Thursday 14 December 2023

Rod Stewart singles

 


Every Picture Tells A Story is one of my favourite albums. I love it to bits. I first encountered Rod Stewart at the Weeley Festival in August 1971, and I recall him introducing one song as a story about a schoolboy and an ageing Liverpool prostitute. Even though the song was not yet a hit, and the Every Picture Tells A Story album had only been released the previous month, his announcement generated a huge response from the crowd. I think it was that response which made me remember the moment so clearly. And I'm grateful for that, as I can pin-point exactly the moment when I first heard "Maggie May". I saw Rod again at the Hemel Hempstead Pavilion in Feb 1972, after "Maggie May" had been a hit, and he was suddenly the biggest act on the planet. In order to get maximum profit out of the booking, the Pavilion decided to release tickets during a concert in which they booked some cheap acts. So you had to pay twice. The acts were very bad, and most people just bought their Rod Stewart tickets and went home (or to the pub). I watched one act briefly with some friends. I remember the girl singer took her top off in order to encourage more people to watch. One friend said that if we cheered enough she might take her bottom off as well. Anyway, it was worth enduring that atrocious concert, because the Rod Stewart concert became memorable for me near the end. As was common in those days, I was leaning on the front of the stage (no bouncers in font of the stage in those days). Stewart was drinking something, and he playfully offered it to those of us leaning on the stage. I put my hand up, and he grabbed my arm and pulled me on stage, and then pulled up someone else. He then put his arms around us, and we sang "Maggie May" together. Awesome moment. At the end of the song the set was over, and he shouted in my ear that he would get into trouble for having me on stage, so I should go backstage with him. Sadly I turned down that opportunity, preferring to have a few moments on stage, larking about in front of my friends. It may well be that part of the appeal for me of the early Seventies era Rod Stewart and the Every Picture Tells A Story album in particular, is due in part to those two live experiences.

Anyway, even though I enjoyed that album, and some of his other early Seventies albums, I've never really explored his life and career. I mean, I know a bit, and I know some of the legends, such as that he played harmonica on "My Boy Lollipop" (apparently untrue - it was possibly another member of a band that Stewart was a part of), but I don't know much, and I thought it was time to pull all the facts together, and sort out the truth from the rumour.


Career

Rod Stewart was born and brought up in Highgate. He had a comfortable and happy upbringing. Among the legends of his youth are that he played professional football, was a gravedigger, got arrested on protest marches, and went busking in France and Spain. Well, he played football for his school, and for Middlesex Schoolboys, but he was never signed to a professional team. He went for a trial at Brentford, but they didn't call him back. He worked two Saturdays at Highgate Cemetery helping lay out plot, but didn't do any grave-digging, though he encouraged the myth. Some sources do report that he got arrested on an Aldermarston March, though by his own account his involvement was more motivated by fun than serious politics. He started playing the harmonica and busking in 1962 - and did busk in Paris and Barcelona as mentioned in the semi-autobiographical song "Every Picture Tells a Story". In 1963 he briefly sang and played harmonica with the Dimensions, then in 1964 worked with Long John Baldry in the Hoochie Coochie Men, where he had his recording debut on "Up Above My Head" in June, while also starting his solo recording career, and releasing his first solo single, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, in September. In 1965 he joined Steampacket with Baldry, Julie Driscol and Brian Auger. Though they didn't release any material while together, they did record some demos, such as "Can I Get a Witness",  which were released later to cash in on Stewart's Seventies success, and they appeared in live performances on a couple of TV shows: Steampacket jam with Eric Burdon and Stevie Winwood  (National Jazz Blues Festival at Richmond Athletic Grounds, 6-8 August 1965) and Steampacket live. After Steampacket, Stewart joined Shotgun Express, a similar style group, and they recorded and released I Could Feel The Whole World Turn Round in October 1966 - other members included Peter Green and Mick Fleetwood.

In Feb 1967 he joined the Jeff Beck Group along with Ronnie Wood, and they recorded the albums Truth in May 1968, and Beck-Ola in April 1969. The group broke up, and he and Wood replaced Steve Marriot in the Small Faces and renamed the group the Faces. Around this time he recorded a few songs for Python Lee Jackson, including In A Broken Dream, which would be released in 1972 to cash in on Stewart's success. He had now signed his fourth solo recording contract with Mercury  (the previous three were Decca, 1964; Columbia, 1965-66; Immediate, 1968 - all had released unsuccessful singles), and in 1969 recorded his first solo album, An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down, released in the UK in Feb, 1970 and containing his version of Handbags and Gladrags. Immediately after, he recorded First Step, the first Faces album, which was hastily recorded, and sounds like it, though Three Button hand Me Down works well. His next solo album, Gasoline Alley, was released in Sept 1970.

To be continued.....

Albums



The Steampacket Featuring Rod Stewart  (1970) 

First released in 1970, this set of tracks has been re-released several times since under different names and different track order. However, Stewart left the group in 1966, so I'm placing it here, before the Jeff Beck Group releases purely for chronological order of the recordings.  It's not a great album, purely of historic interest. This is a series of rather flat demos with  the group leader, Long John Baldry, sharing vocals with Julie Driscoll and Rod Stewart on a series of slightly jazzy covers of mostly standards. The best parts are actually not the singing, but the cool jazz guitar of Vic Brigg and the groovy if somewhat limited organ of Brian Auger. Three of the tracks are instrumentals. There's little here to show evidence of what Stewart could do. 

Tracklist

1 "Can I Get A Witness"   Written-By – Holland, Dozier    3:36
2 "The In-Crowd"    Written-By – Billy Page   3:42
3 "Baby Take Me"  Written-By – Ashford, Simpson, Armshead   2:12
4 "Baby Baby"  Written-By – Unknown   2:26
5 "Back At The Chicken Shack" Written-By – Smith   3:52
6 "Cry Me A River  Written-By" – A. Hamilton  2:46
7 "Oh Baby, Don't You Do It"  Written-By – Unknown   3:28
8 "Holy Smoke"  Written-By – Unknown / Brian Auger   3:27
9 "Lord Remember Me"  Written-By – Unknown /  Brian Auger  4:18


Wikipedia
AllMusic: 8 
Score: 3 1/2 

Truth  (August 1968)
Jeff Beck Group

Forget all that nonsense about Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath being the unholy trinity of heavy metal. Everything that would become hard rock/heavy metal is set down in steel right here on this album in 1968. That Zeppelin take ideas from this album is clear in that both Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones played on the album; and there is a persistent rumour that Deep Purple guitarist Richie Blackmore played on "Beck's Bolero", recorded in May 1966.  


ReleasedJuly 1968 (USA)
November 1968 (UK)
Recorded16 May 1966; 14–26 May 1968
StudioAbbey Road, Olympic and De Lane Lea, London
Genre
Length40:16
LabelEMI Columbia (UK), Epic (US)
ProducerMickie Most

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Shapes of Things"McCarty, Relf, Samwell-Smith3:22
2."Let Me Love You"Jeffrey Rod4:44
3."Morning Dew"Bonnie Dobson4:40
4."You Shook Me"Willie Dixon, J. B. Lenoir2:33
5."Ol' Man River"Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II4:01
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Greensleeves"Traditional1:50
2."Rock My Plimsoul"Jeffrey Rod4:13
3."Beck's Bolero"Jimmy Page2:54
4."Blues Deluxe"Jeffrey Rod7:33
5."I Ain't Superstitious"Willie Dixon4:53

Additional credited personnel

Additional uncredited personnel



Wikipedia
AllMusic: 10 
Score: 8

Beck-Ola  (April 1969)
Jeff Beck Group

More straightforward rock than Truth, so less engaging, less exciting, and perhaps sounding more dated, though easier to get into, and certainly of its time. 


ReleasedAugust 1969 UK
Recorded3–19 April 1969
StudioDe Lane Lea, Abbey Road and Trident, London; Mirasound, New York City
Genre
Length30:29
Label
ProducerMickie Most

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."All Shook Up"Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley4:49
2."Spanish Boots"Ronnie Wood, Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart3:32
3."Girl from Mill Valley"Nicky Hopkins3:44
4."Jailhouse Rock"Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller3:12
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Plynth (Water Down the Drain)"Hopkins, Wood, Stewart3:05
2."The Hangman's Knee"Tony Newman, Beck, Hopkins, Stewart, Wood4:47
3."Rice Pudding"Hopkins, Wood, Beck, Newman7:20

2004 CD bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
8."Sweet Little Angel"B.B. King7:57
9."Throw Down a Line"Hank Marvin2:54
10."All Shook Up" (Early version)Blackwell, Presley3:18
11."Jailhouse Rock" (Early version)Leiber, Stoller3:11



Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 7 


Quiet Melon - July 1969 (unreleased)

There is little information about this band. It appears to have been formed by Ron Wood's brother, Art Wood, who had a recording contract with Fontana Records. Members were Art Wood, Ronnie Wood, Rod Stewart, and the remains of the Small Faces after Steve Marriot had left. They recorded four tracks for Fontana, who then terminated Art Wood's record contract as not being what they wanted. The tracks were later released in 1995.  Ronnie Lane left the band to be replaced by Stewart Grainger for a short lived series of concerts apparently attended by only a handful of people. Art Wood and Grainger then left, Lane re-joined, and the band changed name to the Faces.  

Tracks: 

1) Diamond Joe
2) Engine 4444
3) Instrumental 



An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down
Feb 1970 - Solo

This is Stewart's first solo album. He'd signed a recording contract with Mercury in 1968, but didn't start recording the album until after he'd left the Jeff Beck Group in 1969.  Ronnie Wood from the Jeff Beck Group would join Stewart in the Faces, and he played on the album, along with the Faces keyboard player Ian McLagan. The other musicians were session players, with guest appearances by Mike d'Abo , Lou Reizner, and Keith Emerson.

This is a modest album which has elements of Stewart's folky, rocky style, but also elements of the Jeff Beck Group. It doesn't hold together as a cohesive album, as it feels like Stewart is searching for his own voice.  Stewart wrote four of the songs: "I Wouldn't Ever Change a Thing" and "Blind Prayer" are in the style of the Jeff Beck group, and are quite weak. "Cindy's Lament" is an RnB number reminiscent of Steampacket - a style that Stewart would return to on later albums, though without the psychedelic/heavy feel that he uses here to finish the song. The title track is the fourth self-penned song, and is the best of the four, including a little folk, a little slap rock, a little swing, it is a little rough and loose, but is strongly indicative of the direction that Stewart would take. "Man of Constant Sorrow", a folk song, shows Stewart's ability to choose a song and do a telling version of it. This song would not be out of place on Every Picture Tells  A Story.  The other songs are covers: he does a truly dreadful version of "Street Fighting Man", one of the few times he totally fucks up a cover; his cover of "Dirty Old Town" is unremarkable but acceptable; the third cover, "Handbags and Gladrags", is again one of those well chosen songs that he sings so bloody well. Is his version the best? Probably - it's certainly not half bad, and is the best song on this other mediocre and patchy album. Notable other versions - Mike d'Abo (1967),  Chris Farlowe (1967),  Chase (1972),  Big George (The Office theme 2000),  Stereophonics (2001).  
On the whole, not a bad album, and with the classic performance of "Gladrags", it is lifted to decent, though I don't get why AllMusic rate it so high. 


ReleasedNovember 1969 (US)
February 1970 (UK)
RecordedJune–August 1969
StudioLansdowne and Olympic Studios, London
Genre
Length32:47
LabelVertigo, Mercury, Fontana
ProducerRod Stewart, Lou Reizner

All tracks are written by Rod Stewart, except where indicated

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Street Fighting Man"Mick Jagger, Keith Richards5:05
2."Man of Constant Sorrow"traditional; arranged by Stewart3:12
3."Blind Prayer" 4:36
4."Handbags and Gladrags"Mike d'Abo4:24
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down" 3:30
2."I Wouldn't Ever Change a Thing" 4:44
3."Cindy's Lament" 4:26
4."Dirty Old Town"Ewan MacColl3:42
Total length:32:47


Wikipedia
AllMusic: 9
Score: 5

First Step
March 1970 - Faces

Decent album with some good tracks. 

Released27 March 1970[1]
RecordedDecember 1969 – January 1970 at De Lane Lea Studios, London
GenreBlues rock,[2] R&B
Length46:22
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerFaces

All lead vocals by Rod Stewart except where indicated

Side one

  1. "Wicked Messenger" (Bob Dylan) – 4:00
  2. "Devotion" (Ronnie Lane) – 4:48 (lead vocals: Rod Stewart, Ronnie Lane)
  3. "Shake, Shudder, Shiver" (Lane, Ronnie Wood) – 3:09 (lead vocals: Rod Stewart, Ronnie Lane) (duet)
  4. "Stone" (Lane) – 5:33 (lead vocals: Ronnie Lane)
  5. "Around the Plynth" (Rod Stewart, Wood) – 5:45

Side two

  1. "Flying" (Lane, Stewart, Wood) – 4:10
  2. "Pineapple and the Monkey" (instrumental) (Wood) – 4:23
  3. "Nobody Knows" (Lane, Wood) – 4:05 (lead vocals: Rod Stewart, Ronnie Lane) (duet) – 4:04
  4. "Looking Out the Window" (instrumental) (Kenney Jones, Ian McLagan) – 5:00
  5. "Three Button Hand Me Down" (McLagan, Stewart) – 5:30


Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 5 

Gasoline Alley
Sept 1970 - Sept

This is a more balanced and finished album than Raincoat, and is closer to Picture in style and achievement.  "Lady Day" is a lovely track, and would have sat comfortably on Picture.  


Released12 June 1970
RecordedFebruary–April 1970
StudioMorgan, London
Genre
Length42:30
LabelMercury, Vertigo
ProducerRod Stewart, Lou Reizner

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Gasoline Alley"Stewart, Ronnie Wood4:02
2."It's All Over Now"Bobby Womack, Shirley Jean Womack6:22
3."Only a Hobo"Bob Dylan4:13
4."My Way of Giving"Ronnie Lane, Steve Marriott3:55
5."Country Comfort"Elton John, Bernie Taupin4:42
6."Cut Across Shorty"Wayne P. Walker, Marijohn Wilkin6:28
7."Lady Day"Stewart3:57
8."Jo's Lament"Stewart3:24
9."You're My Girl (I Don't Want to Discuss It)"Dick Cooper, Beth Beatty, Ernie Shelby4:27

  • Rod Stewart – lead vocals, acoustic guitar on "Jo's Lament"
  • Ronnie Wood – guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar
  • Martin Quittenton – acoustic guitar
  • Stanley Matthews – mandolin
  • Ronnie Lane – bass on "My Way Of Giving" and "You're My Girl", backing vocals on "My Way Of Giving"
  • Pete Sears – piano on "Country Comforts", bass on “Cut Across Shorty”.
  • Ian McLagan – piano, Hammond organ (the UK credit list notes: "Mac not available due to bus strike", while the US release credits him)[6]
  • Mick Waller – drums
  • Kenney Jones – drums on "My Way Of Giving" and "You're My Girl"
  • William Gaff – whistle
  • Dennis O'Flynn, Dick Powell – violin
  • Jack Reynolds – backing vocals on "Country Comfort"

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 10
Score: 6

Long Player
Feb 1971 - Faces

This is a lovely, warm, authentic, typically ramshackle album. The Faces with Stewart and Wood had a sound that is identifiably Stewart/Faces. 1971 was a good year for Stewart and Wood as they made three solid albums, the middle one being the timeless classic Every Picture. Phew!  The two weakest tracks, for me, are the two live ones. They are just a bit too shambolic and feel somewhat underpowered and out of sympathy with the feel of the rest of the album. And, while Stewart is a great interpreter of others people's songs, he does a dreadful version of McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed", and the band never seem to really get behind it or understand it. McCartney really builds the song in layers of tension and joy, giving it one of the greatest vocal performances of his life, and playing all the instruments himself, which gives it a tight coherence, and proves finally that he was the greatest drummer and lead guitarist in The Beatles.  Stewart over dramatizes the singing, and does vocalisations at the end.  McCartney's singing is passionate, true, committed,  joyful - you feel that he is genuinely doing this song out of love. Stewart just feels like he is showboating, I think he may have done a good job of it in the studio, but in a live setting he's just goofing around. The band, meanwhile, are all over the place. Ho hum.  The live tracks aside, the feel on this album is close to that of Every Picture, which does suggest that Ronnie Wood had a significant and largely unrecognised part to play in the success of that album. 

ReleasedFebruary 1971
RecordedSeptember 1970–January 1971 at Morgan Sound Studios, London and with The Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Unit, live tracks recorded 10 November 1970, at Fillmore East, NYC
Genre
Length45:02
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerFaces

Side one

  1. "Bad 'n' Ruin" (Ian McLagan, Rod Stewart) – 5:30
  2. "Tell Everyone" (Ronnie Lane) – 4:22
  3. "Sweet Lady Mary" (Lane, Stewart, Ronnie Wood) – 5:40
  4. "Richmond" (Lane) – 3:05 (lead vocals: Ronnie Lane)
  5. "Maybe I'm Amazed" [Live at Fillmore East, New York 11/10/70] (Paul McCartney) – 5:35 (co-lead vocals: Rod Stewart, Ronnie Lane)

Side two

  1. "Had Me a Real Good Time" (Lane, Stewart, Wood) – 5:50
  2. "On the Beach" (Lane, Wood) – 4:15 (lead vocals: Ronnie Lane and Ron Wood)
  3. "I Feel So Good" [Live at Fillmore East, New York 11/10/70] (Big Bill Broonzy) – 8:50
  4. "Jerusalem" (instrumental) (Hubert Parry, William Blake – arr. Wood; shown as traditional) - 1:55

  • Rod Stewart - lead vocals
  • Ronnie Lane - bass, acoustic guitar, percussion, backing vocals, lead vocal [tracks 4 & 7, first verse/harmony on track 5]
  • Ronnie Wood - lead, slide, acoustic and pedal steel guitars, backing vocals, co-lead vocal [track 7]
  • Ian McLagan - piano, organ and keyboards, backing vocals
  • Kenney Jones - drums and percussion

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 10 
Score: 6 

Every Picture Tells A Story
July 1971 - Solo

One of the greatest albums ever made. Totally awesome. 

Released28 May 1971
RecordedNovember 1970−January 1971
StudioMorgan Studios, London
GenreRoots rock[1]
Length40:31
LabelMercury
ProducerRod Stewart

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Every Picture Tells a Story"Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood6:01
2."Seems Like a Long Time"Theodore Anderson4:02
3."That's All Right / Amazing Grace"Arthur Crudup / traditional; arranged by Stewart6:02
4."Tomorrow Is a Long Time"Bob Dylan3:43
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Henry"Martin Quittenton0:32
2."Maggie May"Stewart, Quittenton5:15
3."Mandolin Wind"Stewart5:33
4."(I Know) I'm Losing You"Norman Whitfield, Eddie Holland, Cornelius Grant5:23
5."(Find a) Reason to Believe"Tim Hardin4:05
Total length:40:31


Wikipedia
AllMusic: 10
Score: 10


Short video:
1. Three Button Hand Me Down
2. Maybe I'm Amazed 
3. Miss Judy's Farm 
4. Stay With Me 
5. (I Know) I'm Losing You

Long video:
1. Three Button Hand Me Down 
2. Maybe I'm Amazed (Paul McCartney cover) 
3. Too Much Woman (Ike Turner cover) 
4. Street Fighting Man (The Rolling Stones cover) 
5. Too Much Woman (Ike Turner cover) (reprise) 
6. Miss Judy's Farm Love in Vain (Robert Johnson cover) 
7. Stay With Me
8. (I Know) I'm Losing You (The Temptations cover)




A Nod Is as Good as a Wink... to a Blind Horse
Nov 1971 - Faces 

"Stay With Me" is the stand out track here. The rest of the album appears to have moved on from the folky and soul touches that marked the best of Stewart and Wood's output in the early Seventies. There's a lot more straight rock and muscle here. But little of the charm that makes Stewart so appealing.  "Stay With Me" is very much is the good time rock camp, with very laddish lyrics, but it works. Most of the quieter, reflective songs are by Ronnie Lane, who wasn't quite of the talent of Wood and Stewart, but very much wanted to be taken seriously.  Some people really rate this album, but I'm seeing it as a bit too shambolic and lacking in focus. Whose album is it? Is it Stewart's (with Wood in support)? Or is it Lane's? Whatever - without "Stay With Me", this album doesn't really warrant a listen. 

Released17 November 1971[1]
RecordedMarch–September 1971
Olympic Studios, London
Length35:56
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerFaces and Glyn Johns

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Miss Judy's Farm"
Rod Stewart3:38
2."You're So Rude"
Ronnie Lane3:41
3."Love Lives Here"
  • Lane 
  • Stewart 
  • Wood
Stewart3:04
4."Last Orders Please"LaneLane2:33
5."Stay with Me"
  • Stewart 
  • Wood
Stewart4:37
Total length:17:33
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Debris"LaneLane (with Stewart on harmony vocal)4:36
2."Memphis"Chuck BerryStewart5:29
3."Too Bad"
  • Stewart 
  • Wood
Stewart (with Lane, McLagan and Wood backing)3:12
4."That's All You Need"
  • Stewart 
  • Wood
Stewart5:06
Total length:18:23

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 10 
Score: 4 1/2 

Never a Dull Moment  (July 1972)
Solo

Stewart's follow up solo album to Picture contains the usual mix of well chosen covers and a handful of songs co-written by Stewart. A nice album with some good songs - "You Wear It Well" being the standout track. 


Released21 July 1972
RecordedMarch–May 1972
StudioMorgan and Olympic, London
Genre Folk rock
Length32:55
LabelMercury
ProducerRod Stewart

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."True Blue"Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood3:32
2."Lost Paraguayos"Stewart, Wood3:57
3."Mama, You Been on My Mind"Bob Dylan4:29
4."Italian Girls"Stewart, Wood4:54
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Angel"Jimi Hendrix4:04
2."Interludings"Art Wood0:40
3."You Wear It Well"Stewart, Martin Quittenton4:22
4."I'd Rather Go Blind"Billy Foster, Ellington Jordan3:53
5."Twistin' the Night Away"Sam Cooke3:13
Total length:32:55
  • Rod Stewart – vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Ronnie Wood – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, pedal steel guitar, bass guitar
  • Ronnie Lane – bass guitar on "True Blue", and "Angel"
  • Micky Waller – drums all songs except "True Blue"
  • Kenney Jones – drums on "True Blue"
  • Ian McLagan – Hammond organ, piano
  • Neemoi "Speedy" Aquaye – congas
  • Pete Sears – piano on “Italian Girls”, “What Made Milwaukee Famous” (single), bass guitar on “I’d Rather Go Blind”.
  • Brian – piano
  • Spike Heatley – upright bass
  • Dick Powell – violin
  • Martin Quittenton – acoustic guitar
  • Gordon Huntley – steel guitar
  • Ray Jackson – mandolin

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 10
Score: 6  

Ooh La La 
April 1973 - Faces

The last studio album by the Faces as the difficulties of remaining a proper band after Stewart's solo success proved too much, and the band broke up after releasing a live album to meet contractual obligations. Stewart was delayed for two weeks at the start of recording so three tracks are made without him. There were some tensions, though none of this comes across in the album, which is tight, accomplished and very professional. More professional and tight that previous albums, so perhaps the tensions helped them all focus on the job in hand rather than slouch off in their typical drunken laddish manner. Stewart only does solo lead on five of the ten tracks. It's a decent album. The title track is one of the best tracks, though has no involvement from Stewart. Scores well as a Faces album, slightly less so as a Stewart album. 


ReleasedMarch 1973
RecordedSeptember 1972 – January 1973
StudioOlympic, London
GenreRock and roll[1]
Length30:22
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerGlyn Johns

Side one
  1. "Silicone Grown" (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood) – 3:05
  2. "Cindy Incidentally" (Ian McLagan, Stewart, Wood) – 2:37
  3. "Flags and Banners" (Ronnie Lane, Stewart) – 2:00 (lead singer: Ronnie Lane)
  4. "My Fault" (McLagan, Stewart, Wood) – 3:05 (lead singers: Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood)
  5. "Borstal Boys" (McLagan, Stewart, Wood) – 2:52
Side two
  1. "Fly in the Ointment" (instrumental) (Kenney Jones, Lane, McLagan, Wood) – 3:49
  2. "If I'm on the Late Side" (Lane, Stewart) – 2:36
  3. "Glad and Sorry" (Lane) – 3:04 (lead singers: Ronnie Lane, Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan)
  4. "Just Another Honky" (Lane) – 3:32
  5. "Ooh La La" (Lane, Wood) – 3:30 (lead singer: Ronnie Wood)

  • Rod Stewart – lead vocal (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 & 9), banjo & secondary electric guitar (track 3) - not present on tracks 6, 8 & 10
  • Ronnie Wood – lead electric, slide, acoustic and rhythm guitars, electric bouzouki, co-lead vocal (track 4 & 8) & lead vocal (track 10)
  • Ian McLagan – piano, organ, harmonium, backing vocals & co-lead vocal (track 8)
  • Ronnie Lane – bass, rhythm and acoustic guitars, percussion, tambourine & lead vocal (tracks 3 & 8)
  • Kenney Jones – drums & percussion

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 9
Score: 5 

Coast to Coast: Overture and Beginners
Jan 1974 - Faces live

I suspect this album was released to cover contract requirements. Stewart's fame and success meant that the Faces were no longer a band, and Ronnie Lane, who had clearly (and clearly erroneously) felt himself at least Stewart's equal (presumably due to the success of the songs he had co-written with Marriot in the Small Faces), had left the band to start his own indifferent and largely ignored solo career. He was replaced on bass by Tetsu Yamauchi.  The album was presented as a Faces / Rod Stewart album and given a dual release in America by Mercury (Stewart's label) and Warner (the band's label, and Stewart's future label). There isn't much effort shown by anyone. Yes, it's professional, and everyone does their bit, but nobody's going the extra yard, and there's a cold feel about the whole thing.  The band broke up after the tour.  The album has not been released on CD. 

Released10 January 1974[1]
Recorded17 October 1973 at Anaheim Arena (Anaheim, CA)
Genre Boogie rock
Length49:48
LabelMercury
Warner Bros. 
ProducerFaces

Side one

  1. "It's All Over Now" (Bobby Womack, Shirley Womack) - 4:38
  2. "Cut Across Shorty" (Wayne Walker, Marijohn Wilkin) - 3:45
  3. "Too Bad" / "Every Picture Tells a Story" (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood) - 7:34
  4. "Angel" (Jimi Hendrix) - 4:28
  5. "Stay With Me" (Stewart, Wood) - 4:50

Side two

  1. "I Wish It Would Rain" (Roger Penzabene, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield) - 4:20
  2. "I'd Rather Go Blind" (Billy Foster, Ellington Jordan) - 5:55
  3. "Borstal Boys" (Ian McLagan, Stewart, Wood) / "Amazing Grace" (Traditional, arr. D. Throat) - 9:52
  4. "Jealous Guy" (John Lennon) - 4:25


Wikipedia
AllMusic: 4 
Score: 4

Smiler
Oct 1974 - Solo

Though in the same style and approach as the previous solo albums, this is a little loose and rough as though quickly thrown together. No stand out tracks. The magic that was Picture did not visit this album. 


Released27 September 1974
RecordedMorgan Studios, London and The Wick, Richmond November 1973-May 1974
GenreRock and roll, folk rock, blue-eyed soul
Length42:24
LabelMercury
ProducerRod Stewart

  1. "Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller" (Chuck Berry) – 3:43
  2. "Lochinvar" (Pete Sears) – 0:25
  3. "Farewell" (Rod Stewart, Martin Quittenton) – 4:34
  4. "Sailor" – (Stewart, Ronnie Wood) 3:35
  5. "Bring It On Home to Me/You Send Me" (Sam Cooke) – 3:57
  6. "Let Me Be Your Car" (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) – 4:56
  7. "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler) – 3:54
  8. "Dixie Toot" – (Stewart, Ronnie Wood) 3:27
  9. "Hard Road" (Harry Vanda, George Young) – 4:27
  10. "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" Instrumental (Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe) – 1:32
  11. "Girl from the North Country" (Bob Dylan) – 3:52
  12. "Mine for Me" (Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney) – 4:02


Wikipedia
AllMusic: 4 
Score: 4 


Main collaborators



Long John Baldry

Jeff Beck

Ronnie Wood 

Ronnie Lane 

  • Anymore for Anymore with Slim Chance (1974) UK No. 48 - Spotify  - (AllMusic: 9)  "The Poacher" is a decent song, but mostly the album comes across as underperforming country folk. Score: 4 
  • Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance with Slim Chance (1975) -  Spotify -  (AllMusic: 9)   More of the same. Score: 4 
  • One for the Road with Slim Chance (1976) - Spotify - (AllMusic: 8)  More of the same. It's OK. Score: 4 
  • Mahoney's Last Stand with Ronnie Wood (1976)  - Spotify - (AllMusic: 7) 1972 film-score by Lane and Wood. Delayed release. Wood's involvement raises the game, but it feels unfinished. More like sketches toward music. Score: 3 
  • Rough Mix with Pete Townshend (1977) US No. 45 UK No. 44 - Spotify -  (AllMusic: 8)  A collaboration between Lane and Pete Townshend. Songs are by each of them, with only the instrumental title song being written by both. Townshend's involvement seems to have perked up Lane, who writes much crisper and rockier songs than he has for a while. Acceptable. Score: 5 
  • See Me (1979) - Spotify - (AllMusic: 6)  A little more poppy and rocky than Lane's first solo albums. Score: 4 
  • The Legendary Majik Mijits with Steve Marriott (2000) - Spotify -  (AllMusic: - )  Marriott is a significant talent who never got the recognition he deserved. He stands out on this album, and - as with the other collaborations Lane steps up, but never gets close let alone matches Marriott. Still, I think these two together could have done something much more significant than they did alone after the break up of the Faces and Humble Pie. Score: 5 



Singles
1960s–1970s
YearSingleChart positionsCertificationsAlbum
UK
[1]		US
[2]
1964"Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" / "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town" (Decca Records)[3]——Non-album single
1965"The Day Will Come"/"Why Does It Go On" (Columbia Records)[4]——
1966"Shake"/"I Just Got Some" (Columbia Records)[4]——
1968"Little Miss Understood"/"So Much to Say" (Immediate Records)[5]——
1969"Street Fighting Man"——An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down
1970"It's All Over Now" (The Roundhouse)——Gasoline Alley
1971"Dirty Old Town" (single)——An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down
"Reason to Believe" (single) b/w
"Maggie May"  (TOTP)		11Every Picture Tells a Story
"(I Know) I'm Losing You"—24
1972"Every Picture Tells a Story" / "Reason to Believe"——
"Handbags and Gladrags"—42An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down
"You Wear It Well"113Never a Dull Moment
"In a Broken Dream"
(with Python Lee Jackson) 2		3—56In a Broken Dream
"Angel"440Never a Dull Moment
"What's Made Milwaukee Famous
(Has Made a Loser Out of Me)" 3		71—Non-album single
1973"I've Been Drinking"
(with the Jeff Beck Group)		27—
"Twistin' the Night Away"—59Never a Dull Moment
"Oh! No Not My Baby"659Non-album single
1974"Farewell" / "Bring It On Home to Me/You Send Me"7—Smiler
"Mine for Me"—91
"You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything (Even Take the Dog for a Walk, Mend a Fuse, Fold Away the Ironing Board, or Any Other Domestic Shortcomings)"
(with Faces) 4		12—Snakes and Ladders
1975"Sailing" 5158
  • BPI: Silver
Atlantic Crossing
"This Old Heart of Mine"483
1976"Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)"51
  • RIAA: Gold
A Night on the Town
"The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)"230
"Get Back"11—All This and World War II [Soundtrack]
"Maggie May" (1976 release)31—The Best of Rod Stewart
1977"I Don't Want to Talk About It" 6146
  • BPI: Silver
Atlantic Crossing
"The First Cut Is the Deepest" 6


21
  • BPI: Silver
A Night on the Town
"Mandolin Wind"——The Best of Rod Stewart Vol. 2
"You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)"34
  • BPI: Silver
  • RIAA: Gold
Foot Loose & Fancy Free
1978"Hot Legs"528
  • BPI: Silver
"I Was Only Joking"


22
  • BPI: Silver
"Ole Ola (Mulher Brasileira)"
(feat. The Scottish World Cup Football Squad '78)		4—Non-album single
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"11
  • BPI: Gold
  • RIAA: Platinum
Blondes Have More Fun
1979"Ain't Love a Bitch"1122
  • BPI: Silver
"Blondes (Have More Fun)"63—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
1980s
YearSingleChart positionsAlbum
UK
[1]		US
[2]
1980"(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right"23—


Foot Loose & Fancy Free
"Passion"175Foolish Behaviour
"My Girl"32—
1981"Somebody Special"—71
"Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight"——
"Gi' Me Wings"——
"Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)"
- b/w "Tora, Tora, Tora"		8
—		20
—		Tonight I'm Yours
"Young Turks"115
1982"How Long"
- b/w "Jealous"		41
—		49
—
"Just Like a Woman"——
"The Great Pretender" (live)——Absolutely Live
"Guess I'll Always Love You" (live)——
"I Don't Want to Talk About It" (live) 6——

—

1983"Baby Jane"114Body Wishes
"What Am I Gonna Do (I'm So in Love with You)"335
"Sweet Surrender"23—
1984"Infatuation"276Camouflage
"Some Guys Have All the Luck"1510
"All Right Now"—72
"Trouble"95—
1985"People Get Ready"
(with Jeff Beck)		—48Flash (Jeff Beck)
1986"Love Touch"276Every Beat of My Heart
"Every Beat of My Heart"283
"Another Heartache"5452
"In My Life"80—
1987"Twistin' the Night Away" (1987 version)—80Innerspace Soundtrack
1988"Lost in You"2112Out of Order
"Forever Young"5712
"My Heart Can't Tell You No"494
1989"Crazy About Her"—11
"Dynamite" [US promo]——
"This Old Heart of Mine"
(with Ronald Isley)		5110Storyteller /
The Best of Rod Stewart
"Downtown Train"103
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
1990s
YearSingleChart positionsCertificationsAlbum
UK
[1]		US
[2]
1990"I Don't Want to Talk About It" (re-recording) 6——Storyteller
"It Takes Two"
(with Tina Turner)		5—Vagabond Heart
1991"Rhythm of My Heart"35
  • ARIA: Gold
"The Motown Song"1010
"Broken Arrow"5420
"Rebel Heart"——
"You Are Everything"——
"My Town"
(Glass Tiger feat. Rod Stewart)		33—Simple Mission (Glass Tiger album)
1992"People Get Ready" (1992 version)
(with Jeff Beck)		49—Storyteller
"Your Song"—41Two Rooms (Elton John Tribute)
"Broken Arrow"——Vagabond Heart
"Tom Traubert's Blues (Waltzing Matilda)"6—Lead Vocalist
1993"Ruby Tuesday"11—
"Shotgun Wedding"21—
"Maggie May" (live)——Unplugged...and Seated
"Have I Told You Lately" (live)51
"Reason to Believe" (live)5119
"People Get Ready" (live)45—
"Cut Across Shorty" (live)——
"All for Love"
(with Bryan Adams and Sting)		24
  • ARIA: Platinum[6]
  • RIAA: Platinum[7]
The Three Musketeers Soundtrack
"Having a Party" (live)—36Unplugged...and Seated
1995"You're the Star"19—A Spanner in the Works
"Leave Virginia Alone"—52
"Lady Luck"56—
"This"——
1996"So Far Away"——Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King
"Purple Heather"
(with The Scottish Euro '96 Squad)		16—A Spanner in the Works
"If We Fall in Love Tonight"5854If We Fall in Love Tonight
1997"When I Need You"——
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"
(N-Trance feat. Rod Stewart)		7—
  • ARIA: 2× Platinum[6]
Happy Hour (N-Trance album)
1998"Ooh La La"1639When We Were the New Boys
"Cigarettes and Alcohol"——
"Rocks"55—
"When We Were the New Boys"——
"Superstar"——
1999"Faith of the Heart"60—Patch Adams Soundtrack
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
2000s
YearSingleChart positionsAlbum
UK
[1]		US
AC
[8]
2000"Run Back into Your Arms"——Human
2001"I Can't Deny It"2618
"Don't Come Around Here"
(with Helicopter Girl)		7930
2002"These Foolish Things"—13It Had to Be You: the Great American Songbook
2003"They Can't Take That Away from Me"—27
"Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered"
(with Cher)		—17As Time Goes By: the Great American Songbook Volume II
"I Only Have Eyes for You"
(with Ana Belén)		——
2004"Time After Time"—21
"Smile"——
"What a Wonderful World"
(feat. Stevie Wonder)		—13Stardust: The Great American Songbook Volume III
"Baby, It's Cold Outside"
(with Dolly Parton)		—2
2005"Blue Moon"
(feat. Eric Clapton)		—23
"I've Got a Crush on You"
(with Diana Ross)		—19Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook Volume IV
"I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm"—22
2006"Have You Ever Seen the Rain?"—6Still the Same... Great Rock Classics of Our Time
2007"Fooled Around and Fell in Love"—13
"It's a Heartache"——
2009"It's the Same Old Song"——Soulbook
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
2010s
YearSingleChart positionsCertificationsAlbum
UK
[1]		US
[2]
2010"My Cherie Amour"
(feat. Stevie Wonder)		——Soulbook
"Everybody Hurts"
(as part of Helping Haiti)		1—Charity single
"I've Got You Under My Skin"——Fly Me to the Moon... The Great American Songbook Volume V
"Beyond the Sea"——
2012"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"——Merry Christmas, Baby
"Merry Christmas, Baby"
(with Cee Lo Green & Trombone Shorty)		111—
"Winter Wonderland"
(with Michael Bublé)		——
"We Three Kings"
(with Mary J. Blige)		——
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"51—
2013"She Makes Me Happy"——Time
"It's Over"91—
"Brighton Beach"——
"Can't Stop Me Now"199—
"Forever Young" [A]55—Time - Special Edition
2014"Beautiful Morning"——Time
2015"Everyday"
(with ASAP Rocky, Miguel and Mark Ronson)		5692
  • BPI: Platinum[9]
At. Long. Last. ASAP
"Love Is"——Another Country
"Please"——
2017"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"
(featuring DNCE)		——Non-album single
2018"Didn't I" (Feat. Bridget Cady)——Blood Red Roses
"Look in Her Eyes"——
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
2020s
YearSingleChart positionsAlbum
US
AC
[8]
2021"One More Time"19The Tears of Hercules
"Hold On"—
"I Can't Imagine"—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.




Main collaborators



Long John Baldry

Jeff Beck

Ronnie Wood 






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