Next Tuesday, October 19th, British Rock Lord / Pop Star musician turned smooth Jazz / Golden Oldies Balladeer artist, Rod Stewart will release his latest crooner CD called Stardust...: The Great American Songbook: Volume III.

Amazon is not only accepting orders now (click on product name above), the CD is currently ranked as Amazon.com's 4th best selling item in this category.

Track Names include:

1. Embraceable You
2. For Sentimental Reasons (featuring Dave Koz)
3. Blue Moon (featuring Eric Clapton)
4. What A Wonderful World (featuring Stevie Wonder)
5. Stardust
6. Manhattan (a duet with Bette Midler)
7. S'Wonderful (featuring Dave Grusin)
8. Isn't It Romantic (featuring Dave Koz)
9. I Can't Get Started
10. But Not For Me
11. Kiss To Build A Dream On (featuring Arturo Sandoval)
12. Baby, It's Cold Outside (duet with Dolly Parton)
13. Night And Day
14. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square

This is the fourth year in a row Stewart has launched at least one CD, and the third in his Songbook collection.

In November 2001, Warner Brothers released Voice: Very Best of Rod Stewart which includes "Maggie May," "Hot Legs," and "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"

The past three Songbook CDs have been produced by luminaries Richard Perry, Phil Ramone and Clive Davis of Davis' own J-Records label.

Stewart's first Songbook was released in October 2002 and received a Grammy nomination.

The title: It Had to Be You... The Great American Songbook.

One fan, Todd Harris from Memphis Tennessee writes: "This is a great album. He sings these songs by adding his own interpretation to it, while staying true to the arrangements and vocal stylings of that era of music. I'm 29 years old, have listened to all the greats of this genre, and think this album is the best by any performer I've heard.

The second Stewart collection, As Time Goes By...The Great American Songbook: Volume II was released in October 2003.

Volume II consists of 14 all-timers such as "I'm In The Mood For Love," "Smile," "As Time Goes By," "I Only Have Eyes For You," "Someone To Watch Over Me," "Til' There Was You," and a duet with Cher on "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered."

Contributing artists included: Arturo Sandoval, Cher, Dave Koz and Queen Latifah.

Time Goes By... was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

The first two Songbook albums have sold a combined 10 million copies.

Now, the 59 year-old Stewart is ready to do it again, this time with Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter and George and Ira Gershwin.

With songs like "Night and Day," "Blue Moon," and "Embraceable You," made famous by Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, Stewart said, "The one thing you mustn't do is try to sound like Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday." During a break in rehearsals at London's storied Abbey Road studios Stewart told The Associated Press, "They've done them so well. Put your own stamp on them, you know."

Stewart, who got his start singing on a railway station, need not worry. He has a voice as unique as Sinatra's, Fitzgerald's and Holliday's.

While Stewart shares his voice with fellow legends like Bette Midler, Eric Clapton and Dolly Parton, he says, "We were never together, never in the same studio. That's the way the business is now."

Stevie Wonder also performs with him. However, he does not contribute his voice to the historic duet mix. On "What A Wonderful World," Wonder plays the harmonica while Stewart sings.

On October 15th, Stewart will appear on NBC's The Today Show and Dateline followed by Weekend Today on Saturday, the 16th.

On October 18th at 9pm ET, Stewart will broadcast his entire new album live on the Internet via AOL. The J Records / AOL Music invitation-only concert (live and online) will be held at Harlem's Apollo Theater in New York. AOL members can log-on with the keywords "Rod Stewart."

On October 22nd, Stewart will appear on the Ellen Degeneres Show.

Penny Lancaster & Rod Stewart

Also this month, Stewart's 28,000 square foot Beverly Hills LA mansion is featured in Architectural Digest. A number of the photographs were taken by his live-in girlfriend 34 year-old, professional photographer, Penny Lancaster.

In the October issue, it was revealed that Stewart's private gallery of Pre-Raphaelite paintings is one of the largest in the world. He also collects marble statuary, Regency furniture, 18th century Italian and French art, toy Scottish soldiers, model trains, real Ferraris and silver picture frames filled with photos of his family.

The 2005 Grammy nominations will be announced on December 7th. The awards will be televised on CBS, February 13th.

Stewart turns 60 in January.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful and dreamy romantic living!

~ Jennifer King