It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook

It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook
Studio album by Rod Stewart
Released	22 October 2002 (2002-10-22) [1]
Recorded	Henson Recording Studios, The Record Plant, Conway Studios, Signet Sound Studios and Westlake Audio (Los Angeles); Tyrell Studios (Hollywood, California); Tal2 Studios; Crescent Moon Studios (Miami, Florida); Right Track Recording (New York City); Chicago Recording Company (Chicago, Illinois)
Genre	Traditional pop
Length	49:08
Label	J
Producer	Clive Davis, Richard Perry, Phil Ramone
Rod Stewart chronology
The Story So Far: The Very Best of Rod Stewart (2001) It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook (2002) As Time Goes By: The Great American Songbook, Volume II (2003)

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	42/100 [2]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
BBC Music	mixed [4]
Billboard	favourable [5]
Blender	[2]
E! Online	C+ [2]
The Guardian	[6]
Q	[2]
Robert Christgau	[7]
Rolling Stone	[8]
Uncut	[2]
The Daytona Beach News-Journal	[9]
San Francisco Chronicle	[10]
Philadelphia Daily News	B+ [11]

It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook is the first album of American pop standards recorded by British musician Rod Stewart, and his 20th album overall. It was released on 22 October 2002, and became the first in a five-volume series.

The album was Stewart's first release for Sony Music imprint J Records. It included his second recording of "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye".

A live DVD of the same title was released on 4 February 2003, ^[1] which featured performances of material from the studio album as well as Stewart's earlier material.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"You Go to My Head"	John Frederick Coots, Haven Gillespie	Richard Perry	4:17
2.	"They Can't Take That Away from Me"	George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin	Perry	3:25
3.	"The Way You Look Tonight"	Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern	Perry	3:49
4.	"It Had to Be You"	Isham Jones, Gus Kahn	Phil Ramone	3:24
5.	"That Old Feeling"	Lew Brown, Sammy Fain	Ramone	2:54
6.	"These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)"	Harry Link, Holt Marvell, Jack Strachey	Ramone	3:48
7.	"The Very Thought of You"	Ray Noble	Perry	3:20
8.	"Moonglow"	Eddie DeLange, Will Hudson, Irving Mills	Ramone	3:32
9.	"I'll Be Seeing You"	Fain, Irving Kahal	Ramone	3:51
10.	"Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye"	Cole Porter	Ramone	3:27
11.	"The Nearness of You"	Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington	Perry	3:00
12.	"For All We Know"	Coots, Sam M. Lewis	Ramone	3:24
13.	"We'll Be Together Again"	Carl T. Fischer, Frankie Laine	Perry	3:54
14.	"That's All"	Alan Brandt, Bob Haymes	Ramone	3:03
Total length:				49:08

Personnel

• Rod Stewart – lead vocals
• Will Hollis – acoustic piano (1, 2), synthesizers (2), string synthesizer and solo arrangements (2), vibraphone (3)
• Renato Neto – acoustic piano (1), string synthesizer (1), arrangements (1), synth flute (13)
• Randy Kerber – acoustic piano (3, 7, 13), synthesizers (3, 7, 13)
• Andrew Chukerman – synthesizers (3, 7, 10, 13)
• Rob Mounsey – keyboards (4, 5, 8), acoustic piano (4, 5), rhythm arrangements and conductor (4)
• Philippe Saisse – keyboards (4–6, 8–10, 12, 14), orchestra arrangements and conductor (5, 8, 12)
• Russ Kassoff – acoustic piano (8, 10, 12, 14)
• Lee Musiker – acoustic piano intro (9)
• Randy Waldman – acoustic piano (11)
• Jim Fox – guitars (1)
• Jimmy Rip – guitars (1, 2)
• Bob Mann – guitars (3, 7, 13), arrangements (3, 7, 13), guitar solo (7)
• Jeff Mironov – guitars (4–6, 8–10, 12, 14), guitar solo (14)
• Dennis Budimir – guitars (11)
• Dave Carpenter – bass (1)
• Reggie McBride – bass (2)
• Bob Magnusson – bass (3, 7, 13)
• David Finck – bass (4–6, 8–10, 12, 14)
• Tal Bergman – drums (1), drum programming (1, 11), arrangements (1), percussion (7)
• John Ferraro – drums (2), percussion (7)
• Allan Schwartzberg – drums (3, 7, 13)
• Shawn Pelton – drums (4–6, 8–10, 12, 14)
• Harvey Mason – drums (11)
• Dan Higgins – clarinet solo (1), alto saxophone solo (2)
• Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone solo (4)
• Dave Koz – tenor saxophone solo (6, 10)
• Arturo Sandoval – trumpet solo (5), flugelhorn solo (8)
• Chris Botti – trumpet solo (13)
• Richard Perry – arrangements (1), basic track arrangement (2)
• Don Sebesky – orchestra arrangements and conductor (4, 8, 12), rhythm arrangements and conductor (4, 8, 12), arrangements and conductor (9), acoustic piano (9)
• Doug Katsaros – rhythm arrangements (5), arrangements and conductor (6, 10, 14), acoustic piano (6)
• Jeremy Lubbock – string arrangements and conductor (11), woodwind arrangements and conductor (11)

Production

• Producers – Richard Perry (tracks 1–3, 7, 11 & 13); Phil Ramone (tracks 4–6, 8–10, 12 & 14)
• Associate producers on track 1 – Tal Bergman and Renato Neto
• Vocal production on track 11 – Phil Ramone
• Executive producer – Clive Davis
• Production coordination on tracks 1–3, 7, 11 & 13 – Ben McCarthy
• Music consultant on tracks 1–3, 7, 11 & 13 – Daphna Kaster
• Production manager and music contractor on tracks 4–6, 8–10, 12 & 14 – Jill Dell'Abate
• Recording engineers – Mark Valentine (track 1); Carter Humphrey (tracks 2 & 3); Jeff "Woody" Woodruff (tracks 2, 3, 7, 11 & 13); Frank Filipetti (tracks 4–6, 8–10, 12 & 14)
• Additional engineering and Pro Tools technicians on tracks 1–3, 7, 11 & 13 – J.J. Blair, Brian Cook, Steve Deutsch, Alex Gibson, Bobby Ginsberg, Johnny Kubelka and Trent Slatton
• Additional engineering on tracks 4–6, 8–10, 12 & 14 – Joel Moss, Freddy Pinero, Chris Steinmetz and Jeff "Woody" Woodruff
• Assistant engineers on tracks 4–6, 8–10, 12 & 14 – Wade Childers, Brian Dixon, Andrew Felluss, Nick Howard, Timorhy Olmstead and Ryan Smith
• Pro Tools operation on tracks 4–6, 8–10, 12 & 14 – Steve Deutsch, Andrew Felluss and Pete Karam
• Mixing – Carter Humphrey (tracks 1–3, 7, 11 & 13); Frank Filipetti (tracks 4–6, 8–10, 12 & 14)
• Mix assistants on tracks 4–6, 8–10, 12 & 14 – Andrew Felluss and Timorhy Olmstead
• Tracks 1–3, 7, 11 & 13 mastered by Stephen Marcussen at Marcussen Mastering (Los Angeles, California); tracks 4–6, 8–10, 12 & 14 mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound (New York City)
• Special production support on tracks 1–3, 7, 11 & 13 – Lauren Wild
• Additional production support on tracks 1–3, 7, 11 & 13 – Larry Emerine at Precision Lacquer (Los Angeles); Drew L. and Don Tyler at Quality CD Duplication (Los Angeles)
• Creative director – Alli Truch
• Art direction – Jeri Heiden for SMOG L.A.
• Photography – Andrew MacPherson
• Liner notes – Rod Stewart and Bill Zehme

Live DVD

1. "Forever Young" (Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart)
2. "Some Guys Have All the Luck" (Jeff Fortgang)
3. "They Can't Take That Away from Me" (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
4. "The Way You Look Tonight" (Fields, Kern)
5. "These Foolish Things" (Link, Marvell, Strachey)
6. "Moonglow" (DeLange, Hudson, Mills)
7. "Every Time We Say Goodbye" (Porter)
8. "The Very Thought of You" (Noble)
9. "That Old Feeling" (Brown, Fain)
10. "You Go to My Head" (Coots, Gillespie)
11. "For All We Know" (Coots, Lewis)
12. "The Nearness of You" (Carmichael, Washington)
13. "That's All" (Brandt, Haymes)
14. "We'll Be Together Again" (Fischer, Laine)
15. "Rhythm of My Heart" (Marc Jordan, John Capek)
16. "Downtown Train" (Tom Waits)
17. "Maggie May" (Stewart, Martin Quittenton)
18. "Young Turks" (Stewart, Carmine Appice, Duane Hitchings, Savigar)
19. "Hot Legs" (Stewart, Gary Grainger)
20. "Having a Party" (Sam Cooke)
21. "I'll Be Seeing You" (Fain, Kahal)
22. "It Takes Two" (William "Mickey" Stevenson, Sylvia Moy)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2002–2003) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA) [12] 5 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [13] 41 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [14] 35 Canadian Albums ( Billboard ) [15] 10 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [16] 11 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [17] 26 Irish Albums (IRMA) [18] 40 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [19] 46 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [20] 16 Polish Albums (ZPAV) [21] 2 Portuguese Albums (AFP) [22] 17 Scottish Albums (OCC) [23] 8 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [24] 24 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [25] 81 UK Albums (OCC) [26] 8 US Billboard 200 [27] 4

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook Chart (2002) Position Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) [28] 49 UK Albums (OCC) [29] 47 Worldwide Albums (IFPI) [30] 35 Chart (2003) Position Australian Albums (ARIA) [31] 18 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [32] 62 UK Albums (OCC) [33] 135 US Billboard 200 [34] 34 Chart (2004) Position US Billboard 200 [35] 109

Certifications

Album

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF) [36]	Platinum	40,000^
Australia (ARIA) [37]	3× Platinum	210,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [38]	Platinum	125,000*
Canada (Music Canada) [39]	3× Platinum	300,000^
Mexico (AMPROFON) [40]	Gold	75,000^
Poland (ZPAV) [41]	Platinum	40,000*
Sweden (GLF) [42]	Gold	30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [43]	2× Platinum	600,000*
United States (RIAA) [44]	3× Platinum	3,000,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

DVD

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF) [45]	Platinum	8,000^
Australia (ARIA) [46]	8× Platinum	120,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [47]	Platinum	50,000*
Canada (Music Canada) [48]	3× Platinum	30,000^
Mexico (AMPROFON) [49]	Gold	10,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [50]	Platinum	50,000*
United States (RIAA) [51]	Platinum	100,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Bessman, Jim (22 March 2003). "Stewart Readying Second and Final Collection of American Pop Standards". Billboard . Vol. 115, no. 12. p. 18. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved 31 January 2013.
2. Critic reviews at Metacritic
3. AllMusic review
4. BBC Music review
5. "Billboard review". Billboard . Archived from the original on 19 October 2002. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
6. "CD: Rod Stewart, It Had to Be You - The Great American Songbook". The Guardian . 15 November 2002. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023.
7. Robert Christgau Consumer Guide
8. "Rolling Stone review". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 26 October 2002. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
9. de Yampert, Rick (18 October 2002). "Raspy Rod takes on 1920s, '30s pop classics". The Daytona Beach News-Journal . Retrieved 1 February 2026.
10. Selvin, Joel (18 October 2002). "Gershwin, Kern and...Rod". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved 1 February 2026.
11. Takiff, Jonathan (22 October 2002). "Rod Stewart, oldie". Philadelphia Daily News . Retrieved 1 February 2026.
12. "Australiancharts.com – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You... The Great American Songbook". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
13. "Austriancharts.at – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You... The Great American Songbook" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
14. "Ultratop.be – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You... The Great American Songbook" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
15. "Rod Stewart Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard . Retrieved 2 January 2013.
16. "Dutchcharts.nl – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You... The Great American Songbook" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
17. "Officialcharts.de – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You... The Great American Songbook". GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
18. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 48, 2002". GfK Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
19. "Charts.nz – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You... The Great American Songbook". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
20. "Norwegiancharts.com – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You... The Great American Songbook". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
21. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
22. "Portuguesecharts.com – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You... The Great American Songbook". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
23. "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 24/11/2002 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
24. "Swedishcharts.com – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You... The Great American Songbook". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
25. "Swisscharts.com – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You... The Great American Songbook". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
26. "Official Albums Chart on 30/11/2002 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
27. "Rod Stewart Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard . Retrieved 2 January 2013.
28. "Top 200 Albums of 2002 (based on sales)". Jam! . Archived from the original on 12 August 2004. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
29. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2002". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
30. "Top 50 Global Best Selling Albums for 2002" (PDF). IFPI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
31. "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2003". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
32. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2003". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
33. "The Official UK Albums Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus . Retrieved 31 January 2021.
34. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
35. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
36. "Gold & Platinum Certifications". CAPIF (in Spanish).{{cite web}}: |archive-url= is malformed: timestamp (help)
37. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2004 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 2 January 2013.
38. "Brazilian album certifications – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved 2 January 2013.
39. "Canadian album certifications – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You...The Great American Songbook". Music Canada . Retrieved 2 January 2013.
40. "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas . Retrieved 17 October 2019.Type Rod Stewart in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and It Had to Be You in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
41. "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2004 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 25 January 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
42. "Gold & Platinum Certifications: 2003" (PDF). IFPI Sweden (in Swedish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2011.
43. "British album certifications – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 2 September 2015.
44. "American album certifications – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You: Great American Songbook". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 2 January 2013.
45. "Discos de Oro y Platino" (in Spanish). Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers. Retrieved 18 November 2017.{{cite web}}: |archive-url= is malformed: timestamp (help)
46. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2011 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 31 January 2013.
47. "Brazilian video certifications – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved 31 January 2013.
48. "Canadian video certifications – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You...The Great American Songbook". Music Canada . Retrieved 31 January 2013.
49. "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas . Retrieved 16 November 2017.Type Rod Stewart in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and It Had to Be You...The Great American Songbook in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
50. "British video certifications – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 7 September 2015.
51. "American video certifications – Rod Stewart – It Had to Be You: Great American Songbook". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 31 January 2013.

External links

• It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook at Metacritic