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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rod Stewart will always get 5 stars from me. Instantly recognizable voice. Different music every time for different moods. Thank you, Rod Stewart for bringing your heart and soul.

It’s the Faces in all but name, and the Faces are aces. It’s easier to demote your opinion of a guy like Rod, given his later turns toward satin pants and cover albums for retirees, but he really was an amazing for a time.

Wonderful

Great singer. Best unique voice. A fellow Scotsman!!! Awesome music. One of my favorite singers, no matter what the album iis.

i thought this was a fun listen. it's rock music at its core, but it has some really strong blues and country influence. something about those pianos and his scratchy voice itches my brain in all the right ways. it's a mixture of original tracks and covers, with the latter mostly covering the whole record. it's a pretty good example of an album of mostly covers, the songs stand by themselves and are spun in a way stewart only can.

This came out right after I turned 15 in the summer of 1970. I believe it didn’t get on my/our radar until 1971 when Every Picture Tells a Story (in my Top 10 of all time) came out and I/we went back to discover Rod’s first two solo albums which are both wonderful and the three make up one of those great triads of releases we’ve discussed before. Side 1 (the first 4 songs) is very solid throughout and side 2 starts out with 2 killer tracks in Country Comforts (an Elton John song) and Cut Across Shorty. The next two solo penned tracks are guitar only and are lovely songs, even though Rod isn’t generally thought of as a solo songwriter. Throughout Ron Wood’s guitar work is subtle where needed and rocking on other tracks. Much more enjoyable than most of his work with the Stones. A staple of our card playing days — a solid 5 here.

Scratchy perfection Joined with a fun loving sound Makes rock music gold

I had no idea how much I enjoyed Rod Stewart.

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.

Rod Stewart is perhaps the country GOAT? (I don’t have a lot of experience with country but this nigga HARDDD (pause)😭 bars upon bars

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

Zuhause, Heidenheim, Deutschland Sehr gutes Album!

Soulig rock n roll från öarna. Country Comfort görs bättre av Elton. Stark 3:a, svag 4:a.

My first experience with music was effectively just before the start of the MTV era, right around the turn of the 70s into the 80s, which means my earliest memories of Rod Stewart are Infactuation and Passion Rod (even Da Ya Think I'm Sexy). So what I heard on this album is a very different artist in certain ways. I had not found any of these songs before and this album had a pretty strong folk feel, not one of the flashy artist I am used to. A lot of this, frankly, reminded me of what I might hear on The Lonesome Jubilee album from John Mellencamp (who inexplicably is missing from this list), which is a great record. What stayed the same is Stewart's great, distinctive voice. The combination of his stellar vocals backed by a different approach (I recognize I'm the one who's not familiar with his older, less commerical stuff) makes for a very fun listen. It's far from a perfect album - It's All Over Now, very ironically, goes on for way too long - but there's a lot of great stuff on here and it's diverse enough to keep me listening. The title track and opener is a cool tune. The way his voice and the guitar compliment each other on this track is fantastic. Only a Hobo gave me a Gordon Lightfoot type of feel. The end of My Way of Giving reminded me of the beginning of Whiter Shade of Pale. Cut Across Shorty drives so well throughout that you don't realize it is 6+ minutes (unlike the afore mentioned It's All Over Now). Finally, the closer You're My Girl was a song I really enjoyed because of its great groove. What's astonishing about this album more than anything is that it didn't find a broad audience. His voice is so cool and considering that he found a lot of success just a year or two later (both solo and with Faces), it’s a bit surprising that this didn't translate commercially. As for me, I am happy to have found it this late in the game.

Much better than anticipated. I expected more ballad-type songs. I understand some may not like his voice, but I thought it worked on this album. Not really any throwaway songs.

Day507 - rod stewart and his unique voice kept my attention all the way through

Rod Stewart is just good vibes

Okay so apparently lots of people hate Rod Stewart, didn't know that. Personally I liked this. Loved the layers to the strings, that sounded really good. I really liked his voice (I'm a sucker to scratchy gravely voices like Mark Lanegan). Wish it was a bit harder, or maybe more folksy, I dunno it's kinda in the middle which is fine but nothing more. The lyrics were pretty mid tbh. I'm in a good mood though so I'll be generous.

If vibes alone could get five stars, this would be there. He sounds like an absolute rascal and it's a vibe. But let's face it, some so so covers and not a ton of new ideas here. Just a pipesman singing out his soul, which is something to behold.

This must be before Rod became the sappy non-rocker. gotta give it up to early Rod. Good stuff

gasoline alley isch suuuper. i like mandoline sehr fest. melodie au suuper schön. it's all over now sehr komische mix sini stimm isch huere liislig? aber gitis und piano gebed alles. de britischi cöntry??? only a hobo (seit mer nüme). aber wieder d gitarre und so sind suuuper schön und er singt schono cool. country comfort sehr cool de bass het mega platz i love it. he guuuets guets album. keis füfi wells mi etz nöd uhuere begeisteret aber sehr cool und au sehr kreativ lieb wie d gitarre töned. super warm. uf you're my girl tschuttetd de bass und d gitarre au wieder uuuuhuere. recht geil. wieder seehr geile song und crazy wie nöd hauptattraktion de rod isch. sie sind huuuere funky. staaaaarchs vieri.

ohh es isch villsiitiger als ich am ahfang befürchtet han!! gasoline alley und it's all over now hend mich beidi nöd umghaue aber es isch chli feel good musig? it's all over now mega rolling stones! für mich tönts ener amerikanisch als britisch han recht abgstellt gedanklich aber country comfort hani seehr schön gfunde cut across shorty findi nöd unglaublich aber SHAWTYS LIKE A MELODY IN MY HEAD lady day isch na herzig I guess aber die irisch giige ischmer denn iwenn chli uf de sack gange:( jo's lament ähnlich, rig herzig aber leider auchli nervi you're my girl hetmer gad recht led zeppelin vibes geh wzüscheziitlich UH DE SCHLUSS isch hot git glaub es knapps 4i. s het easy spass gmacht, au wenns immer wieder parts geh het, wo ich chli langwilig gfunde ha, wird aber glaub wiedermal das album lose

Total surprise that shouldn't have been. Young Rod Stewart rocks. More bluesy really. Awesome guitar. No bangers but a great album nonetheless.

Mandolin, check. Raspy sandpaper vocal style, check. Fun album. And definitely more interesting than when Stewart moved into more mainstream albums of ballads and pop. The mix of music keeps things interesting. He definitely settled into a certain style overall but it is a good sound overall allowing him to do rock, blues, folk, country, and soul blends of various sorts.

Geluisterd tijdens lange busrit; perfecte moment. Zalig terwijl je lekker aan t rijden bent. Misschien wel situationeel maar wel erg lekker op de snelweg

I was prepared to hate this album but I actually really enjoyed it.

Didn't have this one in my library (yet) and I like it :-)

добротный нормисовский альбом. песни под гитару 70- готов типа типикал звук

His voice is iconic and great, but this album is lacking in any real firepower for me. Just a perfectly solid album but short of greatness for me.

Closer to the Faces then do you think I'm sexy, so I liked it.

Growing up, Rod Stewart was the “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” guy, and was more or less a punchline. I assumed most of his songs were that. It wasn’t until I was much older that I learned about Faces and what a badass he was in his early career. He may be a bit of a clown now, but music like this reminds us that he wasn’t always that way.

If there is one artist that this list has changed my opinion, it's Rod Stewart. I always thought he was this kind of nothing pop star. Every album I've heard of his on this list shows a different side of him, but it's astonished me how varied and deep his creative output was. This album is closer to what I always thought Rod Stewart was before I listened to his albums, but it's still a really cool album that features his voice perfectly. All the songs are good on here, and the album goes by really fast 4/5

Rod Stewart ist für mich ein hervorragender Gesangsinterpreter. Seine Stimme ist rauh, aber überzeugend. Er gibt den Songs seinen eigen Stil und Freiraum. Das Album überzeugt mich sowohl von Songauswahl, als auch im Arrangement. Ich bin verwundert, wie unterschiedlich die Kritiker-Stimmen zu diesem Album sind. Die Geschmäcker sind halt verschieden. Für mich ist es klar: Ich bin überzeugt von diesem Album!

🎧Good early Rod! Just a solid classic rock record. Country Comfort by Elton John from his Tumbleweed Connection album.

Very good album

I've absolutely been an open hater of Rod Stewart since I was in high school. My #1 "frenemy" was absolutely obsessed with him and tried to get everyone she knew to love him. However, she kicked me in the face with a ski on when we were 15, and as a result, I deemed every opinion of hers complete shit after that, so I refused to listen to all Rod Stewart at all that wasn't a radio song. In later years, my best adult friend and I have always had a running joke that no, we do NOT think he's sexy and we do NOT want his body. Needless to say, not a huge fan. So I really dragged my feet getting to this album, but I read the text of why it was included in this project. Since it was described as being largely acoustic and it has a cover of a Dylan song (Only A Hobo), I gave it a go. Here's my updated opinion: - Still not sexy, still don't want his body (I know that's not on this album, but just sayin'). - Definitely not going all in on Rod ever, but it's possible the high school frenemy might not have been entirely wrong about everything. - Dylan wrote great songs, but everyone sings them better than he did. - I liked this more than I expected. Highlights for me: "It's All Over Now," "Only A Hobo" (credit to Bob for writing such a powerful song, but props to Rod for doing a really good job with it), "Country Comfort" -Lots of really good acoustic instruments on this album

Great album. A little bluesy, a little folksy and a little rock.

I really enjoyed this. It is very loose in places, but I didn't mind.

The first couple Rod Stewart albums should really just be Faces albums. They took away from that band being considered greater.