ROD STEWART - ROD STEWART CLOSES THE AMERICAN SONGBOOK

Rocking ROD STEWART is to close his well-received AMERICAN SONGBOOK series of standards after one more release, because he wants to concentrate on recording R+B greats.

The British star's three American Songbook releases have sold more than 13 million copies globally, but Stewart insists his upcoming fourth album, released this autumn (05), will be his last.

He says, "I could keep doing those standards well into my 90s, but I think that four is enough.

"I want to record old songs by JOE TEX, SOLOMON BURKE, TEDDY PENDERGRASS and BOBBY WOMACK."