Gasoline Alley

I don't know, man. Rod Stewart. He's just... Rod Stewart. He's nothing special and he's never been something special. He's just a dude with a scratchy voice who can play piano but is only so-so when it comes to songwriting. This debut album... it's 110% a product of the time and hasn't aged well. I find it inoffensive with nothing realy exciting to recommend it. A little on the boring side, honestly. Just really middle-of-the-road background rock.

“Rod Stewart’s success and popularity is the greatest mystery of our time.” - Grover Cleveland

With a name like Rod Stewart, a raspy voice, and a rowdy personality, Rod Stewart is very rock-'n'-roll. I discovered him as a soft-rock figure, however. Kinda like Barry Manilow and Elton John. I discovered his popular live videos in Youtube such as his versions of "I Don't Wanna Talk About It" and "Sailing". This album is his second. Early Rod Stewart. Bland and generic Rod Stewart. To be fair, I didn't really expect anything surprising when I saw that cover. I expected it to be boring, and it is. Country-folk covers of "rock-'n'-roll" (according to critics) tracks. A few interesting instrumental feats here and there. Rod's raspy voice. I didn't find it captivating at all. It's dull, it's uninteresting, and I could die without listening to this album.

Stewart’s voice is a great rock voice, for about half a song, then it starts to grate.

Rod Stewart, the man of many genres, had humble beginnings as a roots rock guy with a tinge of soul. It's not very good. It's like, he's definitely performing rock music, but it has no oomf to it. It's hard to describe but I find the whole sound so mundane and unoriginal. He does barely anything interesting with the music he's writing. There's a few good songs on here, I'll give him that, but Rod Stewart does not inspire much in the rock field.

This is Stewart's golden era. Given the personnel and the sound it is basically a Faces record. And that is a good thing.

This is just ok. I don’t get the appeal of Rod Stewart’s voice. Not sure why this was included on this list of albums.

What do have against Rod Stewart? What did he ever do to me to deserve such ire (I think it was the feathered bleach tipped short hair like an Arizona golf retiree lady)? Anyhow, this album is great. Jumps back and forth between genres, folk, rock, a little blues, a little funk. Most impressive is the layering of string instruments, namely guitars. It seems almost all the songs have a depth imbued by the layers of guitars, 12 strings and mandolins, a few songs create a soundscape without a rhythm section. Every now and then he’ll throw in a rocking song with a bang in’ breakdown. Then at the end, sticking out like a sore thumb amongst all the folksy vibes is a funky electrified rock song to add a period to the album. Only strike against it is I found the lyrics a bit milk toast. It pains me to say it, but this album was dope. Giving it a well deserved 4.

This was a new one for me. I really liked it, and helped change my view that Rod Stewart isn't as much as a fuck boy as I thought.

Pull up to the pump, sailor and welcome to Gasoline Alley! Hope you’ve got the stomach for the adventures that await!

The interesting thing about Rod Stewart is that it sounds like he has a sore throat.

Boring, pedestrian, uninteresting boogie-woogie/blues rock that is made nearly unlistenable by Rod's horrible voice. Honestly only made it halfway through before I gave up.

Not vibing with this at all. Bland/repetitive country-esque fare.

A very middle-of-the-road album - it seems like Rod Stewart was made to play in the background of a shop? My top pick is 'Country Comfort' but upon looking it up, it's an Elton John original (who did it way better). I have nothing good to say, nothing bad to say.

It was such a treat to hear Rod Stewart's voice, young but still gravelly and compelling. I love this album.

A rootsy mix of covers and originals deftly mixing folk, blues and even soul into a nice stew.

Some country, some rockabilly and some songs that I'd be shocked if they weren't written by Yusuf / Cat Stevens. Rod Stewart is one of the best at covering songs and making them sound and feel like his.

This reminds me of Carole King's Tapestry with the heartbreak songwriting. It's so tender, with the lyrical sensitivity of country music. I love it, especially the songs Jo's Lament and the title track.

It is a well-done blend of dynamic, folksy instrumentation and raspy yet gratifying vocals from Rod.

Stewart at his most soulful and before he become so calculated. From what we know now, the earnestness can seem like a put-on, but maybe that's just one beign jaded. Four very good songs – title cut, "County Comfort," "My Way of Giving," and "Lady Day" – the soulful ones basically. Much else feels disposable, replacement level rock of the era. His tone and phrasing are authentic, as the long-ago RS review had it, and well-judged, but few – if any – singers have had a voice better suited to rock. And to his credit, he works it well and versatilely and in many different styles. Perhaps that makes him a bit too chameleon-like but here the effect is coherent because of the marterial and mostly effective.

It's been a while since I've been served up a good old rock and roll album on here, and this was such a refreshing change. This album is vintage Rod, laid back, warm and bluesy. It's a joy to listen to. Stewart is in perfect voice and has an outstanding band backing him up, including all of his mates from the Faces. I mean really, this sounds like a Faces album. No complaints here. Gorgeous sound, with some top notch guitar and mandolin work. Fave Songs: Gasoline Alley, It's All Over Now, Jo's Lament, My Way of Giving, You're My Girl (I Don't Want to Discuss It), Cut Across Shorty

Same folky sound you attribute to Stewart. There's a retrospective feel to this, which is unexpected for a 1970 album by a guy who has made only his second solo album. The writers on this thing are epic though, Ronnie Wood, Bobby and Shirley Womack, Bob Dylan, and Elton John/Bernie Taupin. So cool! The album moves and feels like a compilation. That comes at the cost of cohesiveness, but it's still a great listen and great collaborations.

2nd Solo album for post faces Sir Roderick. A lovely mix of raucous blues and Mandolin tinged songs that touch his personal experiences. Lovely version of Womack & Womack's "It's All Over Now" which I think is better than the 'Stones version. Ronnie Woods guitar throughout this album is spot on and some lovely stuff throughout. Outstanding tracks the aforementioned "It's all over now" "Cut Across Shorty" and the eponymous "Gasoline Alley"

I wasn't like pumped when I saw the album for today but it wasn't too bad!

It's a music theory exercise solved in an uninteresting way. You can see flashes of cleverness in the way he covers songs, but once you get past the novelty, who cares? Best track: Only A Hobo

Some string instrument that I cannot name is annoying me.

I have a hard time believing that this is anyone's favorite album. It's so incredibly middle-of-the-road, bland. Everything it does well, a thousand other artists have done better and more interesting. It's generic background music. It's fine, I guess.

Rod Stewart singing a bunch of covers? Really? We all need to hear this before we die? I mean, COME ON! I don't need to hear the demo tape he was desperately peddling to try and get a record deal. I have no beef with Rod, and I like his raspy vocals, so I can sit through it. But this one makes me seriously question the integrity of this list and its list makers. Bad judgement call here.

I've had a visceral dislike of Rod Stewart since I was a kid. I just never liked the look of him nor the sound of his voice. A lot of his songs have grown on me over the years, but I'm still not completely over it. This album was pleasant to listen to, but I'm still not won over by any of it either. Even among Rod Stewart work, this feels like lesser R-stew.

I was quite bored by this. It's the typical early 70s "rock" sound. The songs are nothing to write home about, except for Country Comfort, which is a cover. 2/5

Not bad! Just not good either. This album is just there, not really doing much at all. It’s perfectly fine but why would you listen to this album when you can listen to literally anything else?

This sounds less like a cohesive album, and more like Rod Stewart throwing various songs and genres at the wall to see what sticks. I've never been a huge fan of Rod Stewart, this isn't doing much to change that. Favorite track: "You're My Girl"

It’s okay folky rock. The story songs wear a bit thin after the first few tracks. Nothing super memorable or great to latch on to.

Quite enjoyable

Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Sort of British Blues meets Prog Rock.

I know the first two songs, but I feel like I’ve heard better versions of both by Rod. This is not the best example of his work so far. Ok, “only a hobo” is a good song. Now I’m starting to dig this. And now my way of giving rocks. This is a great album. And now country comfort. Just wow.

Reverse cowgirl but listening to this top to bottom

Great album

This is a great record! I'm going out on a limb and giving it a 5. I wouldn't normally feel like e record with no real memorable 'hits' would be worthy of a 5 but this is just so solid top to bottom and I love the jamming - and besides Rod Stewart is such a fantastic vocalist. I just really loved this. Cut Across Shorty is prob my fave track but the last one You're My Girl is also really stellar.

I really don’t believe this is the best Rod has to offer. And that being said this album is still pretty solid. I personally didn’t have any 👍s even though almost on a couple tracks. Reason being is I heard Rod on Faces albums and other tracks. AGAIN, that being said I don’t believe Rod ever gets enough credit for the music he has put out there. Being a fan of his work I give it a 3.5⭐️ It is a 3.5⭐️ gonna give it 5 to help Rod. He doesn’t get enough love and this is the first album I got on this adventure and like I said, Faces specifically “Ooh La La”⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

What a great album. Rod was the best before he decided he was a sex symbol. The great rock critic Greil Marcus once said about Rod Stewart that “ Rarely has a singer had as full and unique a talent as Rod Stewart; rarely has anyone be­trayed his talent so completely.” This was a great album. Too bad he stopped making albums like this a few years later.

Favourite songs: It's All Over Now, You're My Girl (I Don't Want To Discuss It), Country Comfort, Cut Across Shorty, My Way of Giving, Jo's Lament, Lady Day Least favourite songs: if forced to pick.... Only A Hobo 5/5

Never heard this before - in fact, I never listened to Rod Stewart outside his hits - damn, what an album. Lots of great rockers (It's All Over Now, My Way of Giving, Cut Across Shorty, You're My Girl) and some nice chill tracks (Gasoline Alley, Only a Hobo, Lady Day, Jo's Lament). Six of the nine tracks are covers and I think each sounds better than the original. Plus, the musicians are top notch and Rod Stewart sounds great. Easy 5.

Jeg ved ikke hvorfor jeg gik ind med lave forventninger til det her album, men jeg synes det var pisse godt. Det vil jeg lytte til igen

Great album

Didn’t think I’d like Rod Stewart but that was pretty dope

Delightfully jammy and informal without losing the polished production of a mainstream artists. That tone on “My Way of Giving” is tasty.

4.5 Love it

Awesome

No hits on the album, and no songs I recognized, yet a gem of a record.

Album 184 of 1001 Rod Steward - Gasoline Alley Rating : 5 / 5 Favorite Track : My Way of Giving I surprise myself with this rating. Had listened to this in the playlist about 550 albums ago and just gave it a 'meh'. Was listening in the area of 10 albums a day at that time, so that isn't really giving one enough time to give it the attention intended. Today, I listened to it during an early morning drive and then, when I started yardwork, it was stuck on repeat and I just didn't bother changing it as I listened through it twice more. This is a really top notch album. With Ronnie Wood backing and Ronnie Lane on a couple of tracks (whose base just kicks ass on 'My Way of Giving', it is practically a Faces album....and I like a Faces album. Good bluesy tunes with excellent musicianship and arrangements. This is one to keep.

I very much appreciated this early Rod Stewart. I am not very familiar (it at all) with the originals of the covers, so there was nothing loss for me in comparison. It all sounded pretty stinking good to me.

I think it's interesting that my first exposure to Rod Stewart was probably Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? at the age of 10. Or maybe Hot Legs, the year prior. I can imagine that songs like that felt like a huge betrayal to fans of these earlier records. I've since filled in a lot of the gaps but I'd not heard any of these particular songs except those I knew by other artists (Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Elton John). A lot of the songs have a country tinge to them that I wasn't sure would work for me but they absolutely do. I feel lucky that Rod Stewart became a singer instead of a professional footballer.

10/10 holy shit, the vibes are phenomenal

Nice!

Awesome

Rollicking! I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did, but either Stewart's vocals have grown on me, or they are a particularly good fit here (or both).

Fascinating album from start to finish.

It’s quite a good album. The main selling point is Rod’s extreme vocal delivery.

Rod is one of my all time favorites! Loved every minute

Discazo. Desde los primeros acordes de "Gasoline Alley" al crudo retrato en "Only A Hobo", pasando por ese final de "My Way of Giving" y el desenfado de "Cut Across Shorty", disfruté todo lo que escuché. Más pretencioso, acaso, diría que me gustaron todas las "texturas". La canción final estaría cancelada hoy, pero qué bien suena, por cierto, este cierre de repente me dio vibras de los RHCP. En fin, un renovado respeto por Rod Stewart y su peculiar voz rasposa. 10/10

Bueno! Interesante

Really great

Nice to listen to, and the guy can certainly sing.

Muy bueno

3-4

Proof that Rod Stewart did not always suck. Great alum, You're My Girl is killer.

Nice.

Solid

Variée, tasteful, full of heart

The album may be a bit pandering, but I can't help but swoon over Mr. Stewarts one-of-a-kind voice.

Actually didn’t mind this . Lots of classics

I don't give Rod Stewart enough credit. This is far far better than my expectations going into it. I still don't love his voice, but it does work with this style. The instrumentation and lyricism is pretty damn good. Enjoyed it quite a bit!

Pretty decent.

Really good rock album. I don't think I've ever listened that to this entire thing before. So great experience

I think the covers were better than the originals but Stewart’s voice works well with this kind of Appalachian sound. Only a Hobo was my fave.

Solid album all the way through. Nothing exceptional on here but it was fun to hear this.

Rod got pipes

I think this is one of the only times I have re listened to an album. And I do not regret it. The first time around I think I was just half paying attention, but the second time I really got to appreciate it. Towards the end I felt a little blah with the vocals, which in all honestly weren’t the strongest at any point of this album, but I really appreciate the first song. It’s very good to open with and the rest flowed along. Impressive, and feeling nice today. 4/5, 7/10.

The best Rod Stewart ever got might be right here - the title track is fantastic and a perfect time machine for 1970 on its own. Quintessential "old rock" that isn't complicated at all but better than 80% of shitty classic rock you hear on FM107 every day - this is what should be played instead. Even though by the end of the album I start to get a little tired of the formula and some of the tunes are ehhhh (was going to mention the Elton John cover but Jo's Lament is an unneeded brake on the album's momentum before the raw closing track "You're My Girl" which is my favourite on the record), it's still an excellent listen - get it on vinyl. 7/10 4 stars.

Rod Stewart was at his best when he was a member of the Faces with guitarist Ron Wood, who also contributed to Stewart's early solo albums along with the other Faces. The album contained several cover songs written by other artists such as Dylan and Country Comfort by Elton John, that appeared on his own album in the same year. I bought this album decades ago when I was seeking out Rod's early solo/Faces albums and I would consider this one his more understated and low key records. At the time, I was disappointed because it wasn't a straight-up rock album, but it has a some spark to it with a subtle, traditional folk sound to it. I'm sure it wasn't one of his best sellers and it's often overlooked in his career, but it offers up an opportunity to hear Stewart without the flash and dyed hair charismatic showman that he became. Solid record.

Muy Rod Stewart. Un 4.

Some simply mesmerizing slide guitar that gives this such grounding as a classic album.

Some good songs here!

I wanted to start listening to Rod, and what a revelation

My first time listening to this album, I didn't get it. Like, sure, I thought it was... Fine, I guess, but in a really underwhelming sort of way. I just couldn't figure out what was supposed to be so notable about it. That changed once I read Stephen Thomas Erlewine's review on AllMusic and I realized: this thing's largely acoustic. There's one electric guitar that comes in every now and then, but otherwise, it's largely driven acoustically. I could go so far as to call it folk, even. In that light, it's actually kind of amazing how hard this thing rocks, all without a hint of fuzz or distortion. Just Rod singing the hell out of these songs and the band playin' similarly. Color me impressed, I gotta say. It's enough to make me feel justified giving this thing a 4. Good job, Rod. I just hope your next album is more immediately understandable.

Really meshed with this one 'cause I dig Rod Stewart's work. 4.5 down to 4.

Maybe its age, but I find myself enjoying Rod Stewart more as I get older. Its like a more rock oriented Elton John at times, Country Comfort especially.

Exactly as good as the other Rotten Roddy album we got! Really enjoyed Country Comfort

I think Rod Stewart has one of the best rock-blues voice, so I was happy to give this a listen. Sure, there are no mega hits on here, but it's still solid. It also reminds me of the time I made a Rod Stewart altar cause I'm a weirdo, and I thought it was funny. 3.5 stars.

I love Rod Stewart. His music has been in my life since my childhood, and I still love listening to his songs. In the late eighties, we had his Out of Order album on cassette, and I'd demand to hear his version of "Forever Young" on the way to being dropped off at Mother's Day Out. I remember watching the music video to "The Motown Song" on VH1. In 2001, he was playing the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and I begged my parents to take us on a family outing to see him, even though it was a school night. My grandfather said he sounded like he got his voice from a bottle of Drano, but I didn't care. I was super excited to see this album come up for me today, even though I'm not familiar with any of the songs on it (I'm more familiar with the songs on his next album, but I've yet to review that one). Let's see what Gasoline Alley has to offer! I wound up enjoying this album quite a bit. I knew that I'd enjoy Rod Stewart's vocals, and he didn't disappoint on this album. There's something about his voice that gives his singing a sense of authenticity. On the songs where Rod sings about lovers who've wronged him, Rod's voice is almost optimistic, giving his heartbreak an 'aw, shucks' feeling. Some of the songs on this album felt like a more upbeat version of the blues, and I thought it worked really well. The songs that had more of folk feel to them were really great to, especially "Only a Hobo," where Rod's sympathy and sadness perfectly permeate the mood. Musically, I loved how the strings were layered, especially the use of the mandolin. The hammond organ and piano playing were great too. For a rock album from the early seventies, this album had a really unique sound and feel to it that sets it apart from a lot of its contemporaries. My biggest complaint on this album is that "Lady Day" and "Jo's Lament" were pretty big misfires to me. They were really boring, and just didn't fit into the rest of the album in my opinion. I like a lot of Rod Stewart's music, but I really wanted to skip those songs. Overall though, this was still a really good album, but I'm looking forward to Every Picture Tells a Story a bit more. Hopefully I'll be able to review it in, oh, let's say... late September.

Greasy, nasty early Rod Stewart was just so raw and fun. None of the hits that he would be known for later but definitely something there.

I think this is rods best type of music. Bluesy kind of feel. But sometimes the music and lyrics don't blend too well

I love his raspy voice, lyrics, and the feeling through this whole album.

pretty fun

I always wrote Rod Stewart off because I associated him with “if you think I’m sexy” and his later raspy crooner era. But his early albums are much more like Faces and really enjoyable.

++: It's All Over Now, Only a Hobo, You're My Girl (I Don't Want To Discuss it) +: Gasoline Alley, My Way of Giving, Cut Across Shorty, Lady Day, Jo's Lament +-: Country Comfort 8,7/10

Now known as Sir Rod, this album goes way back to the Rooster days. A distinctive voice surrounded with excellent musicians performing originals and covers, this album was a harbinger of a massive career to come.

Great album here, but I don't want to jump the gun. Suppose it's only fitting that someone who adores Faces like Rod Stewart too. Standouts are every track.

Rod Stewart en plena forma. Tres canciones geniales.