Reviews (page 2 of 7)
Really great
Æ tror aldri æ har hørt på Rod Stewart med vilje før. Æ tror ikke det kommer til å skje særlig ofte etter det her heller.
Album 249. Gasoline Alley (https://open.spotify.com/album/2ZFCR4pxXNKfPFUzzMw8X1?si=piXgD817QLq7QLahzcG1GQ) — Rod Stewart (1970) Good country/blues rock album, but not great. It feels quite generic and I mostly don't wanna relisten to it. Still great for a one-time listen. 4/5 Liked: — It's All Over Now
Really enjoyed this. Nothing revolutionary, but these songs show Stewart delivering raw, compelling stories about life and love. The band gives a great performance, and Rod’s signature raspy voice ties it all together for me personally
The album before his commercial breakthrough, made just after the dissolution of the Jeff Beck Group and just before Rod and Ronnie combined with three of the Small Faces. It's self produced, rough and ready, but with a refreshingly eclectic mix of folky tracks with fiddles, straight rock, an Elton cover, a Stones cover and evidence emerging of his ability as a storyteller with his own songwriting. I came to this album relatively late and it just keeps sounding better - no filler and no bad track.
Really liked this. Reminds me that the blues can just be fun. Last song didn’t need to be there. 3.5/5
Good stuff!
Maybe it is just me getting old but I kind of dug this. It just all felt kind of nice and homey.
Amazing rock n roll american style Stones style with his unique voice
Once upon a time there was a band called Faces. They were, as Rod Stewart, their lead singer said, "fond of a drink" and were noted for ragged and affably sloppy performances that were nothing if not a good time. When Stewart began to record solo albums he managed to bring the band along with him, so, for example, this album has appearances from all the members of Faces and Ronnie Wood , the Faces guitarist, is co-writer of several tracks on it. Whereas a Faces album is the band with Rod as their singer, this album is Rod with the Faces members as his band. This is Stewart before he went disco, and polished and sappy. Here he's a bit folk, a bit country, a lot rock and roll and a lot genuinely emotional. Listen to Only a Hobo or Jo's Lament and we're hearing something much deeper than "Hot Legs" or "Tonight's the Night". Then, as a last, trick, he takes a lesser known Little Richard song - You're my girl (I don't wanna discuss it) - and with Ronnie Wood cooks up a funk driven riff that could lifted from a much heavier band. A genuinely decent and enjoyable listen
Хороший приятный звук, цепляющий титульный трек, ну и фирменный голос прокуренной бабушки - ну как такого не любить
Очень приятный альбом
Good Rod
I knew who Rod Stewart was but realized quickly I didn’t actually know his music at all. And you know what - I think I’m a fan!
I loved the energy on this. It doesn't sound super unique, but it was entertaining to listen to.
gayet güzeldi, 70'ler rock'u seviyorum bu abiyi krşfetmiş oldum
Alright, I’ve covered Van Morrison, now for the guy who I sometimes get him confused with, Rod Stewart. Honestly, this album was pretty good all the way through. I didn’t know it was mostly a cover album, but it somehow works to disguise that fact well enough where you aren’t comparing the songs to their original counterparts. Rod Stewart’s singing is on point, especially on my standout track of the album, a cover of Bob Dylan’s Only a Hobo, which he puts a lot of emotion into, and it’s suited by the instrumentals. The arrangement of this album is also very good, with a bed of acoustic guitar that supports electric guitar and keyboard. The acoustic playing is what supports most of the instrumentation, creating a lush feeling, but the other instruments have their time to shine, such as the rock and roll keyboard playing on a cover of Bobby Womack’s It’s All Over Now, which is a very energetic song. The sound does feel kind of repetitive at times, but it does not too heavily impact what I consider a pretty solid album by Rod. Back down the alley!
So the couple tunes I've heard before I've heard as isolated tracks. It is good now to listen to all these songs as an album. Seems Rod is seeing his voice as an instrument as part of an ensemble (esp. You're My Girl), and it's great to hear those other instruments take their turns shining. It all works on its own and shines as a prelude to Every Picture.
A goddamn good album.
I forget about 70's Rod Stewart. I liked it. I'd listen to this anytime.
I liked this. Bluesy. Fairly enjoyable start to finish
I like Rod Stewart and I love the Faces, so this may feel counterintuitive to my preferences, but I think Every Picture Tells a Story should be the first Rod Stewart album in this book. Gasoline Alley is a good enough album, but I believe if an individual likes what they hear from Rod then they could work backwards to it. It does have a lot of contributions from the Faces, which elevates it for me, but I would not consider this the first essential Rod Stewart album. Those who like Rod Stewart's work with the Faces will be surprised at the lack of electric guitar and rowdy lyrics, while those who are used to Rod's 80's work will be expecting more synthesizer and sugary ballads. You're My Girl (I Don't Want to Discuss It) is probably the closest Rod comes to the Faces sound and it also just happens to be one of the better songs on the album. Overall, Gasoline Alley is a really good album but Every Picture Tells a Story is better. Whether both albums should have been in here, well, I liked both but have to admit this is not my starting point for Rod's solo work. My favorite songs: Gasoline Alley It's All Over Now Country Comforts Cut Across Shorty You're My Girl (I Don't Want to Discuss It)
Echt een heel tof album! er is niet per se iets dat er echt uitspringt, maar over het algemeen is het gewoon zo leuk om naar te luisteren. Ik ben fan!
First time actually listening to Rod Stewart and had a lot of fun listening to this one.
I liked this one quite a bit although it didn't stay with me very long. Will listen again. 3.5 rounded up
This is a very good album. Fair play Rod, great voice and very catchy riffs
Gritty voice. Nice. It can become tiring after a song or two, but I still liked it. Weak 4.
often a figure of ridicule but a musical joy
This is a classic for RS fans. Can't deny the various influences in his music on this album. Not a huge Stewart fan, but I enjoyed this LP.
Buen disco, tiene géneros de Rock N Roll con algo de country, a pesar de que Rod Stewart es británico su música tiene mucha identidad Estadounidense.
Saved? ✅ Would listen again? ✅ Would recommend to anyone? ✅ Would buy on Vinyl? ✅
Really good mix of blues-y and folk-y tunes with a unique singer and a great band. Enjoyed it alot
Rod The Bod, as we dubbed him back in the day. This album is the Rod I love (the classics he does in more modern times just don't resonate with me as well). Love the rock aspect of most of the songs on this one. Funny Kizmet type coincidence, I will see Rod in concert this week at JazzFest in New Orleans. He is the headline act at the Festival stage. Wonder if he will do any of thes way back songs? My favorites from this album are Country Comfort and Only a Hobo.
i really liked this album
Didn't expect the original songs of the album to be more interesting and consistent than the covers. The production highlighted some of the worst instrumentals and Rod's voice, as much as I like it, was just grating in some moments. Still, it's a fun record overall.
4/5
Not sure what category Rod falls in but he's a good version of himself.
Surprisingly I liked this one. Rod is a singer that flies under the radar in my opinion. My only complaint was the last song’s lyrics got annoying fast.
For my money, Rod Stewart has one of the all-time great rock voices, but he hasn't always been one of the all-time great pickers of material, to put it mildly. This finds him close to his best though.
Liked it well enough, though I didn't overly love it.
This is Rod before he became cheesey. He doesn't quite reach the same heights here of Every Picture Tells a Story, which will be his next album a year later, but you definitely hear the largely country/rock fusion that I always think of as Rod Stewart just being himself, rather than Rod Stewart trying to be a superstar.
Rod Stewart is a uber-rich wanker who thinks he deserved all the wealth he got as a rock and pop star. He said so himself. So, from this perspective, I never liked the guy and much of his music even though I have to admit that it is done very well. We should keep in mind that he is aided by many talented musicians and sometimes sings songs that are not his own. This album is better than expected, mainly from the musicianship side of things. Props go out to Ronnie Wood and the others. Rod Stewart is all right and this album is a good party gig and has not much to do with the schmalzy side of Stewart. Damn, I'm liking this thing. Tax wealth, not work!
Not a big Rod fan but this record is undeniably great.
Wow. Did not expect to enjoy this. But ya got me. Rod- you are the man!
Another good sounding album that is less than an hour long. All in all, this album is just good and the vocals just feel right for the songs. Good vibes.
Otro disco de enorme belleza y fuerza. Gasoline Alley, con su ritmo blusero y guitarra acústica (mandolina incluida) gana mucho con la portentosa voz de Rod. Nada que ver con otra joya como Gasoline Alley Brred de los Hollies. It´s all over now, el clásico de Bobby Womack es otro con ese ritmo sacado del Stay with me de los Faces. Stewart en estado de gracia, acompañado de varios de sus compañeros de banda. Otro buen cover como My Way of Giving, de otros faces en este caso los Small Faces, con un órgano Hammond (de Ian McLagan, de los propios Faces y Small Faces) acompañando el tema.. Antes Only a Hobo de Dylan y después una estupenda versión del Country Comfort de Elton John. Una de las joyas del disco, de principio a fin. Rayan a gran altura la voz de Rod y el bajo de Ronnie Lane (Faces). Completa el lote de versiones Cut Across Shorty de nada menos que Eddie Cochran, mezclando rockabilly con violín y una serie de guitarras cosa buena oigan! Así que para este álbum tenenos solo 3 temas propios: Gasoline Alley, Lady Day y Jo's Lament. De gran calidad lírica, lejos de sus aventuras posteriores. Cierra con You're My Girl (I Dont Want to Discuss it) de Little Richard previamente grabado por Delaney & Bonnie en calve funk que pese a no ser el tono del disco no desentona. Se nota que lo pasaron muy bien grabándolo y se dsifruta. Es un paso muy bueno en dirección que luego rompió con Every Picture Tells a Story. Pero este álbum no está tan gastado. Se nota mucho la influencia de Music From Big Pink de The Band (68) y ese retorno a sonidos más clásico y folkies. La batería de Mick Waller suena auténtica, aporta seriedad y naturalidad al disco.
First time I am listening to Rod Stewart. Nice ballads and he is a legend
70’s Blues ⭐️Country Comfort
this album smells like a gas guzzlin hot rod. Respectfully.
4 stars after a couple listens
I like the chill style sounds modern for that period
Good ol Rod stewart
bacano, igua si me gustó mas que el otro que escuché de rod stewart, me gustaron más las vibras, temas un roce más bacanos y bien
Sometimes I forget that Rod Stewart used to kind of rock. This was an enjoyable album. I think having songs written by Bobby Womack, Bob Dylan, Elton John (w/ Bernie Taupin) helped. I recognized a couple of the songs, but didn't really know a ton about this era of Stewart's career. Good stuff.
The title track and “My Way of Giving” are great, and the version of Dylan’s “Only a Hobo” is really nice. Concerning “It’s All Over Now”, though; did Rod have a clause in his contract stating he *had* to cover a well-known rock standard on each album and a) play them *just* slowly enough that it feels unnatural and b) incorporate A BILLION FUCKING CODAS at the end of it? Because he did the same exact thing with “That’s All Right Mama” the very next year on Every Picture Tells a Story and I just don’t understand it at all. They add absolutely nothing of value. With that rant out of the way, I enjoyed pretty much everything else on this record. "I Don't Want to Discuss It" is a bit of a weak closer, but in addition to the other songs I just highlighted, the cover of Elton's "Country Comfort" is solid, and "Jo's Lament" is beautiful. The classic early 70's rootsy production is also right up my *alley* (eh?? EH???). 4/5
I could not have foreseen enjoying Rod Stewart this much
I love Faces so I went into this with high expectations. It’s good, but not magical.
This was actually kinda gas… o… line….all……ey……..
I'm evidently in the minority, but I love the raspy voice (but I also love Tom Waits).
Rod Stewart gasoline alley: Sounds really good after listening to The Who and Slade. Maybe a 3 but a 4 in comparison to some other recent albums.
Really refreshing to hear something decent. He has a unique and cool voice. Its maybe not something i would listen to often but i enjoyed it and it was a breath of fresh air
Very fun to listen to!
Love all Stewart. This is an odd choice. 4 *
Enjoyed. I don’t know that I’ve ever listened to an entire Rod Stewart album before this.
Good
For a random Rod Stewart album, this is really good. Nice mix of hard blues rock and more rootsy folk rock. Will listen again.
Good stuff
I mean, I understand why my mum liked Rod Stewart so much
Man i just liked his voice. Album started strong then lost me at the end
Gasoline Alley I’m pleased Rod’s early solo period, when he made his best music, is well represented on the list, with this and Every Picture Tells A Story. EPTAS is probably my favourite, but all of his first four albums are great, when he was making his best music, before his mega stardom arrived. It’s obviously similar to the music he was making at the same time with the Faces, with Ronnie on every track and the others making significant contributions. But it has a more subdued and melancholic edge, which is when I think his voice works best, and is built around acoustic guitars with noticeable folk and country accents, rather than the laddish, more raucous sound of the Faces. Gasoline Alley is a lovely opener and his take on Its All Over Now is great, although it is a song I’ve heard so often that I have fallen out of love with it. Only a Hobo shows that Dylan is a touchstone for the country-folk feel of the album, and it's a superb vocal. My Way of Giving is a great song, and this is probably the best version, and the take on Country Comfort suits the down home feel of the album, I absolutely love his take on Cut Across Shorty, amplifying the country feel in the original with the fiddle and giving it a great groove. Lady Day is a lovely tender little tune, although with a slightly odd mix, and Jo’s Lament carries on with that feel and is another great tune. You’re My Girls ends things on an uptempo note, a great bluesy-funk track. It’s a little loose around the edges, but that’s part of its unpretentious charm, and although of course it's not an absolute top drawer album, it's still a fantastically warm and easy going listen, with great vocals and playing, landing comfortably in the mid to high 4s. ⛽⛽⛽⛽ Playlist submission: Cut Across Shorty
From a period when Rod was turning out great stuff. Some really good tracks on here. Cut Across Shorty is fantastic. 4
Fun album by Hot Rod.
Alright time, resonated with a few songs
3.5 / 5 stars for this one. I wish Rod Stewart had stuck with the blues rock / roots rock vibe a lot longer than drifting to pop and what not, but whatever, dude had to make some scratch, and he got knighted so good for him. This album hits in a lot of good spots. Nice cover of The Valentinos with It's All Over Now and Elton John with Country Comforts. Ends on a super strong note with You're My Girl.
annoyingly surprised how enjoyable that was
Old school Rod Stewart is great, this is right in the sweet spot.
super fun album
No complaints here really.
fuck woke culture, I'm doomed to enjoy albums that nobody likes this is kinda fire??? if it wasn't his voice, it would be five stars, because the instrumentals are amazing
Pretty good. The hoarse voice somehow works. Makes me want to listen to more of Rod Stewart’s tracks. Favorite song: “My Way of Giving”.
Rod Stewart - Gasoline Alley [1970] Quite frankly Rod Stewart's first four solo albums and Faces albums from this era is absolutely my favorite era of Rod Stewart. His blend of acoustic folk and just straight up rock attack gets me every time. This and *Every Picture* is the top tier of the era... *Picture* gets a slight edge, but here in the *Alley* everything is still rockin' cool. (9.6) ★★★★½
I don't think this is quite the masterpiece his next album is, but I still enjoy Rod's rootsy rock from this era. I think his originals are the weak links here, but everything else is really good. I especially like the covers of Elton John's "Country Comfort" and Little Richard's "I Don't Wanna Discuss It". 4 stars.
I was honestly very pleasantly surprised! I don't think I'd heard any Rod Stewart songs before this. I don't love his raspy voice and some of the lyrics I'm like eh, but the music was really intricate! I really enjoyed the music.
surprisingly decent
I've never been a fan of the rasp in his voice, but I'm loving the instrumentation! Nice mix of styles too.
I have a new found respect for Rod Stewart. Everything I've heard from him seems to be pretty good.
This is just an old country boy singing folksy songs about his troubled life in Arkansas. No wait - this is Rod Stewart, of "Hot Legs" and "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" fame. This is not one of his famous works, and I don't think I'd heard any of these songs before. As a snapshot of where he was in his career at the time, it's surprisingly intimate.
Not as good as every picture tells a story but still a fantastic album
Certainly not my favorite album or songs from Rod Stewart but for a great artist like this even the low points are good. His voice and the smooth music is just comforting.
Some great country, blues and rock.
It's a great vibe and some good songs, but it's not something that knocks your socks off and it's also not... no amazing top tier songs.
The quality of Rod's vocals is debatable, but for me it's just on the sweet spot . Great, creative album and a pleasure to listen to.
Listened to first half. Was alright
Jäklar vad bra han var här Roddan! Det folkrockiga anslaget på hans tidiga soloplattor passar honom så fint och musikerna är svinbra (men ofta okrediterade, det är betydligt fler med och lirar än som uppges på konvolutet). Förutom att det blir lite väl mycket "Allan i dalen" i öppningsspåret för min smak så är det kanon hela vägen. Den härligt lössläppta versionen av "It's all over now" låter sådär som Bruce & E-street band gör när dom är får som mest feeling live, hur jävla gôtt som helst. Dylantolkningen förpassar Bob till skräphögen och Elton måste önska att han haft Roddans sångkvalitéer. Min personliga favorit är nog annars smygfunkiga avslutningsspåret (vem gjorde originalet på den?). Den är så lös i kanterna att den knappt hänger ihop men alldeles underbar just därför. Fyra i de lägre regionerna men en bit ifrån nedflyttningsstrecket
Det finns en oerhörd nerv i Roddans första soloplatter. Sen är det såklart en definitionsfråga vad gränsen går mellan Faces och Stewart som soloartist. För i mångt å mycket är det trots allt övriga Faces som backar upp honom. Soundet är emellertid både råare och souligare på soloplattorna där Gasoline Alley tillsammans med den följande Every picture tells a story (som trots allt ytterligare ett snäpp upp) utgör konorna på verket. Stewart är definitivt en hyfsad låtskrivare vilket vi hör såväl i titelspåret som i Lady day. Ändå är det tolkningarna som sticker mest. My way of living blir nått helt annat när Roddan får bestämma än i såväl Small faces version som i Chris Farlows. Och sen har vi förstås Womacks It’s all over now. Vilken jävla energi! Kompet sitter som en fläskläpp (här liksom på flera andra av hans tidiga låtar är Micky Waller lysande på batteriet, vilket driv). Pianot, gitarriffen å inte minst Rod själv gör precis allt rätt. Vartenda ooh och yeah sitter där det ska. Rockar fullständigt skiten av Stones aningen mer kända version. Country comfort är hur fin som helst även om den nödvändigtvis inte är bättre än Eltons version (lite märkligt när man kollar utgivningsdatum, verkar rent av som om Rods släpptes först, men här krävs vidare efterforskningar). Det lite lugnare spåren har också sina styrkor även om de inte når samma höjder nät bandet blåser på. En skiva som tål att köras flera gånger om.
It feels very odd to give this album a 4/5. Every song sounds like it was trying to be what would eventually become Maggie May. Yet he does well with most songs on here, both with quick pop hooks and very committed vocal performances. Additionally, there’s a sweet spot of instrumental variation to my ears. The title track and opener is super sweet, great verse, great chorus. Sounds like it was meant for a crowd to sing along with him. “Only A Hobo” was a nice tender moment that gets more quiet as the track progress until he brings it back with a loud, rousing end. Love the violin on here. “Lady Day” had some nice melodies as well. Every song on here is like this, about a love lost or a pursuit of a girl. But each song is varied just enough. Short and sweet album. So funny that I’m giving Rod Stewart a soft 4/5
Ihan hyvää rokkia tämä Rodin levy. Tällä oli pari tuttua biisejä: Rollareitten tutuksi tekemä ”It’s all over now” ja Eddie Cochranin (🥰) ”Cut across Shorty”.
Love Rod Stewart’s vocals on this album. Gasoline Alley was on many a playlist for a time.
I had forgotten that Rod Stewart used to be able to sing. This was from a time before he sold out and went commercial. The album feels as though it was played live and the vocals are raw and powerful, much better than his later “top of the pops” era.
My favorite gremlin singer.
Nie wierzę, że spodobała mi się płyta Roda Stewarta, który udaje brytyjskiego Boba Dylana zakochanego w country. Ale niestety tak właśnie jest. W ogóle mi się nie dłużyła, nóżka chodziła i jest jak jest, czyli jest 7/10.
exceptionnel
Great album. Some really good songs.
Muchos conocimos a Rod Steward en los 80 a partir de “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” y lo que le siguió, pero pocos reparamos en su pasado rockero de los 70. Oyendo este disco pocos se imaginan que es un inglés su autor, ya que suena tanto del gusto americano, por sus influencias country y folk, igual que del blues. No es extraño que en EEUU le consideren uno de los suyos. Me ha gustado el protagonismo de las guitarras y la magnífica cualidad interpretativa de la áspera garganta de Rod, inimitable. Descubrimiento.
First track starts off a little bluegrassish. Kind of a cool sound. Cut Across similarly folksy bluegrass elements. I like the slide guitar on Lady Day. I'm not super familiar with Rod Stewart, and liked this album a lot more than I thought I would have. 4/5
I find it funny the hate he somehow conjures. I do tend to find middle of the road classic rock boring but for whatever reason I’m always entertained listening to Rod. His voice is unique and I enjoy the melodies he chooses. It doesn’t have to be more ground breaking than that. Enjoyable album start to finish. Rating: 4.3
2 Rods 1 Week
Oye Como Va and Black Magic Woman alone makes this a must listen album. Fantastic!
Thought this guys only personality trait was being a massive Celtic fan but turns out he can put out a tune or two as well. Really enjoyed this one funnily enough. How did his voice get so raspy when he was only like 25. Also yet to hear a cover on these albums better than the original. Minus points. Specific rating- 4.4 Fav song- gasoline alley Least fav- Jo’s lament
I really enjoyed the gravelliness of his voice. Just a great vibe. Favourite song: Country Comfort Least: Cut Across Shorty (could have been half the length quite easily)
Pure folk rock
swinging, grooving - Rod on great voice, with really sympathetic backing which is all about the roll, as opposed to the rock.
A very good album even without any of his most played songs. 4 stars or B+.
Love me some Rod in the morning. Perfect hangover lament blues. Such rich themes and beautiful instrumentations.
3.5
Rod Stewart is cool. His albums are all equally good, just front to back. He's a model of consistency. Keep giving the people what they want, Rod.
It's okay but he really should have hired a better cover artist
Rod Stewart's second solo album, "Gasoline Alley", is a strong mix of folk, blues, and rock that highlights his developing sound at that time. While it's not as polished as his later work, its 'rough around the edges' appeal works in its favour, which often makes it a critic's choice for lists such as this one! Of course, Stewart's signature raspy, soulful voice is central to the album's appeal. The album's stand out is the title track, an excellent song written by Stewart and Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood. The record also features five covers that showcase Stewart's ability to reinterpret other artists' work. The best of these is a powerful version of "All Over Now" with "Only a Hobo" and "You're My Girl" also being standout tracks. Gasoline Alley is a key part of the incredible streak of albums Stewart recorded, both solo and with The Faces, during the early 1970s. It stands as one of the "very good" entries in that fantastic run. I rate this album four out of five stars. Would I listen to this album again? Yes. Would I buy this album? I did. 1- "Gasoline Alley" - (5/5) 2- "It's All Over Now" - (5/5) 3- "Only a Hobo" - (5/5) 4- "My Way of Giving" - (3/5) 5- "Country Comfort" - (4/5) 6- "Cut Across Shorty" - (4/5) 7- "Lady Day" - (3/5) 8- "Jo's Lament" - (4/5) 9- "You're My Girl (I Don't Want to Discuss It)" - (5/5) Total - 38 Average - 4.22 94/1001
3.5⭐️/5 [08.24.2025] 01.17.2026
Great early album
3/4
It really sounds like a Faces album, which is to be expected with so many similarities and common factors. I liked the album, but then again I love the Faces. There was no killer track on here though, but no weak tracks either. I wasn't sure what to make of the cover of 'It's All Over Now' - I'm probably in a minority but I haven't heard anything better than the Valentino's original version!
a solid blues record with authenticity and tunes
## In-Depth Review: Rod Stewart's *Gasoline Alley* (1970) ### Context and Background Released on June 12, 1970, *Gasoline Alley* was Rod Stewart’s second solo album, arriving amidst his dual role as frontman for the Faces. Recorded at Morgan Studios in London with producer Lou Reizner, the album blended Stewart’s rock instincts with folk, country, and Celtic influences. Featuring Faces members Ronnie Wood (guitar/bass), Ian McLagan (keys), and Mick Waller (drums), it struck a balance between solo artistry and band collaboration . Despite modest initial success (US #27, UK #62), it laid the groundwork for his 1971 breakthrough, *Every Picture Tells a Story* . --- ### **Lyrics and Themes: Nostalgia, Regret, and Roots** *Gasoline Alley* explores introspection and vulnerability, departing from the era’s rock bravado: - **Nostalgia and Homecoming**: The title track (co-written with Wood) uses "Gasoline Alley" as a metaphor for Stewart’s working-class roots. Lines like *"Goin’ home, rollin’ home / Back where I started from"* evoke a yearning for simplicity amid fame’s chaos . - **Regret and Loss**: Stewart’s originals "Lady Day" and "Jo’s Lament" reveal raw vulnerability. In "Lady Day," he confesses, *"I get scared when I remember too much,"* while "Jo’s Lament" addresses paternal guilt: *"Now I’m not so young and I am so afraid to sleep alone"* . - **Empathy and Social Consciousness**: Covers like Dylan’s "Only a Hobo" spotlight marginalized figures. Stewart’s delivery infuses the dying hobo narrative with dignity, showcasing his "rare sensitivity for neglected truths" . - **Rural and Pastoral Life**: Elton John’s "Country Comfort" celebrates agrarian resilience (*"Old Man Grayson’s in the milk-shed / Cleaning his shotgun in the yard"*), reflecting Stewart’s folk roots . *Table: Lyrical Themes in Key Tracks* | **Track** | **Theme** | **Key Lyric** | **Type** | |-----------------------|--------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------| | "Gasoline Alley" | Nostalgia/Homecoming | "Swallow up my silly country pride" | Stewart/Wood Original | | "Lady Day" | Regret/Isolation | "I get scared when I remember too much" | Stewart Original | | "Jo’s Lament" | Paternal Guilt | "Now I’m not so young and I am so afraid" | Stewart Original | | "Only a Hobo" (Dylan) | Empathy/Mortality | "As the last train leaves the station" | Cover | | "Country Comfort" | Rural Resilience | "He’s a horse-drawn man until his dying day" | Cover | --- ### **Music and Production: Rustic Alchemy** **Sound and Arrangement**: - **Folk-Rock Fusion**: Acoustic guitars, mandolin (Stanley Matthews), and fiddle dominate, creating a "rustic, unpolished" atmosphere. The title track’s Celtic-inflected melody contrasts with raucous covers like "It’s All Over Now," where McLagan’s "boozy piano" and Wood’s slide guitar fuel a "jubilant liberation" anthem . - **Vocal Mastery**: Stewart’s raspy delivery shifts from whispered fragility ("Only a Hobo") to roaring confidence ("You’re My Girl"). Critics note his ability to "upgrade" covers while honoring their essence . - **Dynamic Contrast**: The album oscillates between frenetic rockers (Small Faces’ "My Way of Giving") and melancholic ballads ("Jo’s Lament"). This eclecticism mirrors the Band’s *Music from Big Pink*, influencing Stewart’s approach . **Production Techniques**: - Recorded live with minimal overdubs, the album embodies "off-the-cuff" energy. Mobile Fidelity reissues later highlighted its "cross-stitching of acoustic instruments" and warm analog tape saturation . - *Weakness*: The closing funk-rock cover "You’re My Girl" feels tonally disjointed after the introspective second side, a sequencing misstep noted by critics . *Table: Musical Style and Personnel Contributions* | **Track** | **Genre Blend** | **Key Instrumentation** | **Personnel Highlights** | |-----------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|--------------------------| | "Gasoline Alley" | Celtic Folk | Mandolin, 12-string guitar, slide guitar | Wood (slide), Matthews (mandolin) | | "It’s All Over Now" | Pub Rock | Boogie-woogie piano, crashing drums | McLagan (piano), Waller (drums) | | "Country Comfort" | Pastoral Folk | Piano, fiddle, high harmonies | Pete Sears (piano), Jack Reynolds (vocals) | | "Cut Across Shorty" | Rockabilly/Folk | Fiddle, dual acoustics, syncopated drums | Quittenton (acoustic guitar) | | "Lady Day" | Baroque Folk | Claw-hammer guitar, teary fiddle | Stewart (acoustic guitar) | --- ### **Themes and Artistic Vision** The album’s core tension—between **roots tradition** and **rock rebellion**—reflects Stewart’s identity: - **Return to Origins**: The title track’s longing for "Gasoline Alley" symbolizes a desire to reconcile fame with authenticity . - **Blue-Collar Romanticism**: Characters like the hobo or stubborn miller ("Country Comfort") honor overlooked lives, echoing Thoreau’s "quiet desperation" . - **Duality of Freedom/Regret**: "It’s All Over Now" celebrates liberation, while "Jo’s Lament" mourns lost connections, capturing Stewart’s "rock 'n' roll voice without compare" . --- ### **Influence and Legacy** *Gasoline Alley* reshaped Stewart’s career and 1970s rock: - **Template for Success**: Its fusion of covers and originals paved the way for *Every Picture Tells a Story*. Elton John cited Stewart’s "Country Comfort" as inspiration for his own version . - **Critical Reassessment**: Initially overshadowed, it’s now hailed as Stewart’s "most soulful" work, contrasting sharply with his later pop phase . - **Enduring Impact**: Artists like Elkie Brooks (1983 hit cover of "Gasoline Alley") and Americana acts (e.g., The Lumineers) echo its acoustic rawness . --- ### **Pros and Cons Summary** | **Aspect** | **Pros** | **Cons** | |------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | **Lyrics** | Raw vulnerability ("Jo’s Lament"); empathetic storytelling ("Only a Hobo") | Over-reliance on covers (6/9 tracks) limits originality | | **Music** | Genre-blending innovation; Wood’s "whiplash slide guitar" ; dynamic vocals | Closer "You’re My Girl" disrupts cohesion | | **Production** | Warm, "tubey magical" analog sound (Mobile Fidelity reissues) ; live energy | Some "sloppy syncopation" in drums ("It’s All Over Now") | | **Legacy** | Blueprint for 1970s singer-songwriters; Stewart’s artistic peak | Overshadowed by *Every Picture...* commercially | --- ### **Final Verdict** *Gasoline Alley* remains Rod Stewart’s most emotionally resonant work—a "warm kerosene lamp" of an album . Its strengths (lyrical candor, folk-rock alchemy, production warmth) outweigh flaws like sequencing issues, solidifying its status as a landmark where "tradition meets present" . For all Stewart’s later success, this album captures an artist "singing from the depths of his heart and soul" —a testament to the power of roots before glitz. > **Key Citation**: Rolling Stone (1970) declared it "the second volume in what I hope will be a continually expanding ‘Collected Works’ of a supremely fine artist" .
Very good album. This was apparently made before Rod Stewart decided to suck.
More Maggie May style Rod Stewart. His second album; early sound. Not as many well known songs - like a mix of folk and soul and jazz
The Motown sound is strong with this one.
Great early 70’s Rod Stewart
cowboy texas vibes
Good on ya Roddy boy.
Nice and tidy album by Rod Stewart. Great voice, cool music, although not really my style. But definitely worth listening to.
classic Stewart
7/10 I enjoyed it well enough - some good tracks, albeit with nothing amazing
Another banger
Great little album
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
Really enjoyable album something about his voice that clicks with me
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.
More Rod Stewart? This album was good, but I liked Every Picture Tells a Story a lot more.
I now like him for more than his incredible model train set
Grooving, rocking and beautiful all in one! I did not expect to like this as much as I did.
I liked it a lot! Didn't know Rod Stewart sounded like this
Ik verwachtte niet veel van Rod gezien zijn latere status als licht verlopen rock-opa, maar eigenlijk is dit dikke prima bluesrock. Meerdere keren met veel plezier gedraaid.
Ik wist wel dat Rod Stewart al een tijdje meegaat. Ik ken hem vooral van wat gezapige 80s ballads, waarin hij ook al Rolling Stones coverde (of nummers die de Rolling Stones weer hadden gecoverd, zoals op deze plaat). Dit plaatje zonder echt grote hits zit vol met rock n roll songs. Lekker gitaartje van Ronnie Wood, die we later weer bij de Stones terug zouden zien. Hammond orgeltje erbij. Zelfs een verdwaalde fiddle. Ik heb me uitstekend vermaakt met dit album. Er zit een lekker tempo in, waardoor je vrolijk wakker wordt zo op de vroege ochtend. De schuurpapieren stem van Rod past perfect bij de rock n roll. Goed voor een hele lekkere 4 sterren.
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.
this was nice
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.
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.
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would, especially considering how much I hated the other Rod Stewart album I've had so far. Not pushing any boundaries, but good nonetheless.
Surprising much I enjoyed pre-disco rod Stewart.
Rod is very consistent.
Some songs I wasn't familiar with. Good stuff.
4/5
Ну кстати... не так уж и плохо. Мне даже понравилось, как я на 40 минут уехал куда-то в Техас рассекать на кабриолете.
first listen so good
In the early part of his career, Rod Stewart was part of the band Faces, and recorded solo material. Gasoline Alley is his second solo album, and as Stewart often did, this is a mixture of his songs and covers of others' work. Stewart is a crooner in modern music. He creates a blues-influenced version of rock songs that wander towards country ballads. He a modern Sinatra - a recognizable voice that has recorded an extensive collection over decades.
Really solid. Some excellent tracks. Jos lament caught me in a good way.
I've heard this one enough times.
I don’t know if I’ll ever let initial reviews not affect me. The day I do is gonna make this whole listening thing way easier. Never heard of Rod Stewart. But I saw that people don’t like this that much, and was immediately like “Ehh, must not be very good”. Don’t listen to what other people say. That’s step number one, and basically the only step to properly hearing new music. This shit slaps. I still really don’t know who Rod Stewart is, and I don’t care very much. Funnily enough that seems to be the consensus with this guy. People don’t really know how he got famous, or what he’s really done. He’s not anything special and he never has been. And somehow I could almost feel that through the music. But why is it all of the sudden you have to be something game changing for your music to be good? Not everyone can be Michael Jackson. There are bands who go decades without ever being discovered, until some random person on 4chan finds their shit (looking at you Panchiko). Rod is who he is, and I dig it. His voice has a nice gravel to it, and the instruments sound nice. All that matters to me for something like this. This album is a mix of softer acoustic songs and more pumped up tracks with electric guitar and bass. Some songs go fully without drums, and I can appreciate how stripped back they feel. But there are also some songs with an undeniable groove, like I Don’t Want to Discuss It or My Way of Giving. Take it as a lesson that you can be looked at as a rather unremarkable figure, and still become one of the best selling musicians ever. But none of that stuff really matters anyways. Just make the music you love. Rating: 8/10
Undoubtedly talented, but not my jam.
Good stuff!
3.75
Raspy Rod impressed me on this one. Starting strong on the title track, Country Comfort took us on a feel good journey. Excellent release, simply a great, warm listen. 4 stars
This album’s production feels several years ahead of its time on some select songs. Otherwise, the lyrics tell great stories.
Goodalbum! I liked
Just behind Every Picture as the best thing he ever did ... rocks convincingly and mellowly, suggesting that he should have stayed in the rootsy-folkie vein. He was never gonna be a mystic like Van the Man, but Hot Rod has such a distinct voice and uses it to much greater effect than he would in the disco and/or American songbook vein. "Country Comfort" "Lady Day" and "Jo's Lament" show his ability to articulately talk his way through a song in actorly fashion. Title cut and "My Way of Giving" are also strong.
Nice american music
Good album. Didn't realize it was mostly covers but still good.
My brother was into Rod Stewart back in his disco days. That influenced me to hate Stewart for a long time. It was much later that I discovered his early days. Better music, better musicians. This album was a good listen.
Love his voice as well as Wood’s guitar. Overall, there is a late 60’s blues rock feel that doesn’t make it incredibly unique.
Very nice and chill album, I had it playing in the background and enjoyed listening to it.
Gasoline Alley: 4/5 It's All Over Now: 4/5 Only A Hobo: 5/5 My Way Of Giving: 5/5 Country Comfort: 4/5 Cut Across Shorty: 4/5 Lady Day: 4/5 Jo's Lament: 4/5 You're My Girl (I Don't Want To Discuss It): 3/5 Avg.: 4.1
Much better as I have expected. Early years - good stuff. I have to keep it in mind. Safe 4 stars!
Rod at his godliest. He didn't write much but he can growl a good tune, and I loved the louche ruggedness of his backing band.
4.1 - This record is another nail in the “Rod-Stewart-sucks” coffin. Extraordinary roots rock on par with CCR.
Better than expected
This is classic early Rod Stewart.
you can’t tell the story of rock music in the 70’s and 80’s without mentioning rod stewart. great voice for rock and roll. solid album. highlights: “it’s all over now”, “cut across shorty”, “you’re my girl “i don’t want to discuss it”.
Super -
Didnt expect to like this but love the musicianship and each song-cover or not- is good. not a bad song on here. all star line up backing him. 4 stars.
The album feels like a bit of a hodgepodge, mixing some acoustic and rocking stuff together. I keep coming back to "Every Picture Tells A Story," and how that song would have fit so well on this album. The last song was a really good rocker, and I was actually surprised at it; it seemed a lot different from the other pieces, like it was a holdover from something else. Not a slight against it, it was probably my favorite track off of the whole thing. Hard to believe this was 1970, I thought this was at least 5 years later. Although there are a number of covers on this, I only knew two songs: "Cut Across Shorty" (from a later Rod performance) and "All Over Now" (from a Rolling Stone cover). Favorite track(s): "You're My Girl (I Don't Want to Discuss It)" and "Cut Across Shorty"
You know, Rod Stewart has done some pretty good covers/cover albums in his time. This is solid, and the few originals (title track, Lady Day, Jo's Lament) are pretty good too. Kudos to the Faces for all their musical contributions on the album. It's All Over Now is the best cover. Country Comforts might be the worst, and that's only because I like Elton John's version so much. But I do have a soft spot for that raspy Stewart voice - it must be why I like the Stereophonics so much (similar vocals). Ironic that they both have covered Handbags and Gladrags?
Pretty cool!
a serve tbh, i love dad music
Some excellent tracks in here. Rod’s husky vocal took some time to warm up to (knowing that there was an entire album ahead of me), but once my brain accepted it, it really was a blast to listen to. Six covers that easily improve upon the originals, and three new compositions that expand on the blues-folk scene. The tracks It’s All Over Now, Cut Across Shorty, and especially You’re My Girl are the standouts; the latter is funky and rocking, approaching a perfect array of sounds that I’ve come to adore from bands like Zeppelin and the Velvet Underground (among others). The remaining tracks don’t stand out nearly as much. The rhythmically clumsy harmonies, fairly typical of the folk genre, are also really fun. The instrumentation isn’t particularly grabbing (excluding the final track) but it’s passable. This is very close to 5 stars, but there’s something missing from the sound.
No esperaba un disco así de Rod Stewart pero me ha gustado bastante. Una grata sorpresa: "Gasoline Alley", "Country Comfort", "Cut Across Shorty" y "You're My Girl (I Don't Want to Discuss It)". Imprescindible.
pretty good
Pretty guid. Almost a cliché but I suppose it's only that way because it was popular in the first place. On the fence between a 3 and a 4
What I like about Rod Stewart is you really get the feeling like whenever he came up with a little riff or a little ditty and thought, “I like this!” he just used it. If it was good enough for Rod, it was good enough for whoever was going to buy the albums. Whether I think Rod rocked or not, Rod fucking knew every second that Rod fucking rocked. Would that I had nine percent of that confidence. Also, give me the steel string on Joe’s lament.
Not the Rod album I’d have chosen - every picture tells a story is a stronger contender. But Rod had and has the best voice of his generation - a generation that includes Plant, Tom Jones, Elton, Freddie, Joe Cocker. What he’d sing is a whole different thing. I liked Elton’s country comfort and bobby Womack’s ‘it’s all over now’. Rod is a fine songwriter and his Lady Day is solid. For a man who, being told he could sing the phone book kept singing it, it’s easy to forget his early stuff is excellent. Some of his later stuff is too. But his fascination with soccer and model trains probably distracts him. But early Rod, surrounded by good musicians, with an earned arrogance is well worth listening to. Again maybe not this album. But you could do worse by digging into the Rod Stewart discography than this one.
The album that set Stewart up to top the charts (on both sides of the Atlantic)with the follow-up, Every Picture Tells A Story. As usual, a mix of originals & covers, it opens with the title track, an original written by Rod & Ronnie Wood, which has always been my favourite track on the album. The guitars & mandolin mix are to die for, as will prove crucial on the next album. It’s All Over Now follows & Stewart’s version is good, although I still think the Stones’ version is the defining version of a great song that the songwriter, Bobby Womack, never really did justice. The compulsory Dylan cover follows - Only A Hobo - & this was the first time most of us, including me, ever heard this song. It missed the cut for Dylan’s third album, released in 1963, & did not appear on an official Dylan release until 1991, although I have it on 3 different bootlegs issued before then, most notably the double album, Great White Wonder, according to Wiki “the first notable rock bootleg album, released in July 1969”. Rod’s version is terrific, a little slower & with a backing that outdoes Dylan’s acoustic guitar & harmonica. Side 1 ends with a full-voiced cover of The Small Faces’ My Way Of Giving (Lane/Marriott), again slightly slower & stretching the 1:58 original out to 3:55. The Small Faces/Faces were so lucky to have such great frontmen as Marriott & Stewart. I think Steve’s original version is still definitive but again Stewart’s backing by Faces members is terrific. Side 2 carries on with a cover of Elton John’s Country Comfort, & a rousing cover of Eddie Cochran’s Cut Across Shorty. Cochran was probably more revered in the UK than the US, because he died there in a car accident when only 21 & this was supposedly the last song he recorded before he died. Two Stewart compositions follow, both ballads, the latter featuring Stewart on acoustic guitar. The album ends with a song first recorded by Little Richard in 1966 & Rod & the band do well with it. Side 2 not quite as riveting as Side 1, but, overall, a fine album.
My Rod Stewart and James Taylor appreciation goes up the more my dad energy goes up
Reminds me of my mom.
i didnt expect this to be this good honestly, but this thing rocks and rod has a very distinct graspy to his voice. also beautiful and groovy piano lines.
My Mom was obsessed with Rod Stewart while I was growing up. I'm not sure if that is biasing me here, but this album felt pretty nice. Again, I wouldn't seek it out on my own but it was pretty enjoyable.
My papa loves Rod Stewart and I’ve enjoyed listening to Rod with him. So this album has been great. It’s also has a sound that feels like his early years.
Pretty good
Upon first glance, there was little to no desire to listen to this album. However, had that urge taken hold, I would have prevented myself from becoming positively delighted by the short and sweet yet well traveled collection of performances Rod Stewart gave here. Amongst these songs, there is a lot of genuine feeling spread across; the kind that is heartfelt and swells through the listener. Favorites: Gasoline Alley, It's All Over Now, Only a Hobo, Country Comfort, Cut Across Shorty, Lady Day.
I like Rod and this is a solid easy listen but it doesn't move me very often.
Nice, 4 starts
I always thought of Rod Stewart as an old man who tries to look young and who sings boring ballads. It was a revelation when I realized that nah, dude's a rocker! While this album doesn't necessarily have any hits per se, it has some great numbers that blur the line between rock and folk. Rod's hoarse voice gets a little old in time, but minor quibble. It's fun!
Very fine
I really enjoy Rod Stewart’s ‘60s and ‘70s music and singing. His work with the Faces and particularly Ron Wood and Ian McLagan is excellent: bluesy, soulful, melodic. Rod’s a superstar for a reason. It’s a pity my generation and younger don’t like him as much for his excellent blues/soul first 10 years work.
Rock. Blues
Rod Stewart has a distinctive and kind of a comforting voice to listen to. This album is nothing fancy, but a solid listen. The only negative I had was the song where he was singing harmony with another guy. It just sounded off.
Maybe a 3.5. I rounded up.
🩷
Another classic from Rod Stewart.
Really enjoyed this album. Rod Stewart has a great voice and these were some well written songs.
mon dieu, je pogne tellement de bona lbum desuite ahah mais quand meme si je me base sur every picture tells a story celui en un pe uen dessous 4.75
Happy to see a Rod Stewart album pop up. He was one of my favorite artists growing up. I enjoyed listening to some of these songs from my younger days. Really liked his version of “It’s all over now” and “Country Comfort”
Rod Stewart's voice seems to be at home here with the folky instruments of this album. This one grew on me more than I thought it would, especially when there were mandolins and violins.
You get a really interesting sound in this album. Good bass work, fiddle, mandolin, almost screeching vocals, soulful piano, bouncing country guitars, and clambering drums. Everything on this album is just fun. I can sit and enjoy it or throw it on in the background. 4/5 Favorites: It's All Over Now, My Way of Giving, Cut Across Shorty Least Favorites: Lady Day
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Country comfort, It’s all over now
Listened Before? N Ah, sounds of my childhood. Rod Stewart was playing constantly on my dad's stereo in the late 80s and Early 90s. I have seen him live multiple times, but I've never listened to this album in full. I enjoyed it quite a bit. It sounds a lot like his early stuff with Faces. Highly recommended for fans of his. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Cut Across Shorty
4.25
Better than Aerosmith!
Really a great, spunky album.
Damn, Rod, I was diggin’ it.
You know what, not half bad...not a big Rod fan, but he has a hell of a band behind him at thus point
det är rätt bra emellanåt alltså. inte fy skam. och en bra längd på albumet. basen på sista låten (you're my girl) är magisk
Actually really enjoyable. dance worthy music
The further along in the album I got, the more I enjoyed it. Really good vibes. Folk rock.
Is it the strings and mandolin? It's probably the strings and mandolin. It doesn't break the ceiling that British blues groups do, but as a solo effort Gasoline Alley is eminently authentic and doesn't have a weak tune. The mixing is strange, but Stewart has a voice that is impossible to lose. Covers and originals blend perfectly, a concert developing out of acoustic guitar and barroom piano.
Rod is amazing! He manages to sound like a jazz, folk, blues, and rock musician at the same time. I loved the range of songs on this album.
Entertaining rock & Roll album with some nice guitars and easy listening pop/rock
a British singer-songwriter who doesn't suck! hallelujah! (also enlightening to an 80s kid who mostly knew "Do Ya" and "Forever Young" growing up)
I’ve never given much time to Rod Stewart, the music he has charted with has never really appealed to me so when this landed on my playlist I was fairly ambivalent towards it. It’s a lot better than I had given credit for, and I can now see why People rate him as an artist. I still haven’t truly changed my mind about his chart music, but this album as an individual piece was an interesting and enjoyable Listen
Goed plaatje. Zowel de covers als de eigen nummers
Heerlijk een Rod-zondag
I just love his voice. Didn’t know any of the songs. But loved this listen nonetheless. I do feel like it was a bit repetitive at times. However for the most part it was great.!
Liked this more than I expected. I was surprised when I learned it was from 1971. It sounded a lot newer to my ear than that. 4/5
I dunno, that 70’s blues rock sound still does it for me. And it helps that Rod’s still largely backed behind the Faces, who are a great band. The less plugged-in tracks don’t do much for me, but when Ronnie kicks in his iconic tone, this is a good time. B-
Great
-Generally solid rock+ piano with a nice blues feel -Generally solid tracks with good energy dynamics (maybe a little low for my taste) up until "Cut Across Shorty" -"Cut Across Shorty" is probably my favorite track on the album. Really high energy with a great guitar/piano riff/jam -Right after "Cut Across Shorty," there was "Lady Day" and Jo's Lament" which were both mega boring and slow -Luckily the album finished off well on "You're My Girl (I Don't Want To Discuss It)," which is second best to "Cut Across Shorty" -Probably not as strong as the other Rod Stewart album I had, "Every Picture Tells A Story" -Probably a sketchy 4
Scrappy
Honestly, I didn't know that Rod Stewart is so folky/country. That's not a bad thing though. I enjoyed the album. Songwriting, singing and musicianship are very solid. It's not an album I'd play on repeat though.
Decent, but it's the next two which are stellar.
These are nice friendly songs. Rod has a great rock voice.
There is something about this album that makes me want to get drunk. Would be a fine album to put on during a good drinking session with friends. Has an easygoing earthy soulfulness to it that feels very natural and genuine.
Nunca había escuchado un disco de Rod Stewart y fue una grata sorpresa. Muchas melodías agradables, arreglos sencillos pero bien ubicados y letras introspectivas hacen de este un muy buen disco.