were born, maybe before their parents were born. In other words, 60s acts!

Look, there's Paul McCartney with a new gold album. There's Neil Young, still following his own path. There's Stevie Wonder debuting in the top 5.

But the one I don't get is Rod Stewart. He's one of those acts like Elton John who just keeps charting, except now he's doing it with...well, with music that was popular before the grandparents of today's fans were born. Rod is at #2 with his fourth volume of The Great American Songbook.

Now Rod's done a lot of fine work, especially, oh, about 35 years ago. But as a stylist interpreting Rodgers and Hart, I'll take my chances at the local caberet. Paul and Stevie and Neil have grown through the years, but they've always done their own kind of music. Rod, it seems to me, is out of his comfort zone.

I'm sure he's thrilled to have struck gold (or platinum) this late in his career. It's just too bad that so many may think this is as good as these songs can sound.