We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
Back before he started a second career crooning the Great American Songbook…even before he became a disco icon with “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy”…Rod Stewart could rock. And even if he did ballads they came off as rough and bluesy. It was that voice. That unmistakable rasp but somehow always in tune and on pitch that delivered some high-end rock and roll in the early 70’s. In 1971 he released the album that made him a solo star. Rod had been fronting the band Faces and even released an album with the group earlier in 71′ but it was said his management made sure to save the best stuff for his solo projects. “Every Picture Tells A Story” made Rod Stewart a star. And radio played a big part in making that happen. The first single off the album was a cover of Tim Hardin’s “Reason To Believe”.
It’s a great song and Stewart does a beautiful version. Pete Sears plays the plaintive piano part and the song delivers just the right amount of pathos. But DJ’s preferred the flip side… a little ditty of an older woman and a younger man called “Maggie May”. It went #1 in both the US and the UK. The mandolin that is so prevelant throughout the Lp was played by Ray Jackson of the English band Lindisfarne. You remember them right?…
The album also includes a few interesting covers…Bob Dylan’s “Tomorrow Is A Long Time”, a medley of That’s Alright Mama and Amazing Grace…and the coup de grace, (I Know) I’m Losing You. I might have like Rare Earth’s cover of the Temptations classic better…but Rod is joined by his Faces bandmates in an uncredited appearance on the LP. Ian McLagan, Ronnie Lane and Kenny Jones give this some oomph.
This album has made many “Top LPs in Rock History” lists and is hard to pigeonhole. Is it rock? blues? folk? country? soul?. Yes to all of these in a nice tasty stew for the ears. Enjoy.
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