AnyBlogDotCom: Rod Stewart album by album

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

Long John Baldry - vocals
Rod Stewart - vocals
Julie Driscoll - vocals
Brian Auger - organ
Vic Briggs - guitar
Richard Brown aka Ricky Fenson - bass guitar
Micky Waller - drums

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.

Released	July 1968 (USA) November 1968 (UK)
Recorded	16 May 1966; 14–26 May 1968
Studio	Abbey Road, Olympic and De Lane Lea, London
Genre	Blues rock, heavy metal, hard rock
Length	40:16
Label	EMI Columbia (UK), Epic (US)
Producer	Mickie Most

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Shapes of Things"	McCarty, Relf, Samwell-Smith	3:22
2.	"Let Me Love You"	Jeffrey Rod	4:44
3.	"Morning Dew"	Bonnie Dobson	4:40
4.	"You Shook Me"	Willie Dixon, J. B. Lenoir	2:33
5.	"Ol' Man River"	Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II	4:01

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Greensleeves"	Traditional	1:50
2.	"Rock My Plimsoul"	Jeffrey Rod	4:13
3.	"Beck's Bolero"	Jimmy Page	2:54
4.	"Blues Deluxe"	Jeffrey Rod	7:33
5.	"I Ain't Superstitious"	Willie Dixon	4:53

Jeff Beck – electric guitars, acoustic guitar on "Greensleeves"; pedal steel guitar on "Shapes of Things"; bass guitar on "Ol' Man River"; lead vocals on "Tallyman" and "Hi Ho Silver Lining", co-lead vocals on "Let Me Love You"
Rod Stewart – lead vocals, backing vocals on "Hi Ho Silver Lining"
Ronnie Wood – bass guitar
Micky Waller – drums

Additional credited personnel

John Paul Jones – bass guitar on "Hi Ho Silver Lining" and "Beck's Bolero"; Hammond organ on "Ol' Man River" and "You Shook Me"; arrangements on "Hi Ho Silver Lining"
Nicky Hopkins – piano on "Morning Dew", "You Shook Me", "Beck's Bolero" and "Blues Deluxe"
"You Know Who" (Keith Moon) – drums on "Beck's Bolero"; timpani on "Ol' Man River"

Additional uncredited personnel

Madeline Bell – backing vocals on "I've Been Drinking"
Aynsley Dunbar – drums on "Tallyman" and "Rock My Plimsoul (single version)"
Jimmy Page – 12-string electric guitar on "Beck's Bolero"

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.

Released	August 1969 UK
Recorded	3–19 April 1969
Studio	De Lane Lea, Abbey Road and Trident, London; Mirasound, New York City
Genre	Blues rock hard rock heavy metal
Length	30:29
Label	EMI Columbia (UK) Epic (US)
Producer	Mickie Most

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"All Shook Up"	Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley	4:49
2.	"Spanish Boots"	Ronnie Wood, Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart	3:32
3.	"Girl from Mill Valley"	Nicky Hopkins	3:44
4.	"Jailhouse Rock"	Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller	3:12

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Plynth (Water Down the Drain)"	Hopkins, Wood, Stewart	3:05
2.	"The Hangman's Knee"	Tony Newman, Beck, Hopkins, Stewart, Wood	4:47
3.	"Rice Pudding"	Hopkins, Wood, Beck, Newman	7:20


No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
8.	"Sweet Little Angel"	B.B. King	7:57
9.	"Throw Down a Line"	Hank Marvin	2:54
10.	"All Shook Up" (Early version)	Blackwell, Presley	3:18
11.	"Jailhouse Rock" (Early version)	Leiber, Stoller	3:11

Jeff Beck – guitars, backing vocals on "Throw Down a Line"
Rod Stewart – lead vocals
Nicky Hopkins – piano and organ
Ronnie Wood – bass guitar
Tony Newman – drums

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.

Released	November 1969 (US) February 1970 (UK)
Recorded	June–August 1969
Studio	Lansdowne and Olympic Studios, London
Genre	British folk rock
Length	32:47
Label	Vertigo, Mercury, Fontana
Producer	Rod Stewart, Lou Reizner

All tracks are written by Rod Stewart, except where indicated

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Street Fighting Man"	Mick Jagger, Keith Richards	5:05
2.	"Man of Constant Sorrow"	traditional; arranged by Stewart	3:12
3.	"Blind Prayer"		4:36
4.	"Handbags and Gladrags"	Mike d'Abo	4:24

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(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 MacColl	3:42
Total length:			32:47

Rod Stewart – vocals, guitars on "Man of Constant Sorrow"
Ronnie Wood – guitars, bass, harmonica on "Dirty Old Town"
Martin Pugh – guitars
Martin Quittenton – acoustic guitar
Ian McLagan – piano, organ
Micky Waller – drums
Mike d'Abo – piano on "Handbags and Gladrags"
Lou Reizner – vocals on "I Wouldn't Ever Change a Thing"
Keith Emerson – organ on "I Wouldn't Ever Change a Thing"

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 9
Score: 5

First Step
March 1970 - Faces

Decent album with some good tracks.

Released	27 March 1970^[1]
Recorded	December 1969 – January 1970 at De Lane Lea Studios, London
Genre	Blues rock,^[2] R&B
Length	46:22
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Faces

All lead vocals by Rod Stewart except where indicated

Side one

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

Side two

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

Rod Stewart – lead and backing vocals, harmonica, banjo (track 4)
Ronnie Lane – bass, rhythm and acoustic guitars, backing vocals, lead vocal (track 4), co-lead vocal (tracks 2,3 & 8)
Ronnie Wood – lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars, second bass guitar (track 10), backing vocals
Ian McLagan – Hammond organ, Wurlitzer electric and acoustic pianos, backing vocals
Kenney Jones – drums and percussion

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.

Released	12 June 1970
Recorded	February–April 1970
Studio	Morgan, London
Genre	British folk rock
Length	42:30
Label	Mercury, Vertigo
Producer	Rod Stewart, Lou Reizner

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

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.

Released	February 1971
Recorded	September 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	Blues rock boogie rock
Length	45:02
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Faces

Side one

"Bad 'n' Ruin" (Ian McLagan, Rod Stewart) – 5:30
"Tell Everyone" (Ronnie Lane) – 4:22
"Sweet Lady Mary" (Lane, Stewart, Ronnie Wood) – 5:40
"Richmond" (Lane) – 3:05 (lead vocals: Ronnie Lane)
"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

"Had Me a Real Good Time" (Lane, Stewart, Wood) – 5:50
"On the Beach" (Lane, Wood) – 4:15 (lead vocals: Ronnie Lane and Ron Wood)
"I Feel So Good" [Live at Fillmore East, New York 11/10/70] (Big Bill Broonzy) – 8:50
"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.

Released	28 May 1971
Recorded	November 1970−January 1971
Studio	Morgan Studios, London
Genre	Roots rock^[1]
Length	40:31
Label	Mercury
Producer	Rod Stewart

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Every Picture Tells a Story"	Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood	6:01
2.	"Seems Like a Long Time"	Theodore Anderson	4:02
3.	"That's All Right / Amazing Grace"	Arthur Crudup / traditional; arranged by Stewart	6:02
4.	"Tomorrow Is a Long Time"	Bob Dylan	3:43

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Henry"	Martin Quittenton	0:32
2.	"Maggie May"	Stewart, Quittenton	5:15
3.	"Mandolin Wind"	Stewart	5:33
4.	"(I Know) I'm Losing You"	Norman Whitfield, Eddie Holland, Cornelius Grant	5:23
5.	"(Find a) Reason to Believe"	Tim Hardin	4:05
Total length:			40:31

Rod Stewart – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Ronnie Wood – guitar, pedal steel guitar, bass guitar
Martin Quittenton – acoustic guitar
Ray Jackson ("the mandolin player in Lindisfarne") – mandolin
Sam Mitchell – slide guitar
Andy Pyle – bass guitar
Ronnie Lane – bass guitar and backing vocals on "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (uncredited)
Danny Thompson – upright bass
Dick Powell – violin
Ian McLagan – Hammond organ, piano on "(I Know) I'm Losing You"
Pete Sears – piano, celeste
Long John Baldry – vocals on "Every Picture Tells a Story"
Maggie Bell – "vocal abrasives" on "Every Picture Tells a Story"
Madeline Bell and friends – "vocal abrasives" on "Seems Like a Long Time"
Micky Waller – drums
Kenney Jones – drums on "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (uncredited)

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 10
Score: 10

Faces Live Oct 1971 Paris Theatre TV Special
Longer version (45 minutes) but poor quality

Recorded at the Paris Theatre in London for the BBC.

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.

Released	17 November 1971^[1]
Recorded	March–September 1971 Olympic Studios, London
Length	35:56
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Faces and Glyn Johns

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Miss Judy's Farm"	Rod Stewart Ronnie Wood	Rod Stewart	3:38
2.	"You're So Rude"	Ronnie Lane Ian McLagan	Ronnie Lane	3:41
3.	"Love Lives Here"	Lane Stewart Wood	Stewart	3:04
4.	"Last Orders Please"	Lane	Lane	2:33
5.	"Stay with Me"	Stewart Wood	Stewart	4:37
Total length:				17:33

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Debris"	Lane	Lane (with Stewart on harmony vocal)	4:36
2.	"Memphis"	Chuck Berry	Stewart	5:29
3.	"Too Bad"	Stewart Wood	Stewart (with Lane, McLagan and Wood backing)	3:12
4.	"That's All You Need"	Stewart Wood	Stewart	5:06
Total length:				18:23

Rod Stewart – lead vocals on tracks 1, 3, 5 & 7–9, harmonica
Ronnie Lane – bass, acoustic guitar, percussion, lead vocals on tracks 2, 4 & 6, backing vocals on "Too Bad"
Ronnie Wood – lead, slide, acoustic and pedal steel guitars, harmonica, backing vocals on "Too Bad"
Ian McLagan – piano, organ, backing vocals on "Too Bad"
Kenney Jones – drums, percussion
Harry Fowler – steel drums on "That's All You Need"
Glyn Johns – co-producer, engineer

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.

Released	21 July 1972
Recorded	March–May 1972
Studio	Morgan and Olympic, London
Genre	Folk rock
Length	32:55
Label	Mercury
Producer	Rod Stewart

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"True Blue"	Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood	3:32
2.	"Lost Paraguayos"	Stewart, Wood	3:57
3.	"Mama, You Been on My Mind"	Bob Dylan	4:29
4.	"Italian Girls"	Stewart, Wood	4:54

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Angel"	Jimi Hendrix	4:04
2.	"Interludings"	Art Wood	0:40
3.	"You Wear It Well"	Stewart, Martin Quittenton	4:22
4.	"I'd Rather Go Blind"	Billy Foster, Ellington Jordan	3:53
5.	"Twistin' the Night Away"	Sam Cooke	3:13
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.

Released	March 1973
Recorded	September 1972 – January 1973
Studio	Olympic, London
Genre	Rock and roll^[1]
Length	30:22
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Glyn Johns


Side one

"Silicone Grown" (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood) – 3:05
"Cindy Incidentally" (Ian McLagan, Stewart, Wood) – 2:37
"Flags and Banners" (Ronnie Lane, Stewart) – 2:00 (lead singer: Ronnie Lane)
"My Fault" (McLagan, Stewart, Wood) – 3:05 (lead singers: Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood)
"Borstal Boys" (McLagan, Stewart, Wood) – 2:52

Side two

"Fly in the Ointment" (instrumental) (Kenney Jones, Lane, McLagan, Wood) – 3:49
"If I'm on the Late Side" (Lane, Stewart) – 2:36
"Glad and Sorry" (Lane) – 3:04 (lead singers: Ronnie Lane, Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan)
"Just Another Honky" (Lane) – 3:32
"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.

Released	10 January 1974^[1]
Recorded	17 October 1973 at Anaheim Arena (Anaheim, CA)
Genre	Boogie rock
Length	49:48
Label	Mercury Warner Bros.
Producer	Faces

Side one

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

Side two

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

Rod Stewart – lead vocals
Ronnie Wood – guitars, backing vocals
Ian McLagan – keyboards, backing vocals
Tetsu Yamauchi – bass, trombone
Kenney Jones – drums

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.

Released	27 September 1974
Recorded	Morgan Studios, London and The Wick, Richmond November 1973-May 1974
Genre	Rock and roll, folk rock, blue-eyed soul
Length	42:24
Label	Mercury
Producer	Rod Stewart

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

Rod Stewart – vocals^[7]
Ronnie Wood – acoustic & electric guitar, bass guitar
Martin Quittenton – acoustic guitar
Spike Heatley, Willie Weeks – bass guitar
Elton John – piano and vocals on "Let Me Be Your Car"
Pete Sears – piano, harpsichord, celeste
Ian McLagan – Hammond organ
Ray Jackson – mandolin
Ric Grech, Dick Powell – violin
The Memphis Horns - horns
Paul McCartney – backing vocals on "Mine for Me"
Irene Chanter – backing vocals
Ray Cooper – percussion
Tropic Isles Steel Band – drums
Micky Waller, Andy Newmark, Kenney Jones – drums
Chris Barber's Jazz Band

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 4
Score: 4

Atlantic Crossing (Aug 1975)

This album marks a significant change in Stewart's life and approach to music. He'd switched record labels, moved to America, left behind his association with the musicians he's previously worked with such as Ronnie Wood and Pete Sears, and employed Tom Doyd as producer. The result is a greater focus on the slick aspects of Stewart's style, which had always been there, but were contained within the other more laddish and looser rocky elements. The album was his fourth UK number one, and contained the No. 1 hit "I Don't Want to Talk About It” and the international bestseller "Sailing". This album, though still having one foot in Stewart's previous solo albums, marked a change in attitude toward Stewart. His fan base changed, critics started to become more critical, and the media presentation became less friendly and more mocking.

All in all it's a pleasant album, and not quite as trivial as I remembered (and I can endure "Sailing" better now than I could at the time), though it doesn't really touch me.

Released	15 August 1975
Recorded	April–June 1975
Studio	A&R (New York) Criteria (Miami) Wally Heider's Studio 3 (Hollywood) Hi Recording Muscle Shoals (Alabama)
Genre	Pop rock
Length	44:27
Label	Riva, Warner Bros.
Producer	Tom Dowd

Fast Side (Side One)

"Three Time Loser" (Rod Stewart) – 4:03
"Alright for an Hour" (Stewart, Jesse Ed Davis) – 4:17
"All in the Name of Rock 'N' Roll" (Stewart) – 5:02
"Drift Away" (Mentor Williams) – 3:43
"Stone Cold Sober" (Stewart, Steve Cropper) – 4:12

Slow Side (Side Two)

"I Don't Want to Talk About It" (Danny Whitten) – 4:47
"It's Not the Spotlight" (Barry Goldberg, Gerry Goffin) – 4:21
"This Old Heart of Mine" (Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, Eddie Holland, Sylvia Moy) – 4:04
"Still Love You" (Stewart) – 5:08
"Sailing" (Gavin Sutherland) – 4:37

Rod Stewart – vocals
Pete Carr – acoustic guitar and electric guitar on Sailing^[9]
Jesse Ed Davis – guitars
Steve Cropper – guitars
Fred Tackett – guitars
Jimmy Johnson – guitars
Barry Beckett – keyboards
Albhy Galuten – keyboards
Booker T. Jones – Hammond organ
Donald "Duck" Dunn – bass
Lee Sklar – bass
Bob Glaub – bass
David Hood – bass
David Lindley – mandolin, violin
Al Jackson, Jr. – drums, percussion
Roger Hawkins – drums, percussion
Nigel Olsson – drums, percussion
Willie Correa – drums, percussion
The Memphis Horns – trumpet, trombone, saxophone
Cindy & Bob Singers, The Pets & The Clappers – backing vocals

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 9
Score: 5

A Night on the Town (June 1976)

This contains "Tonight's the Night", which is a somewhat sleazy seductive song, though with elements of the feel on Every Picture, so it repels and attracts me at the same time. It has Stewart's folky rock and soul approach, but dressed in a greasy production. It also has one of Stewart's excellent covers - Cat Steven's "The First Cut Is The Deepest". And one of Stewart's best songs not on Every Picture: "The Killing of Georgie". It's a shame his image at this point was deteriorating because of his overall sleazy behaviour and dress, and his false manner of delivering these excellent songs.

I don't think on the whole this is an album that holds together, and despite those three outstanding songs, is not an album I'd want in my collection.

Released	18 June 1976
Recorded	December 1975-April 1976
Studio	Cherokee, Los Angeles Muscle Shoals, Sheffield Criteria, Miami Caribou Ranch, Nederland
Genre	Rock
Length	41:19
Label	Riva, Warner Bros.
Producer	Tom Dowd

Side one – *Slow Side*
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)"	Rod Stewart	3:54
2.	"The First Cut Is the Deepest"	Cat Stevens	4:31
3.	"Fool for You"	Stewart	3:49
4.	"The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)"	Stewart	6:28

Side two – *Fast Side*
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Balltrap"	Stewart	4:37
2.	"Pretty Flamingo"	Mark Barkan	3:27
3.	"Big Bayou"	Gib Guilbeau	3:54
4.	"The Wild Side of Life"	Arlie Carter, William Warren	5:09
5.	"Trade Winds"	Ralph MacDonald, William Salter	5:16

Rod Stewart – vocals
Donald Dunn, Bob Glaub, David Hood, Willie Weeks, Lee Sklar – bass guitar
Steve Cropper, Billy Peek, Joe Walsh, Jesse Ed Davis, David Lindley, Fred Tackett, Pete Carr – guitar
John Barlow Jarvis, David Foster, Barry Beckett, J. Smith – keyboards
Roger Hawkins, Andy Newmark, Al Jackson Jr., Rick Shlosser – drums
Tommy Vig, Joe Lala – percussion
Jimmy Horowitz, Mel Lewis, Arif Mardin – string arrangements
Tower of Power horn section – French horn
Jerry Jumonville, Plas Johnson – tenor saxophone

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 9
Score: 4

Foot Loose & Fancy Free (Nov 1977)

Moving further in the wrong direction.

Released	4 November 1977
Recorded	1976–1977
Genre	Rock
Length	44:06
Label	Riva, Warner Bros.
Producer	Tom Dowd

All tracks are written by Rod Stewart and Gary Grainger unless noted otherwise.

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Hot Legs"		5:14
2.	"You're Insane"	Stewart, Phil Chen	4:48
3.	"You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)"	Stewart	4:30
4.	"Born Loose"	Stewart, Grainger, Jim Cregan	6:02
Total length:			20:34

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"You Keep Me Hangin' On" (The Supremes cover)	Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland	7:28
2.	"(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" (Luther Ingram cover)	Homer Banks, Carl Hampton, Raymond Jackson	5:23
3.	"You Got a Nerve"		4:59
4.	"I Was Only Joking"		6:07
Total length:			23:57

Rod Stewart – lead and backing vocals
Gary Grainger – guitar, backing vocals
Jim Cregan – guitar, backing vocals
Phil Chen – bass guitar, backing vocals
Carmine Appice – drums, backing vocals
Billy Peek – guitar, backing vocals
John Barlow Jarvis – keyboards, backing vocals

Steve Cropper – guitar

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 4
Score: 3

Blondes Have More Fun (Nov 1978)

More superficial than the previous album. But only just. Listenable, but borderline tedious and boring.

Released	24 November 1978^[1]
Recorded	1978
Genre	Rock, rock and roll, disco
Length	43:09
Label	Riva, Warner Bros.
Producer	Tom Dowd

Side one

"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" (Rod Stewart, Carmine Appice, Duane Hitchings) – 5:31^[a]
"Dirty Weekend" (Stewart, Gary Grainger) – 2:36
"Ain't Love a Bitch" (Stewart, Grainger) – 4:39
"The Best Days of My Life" (Stewart, Jim Cregan) – 4:21
"Is That the Thanks I Get?" (Stewart, Cregan) – 4:32

Side two

"Attractive Female Wanted" (Stewart, Grainger) – 4:17
"Blondes (Have More Fun)" (Stewart, Cregan) – 3:46
"Last Summer" (Stewart, Philip Chen) – 4:05
"Standin' in the Shadows of Love" (Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland, Brian Holland) – 4:28
"Scarred and Scared" (Stewart, Grainger) – 4:54

Rod Stewart – vocals
Gary Grainger, Billy Peek – guitar
Jim Cregan – guitar, backing vocals
Phil Chen – bass guitar, backing vocals
Carmine Appice – drums, backing vocals

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 3

Foolish Behaviour (Nov 1980

Superficial, trivial. But the album sold, and so did five singles, two of which reached the charts. There's nothing new or interesting here. Just someone who is successful going through the moments to keep the money flowing in. It's not crap, but it's getting close to it. "Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight" is listenable, and harks back to the Every Picture sound.

Released	21 November 1980
Recorded	November–December 1979; February–September 1980
Genre	Rock, pop rock
Length	41:01
Label	Warner Bros., Riva
Producer	Harry the Hook, The Rod Stewart Group, Jeremy Andrew Johns (except "She Won’t Dance With Me" – Tom Dowd)

All tracks written by Rod Stewart, Phil Chen, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan and Gary Grainger; except where noted.

Side one

"Better off Dead" (Stewart, Chen, Savigar, Carmine Appice) – 3:07
"Passion" – 5:29
"Foolish Behaviour" – 4:24
"So Soon We Change" – 3:44
"Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight" – 5:02

Side two

"Gi' Me Wings" – 3:47
"My Girl" (Stewart, Chen, Savigar, Cregan, Grainger, Appice) – 4:27
"She Won’t Dance with Me" (Stewart, Jorge Ben) – 2:30
"Somebody Special" (Stewart, Steve Harley, Chen, Savigar, Cregan, Grainger) – 4:29
"Say It Ain’t True" – 4:02

Rod Stewart – vocals, harmonica
Jim Cregan (A 5 all guitars ), Gary Grainger (Dobro A 3 ), Billy Peek (A 1, B 3) – guitar
Phil Chen, Tim Bogert (B 1 - B 3), James Haslip (A 5) – bass guitar
Carmine Appice – drums, timpani
Colin Allen (A 5, B 4, B 5), Roger Bethelmy (A 4) – drums
Kevin Savigar, John Jarvis – keyboards
Paulinho Da Costa – percussion

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 4
Score: 3

Tonight I'm Yours (Nov 1981)

Full on synth disco Eighties sound. Commercial pop and not ashamed of it. This is professional, accomplished, well produced, but completely lacking in significance or heart. This is a long long way from Every Picture. "Young Turks" is probably the best song on the album. On the whole not a good album, but better than the previous three.

Released	6 November 1981
Recorded	November 1980 – June 1981
Studio	Record Plant, Los Angeles
Genre	Soft rock pop rock new wave
Length	41:29
Label	Warner Bros. Riva
Producer	Jim Cregan, Rod Stewart

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)"	Stewart, Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar	4:09
2.	"How Long"	Paul Carrack	4:12
3.	"Tora, Tora, Tora (Out With The Boys)"	Stewart	4:29
4.	"Tear It Up"	Dorsey Burnette, Johnny Burnette, David Burlinson	2:29
5.	"Only a Boy"	Stewart, Cregan, Savigar	4:09
6.	"Just Like a Woman"	Bob Dylan	3:55
7.	"Jealous"	Stewart, Carmine Appice, Jay Davis, Danny Johnson	4:30
8.	"Sonny"	Stewart, Cregan, Savigar, Bernie Taupin	4:01
9.	"Young Turks"	Stewart, Appice, Duane Hitchings, Savigar	5:04
10.	"Never Give Up on a Dream"	Stewart, Cregan, Taupin	4:20

Rod Stewart – vocals
Jim Cregan – guitar and backing vocals
Robin Le Mesurier – guitar
Jeff Baxter – guitar and pedal steel guitar
Danny Johnson – guitar
Byron Berline – fiddle
Jimmy Zavala – harmonica and saxophone
Kevin Savigar – keyboards
Duane Hitchings – keyboards
Jay Davis – bass
Carmine Appice – drums and backing vocals
Tony Brock – drums, tambourine and backing vocals
Paulinho da Costa – percussion
Tommy Vig – tubular bells
Penny Jones – soloist
Linda Lewis, the Pentecostal Community Choir – backing vocals
Karat Faye – engineer

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 8
Score: 4

Absolutely Live (Nov 1982)

Double live album. Not one of the greatest live albums ever made, but it's approachable and entertaining, and a good summary of Stewart live. He includes songs from the full range of his solo career. Decent enough.

Released	November 1982
Venue	The Forum, Los Angeles Long Beach Arena San Diego Sports Arena, California Wembley Stadium, London The NEC, Birmingham, England
Genre	Rock, pop, folk rock
Length	84:26 LP 75:36 CD
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Rod Stewart

Side A

"The Stripper" – 0:10
"Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)" – 4:10
"Sweet Little Rock and Roller" – 4:25
"Hot Legs" – 4:52
"Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" – 4:23
"The Great Pretender" – 3:34

Side B

"Passion" – 5:04
"She Won't Dance with Me / Little Queenie" – 4:34
"You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)" – 4:34
"Rock My Plimsoul" – 4:24

Side C

"Young Turks" – 5:28
"Guess I'll Always Love You" – 4:51
"Gasoline Alley" – 2:15
"Maggie May" – 5:08
"Tear It Up" – 3:26

Side D

"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" – 6:04
"Sailing" – 4:45
"I Don't Want to Talk About It" – 4:34
"Stay with Me" – 5:34

Rod Stewart – vocals, producer, mixing
Jim Cregan – guitars, backing vocals, mixing
Robin Le Mesurier – guitars, backing vocals
Wally Stocker – guitars
Kevin Savigar – piano, keyboards, backing vocals
Jimmy Zavala – harmonicas, saxophones, keyboards, bells
Jay Davis – bass, backing vocals
Tony Brock – drums

Guest musicians

Kim Carnes, Tina Turner – vocals on "Stay with Me"

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 2
Score: 4 1/2

Body Wishes (June 1982)

I find my attention drifting a lot while listening to this album. It's not awful, it's just empty and boring.

Released	10 June 1983
Recorded	1982
Genre	Rock, pop rock
Length	41:19
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Tom Dowd

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Dancin' Alone"	Rod Stewart, Robin Le Mesurier	4:03
2.	"Baby Jane"	Stewart, Jay Davis	4:44
3.	"Move Me"	Stewart, Tony Brock, Jay Davis, Wally Stocker, Kevin Savigar	3:36
4.	"Body Wishes"	Stewart, Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar, Robin Le Mesurier	4:41
5.	"Sweet Surrender"	Stewart, Le Mesurier	4:00
6.	"What Am I Gonna Do (I'm So in Love with You)"	Stewart, Davis, Brock	4:19
7.	"Ghetto Blaster"	Stewart, Cregan, Savigar	4:07
8.	"Ready Now"	Stewart, Stocker	3:34
9.	"Strangers Again"	Stewart, Cregan, Savigar	4:10
10.	"Satisfied"	Stewart, Bernie Taupin, Cregan, Savigar	4:08

Rod Stewart – lead vocals, backing vocals
Jim Cregan – guitar, Backing vocals
Robin Le Mesurier – guitar
Jay Davis – bass guitar, backing vocals
Tony Brock – drums, electronic drums
Kevin Savigar – synthesizer, piano
Tommy Vig – percussion
Jimmy Zavala – saxophone, harmonica

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 3
Score: 3

Camouflage (June 1984)

Not just boring and superficial but a little irritating as well. I suspect this is Stewart's worse album - I can't imagine it getting worse than this for someone who can sing so well, and when he puts his mind to it can interpret other's songs beautifully.

Released	8 June 1984^[1]
Studio	Lion Share Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	Rock
Length	36:33
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Michael Omartian

"Infatuation" (Rod Stewart, Duane Hitchings, Rowland Robinson) – 5:13
"All Right Now" (Andy Fraser, Paul Rodgers) – 4:41
"Some Guys Have All the Luck" (Jeff Fortang [sic]^[8]) – 4:33
"Can We Still Be Friends" (Todd Rundgren) – 3:46
"Bad For You" (Stewart, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan) – 5:17
"Heart Is on the Line" (Stewart, Jay Davis) – 4:02
"Camouflage" (Stewart, Savigar, Michael Omartian) – 5:19
"Trouble" (Stewart, Omartian) – 4:42

Rod Stewart – vocals
Kevin Savigar – keyboards
Michael Omartian – keyboards, percussion, backing vocals, horn arrangements
Jeff Beck – guitar solo (1, 4, 5)
Jim Cregan – guitars
Michael Landau – guitars
Robin Le Mesurier – guitars
Jay Davis – bass
Tony Brock – drums
Jimmy Zavala – harmonica
Gary Herbig – saxophone solos
Kim Hutchcroft – horns
Charlie Loper – horns
Chuck Findley – horns
Gary Grant – horns
Jerry Hey – horns

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 4
Score: 2 1/2

Every Beat of My Heart (June 1986)

Wallpaper paste music. Very Eighties. It exists, its professional, and Stewart has an attractive voice, but it all washes over me making no impression at all, other than hearing echoes and memories of past Stewart songs, which kinda makes the experience even sadder. The creative spark has gone, but while his albums still reach the Top Five in several countries around the world, I doubt if Stewart is that bothered. He probably thinks this stuff is acceptable.

Released	23 June 1986^[1]
Genre	Rock, pop rock
Length	42:37
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Bob Ezrin

"Here to Eternity" (Rod Stewart, Kevin Savigar) – 5:58
"Another Heartache" (Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance, Stewart, Randy Wayne) – 4:29
"A Night Like This" (Stewart) – 4:06
"Who's Gonna Take Me Home" (Stewart, Savigar, Jay Davis) – 4:38
"Red Hot in Black" (Stewart, Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar) – 3:30
"Love Touch" (Mike Chapman, Gene Black, Holly Knight) – 3:59
"In My Own Crazy Way" (Stewart, Frankie Miller, Troy Seals, Eddie Setser) – 3:17
"Every Beat of My Heart" (Stewart, Kevin Savigar) – 5:18
"Ten Days of Rain" (Stewart, Savigar, Tony Brock) – 5:21
"In My Life" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 2:00

Rod Stewart – lead vocals
Kevin Savigar – keyboards
Nicky Hopkins – keyboards
Bob Ezrin – keyboards, backing vocals
Randy Wayne – keyboards
Paul Fox – keyboards
Jim Cregan – guitar, backing vocals
Robin Le Mesurier – guitar
Robert Athis (Kane Roberts) – guitar
John Corey – guitar, electric sitar
Gene Black – guitar
Steve Cropper – guitar
Nils Lofgren – guitar
David Williams – guitar
Jay Davis – bass guitar
Patrick O'Hearn – bass guitar
Scott Edwards – bass guitar
Tony Brock – drums

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 4
Score: 3

Out of Order (May 1988)

This is more energetic and alive than previous albums. Perhaps Stewart was bothered that previous albums sounded tired, cliched, superficial, plastic, and boring. Not that the new vigour and rigour has resulted in a good album, it's just not as bad as the rest of his Eighties albums. The lyrics to "Forever Young" are so close to Dylan's song that Stewart was advised to inform Dylan who not surprisingly said that he should be listed as a songwriter.

Released	23 May 1988
Recorded	1987–1988
Studio	Record Plant and Ocean Way Recording (Los Angeles, CA).
Genre	Pop rock
Length	51:30
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Rod Stewart, Andy Taylor, Bernard Edwards

"Lost in You" (Stewart, Andy Taylor) – 4:59
"The Wild Horse" (Stewart, Taylor) – 4:58
"Lethal Dose of Love" (Taylor, Stewart, Tony Brock) – 4:38
"Forever Young" (Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar, Bob Dylan, Stewart) – 4:03
"My Heart Can't Tell You No" (Simon Climie, Dennis Morgan) – 5:12
"Dynamite" (Taylor, Stewart) – 4:16
"Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" (Jimmy Cox) – 3:50
"Crazy About Her" (Duane Hitchings, Cregan, Stewart) – 4:53
"Try a Little Tenderness" (Jimmy Campbell, Reginald Connelly, Harry M. Woods) – 4:27
"When I Was Your Man" (Savigar, Stewart) – 5:14
"Almost Illegal" (Stewart, Taylor) – 4:27

Rod Stewart – vocals
Bill Payne – acoustic piano (2, 6)
William "Smitty" Smith – Hammond organ (2)
Kevin Savigar – keyboards (3–5, 7–10)
Duane Hitchings – keyboards (8)
Michael Landau – guitar (1, 2, 4, 6–10), guitar solo (7)
Andy Taylor – guitar (1–6, 11), guitar solo (1, 2, 4)
David Lindley – mandolin (1, 2), slide guitar (7), fiddle (11)
Jim Cregan – acoustic guitar (4), acoustic guitar solo (5), guitar (5, 7, 8)
Eddie Martinez – guitar (9)
Bob Glaub – bass (1, 5, 11)
Bernard Edwards – bass (2, 3, 4, 6–10)
Tony Thompson – drums (1, 2, 6, 9, 10)
Tony Brock – drums (3–5, 11), programming (7, 8)

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 5
Score: 4

The Best of (Nov 1989)

Useful compilation album, released at the same time as the comprehensive Storyteller anthology album. Both releases contain "Downtown Train", which was simultaneously released as a single.

For me this compilation could have more of Stewarts early songs, but as they were released by a different record company, it's clear that Warner wished to stick to their own songs. However, they, of course, had to include "Maggie May" and "You Wear It Well", otherwise this wouldn't be a proper Best of. This isn't what I'd personally select as the best of Stewart up to 1989, but it's acceptable.

Released	27 November 1989
Genre	Rock soft rock pop rock
Length	70:18
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Tom Dowd Rod Stewart Jim Cregan

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Maggie May" (from the album Every Picture Tells a Story)	Rod Stewart Martin Quittenton	4:56
2.	"You Wear It Well" (from Never a Dull Moment)	Stewart Quittenton	4:20
3.	"Baby Jane" (from Body Wishes)	Stewart Jay Davis	4:42
4.	"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" (from Blondes Have More Fun)	Stewart Carmine Appice	4:26
5.	"I Was Only Joking" (from Foot Loose & Fancy Free)	Stewart Gary Grainger	4:48
6.	"This Old Heart of Mine" (with Ronald Isley; new version)	Holland–Dozier–Holland Sylvia Moy	4:27
7.	"Sailing" (from Atlantic Crossing)	Gavin Sutherland	4:21
8.	"I Don't Want to Talk About It" (from Atlantic Crossing)	Danny Whitten	4:48
9.	"You're in My Heart" (from Foot Loose & Fancy Free)	Stewart	4:28
10.	"Young Turks" (from Tonight I'm Yours)	Stewart Appice Duane Hitchings Kevin Savigar	4:35
11.	"What Am I Gonna Do (I'm So in Love with You)" (from Body Wishes)	Stewart Davis Tony Brock	3:36
12.	"The First Cut Is the Deepest" (from A Night on the Town)	Cat Stevens	3:52
13.	"The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)" (from A Night on the Town)	Stewart	6:13
14.	"Tonight's the Night" (from A Night on the Town)	Stewart	3:34
15.	"Every Beat of My Heart" (from Every Beat of My Heart)	Stewart Savigar	4:39
16.	"Downtown Train" (new track)	Tom Waits	4:30

Wikipedia

AllMusic: -
Score: 5

Storyteller (Nov 1989)
The Complete Anthology: 1964–1990

This is a very weighty anthology for someone who, lets be honest, has not actually released that many worthy tracks. Stewart has a great voice, and an instinctive understanding of songs which enables him to often give new emotion to covers, so even at his worse it can be a reasonably pleasant listen. However, 65 tracks over four discs, amounting to something like five hours of often fairly limited songs in a narrow profile, is rather too much. The following year, March 1990, Warners released what they called Downtown Train – Selections from the Storyteller Anthology, an album of 12 tracks almost identical to The Best of, minus four tracks, which must have made Tom Waits happy that his song was released in four different formats by one of the world's best selling artists in the space of a few months.

Not quite sure who this album was aimed at, but it sold well enough.

Released	November 1989
Recorded	1964–1989
Genre	Rock, pop, rock and roll
Length	291:54
Label	Warner Bros.

Disc One
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Original appearance	Length
1.	"Good Morning, School Girl" (Blues standard cover)	Sonny Boy Williamson I	1964 – Non-album single	2:06
2.	"Can I Get a Witness" (Marvin Gaye cover)	Holland-Dozier-Holland	1977 – Rod Stewart & Steampacket	3:34
3.	"Shake" (Sam Cooke cover)	Sam Cooke	1966 – Non-album single	2:48
4.	"So Much to Say"	Rod Stewart	1968 – B-side to non-album single	3:13
5.	"Little Miss Understood"	Stewart	1968 – Non-album single	3:37
6.	"I've Been Drinking"	Stewart, Jeff Beck	1968 – B-side to non-album single	3:17
7.	"I Ain't Superstitious" (Howlin' Wolf cover)	Willie Dixon	1968 – Truth	4:53
8.	"Shapes of Things" (The Yardbirds cover)	Jim McCarty, Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith	1968 – Truth	3:18
9.	"In a Broken Dream"	Dave Bentley	1972 – In a Broken Dream	3:39
10.	"Street Fighting Man" (Rolling Stones cover)	Keith Richards, Mick Jagger	1969 – An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down	5:05
11.	"Handbags and Gladrags" (Mike d'Abo cover)	Mike d'Abo	1969 – An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down	4:23
12.	"Gasoline Alley"	Stewart, Ronald Wood	1970 – Gasoline Alley	4:02
13.	"Cut Across Shorty" (Eddie Cochran cover)	Marijohn Wilkin, Wayne P. Walker	1970 – Gasoline Alley	6:31
14.	"Country Comfort" (Elton John cover)	Elton John, Bernie Taupin	1970 – Gasoline Alley	4:43
15.	"It's All Over Now" (The Valentinos cover)	Bobby Womack, Shirley Womack	1970 – Gasoline Alley	6:22
16.	"Sweet Lady Mary" (with Faces)	Stewart, Wood, Ronald Lane	1971 – Long Player	5:48
17.	"Had Me a Real Good Time" (with Faces)	Stewart, Wood, Lane	1971 – Long Player	5:54

Disc Two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Original appearance	Length
1.	"Maggie May"	Stewart, Martin Quittenton	1971 – Every Picture Tells a Story	5:45
2.	"Mandolin Wind"	Stewart	1971 – Every Picture Tells a Story	5:30
3.	"(I Know) I'm Losing You" (The Temptations cover)	Cornelius Grant, Eddie Holland, Norman Whitfield	1971 – Every Picture Tells a Story	5:22
4.	"Reason to Believe" (Tim Hardin cover)	Tim Hardin	1971 – Every Picture Tells a Story	4:07
5.	"Every Picture Tells a Story"	Stewart, Wood	1971 – Every Picture Tells a Story	5:58
6.	"Stay With Me" (with Faces)	Stewart, Wood	1971 – A Nod Is as Good as a Wink...To a Blind Horse	4:37
7.	"True Blue"	Stewart, Wood	1972 – Never a Dull Moment	3:33
8.	"Angel" (Jimi Hendrix cover)	Jimi Hendrix	1972 – Never a Dull Moment	4:04
9.	"You Wear It Well"	Stewart, Quittenton	1972 – Never a Dull Moment	4:20
10.	"I'd Rather Go Blind" (Etta James cover)	Ellington Jordan, Etta James, Billy Foster	1972 – Never a Dull Moment	3:53
11.	"Twistin' the Night Away" (Sam Cooke cover)	Cooke	1972 – Never a Dull Moment	3:14
12.	"What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)" (Jerry Lee Lewis cover)	Glenn Sutton	1972 – Double A-side with Angel	2:52
13.	"Oh No Not My Baby" (Maxine Brown cover with Faces members Wood, Kenny Jones, Ian McLagan)	Gerry Goffin, Carole King	1973 – Non-album single	3:38
14.	"Pinball Wizard" (The Who cover)	Pete Townshend	1972 – Tommy	3:40
15.	"Sweet Little Rock 'N Roller" (Chuck Berry cover)	Chuck Berry	1974 – Smiler	3:46
16.	"Let Me Be Your Car" (Elton John cover)	John	1974 – Smiler	4:58
17.	"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)	Stewart, Wood, Ian McLagan	1974 – Non-album single	4:23

Disc Three
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Original appearance	Length
1.	"Sailing" (Sutherland Brothers cover)	Gavin Sutherland	1975 – Atlantic Crossing	4:38
2.	"I Don't Want to Talk About It" (Crazy Horse cover)	Danny Whitten	1975 – Atlantic Crossing	4:49
3.	"Stone Cold Sober"	Stewart, Steve Cropper	1975 – Atlantic Crossing	4:12
4.	"To Love Somebody" (Bee Gees cover with Booker T. & the M.G.'s)	Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb	1975 – Atlantic Crossing	4:30
5.	"Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)"	Stewart	1976 – A Night on the Town	3:54
6.	"The First Cut Is the Deepest" (Cat Stevens cover)	Cat Stevens	1976 – A Night on the Town	4:26
7.	"The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)"	Stewart	1976 – A Night on the Town	6:31
8.	"Get Back" (The Beatles cover)	Paul McCartney, John Lennon	1976 – All This and World War II	4:24
9.	"Hot Legs"	Stewart, Gary Grainger	1977 – Foot Loose & Fancy Free	5:11
10.	"I Was Only Joking"	Stewart, Grainger	1977 – Foot Loose & Fancy Free	6:02
11.	"You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)"	Stewart	1977 – Foot Loose & Fancy Free	4:28
12.	"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"	Stewart, Carmine Appice, Duane Hitchings	1978 – Blondes Have More Fun	5:28
13.	"Passion"	Stewart, Grainger, Phil Chen, Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar	1980 – Foolish Behaviour	5:30
14.	"Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight"	Stewart, Grainger, Chen, Cregan, Savigar	1980 – Foolish Behaviour	5:01
15.	"Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)"	Stewart, Cregan, Savigar	1981 – Tonight I'm Yours	4:10

Disc Four
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Original appearance	Length
1.	"Young Turks"	Stewart, Appice, Hitchings, Savigar	1981 – Tonight I'm Yours	5:01
2.	"Baby Jane"	Stewart, Jay Davis	1982 – Body Wishes	4:43
3.	"What Am I Gonna Do (I’m so in Love with you)"	Stewart, Davis, Tony Brock	1982 – Body Wishes	4:17
4.	"People Get Ready" (The Impressions cover, with Jeff Beck)	Curtis Mayfield	1985 – Flash	4:52
5.	"Some Guys Have All the Luck" (The Persuaders cover)	Jeff Fortgang	1984 – Camouflage	4:32
6.	"Infatuation"	Stewart, Hitchings, Rowland Robinson	1984 – Camouflage	5:12
7.	"Love Touch"	Michael Chapman, Holly Knight	1986 – Every Beat of My Heart	4:03
8.	"Every Beat of My Heart"	Stewart, Savigar	1986 – Every Beat of My Heart	5:18
9.	"Lost in You"	Stewart, Andy Taylor	1988 – Out of Order	4:57
10.	"My Heart Can't Tell You No"	Simon Climie, Dennis Morgan	1988 – Out of Order	5:11
11.	"Dynamite"	Stewart, Taylor	1988 – Out of Order	4:15
12.	"Crazy About Her"	Stewart, Cregan, Hitchings	1988 – Out of Order	4:54
13.	"Forever Young"	Stewart, Cregan, Savigar, Dylan	1988 – Out of Order	4:03
14.	"I Don't Want to Talk About It" (Crazy Horse cover)	Whitten	1989 rerecording	4:52
15.	"This Old Heart of Mine"" (The Isley Brothers cover, duet with Ronald Isley)	Holland–Dozier–Holland	1989 rerecording	4:12
16.	"Downtown Train" (Tom Waits cover)	Tom Waits	New release	4:39

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 9
Score: 5

Vagabond Heart (March 1991)

This is the fourth album in a row by Stewart which contains Tom Waits' "Downtown Train". Stewart joked that his sales of "Downtown Train" bought Waits a swimming pool. It probably bought him more than that. There are more covers on this album than has been the case for some years. That is probably as the result of the cover of "Downtown Train", and this is probably the start of Stewart's journey to the Great American Songbook albums. It's a professional and accomplished collection of songs, but for me doesn't hold together (the list of producers, and the huge list of session or guest musicians, indicate the way the album was constructed). There are some attractive MOR tracks, such as "The Motown Song", and of course "Downtown Train", which are perfectly listenable while they are on, but I wouldn't seek them out, let alone seek out an entire album of such wallpaper mush, no matter how pleasant it all sounds. Music to hum along to when it comes on the radio, yeah, but no more than that.

Note "Downtown Train" is not on all versions, including the Spotify one.

Released	25 March 1991
Studio	Cherokee, Hollywood Conway, Hollywood SARM, London
Genre	Rock pop rock
Length	58:26
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Bernard Edwards Trevor Horn Patrick Leonard Richard Perry Rod Stewart Lenny Waronker

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Rhythm of My Heart"	Marc Jordan, John Capek	Trevor Horn	4:15
2.	"Rebel Heart"	Rod Stewart, Jeff Golub, Chuck Kentis, Carmine Rojas	Rod Stewart, Bernard Edwards	4:10
3.	"Broken Arrow"	Robbie Robertson	Patrick Leonard, Lenny Waronker^[a]	4:26
4.	"It Takes Two" (duet with Tina Turner)	William "Mickey" Stevenson, Sylvia Moy	Stewart, Edwards	4:14
5.	"When a Man's in Love"	Stewart, Golub, Kentis, Rojas	Stewart, Edwards	5:34
6.	"You Are Everything"	Thom Bell, Linda Creed	Stewart, Edwards	4:09
7.	"The Motown Song"	Larry John McNally	Richard Perry	4:00
8.	"Go Out Dancing"	Stewart, Golub, Kentis	Stewart, Edwards	4:20
9.	"No Holding Back"	Stewart, Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar	Stewart, Edwards	5:47
10.	"Have I Told You Lately"	Van Morrison	Stewart, Edwards	4:01
11.	"Moment of Glory"	Stewart, Golub, Kentis, Rojas	Stewart, Edwards	4:47
12.	"Downtown Train"	Tom Waits	Trevor Horn	4:41
13.	"If Only"	Stewart, Cregan, Savigar	Stewart, Edwards	4:56

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 4 1/2

Lead Vocalist (Feb 1993)

Compilation album released after Stewart got a Lifetime Achievement award at The Bits. Not available on Spotify or YouTube. Shame, because it has some interesting tracks.

Released	22 February 1993
Genre	Rock, pop
Length	55:00
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Trevor Horn

"I Ain't Superstitious" (Willie Dixon) (Previously released on Truth by The Jeff Beck Group) – 4:53
"Handbags and Gladrags" (Mike d'Abo) (Previously released on An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down) – 4:25
"Cindy Incidentally" [Rod Stewart, Ron Wood, Ian McLagan) (Previously released on Ooh La La by Faces) – 2:37
"Stay with Me" (Rod Stewart, Ron Wood) (Previously released on A Nod Is as Good as a Wink...To a Blind Horse by Faces) – 4:37
"True Blue" (Rod Stewart, Ron Wood) (Previously released on Never a Dull Moment) – 3:32
"Sweet Lady Mary" (Ronnie Lane, Rod Stewart, Ron Wood) (Previously released on Long Player by Faces) – 5:48
"Hot Legs" (Rod Stewart, Gary Grainger) (Previously released on Foot Loose & Fancy Free) – 5:15
"Stand Back" (Stevie Nicks) – 5:44
"Ruby Tuesday" (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) – 4:04
"Shotgun Wedding" (Roy C) – 3:30
"First I Look at the Purse" (Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers) – 4:23
"Tom Traubert's Blues" (Tom Waits) –6:12

Wikipedia

AllMusic:
Score:

Unplugged and Seated (May 1992)

Pleasant enough, but unremarkable, and not worth listening to more than once. The DVD is better as you see what is going on, but even that is limited because of the format. Stewart clearly feels restricted by the sitting down aspect of unplugged.

Released	24 May 1993
Recorded	5 February 1993, Universal Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Rock, pop
Length	69:57
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Patrick Leonard

"Hot Legs" (Rod Stewart, Gary Grainger) – 4:25
- (studio version previously released on Foot Loose & Fancy Free)
"Tonight's the Night" (Stewart) – 4:04
- (studio version previously released on A Night on the Town)
"Handbags and Gladrags" (Mike d'Abo) – 4:25
- (studio version previously released on An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down)
"Cut Across Shorty" (Wayne Walker, Marijohn Wilkin) – 4:58
- (studio version previously released on Gasoline Alley)
"Every Picture Tells A Story" (Stewart, Ron Wood) – 4:45
- (studio version previously released on Every Picture Tells a Story)
"Maggie May" (Stewart, Martin Quittenton) – 5:45
- (studio version previously released on Every Picture Tells a Story)
"Reason to Believe" (Tim Hardin) – 4:07
- (studio version previously released on Every Picture Tells a Story)
"People Get Ready" (Curtis Mayfield) – 4:59
- (studio version previously released as a single with Jeff Beck)
"Have I Told You Lately" (Van Morrison) – 4:08
- (studio version previously released on Vagabond Heart)
"Tom Traubert's Blues (Waltzing Matilda)" (Tom Waits) – 4:40
- (studio version previously released on Lead Vocalist)
"The First Cut Is the Deepest" (Cat Stevens) – 4:12
- (studio version previously released on A Night on the Town)
"Mandolin Wind" (Stewart) – 5:23
- (studio version previously released on Every Picture Tells a Story)
"Highgate Shuffle" (arrangement by Stewart) – 3:54
- (previously unreleased)
"Stay with Me" (Stewart, Wood) – 5:27
- (studio version previously released on A Nod Is as Good as a Wink...To a Blind Horse by Faces)
"Having a Party" (Sam Cooke) – 4:44
- (previously unreleased)
"Gasoline Alley" (Stewart, Wood)
- (bonus track on the "Unplugged…and Seated Collector’s Edition")
- (studio version previously released on Gasoline Alley)
"Forever Young" (Stewart, Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar)
- (bonus track on the "Unplugged…and Seated Collector’s Edition")
- (studio version previously released on Out of Order)

Rod Stewart – lead vocals, banjo
Ronnie Wood – guitar
Jeff Golub – guitar
Jim Cregan – guitar
Don Teschner – guitar, mandolin, violin
Carmine Rojas – bass guitar
Charles Kentiss III – piano, organ
Kevin Savigar – piano, organ, accordion
Phil Parlapiano – accordion, mandolin

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 4

A Spanner in the Works (May 1995)

There is an attractive warmth to this album, especially the first track. There's a sense that Stewart knows what people not just like, but also respect about his work -which is the casual folky touch coupled with the laddish and loose excitement of his classic Seventies albums, and he's done his best to focus on that. The production, as with all his stuff since he moved to Warners, is slick, smooth, and overdone, so it's difficult to get at the immediacy and authenticity of Stewart's classic Seventies albums. But on the whole this is a listenable and attractive mature album that I wouldn't mind returning to, though I doubt if I'll come close to respecting and enjoying it as much as I do the classic Seventies albums. This is gently aging Stewart, rather than peak Stewart - see it as part of his story, rather than a standalone album.

Released	29 May 1995
Recorded	1993–95
Studio	Woodstock House Co. (Wicker, Ireland); A&M Studios and Ocean Way Recording (Los Angeles, CA); Herschel House (Hollywood, CA).
Genre	Rock, pop rock
Length	57:15
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Trevor Horn, Rod Stewart, James Newton-Howard, Michael Ostin, Lenny Waronker, Bernard Edwards, Andy Taylor.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Windy Town"	Chris Rea	Trevor Horn	5:12
2.	"The Downtown Lights"	Paul Buchanan	Trevor Horn	6:33
3.	"Leave Virginia Alone"	Tom Petty	James Newton Howard, Michael Ostin, Lenny Waronker	4:07
4.	"Sweetheart Like You"	Bob Dylan	Horn	4:54
5.	"This"	John Capek, Marc Jordan	Horn	5:19
6.	"Lady Luck"	Carmine Rojas, Jeff Golub, Kevin Savigar, Rod Stewart	Horn	4:25
7.	"You're the Star"	Billy Livsey, Frankie Miller, Graham Lyle	Horn, Bernard Edwards	4:39
8.	"Muddy, Sam and Otis"	Stewart, Savigar	Horn	4:42
9.	"Hang on St. Christopher"	Tom Waits	Horn	4:04
10.	"Delicious"	Stewart, Andy Taylor, Robin LeMesurier	Edwards, Andy Taylor	4:43
11.	"Soothe Me"	Sam Cooke	Edwards	3:33
12.	"Purple Heather"	Traditional; arranged by Stewart	Horn	4:58

Various session musicians

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 5

If We Fall in Love Tonight (Nov 1996)

Almost all covers, and a curious mix of material - some previously unreleased, some stuff from recent Stewart albums, a remix, a new recorded version, a song from a tribute album, and one from a soundtrack. Not sure what the motivation was. The record company wanted an album, and without enough new material, some old stuff was thrown in? Anyway, it's not a great album.

Released	4 November 1996 ^[1]
Genre	Rock, pop
Length	67:32 (U.S. version) 73:51 (International version)
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Arnold Stiefel (exec.)

"If We Fall in Love Tonight" (new original song; previously unreleased) (Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis) – 5:39
"For the First Time" (new cover song; previously unreleased) (Jud Friedman, Allan Rich, James Newton Howard) – 4:01
"When I Need You" (new cover song; previously unreleased) (Carole Bayer Sager, Albert Hammond) – 4:50
"So Far Away" (previously released on the Carole King tribute album, Tapestry Revisited) (Carole King) – 4:20
"Have I Told You Lately (Studio Version Remix)" (new remixed version; previously unreleased) (Van Morrison) – 3:58
"My Heart Can't Tell You No" (previously released on Stewart's Out of Order) – 5:16
"You're in My Heart" (previously released on Stewart's Foot Loose & Fancy Free) – 4:28
"First Cut Is the Deepest" (previously released on Stewart's A Night on the Town) – 3:50
"I Don't Want to Talk About It (1989)" (original version on Stewart's Atlantic Crossing; this version taken from Stewart's Storyteller – The Complete Anthology: 1964–1990) – 4:50
"Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" (previously released on Stewart's A Night on the Town) – 3:33
"Sometimes When We Touch" (new cover song; previously unreleased) (Barry Mann, Dan Hill) – 4:24
"Downtown Train" (previously released on Stewart's Storyteller – The Complete Anthology: 1964–1990) (Tom Waits) – 4:40
"Broken Arrow" (previously released on Stewart's Vagabond Heart) (Robbie Robertson) – 4:21
"Forever Young (1996)" (new re-recorded version; previously unreleased) (Stewart, Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar) – 4:52
"All for Love" (with Bryan Adams & Sting, previously released on the The Three Musketeers Soundtrack) (Bryan Adams, Robert Lange, Michael Kamen) – 4:41

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 6
Score: 4

When We Were the New Boys (May 1998)

Very appealing album. Mostly covers of fairly contemporary material, including a brave though weak cover of Cigarettes and Alcohol by Oasis, this feels like Stewart not quite accepting that he is now older and wider. This is him, acknowledging that fact, but also suggesting that he can still rock as when he was one of the new boys. He does it with some vim and vigour. It's not a great album, but - to be fair - it's not half bad, and I'd be happy to play this a few times more.

Released	29 May 1998
Recorded	1997
Studio	Various
Genre	Rock, pop rock
Length	41:51
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Rod Stewart, Kevin Savigar

"Cigarettes and Alcohol" (Noel Gallagher) – 4:03
"Ooh La La" (Ron Wood, Ronnie Lane) – 4:15
"Rocks" (Bobby Gillespie, Andrew Innes, Robert Young) – 4:45
"Superstar" (Joseph McAlinden) – 4:21
"Secret Heart" (Ron Sexsmith) – 4:07
"Hotel Chambermaid" (Graham Parker) – 3:49
"Shelly My Love" (Nick Lowe) – 3:38
"When We Were the New Boys" (Rod Stewart, Kevin Savigar) – 4:39
"Weak" (Deborah Dyer, Martin Kent, Robbie France, Richard Lewis) – 4:38
"What Do You Want Me to Do?" (Mike Scott) – 3:36
"Careless With Our Love" (Rod Stewart) (bonus track on Japanese release) - 4:28

Various session musicians

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 6

Human (March 2001)

There are no Stewart songs on this album. The last Stewart song released was on the 1998 album. And there would be no new Stewart song until 2013. Stewart is now about to enter his American Songbook period. This album is the typical professionally done and listenable material we've come to expect from Rod the Mod. It's not rubbish. But it's little more than wallpaper muzak.

Released	12 March 2001
Recorded	2000
Studio	Various
Genre	Rock, pop rock
Length	45:23
Label	Atlantic
Producer	Various

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Human"	Karl Gordon, Conner Reeves	Gordon, Octave^[a], Michelle Escoffery^[b]	3:48
2.	"Smitten"	Macy Gray, Dave Wilder, Jeremy Ruzuma, Arik Marshall	Dennis Charles, Danny Kortchmar^[c]	5:00
3.	"Don't Come Around Here" (with Helicopter Girl)	Jackie Joyce, Paul Berry, Mark Taylor, Kenny Thomas	Taylor	3:49
4.	"Soul on Soul"	Marc Jordan, John Capek	Charles, Christopher Neil^[c]	4:30
5.	"Loveless"	Reeves, David Frank	Neil	4:00
6.	"If I Had You"	Andrew Davis, Sergei Rachmaninoff	Neil	4:18
7.	"Charlie Parker Loves Me"	Jordan, Capek	Charles, Neil^[c]	4:41
8.	"It Was Love That We Needed"	Curtis Mayfield	Neil	4:11
9.	"To Be with You"	Raul Malo, James House	Rod Stewart	3:56
10.	"Run Back into Your Arms"	Graham Stack, John Reid, Brian Rawling	Taylor, Rawling, Stack	3:26
11.	"I Can't Deny It"	Gregg Alexander, Rick Nowels	Alexander, Nowels^[b], Danielle Brisebois^[b]	3:44

Various musicians including Slash on title track and Knopfler on "If I Had You"

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 2
Score: 4

The Great American Songbook I

It Had to Be You
Oct 2002

Stewart now enters the third major period of his career. Each period has been marked by a change in record label. His classic Seventies period was on Mercury Records, his popular commercial period was on Warner, and this American Songbook period is on J Records (later taken over by Sony).

This album has the smooth pop-jazz feel of Madeleine Peyroux's Careless Love album. But Stewart's album is two years earlier, so if there is an influence, it's from Stewart to Peyroux. Or from Richard Perry to Larry Klein, as the producers are the ones mainly responsible for the sound and feel of those albums.

I like this album - moderately, and I'm not sure how much I'd play it, but play it I will. Perry creates a warm, enchanting sound, and Stewart knocks off these songs with ease - his age worn voice suiting the mood perfectly. It's not in the same league as Cash's last albums, where something genuinely significant and artistic was happening, but as a warm, attractive sound, it is very comfortable and appealing.

Released	22 October 2002^[1]
Recorded	Various American studios
Genre	Traditional pop
Label	J
Producer	Clive Davis, Richard Perry, Phil Ramone

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"You Go to My Head"	John Frederick Coots, Haven Gillespie	Richard Perry	4:17
2.	"They Can't Take That Away from Me"	George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin	Perry	3:25
3.	"The Way You Look Tonight"	Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern	Perry	3:49
4.	"It Had to Be You"	Isham Jones, Gus Kahn	Phil Ramone	3:24
5.	"That Old Feeling"	Lew Brown, Sammy Fain	Ramone	2:54
6.	"These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)"	Harry Link, Holt Marvell, Jack Strachey	Ramone	3:48
7.	"The Very Thought of You"	Ray Noble	Perry	3:20
8.	"Moonglow"	Eddie DeLange, Will Hudson, Irving Mills	Ramone	3:32
9.	"I'll Be Seeing You"	Fain, Irving Kahal	Ramone	3:51
10.	"Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye"	Cole Porter	Ramone	3:27
11.	"The Nearness of You"	Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington	Perry	3:00
12.	"For All We Know"	Coots, Sam M. Lewis	Ramone	3:24
13.	"We'll Be Together Again"	Carl T. Fischer, Frankie Laine	Perry	3:54
14.	"That's All"	Alan Brandt, Bob Haymes	Ramone	3:03

Rod Stewart and various session musicians

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 5
Score: 4 1/2

The Great American Songbook II

As Time Goes By
Oct 2003

A little goes a long way, and a second album of these unremarkable recordings is a little too much. The modest charm of the first album has not lingered here. This album starts weak, and never improves, so it really starts to drag after a while. The first Songbook at least had the charm of being pleasant background music - this album is too thin and "off" to remain unobtrusive in the background - it calls attention to itself by its awkwardness. Still, hey, it sold, and everyone involved made money.

Released	14 October 2003
Studio	Various studios, mostly America, one in London, one in France
Genre	Traditional pop
Length	45:57
Label	J
Producer	Richard Perry, Phil Ramone, Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers, Clive Davis.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Time After Time"	Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne	Phil Ramone	2:58
2.	"I'm in the Mood for Love"	Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh	Richard Perry	3:07
3.	"Don't Get Around Much Anymore"	Duke Ellington, Bob Russell	Ramone	2:48
4.	"Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered" (duet with Cher)	Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart	Perry	4:14
5.	"Till There Was You"	Meredith Willson	Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken, Rob Mathes^[a]	2:51
6.	"Until the Real Thing Comes Along"	Cahn, Saul Chaplin, L.E. Freeman, Mann Holiner, Alberta Nichols	Perry	3:38
7.	"Where or When"	Rodgers, Hart	Rogers, Sturken	3:10
8.	"Smile"	Charlie Chaplin, Geoffrey Claremont Parsons, John Turner	Perry	3:13
9.	"My Heart Stood Still"	Rodgers, Hart	Ramone	3:03
10.	"Someone to Watch Over Me"	George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin	Perry	3:30
11.	"As Time Goes By" (duet with Queen Latifah)	Herman Hupfeld	Perry	3:48
12.	"I Only Have Eyes for You"	Al Dubin, Harry Warren	Ramone	3:06
13.	"Crazy She Calls Me"	Bob Russell, Carl Sigman	Perry	3:27
14.	"Our Love Is Here to Stay"	G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin	Perry	2:57

Various session musicians

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 4
Score: 3 1/2

The Great American Songbook III

Stardust
Oct 2004

More of the same. I thought I'd like these albums more than I am. This, for me, falls somewhere between the first and second. I think Stewart is getting more into the mood of the songs, with better phrasing, but the production is thinner. Perry has little involvement here.

Released	19 October 2004
Studio	Various studios in America and London
Genre	Traditional pop
Label	J
Producer	Clive Davis, Richard Perry, Steve Tyrell, Lauren Wild

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Embraceable You"	George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin	Steve Tyrell, Clive Davis	3:30
2.	"For Sentimental Reasons"	William Best, Deek Watson	Tyrell, Davis	3:02
3.	"Blue Moon" (featuring Eric Clapton)	Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart	Tyrell, Davis	4:05
4.	"What a Wonderful World" (featuring Stevie Wonder)	Bob Thiele, George David Weiss	Tyrell, Davis	4:30
5.	"Stardust"	Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish	Richard Perry, Davis, Lauren Wild^[a]	4:01
6.	"Manhattan" (duet with Bette Midler)	Rodgers, Hart	Tyrell, Davis	2:53
7.	"'S Wonderful"	G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin	Tyrell, Davis	3:24
8.	"Isn't It Romantic?"	Rodgers, Hart	Tyrell, Davis	3:50
9.	"I Can't Get Started"	Vernon Duke, I. Gershwin	Tyrell, Davis	3:23
10.	"But Not for Me"	G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin	Tyrell, Davis	3:22
11.	"A Kiss to Build a Dream on"	Oscar Hammerstein II, Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby	Tyrell, Davis	3:13
12.	"Baby, It's Cold Outside" (duet with Dolly Parton)	Frank Loesser	Tyrell, Davis	3:51
13.	"Night and Day"	Cole Porter	Perry, Davis, Wild^[a]	3:08
14.	"A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square"	Eric Maschwitz, Manning Sherwin	Tyrell, Davis	4:03

Various session musicians. Clapton plays on Blue Moon, Stevie Wonder, Bette Midler, and Dolly Parton also join in on other songs.

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 5
Score: 4

The Great American Songbook IV

Thanks for the Memory
Oct 2005

I've really had enough of these albums now. I'm wondering if it's possible to group together the best songs in a decent compilation. But I don't think I'd have the willingness to go through these songs again. Stewart calls in more artists, such as Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, and Elton John, to help him out. No doubt their involvement helped sales, but they do little to improve the quality.

Released	18 October 2005
Studio	Deep Diner (New York) Capitol (Hollywood) Bill Schnee (Los Angeles) Larrabee Sound (Los Angeles)
Genre	Traditional pop, jazz
Label	J
Producer	Clive Davis, Bob Mann, Steve Tyrell

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I've Got a Crush on You" (duet with Diana Ross)	George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin	3:08
2.	"I Wish You Love"	Léo Chauliac, Charles Trenet, Albert A. Beach	3:38
3.	"You Send Me" (duet with Chaka Khan)	Sam Cooke	3:36
4.	"Long Ago and Far Away"	Jerome Kern, I. Gershwin	3:11
5.	"Makin' Whoopee" (duet with Elton John)	Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn	3:44
6.	"My One and Only Love" (featuring Roy Hargrove)	Guy Wood, Robert Mellin	3:25
7.	"Taking a Chance on Love"	Vernon Duke, John Latouche, Ted Fetter	3:27
8.	"My Funny Valentine"	Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart	2:49
9.	"I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm"	Irving Berlin	3:09
10.	"Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You)" (featuring Dave Koz)	Harry Ruby, Bert Kalmar	3:50
11.	"Blue Skies"	Berlin	2:43
12.	"Let's Fall in Love" (featuring George Benson)	Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler	3:15
13.	"Thanks for the Memory"	Leo Robin, Ralph Rainger	3:11

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 4
Score: 3 1/2

Still the Same... Great Rock Classics of Our Time
(Oct 2006)

Stewart seems to feel more comfortable with this sort of music. He certainly sounds better. It's not a great album, but is pleasant enough, and is growing on me.

Released	10 October 2006
Recorded	2006 at Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Genre	Rock
Label	J
Producer	John Shanks, Clive Davis

"Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" (John Fogerty) – 3:12
"Fooled Around and Fell in Love" (Elvin Bishop) – 3:48
"I'll Stand by You" (Chrissie Hynde, Thomas Kelly, William Steinberg) – 4:29
"Still the Same" (Bob Seger) – 3:38
"It's a Heartache" (Ronnie Scott, Steve Wolfe) – 3:32
"Day After Day" (Peter Ham) – 3:07
"Missing You" (Mark Leonard, Charles Sandford, John Waite) – 4:18
"Father and Son" (Cat Stevens) – 3:36
"The Best of My Love" (Don Henley, Glenn Frey, J. D. Souther) – 3:44
"If Not for You" (Bob Dylan) – 3:36
"Love Hurts" (Boudleaux Bryant) – 3:47
"Everything I Own" (David Gates) – 3:06
"Crazy Love" (Van Morrison) – 2:42
"Lay Down Sally" (UK Bonus Track) (Eric Clapton, Marcy Levy, George Terry) – 4:00

Sessions musicians, but largely used as a single unit.

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 5
Score: 5 1/2

Soulbook (Oct 2009)

Stewart has been blessed with a beautiful voice - raspy, rocky, soulful, intimate, down to Earth. He could sing a bus timetable and it would make women swoon and men nod their heads in grim appreciation. And this album has a great choice of classic soul numbers. So why does it feel so plastic, empty, and boring? Ho hum.

Released	17 October 2009
Recorded	2009
Studio	Various in America
Genre	Soul
Label	J
Producer	Steve Tyrell, Steven Jordan, Chuck Kentis

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"It's the Same Old Song"	Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, Eddie Holland	Steve Jordan	4:15
2.	"My Cherie Amour" (featuring Stevie Wonder)	Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder	Jordan	3:10
3.	"You Make Me Feel Brand New" (duet with Mary J. Blige)	Thom Bell, Linda Epstein	Steve Tyrell	4:36
4.	"(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher"	Gary Jackson, Raynard Miner, Carl Smith	Jordan	3:21
5.	"Tracks of My Tears" (featuring Smokey Robinson)	Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin	Tyrell	3:36
6.	"Let It Be Me" (duet with Jennifer Hudson)	Gilbert Bécaud, Manny Curtis, Pierre Delanoë	Jordan, Harvey Mason Jr.^[a]	3:16
7.	"Rainy Night in Georgia"	Tony Joe White	Tyrell	4:13
8.	"What Becomes of the Broken Hearted"	James Dean, Paul Riser, William Weatherspoon	Jordan	3:19
9.	"Love Train"	Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff	Chuck Kentis, Jordan, Tyrell	3:03
10.	"You've Really Got a Hold on Me"	Robinson	Jordan	3:17
11.	"Wonderful World"	Lou Adler, Herb Alpert, Sam Cooke	Jordan	3:33
12.	"If You Don't Know Me by Now"	Gamble, Huff	Tyrell	3:59
13.	"Just My Imagination"	Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield	Tyrell	3:35

Various session musicians

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 5
Score: 3 1/2

The Great American Songbook V

Fly Me to the Moon...
Oct 2010

Probably the best of Songbook series. Doesn't quite have the charm of the first, but this is more accomplished and less awkward.

Released	19 October 2010
Studio	Westlake Studios and Reagan's Garage (Los Angeles, CA); Conway Studios and EastWest Studios (Hollywood, CA).
Genre	Jazz traditional pop
Length	39:43
Label	J
Producer	Richard Perry, Rod Stewart, Clive Davis, Lauren Wild

"That Old Black Magic" (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) – 4:35
"Beyond the Sea" (Jack Lawrence, Charles Trenet) – 3:25
"I've Got You Under My Skin" (Cole Porter) – 3:50
"What a Difference a Day Makes" (Stanley Adams, María Grever) – 3:21
"I Get a Kick Out of You" (Porter) – 3:32
"I've Got the World on a String" (Arlen, Ted Koehler) – 2:52
"Love Me or Leave Me" (Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn) – 3:07
"My Foolish Heart" (Ned Washington, Victor Young) – 3:37
"September in the Rain" (Al Dubin, Harry Warren) – 2:55
"Fly Me to the Moon" (Bart Howard) – 2:45
"Sunny Side of the Street" (Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh) – 2:56
"Moon River" (Henry Mancini, Mercer) – 2:48

Various session musicians

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 8
Score: 5 1/2

Merry Christmas, Baby (2012)

Oh grief. This continues the crooning style of the Songbook series, though with lesser songs, and lesser effort. And there's no sense of the fun of Christmas.

Released	30 October 2012
Genre	Christmas, soul, jazz
Length	46:04
Label	Verve
Producer	David Foster, Rod Stewart, Kevin Savigar

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"	Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane	4:31
2.	"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"	J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie	2:48
3.	"Winter Wonderland" (featuring Michael Bublé)	Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith	2:26
4.	"White Christmas"	Irving Berlin	3:49
5.	"Merry Christmas, Baby" (featuring CeeLo Green & Trombone Shorty)	Johnny Moore, Lou Baxter	3:53
6.	"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" (featuring Dave Koz)	Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne	2:51
7.	"What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" (featuring Ella Fitzgerald & Chris Botti)	Frank Loesser	3:43
8.	"Blue Christmas"	Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson	3:30
9.	"Red-Suited Super Man" (featuring Trombone Shorty)	Rod Stewart, David Foster, Amy Foster	3:11
10.	"When You Wish upon a Star"	Leigh Harline, Ned Washington	3:47
11.	"We Three Kings" (featuring Mary J. Blige)	John Henry Hopkins Jr.	3:27
12.	"Silent Night"	Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr	4:24
13.	"Auld Lang Syne"	Traditional, Robert Burns	3:45
Total length:			46:04

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 5
Score: 2 1/2

Time (May 2013)

After many years of just walking into a studio and knocking off a few songs written by other people, Stewart actually got it together to write an entire album. And it's a good one. It was the first time I'd really paid attention to something Stewart had done for so long it hurt. And it's a great mature album, looking back on the past but in the context of today. There are a number of writing collaborators, and I'd be interested to know how that worked. I assume Stewart's main focus was the lyrics, but there's a sense of classic Stewart in the music, so it seems he had some input into that as well. There's really good stuff here - without a doubt it's the most creative, most committed, most authentic album he's done since - gosh, when?

Released	3 May 2013^[1]
Recorded	April 2011–January 2013 at Various in America, and 1 in London
Genre	Rock
Length	50:10
Label	Capitol, Decca, UCJ^[2]
Producer	Rod Stewart, Kevin Savigar

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"She Makes Me Happy"	Rod Stewart, Chuck Kentis, Don Kirkpatrick, Conrad Korsch, David Palmer, Paul Warren	3:44
2.	"Can't Stop Me Now"	Stewart, Kevin Savigar	4:26
3.	"It's Over"	Stewart, Savigar, John 5	4:19
4.	"Brighton Beach"	Stewart, Jim Cregan	4:25
5.	"Beautiful Morning"	Stewart, Savigar, Kentis, Kirkpatrick, Korsch, Palmer, Warren	3:58
6.	"Live the Life"	Stewart, Kentis, Kirkpatrick, Jessica Rousseau	4:26
7.	"Finest Woman"	Stewart, Savigar, Emerson Swinford	3:54
8.	"Time"	Stewart, Savigar, Swinford	4:26
9.	"Picture in a Frame"	Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan	2:53
10.	"Sexual Religion"	Stewart, Savigar	4:45
11.	"Make Love to Me Tonight"	Stewart, Kentis, Kirkpatrick, Korsch, Palmer, Warren	3:44
12.	"Pure Love"	Stewart, Savigar	5:10

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 7 1/2

Another Country (2015)

Has a similar sound and feel to Time, but lacks that album's authenticity, love and nostalgia. This feels like a follow up. Some of the song's are a little awkward and embarrassing, especially for a former rock star - pushing religion and jingoism. An uncomfortable listen, both in terms of lyrical content, and the blatant failure to recapture the feel of Time, despite an obvious hard effort.

Released	23 October 2015
Recorded	2014–15
Studio	The Celtic House, Los Angeles; Woodhouse Studio, Epping; Satinwood Studios, Santa Clarita, California
Length	50:10
Label	Capitol
Producer	Rod Stewart Kevin Savigar

*Another Country*
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Love Is"	Rod Stewart Kevin Savigar	3:55
2.	"Please"	Stewart Savigar	4:22
3.	"Walking in the Sunshine"	Stewart Savigar	4:31
4.	"Love and Be Loved"	Stewart Savigar	2:55
5.	"We Can Win"	Stewart Chuck Kentis Don Kirkpatrick	5:00
6.	"Another Country"	Stewart Savigar	3:29
7.	"Way Back Home"	Stewart Savigar	4:35
8.	"Can We Stay Home Tonight?"	Stewart Savigar	4:04
9.	"Batman Superman Spiderman"	Stewart Kentis Kirkpatrick	3:34
10.	"The Drinking Song"	Stewart Savigar Emerson Swinford	3:38
11.	"Hold the Line"	RedOne Tiny Island	4:05
12.	"A Friend for Life"	Steve Harley Jim Cregan	4:42

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 7
Score: 3

Blood Red Roses (2018)

Another attempt to recreate Time. This one is more successful, and also doesn't contain the embarrassing songs of Another Country, but the attempt is somewhat more blatant, and so makes me miss Time even more. It is so much more pleasant and rewarding to just play Time again, than it is to play this album. The title song is the freshest and brightest. A lively Irish jig - a few more like that, and this might have become a worthwhile album. There is some vigour to this album - there's a rollicking version of the blues standard "Rollin' & Tumblin'".

Released	28 September 2018
Length	51:32
Label	Decca Republic
Producer	Rod Stewart Kevin Savigar

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Look in Her Eyes"	Rod Stewart Kevin Savigar	4:12
2.	"Hole in My Heart"	Stewart Savigar	3:27
3.	"Farewell"	Stewart Savigar	4:16
4.	"Didn't I" (featuring Bridget Cady)	Stewart Savigar	4:01
5.	"Blood Red Roses"	Stewart Savigar Ewan MacColl	3:41
6.	"Grace"	Frank O'Meara Sean O'Meara	4:53
7.	"Give Me Love"	Stewart Savigar	4:08
8.	"Rest of My Life"	Stewart Savigar	3:28
9.	"Rollin' & Tumblin'"	Hambone Willie Newbern Sunnyland Slim	3:38
10.	"Julia"	Stewart Jon McLaughlin Dave Thomas Junior	3:36
11.	"Honey Gold"	Stewart Emerson Swinford	4:44
12.	"Vegas Shuffle"	Stewart Swinford	3:47
13.	"Cold Old London"	Stewart Savigar	3:42

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 4 1/2

You're in My Heart (2019)
Rod Stewart with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Most of the tracks are Stewart's original vocals overdubbed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It sucks. There's one new song, "Stop Loving Her Today", and a cover of "It Takes Two" with Robbie Williams. Plus an updated intro to "Maggie May". But it sucks.

Released	22 November 2019
Studio	Abbey Road & Angel, London
Genre	Symphonic rock
Length	1:11:39
Label	Warner
Producer	Trevor Horn and others

Disc 1
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)
1.	"Maggie May"	Rod Stewart Martin Quittenton	Trevor Horn Patrick Leonard
2.	"Reason to Believe"	Tim Hardin	Horn Leonard
3.	"Handbags and Gladrags"	Mike d'Abo	Horn Leonard
4.	"Sailing"	Gavin Sutherland	Horn Tom Dowd
5.	"Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)"	Stewart	Horn Dowd
6.	"The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)"	Stewart	Horn Dowd
7.	"I Don't Want to Talk About It"	Danny Whitten	Horn Dowd
8.	"The First Cut Is the Deepest"	Cat Stevens	Horn Dowd
9.	"You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)"	Stewart	Horn Dowd
10.	"I Was Only Joking"	Gary Grainger Stewart	Horn Dowd

Disc 2
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)
1.	"It Takes Two" (with Robbie Williams)	William "Mickey" Stevenson Sylvia Moy	Horn Rod Stewart Bernard Edwards
2.	"Stay with Me"	Stewart Ronnie Wood	Horn Glyn Johns Faces
3.	"Young Turks"	Stewart Carmine Appice Duane Hitchings Kevin Savigar	Horn Stewart Jim Cregan^[a]
4.	"What Am I Gonna Do (I'm So in Love with You)"	Stewart Jay Davis Tony Brock	Horn Stewart Jimmy Iovine Dowd
5.	"Every Beat of My Heart"	Stewart Savigar	Horn Bob Ezrin
6.	"Forever Young"	Jim Cregan Savigar Bob Dylan Stewart	Horn Stewart Andy Taylor Edwards
7.	"Downtown Train"	Tom Waits	Horn
8.	"Rhythm of My Heart"	Marc T. Jordan John Capek	Horn
9.	"Have I Told You Lately"	Van Morrison	Horn Stewart Edwards
10.	"Tom Traubert's Blues (Waltzing Matilda)"	Waits	Horn
11.	"If We Fall in Love Tonight"	Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis	Horn Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
12.	"Stop Loving Her Today"	Simon Climie Dennis Morgan	Horn Savigar

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 3
Score: 2 1/2

The Tears of Hercules (2021)

For a 76 year old this is not a bad album. But it's not a particularly good album for anyone of any age. It is what it is. Slick, well done, and admirable for the warmth and vigour in Stewart's voice, but beyond that. No.

Released	12 November 2021
Length	44:31
Label	Warner Rhino
Producer	Rod Stewart Kevin Savigar

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"One More Time"	Rod Stewart Kevin Savigar	3:58
2.	"Gabriella"	Stewart Savigar	3:33
3.	"All My Days"	Stewart Savigar	3:37
4.	"Some Kind of Wonderful"	John Ellison	3:02
5.	"Born to Boogie (A Tribute to Marc Bolan)"	Stewart Emerson Swinford	3:43
6.	"Kookooaramabama"	Stewart Savigar	3:43
7.	"I Can't Imagine"	Stewart Savigar Swinford	3:35
8.	"The Tears of Hercules"	Marc Jordan Stephan Moccio	4:10
9.	"Hold On"	Stewart Savigar	4:19
10.	"Precious Memories"	Stewart Savigar	3:59
11.	"These Are My People"	Johnny Cash	2:57
12.	"Touchline"	Stewart Savigar	3:55

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 4 1/2

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

Year	Single	Chart positions		Certifications	Album
Year	Single	UK ^[1]	US ^[2]	Certifications	Album
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)	1	1	BPI: Platinum RIAA: 2× Platinum	Every Picture Tells a Story
	"(I Know) I'm Losing You"	—	24
1972	"Every Picture Tells a Story" / "Reason to Believe"	—	—
	"Handbags and Gladrags"	—	42		An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down
	"You Wear It Well"	1	13		Never a Dull Moment
	"In a Broken Dream" (with Python Lee Jackson) ²	3	—	56	In a Broken Dream
	"Angel"	4	40		Never a Dull Moment
	"What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)" ³	4	71	—	Non-album single
1973	"I've Been Drinking" (with the Jeff Beck Group)	27	—		Non-album single
	"Twistin' the Night Away"	—	59		Never a Dull Moment
	"Oh! No Not My Baby"	6	59		Non-album single
1974	"Farewell" / "Bring It On Home to Me/You Send Me"	7	—		Smiler
	"Mine for Me"	—	91		Smiler
	"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" ⁵	1	58	BPI: Silver	Atlantic Crossing
1975	"This Old Heart of Mine"	4	83		Atlantic Crossing
1976	"Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)"	5	1	RIAA: Gold	A Night on the Town
	"The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)"	2	30		A Night on the Town
	"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" ⁶	1	46	BPI: Silver	Atlantic Crossing
	"The First Cut Is the Deepest" ⁶	1	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)"	3	4	BPI: Silver RIAA: Gold	Foot Loose & Fancy Free
1978	"Hot Legs"	5	28	BPI: Silver
	"I Was Only Joking"	5	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?"	1	1	BPI: Gold RIAA: Platinum	Blondes Have More Fun
1979	"Ain't Love a Bitch"	11	22	BPI: Silver
1979	"Blondes (Have More Fun)"	63	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

1980s

Year	Single	Chart positions		Album
Year	Single	UK ^[1]	US ^[2]	Album
1980	"(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right"	23	—	Foot Loose & Fancy Free
	"Passion"	17	5	Foolish 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"	11	5
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"	1	14	Body Wishes
	"What Am I Gonna Do (I'm So in Love with You)"	3	35
	"Sweet Surrender"	23	—
1984	"Infatuation"	27	6	Camouflage
	"Some Guys Have All the Luck"	15	10
	"All Right Now"	—	72
	"Trouble"	95	—
1985	"People Get Ready" (with Jeff Beck)	—	48	Flash (Jeff Beck)
1986	"Love Touch"	27	6	Every Beat of My Heart
	"Every Beat of My Heart"	2	83
	"Another Heartache"	54	52
	"In My Life"	80	—
1987	"Twistin' the Night Away" (1987 version)	—	80	Innerspace Soundtrack
1988	"Lost in You"	21	12	Out of Order
	"Forever Young"	57	12
	"My Heart Can't Tell You No"	49	4
1989	"Crazy About Her"	—	11
	"Dynamite" [US promo]	—	—
	"This Old Heart of Mine" (with Ronald Isley)	51	10	Storyteller / The Best of Rod Stewart
	"Downtown Train"	10	3	Storyteller / The Best of Rod Stewart
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

1990s

Year	Single	Chart positions		Certifications	Album
Year	Single	UK ^[1]	US ^[2]	Certifications	Album
1990	"I Don't Want to Talk About It" (re-recording) ⁶	—	—		Storyteller
1990	"It Takes Two" (with Tina Turner)	5	—		Vagabond Heart
1991	"Rhythm of My Heart"	3	5	ARIA: Gold
	"The Motown Song"	10	10
	"Broken Arrow"	54	20
	"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"	—	41		Two 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)	5	1	ARIA: Gold^[6] RIAA:Gold^[7]
	"Reason to Believe" (live)	51	19
	"People Get Ready" (live)	45	—
	"Cut Across Shorty" (live)	—	—
	"All for Love" (with Bryan Adams and Sting)	2	4	ARIA: Platinum^[6] RIAA: Platinum^[7]	The Three Musketeers Soundtrack
	"Having a Party" (live)	—	36		Unplugged...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"	58	54		If We Fall in Love Tonight
1997	"When I Need You"	—	—		If We Fall in Love Tonight
1997	"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"	16	39		When 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

Year	Single	Chart positions		Album
Year	Single	UK ^[1]	US AC ^[8]	Album
2000	"Run Back into Your Arms"	—	—	Human
2001	"I Can't Deny It"	26	18
2001	"Don't Come Around Here" (with Helicopter Girl)	79	30
2002	"These Foolish Things"	—	13	It Had to Be You: the Great American Songbook
2003	"They Can't Take That Away from Me"	—	27	It Had to Be You: the Great American Songbook
	"Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered" (with Cher)	—	17	As 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)	—	13	Stardust: 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)	—	19	Thanks 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?"	—	6	Still the Same... Great Rock Classics of Our Time
2007	"Fooled Around and Fell in Love"	—	13
2007	"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

Year	Single	Chart positions		Certifications	Album
Year	Single	UK ^[1]	US ^[2]	Certifications	Album
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)	56	92	BPI: Platinum^[9]	At. Long. Last. ASAP
	"Love Is"	—	—		Another Country
	"Please"	—	—		Another Country
2017	"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" (featuring DNCE)	—	—		Non-album single
2018	"Didn't I" (Feat. Bridget Cady)	—	—		Blood Red Roses
2018	"Look in Her Eyes"	—	—		Blood Red Roses
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

2020s

Year	Single	Chart positions	Album
Year	Single	US AC ^[8]	Album
2021	"One More Time"	19	The Tears of Hercules
	"Hold On"	—
	"I Can't Imagine"	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Discography

The Steampacket Featuring Rod Stewart (1970) [3 1/2]
Truth Jeff Beck Group (August 1968) [8]
Beck-Ola Jeff Beck Group (April 1969) [7]
First Step Faces (March 1970) [5]

An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down (1969) [5]
Gasoline Alley (1970) [6]
Long Player Faces (Feb 1971) [6]
Every Picture Tells a Story (1971) [10]
A Nod Is as Good as a Wink... to a Blind Horse Faces (Nov 1971) [ 4 1/2]
Never a Dull Moment (1972) [6]
Ooh La La Faces (April 1973) [ 5]
Coast to Coast: Overture and Beginners Faces (Jan 1974) [4]
Smiler (1974) [4]
Atlantic Crossing (1975) [5]
A Night on the Town (1976) [4]
Foot Loose & Fancy Free (1977) [3]
Blondes Have More Fun (1978) [3]
Foolish Behaviour (1980) [3]
Tonight I'm Yours (1981) [4]
Body Wishes (1983) [3]
Absolutely Live (Nov 1982) [4 1/2]
Camouflage (1984) [2 1/2]
Every Beat of My Heart (1986) [3]
Out of Order (1988) [4]
The Best of (Nov 1989) [5]
Storyteller (Nov 1989) [5]
Vagabond Heart (1991) [4 1/2]
Unplugged and Seated (May 1992) [4]
A Spanner in the Works (1995) [5]
If We Fall in Love Tonight (Nov 1996) [4]
When We Were the New Boys (1998) [6]
Human (2001) [4]
It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook (2002) [4 1/2]
As Time Goes By: The Great American Songbook, Volume II (2003) [3 1/2]
Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III (2004) [4]
Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook, Volume IV (2005) [3 1/2]
Still the Same... Great Rock Classics of Our Time (2006) [5 1/2]
Soulbook (2009) [3 1/2]
Fly Me to the Moon... The Great American Songbook Volume V (2010) [5 1/2]
Merry Christmas, Baby (2012) [2 1/2]
Time (2013) [7 1/2]
Another Country (2015) [3]
Blood Red Roses (2018) [4 1/2]
You're in My Heart (2019) [2 1/2]
The Tears of Hercules (2021) [4 1/2]

Best albums

Every Picture Tells A Story 5, 1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 3 = 27

Never A Dull Moment 2, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 5 = 18

Gasoline Alley 3,1, 2, 2, 2, 2 = 12

A Nod's As Good As A Wink 5, 3 = 8

A Night On The Town 2, 1, 2, 2, 1 = 8
An Old Raincoat Will Never Let You Down 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 = 6
Atlantic Crossing 2, 1, 1, 1 = 5
Ooh La La 2, 2 = 4

Vagabond Heart 1, 1, 1 = 3
Tonight I'm Yours 1, 2 = 3

Foot Loose 1, 2 = 3
Smiler 1, 1 = 2
Out of Order 2 = 2
Time 1 = 1

Long Player 1 = 1

First Step 1 = 1
Soulbook 1 = 1
Fly Me To The Moon 1 = 1

Every Beat of My Heart 1 = 1

Another Country 1 = 1

Sources:

* ultimateclassicrock.com/rod-stewart-albums-ranked/

* loudersound best-albums

* mojo4music - rod-stewart-and-the-faces-best-albums-ranked/
* Best Ever Albums - Rod Stewart / Faces

* classicrockhistory.com/top-10-rod-stewart-albums/

* ranker.com - best-rod-stewart-albums

* reelnerdspodcast - an-obsessive-fans-ranking-of-rod-stewart-albums/

My choice: Best albums

Every Picture Tells a Story (1971) [10]

Truth Jeff Beck Group (August 1968) [8]
Time (2013) [7 1/2]
Beck-Ola Jeff Beck Group (April 1969) [7]
Never a Dull Moment (1972) [6]
Gasoline Alley (1970) [6]

Long Player Faces (Feb 1971) [6]

When We Were the New Boys (1998) [6]
Fly Me to the Moon... The Great American Songbook Volume V (2010) [5 1/2]
An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down (1969) [5]
Atlantic Crossing (1975) [5]

Best Rod Stewart tracks

Maggie May
Every Picture Tells A Story
Gasoline Alley
Handbags and Gladrags
Mandolin Wind
The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)
Downtown Train
Its All Over Now
Tomorrow Is a Long Time
The First Cut Is The Deepest
Reason to Believe
Brighton Beach
You Wear It Well
Stay With Me
Picture In A Frame
Tonight's The Night
Make Love To Me Tonight
You're In My Heart
Young Turks
In A Broken Dream
You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything
Have I Told You Lately
Its Over
Beautiful Morning

Live The Life

Three Button Hand Me Down

Time
Shapes of Things
I Don't Want To Talk About It
The Motown Song

Links

* Robert Christgau
* AllMusic

Summary

[Note: Aspects which go toward final score are given a rough percentage figure of how much that aspect may have influenced the overall score. However, some bands may well exceed that percentage, particularly if their main focus is in that area.]

Voice/Musicianship (15%)
Great voice.
Image/Star quality (5%)
A little naff, but has character and charisma which gives him star quality - which he had maintained.
Lyrics/Music (20%)
When he makes the effort he can write the most telling and evocative lyrics. He mostly has not made the effort over the years. But when he does- blimey it's good.
Impact/Influence (10%)
He was involved in Jeff Beck's landmark album. He's not been invisible.
Popularity (5%)
Hugely popular - even when not warranted.
Emotional appeal (5%)
Gosh, when he gets it right - he has a voice to die for. And when he gets the lyrics and voice working in harmony he is one of the goats.
Authenticity (15%)
His best work has a laddish immediacy and honestly that is totally disarming. But the bulk of his output has been annoyingly trivial.
Art (5%)
No. I don't think he's interested.
Classic albums/songs (5%)
Every Picture - "Maggie May"
Originality/Innovation (5%)
He was involved with Jeff Beck. Other than that - no. He's just about singing a good song.
Legacy (10%)
Possibly. The Jeff Beck work has been sadly overlooked, but it is there. The early Seventies with the Faces has a lasting charm. The bulk of his output, though, is an embarrassment rather than a legacy.

Total: 48/ 100

***

Best Of The Best

91 April 2019 225 Nov 2023

AnyBlogDotCom

Sunday, 27 April 2014

Rod Stewart album by album

Summary

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