Stewart's Album Tops American Chart

British rock legend Rod Stewart latest album has topped the American charts for the first time in 25 years.

The singer's STARDUST...THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK: VOLUME III - including duets of WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD with Stevie Wonder and BLUE MOON with Eric Clapton on guitar - has sold more than 240,000 copies in its first week of release (begs18OCT04).

Stewart's manager ARNOLD STIEFEL says, "He's absolutely thrilled. He's so happy that so many fans have taken to this music. It just inspires him to sing it better. He's loving it. I've never known him happier."

The former Faces frontman last topped the American album charts in 1979 with BLONDES HAVE MORE FUN, which featured the hit single DA YOU THINK I'M SEXY?

Stewart's latest chart topper is the second sequel to IT HAD TO BE WITH YOU...THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK: VOLUME I which debuted at number four in 2002 and has sold 2.6 million copies to date in America.