Every Picture Tells A Story

another album where only half the songs are good but like... I think all of us had the simultaneous realization that Rod Stewart kind of slaps and we're unsure how to handle this information.

Much less grandma-pleasing than I had been led to believe (by literally no-one). There’s a real thump to Rod’s music, a driving energy, a sense that he has to get these tunes out. That he does so with one of the most satisfyingly impossible-to-mimic-because-you’ll-end-up-coughing voices in music is much to his credit.

Man... apologies to the folks who love the guy but Rod Stewart is just so daggum mediocre. There's literally nothing special about 99% of his songs. Even "Maggie May" his big break-out song is just... meh. It starts with some weird chamber music piece which doesn't even segue into the main song. It just stops. Then starts a relatively bland song. Just not a fan.

“Every Picture Tells a Story” by Rod Stewart (1971) Oooo, this is a gem! This album excels from start to finish, with no bumps in the road. Sir Roderick’s voice is proof that one can be a great singer without the natural gifts of a Pavarotti or a Crosby (Bing, not David). Stewart’s (in)famous raspiness enhances the soulfulness of his melodies, à la Janis Joplin. Ronnie Wood (with The Rolling Stones for the past 30 years) shines on guitar, and who knew in 1971 that mandolin could rock? Now youngsters listening to this album for the first time will likely be struck by the initial thinness of the mix (and subdued bass), but please notice how this engineering choice enhances the individual instrumental performances. You’ve got to listen to this album with headphones. Lyrics are second only to Dylan. Flaws? Well, sure. Bass is seriously out of tune at the end of “Seems Like a Long Time” (but strangely not at the beginning). Recording on “Amazing Grace” is not clean—a lot of distracting background noises. Some tracks have wobbly tempo. There are even a few embarrassing vocal flourishes. “Maggie May” is a classic love ballad about a teenage boy who has regrets about falling for a significantly older bimbo. What 16-year-old boy (me) could resist this tune? “Mandolin Wind” is epic. Still brings tears. And Stewart’s cover of “(I Know) I’m Losing You” rocks and rocks and rocks. Better than The Temptations or Rare Earth. Complete your education. Listen to this one. 5/5

I listened to this album a couple times and I’d be happy to hear it again although I’m not going to seek it out. Rod Stewart has a unique voice with all his raspiness. I dig it. I found out that Rod Stewart had 15 albums in a 20 year period (1969-1988) with no gap greater than 2 years. Even though he’s not “my guy,” that’s impressively consistent production.

I'm gonna try to recreate my train of thought while listening to this yesterday, because it was all over the place... -This is kinda boring -This seems like a very, very long time. It says 4:02, but it's clearly been 20 minutes of repeating that line. -It's trending more towards blues and bluegrass? That's kind of unexpected. -I don't remember "Maggie May" starting like that? Have I never heard the whole song before? -This came out in 1971!? Never would have guessed that. Rod's been around a long time. The folk elements make more sense in that context. Would have guessed early 80s if you asked me about the two singles on this record. -A lot of bluegrass/folk vibes, but in a boring way... how is he making bluegrass that boring? -These last two songs do not fit on this album. Much more electric guitar and piano. Overall uninspiring. A lot of classic songs have a nostalgia factor that makes me like them more now than I would if I heard them today for the first time. But I actually liked "Maggie May" less than the version stuck in my deep memory circuits.

I was not put on this earth to "get" Rod Stewart.

Before listening to this album, Maggie May was the only Rod Stewart song I liked...it still is.

Ugh. Sounds like a mediocre bar band - you know the one... they have some raw talent but they're either too lazy or too drunk to bother learning the songs. My overwhelming impression while slogging through this sloppy set was "Geez - how much longer is this song?". Not without charm, but certainly lacking in execution.

Every pictures tells a story and damn was this a story. Just a great folk aesthetic I really appreciated :)

So, let's get his straight. Rod wasn't getting laid in Rome and decided to write a song about it? And then he proceeds to say racist things about a woman he met on a ferry in Peking/Beijing? Great album opener there, Rod. A good portion of this album is dated white guy rock that steals heavily from blues and is nowhere as good. I've always really liked Maggie May, but it has super misogynistic lyrics. The last few songs are good, though.

4/10. Bit boring, and opening with a song with the lyric "I fell in love with a slit-eyed lady / By the light of an eastern moon" made it feel pretty dated if nothing else.

Maybe I just take this kind of music for granted, but I couldn’t imagine a more unremarkable album.

Album number 800! A collection of 8 well written tracks of Rod Stewart singing like Rod Stewart about Rod Stewart things - love, broken hearts and Maggie May. The folk rock sound suits him and adds some authenticity that would later, at various times throughout his discography, be hard to find. 'Amazing Grace' was a bit jarring.

I've had a lifelong dislike of Rod, so was dreading this. It was actually reasonably harmless and there has certainly been a lot worse included in this quest so far!

Preconceptions are a terrible thing. I first heard this album last year, having had no interest in Rod Stewart for most of my life. He just seemed one of those performers from a distant era and of little relevance nowadays. Then I discovered that this album is quite rated, so I gave it a spin. And I was totally blown away. It turns out old Rod's a excellent interpretor of songs, capable of delivering real warmth and sentiment. Now, Rod was still in Faces at the time, and Every Picture Tells A Story is compabale to the excellent A Nod Is As Good..., but Every Picture Tells A Story just manages to pip its half-brother by the sheer weight of the songs. In particular, (I Know) I'm Losing You is surely one of the best covers of a Motown song out there. An unalloyed delight.

As working-class rockers go, this is the British equivalent of prime Bruce, and I'm in two minds about which I prefer, pulled in one direction by the anthemic pomp and literary chops of Springsteen, and in another by the Britishness of Stewart's act. And act being the operative word here, because the spiritual birthplace of Stewart's persona and style is the British Legion or Working Man's Club. I can picture his less talented brethren standing up in front of my nan this weekend, giving it some welly while she makes short work of her Bacardi and black. He even sounds like half the audience, throat racked from smoking. These roots also bear out in the meanings he extracts from his lyrics (whether his own or others'): simple, everyday truths to live by, even if their provenance is grander (Dylan, say, or Amazing Grace). “I couldn't quote you no Dickens, Shelley or Keats / Cause it's all been said before” he sings on the opener, just as my mum’s Auntie Jo might, before also telling you “Make the best out of the bad, just laugh it off”, or “we all need a reason to believe”, or “every picture tells a story”, or “hard times are only the other side of good times”. As for the chief quality of working class music, the one that gets the local greasers down to the disco to dance themselves into puddles of sweat on the floor, he’s a master. I’m talking, of course, about rhythm. The Big Beat. Even the gentler songs provide a kick up the ass. This alchemy might sound simple when divided into its constituent parts but it’s magic when all bubbling together, especially as Stewart’s really an epicure in disguise – just check out the mandolin, celeste, violin and other embellishments.

Brilliant. Proper rock from when Rod could sing and before it all went gooey (ie everything from Atlantic crossing onwards). Absolutely love The Faces. I haven't played Maggie May for decades because I thought I was bored of it, but the shit this list has put forward so far reminds me that I am so not. It is a world apart and brought a tear to my eye - and what a guitar solo! Mandolin wind, Reason to believe, Every picture... track after track top quality. Just wonderful, wonderful, music. Joy from start to finish. Get in, get up, get out!

Very good album, not a single bad song, very consistent, although it's not necessarily my type of music it is still very good

Great rock album. Classic Rod Stewart that launched him from the Jeff Beck years. Long before he became Rod 'The Bod' and the disco years, this album shows why he was great.

That was amazing, a great artist. I have to listen sober this album now.

Another man I've been senselessly prejudiced against for years, I'm glad to get a chance to listen to him. I Like his raspy voice, a bit like CCR's John Fogarty. Enjoyed Maggie May, probably the only one I was properly familiar with. Class mandolin section near the end. Similarly liked Mandolin Wind. Shit I didn't know Rod did I Know I'm losing you! Great Song and great cover.

Gotta respect the Rod and his impact on music. He was my second concert ever. Mom was a little bummed because was supposed to be my first, which she was pretty excited about to bring me to my first one but then my sister picked up some Yes tickets which ended up being before Rod. I remember Rod had a hell of a lot of energy, running all around the stage and kicking soccer balls into the crowd. I also remember the group next to my dad smoking weed and my dad asking me if I wanted to switch seats. Kind of a lot of slower songs on this album. Every Picture Tells a Story is classic rock and roll, Maggie May used to be one of my favorites and always liked Reason to Believe.

No real stand-outs. Mandolin Wind do be kinda nice doe

Maggie may is een prachtig nummer, mandolin wind is ook tof. voor de rest, gewoon een goed album, denk wel dat ik nog eens iets van hem wil beluisteren.

Love the mandolin.

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This is my second and final Rod Stewart album to review, although I will get to hear him again on the Faces album that’s on this list. I mentioned in my review for Gasoline Alley just how much I love Rod Stewart, but I’d always just listened to his singles, and never a full album of his. I thought Gasoline Alley was really good, and I rated it four stars, but with “Maggie May,” “Mandolin Wind,” and “Reason To Believe,” I have a touch higher expectations for this album. Although it’s late November and not late September, I’m excited to crank up some Sir Roderick today! This album was a little short of five stars for me, but I did like it a little bit better than Gasoline Alley. However, I’m always going to enjoy listening to Rod Stewart, and this album was no exception to that. As for the songs on this album that I’m already familiar with, I still think they’re all great. “Maggie May” is easily one of the best songs of the seventies, but I tend to forget about it until I’m in the mood for Rod Stewart. I think it’s because I don’t think of it as a traditional classic rock song in a sense, as it’s not really straight-up rock and roll. However, every instrument on it is played with perfection, and Rod’s singing is outstanding. His gravely voice has a certain earnestness to it that I really love, and it shines on this song. I love the heartbreak that shines through as he cries “Oh Maggie, I wished I’d never seen your face” towards the end of the song. Each repetition of that line builds to that moment, and I love it. “Mandolin Wind” is excellent too. The guitar and mandolin playing are fantastic, and the bluesy sound feels authentic without feeling like it’s appropriating anything. The last half of the song, when the mandolin really takes over is incredibly beautiful. I really love Rod’s version of “Reason To Believe” as well. He executes that slow start to the song with perfection, and I love how much emotion he puts into the chorus. The organ makes this song feel like a hymn, and I think it’s a perfect fit for the overall sound of the album while contributing a flair that’s a little different. As for the songs that I was hearing for the first time, I was really blown away by the title track. It had more of a traditional rock and roll sound than I’m used to from Rod, but I really loved it. His singing still had that earnestness, but I liked the energy his vocals brought to this song. The backing vocals from Maggie Bell were an outstanding addition, adding some additional punch as the song built to its conclusion. Rod’s version of “I’m Losing You” was great too. I’m not familiar with The Temptations’ version of this song, but I loved the up-tempo energy of this song, and its positioning on the album was perfect. The drumming on this song was the best on the album (not that there was anything wrong with the drumming on the other songs), and it showcases how great Rod is at creating his own interpretations of other artists’ work. Speaking of that, his version of “Tomorrow Is A Long Time” was really great too, and I loved the violin work on it. As much as I love Rod Stewart’s singing, man, hats off to Ronnie Wood and Ronnie Lane on this album. The guitar playing was amazing from start to finish on this album. Ronnie Wood isn’t on my favorite Rolling Stones albums, but it was great to hear him shine on this album. You know what, screw what I said earlier, this is a five-star album. Going through it again as I wrote this review gave me even more appreciation for it, and I think it’s fantastic. Rod Stewart has been one of my favorite artists since I was a kid, and I’m really glad I got to listen to a couple of his early albums. Long live Sir Roderick Stewart!

Perfect.

Coming into this album I was a fan of Rod Stewart's voice but not that familiar with much of his work outside of his big songs like Maggie May. Suffice to say, this album did not disappoint. Leaning into his incredible voice, this album has energy and doesn't overstay its welcome. I'll definitely be back to this one and hope to explore more of his catalog along the way.

Love Rod Stewart!! Any album that fits with a road trip is an automatic 5 stars to me.

I'll be honest I regularly forgot he was in Faces and is entirely capable of making good music. So this was a very welcome surprise lmao

Fantastic album - holds up 50 + yrs. Great work with Beck and the band.

Fond memories of school years. Rod’s distinctive voice and the mixture or country and blues sounds as good today as it did 40 years ago. Quality music is timeless.

I don’t even know where to start. I went into this with essentially negative expectations. I knew Maggie May? I knew Young Turks? And I knew Da Ya Think I’m Sexy. That last one is the real kicker, I had this view of Rod Stewart as a guy who had talent but understandably sold out to make music that only appealed to horny old women. Nothing wrong with that, but nothing I have to respect. And then. I listen to this album. Which is good. It’s very good. It’s folksy, it’s rocking. It’s got some…mixed lyrics (some are very good some are dated and weird, the 1970s.) There’s a weird Amazing Grace cover tacked onto the end of a song, that’s at least interesting. Tomorrow is a Long Time is this beautiful country song (what a world if that’s the direction he went in!!!) Mandolin Wind made me cry. I’m not joking. It’s a beautiful tragic thing. It’s so good. This album is so good what the fuck I fucking loved this album. It’s the biggest surprise I’ve had now 150 albums in. Just wow.

One of Rod Stewart's best albums. The classic Maggie May, the beautiful Mandolin Wind, I'm losing you , Every picture tells a story etc... brilliant.

really good, 5.

Fun album all the way through. Lots of old standards. I liked his rendition of “Losing You”.

Rod the Mod from 1971…. Before he went disc. This is a really solid album, with 4 or 5 great songs, including the masterpiece “Maggie May”. This album has a nice vibe, loose and easy. More acoustic than electric, with mandolins and fiddle sprinkled about. Solid 4.5 out 5, I’ll round it to 5

Amazing music with a great flow.

one of my favorite rod stewart albums.

Heck yeah! One of the few mornings I've been able to sit outside this year. Killer Sunday morning at 6am with a cup of coffee and this album. An all timer for me. Seven of the eight tracks are classics. Side two is perfect. I got this album in the late 90's. Either given to me or in a box at a ridiculously low price from a friend. High quality British blues.

A mastercraft of rock, blues and jazz from a living legend in Rod. The soundwork holds up and is as relevant as ever.

Really good music. 5/5

I’m a sucker for mandolin representation, but this album rocks! Evocative stories that are polished with slick instrumentation. Rod’s rasp exhibits great range of tone and mood. Good stuff across the board.

Love Rod and this is a fantastic album.

Super fun album. Good job sir.

Amazing album, not a bad track in the bunch. Rod's very best!

Rod Stewart is his usual beautiful self in this album. His voice is always music to my ears so I enjoy anything he does.

I thought this album was fabulous… First, Rod’s voice is so unique and distinctive. Second, really impressed with the arrangements of the music. Several unique sounds, which set apart songs by featuring different instruments and different styles. But throughout the album, each song was its own creation musically. It didn’t fall into the trap of over using any single trick. Really like the opening song, Every Wind Tells a Story …. sort of rollicking tune that I don’t remember hearing before …. Surprised me a little. Obviously, there are some classics, Maggie May is a great song …. Mandolin, Wind and Tomorrow is a Long Time are tremendous as well …. What’s the surprise me the most were the two remakes,That’s All Righr Is one of my favorite classic songs. This version isn’t my favorite, but it’s such a unique cake from other versions. I’ve heard that I really enjoyed it. I’m Losing You On the other hand may be my favorite version. And if you can top the Temptations in my book… That’s some heavy lifting! If we were giving tenths of a percent, this would’ve been a 4.7 or 4.8 to me and I think you’ve got a hit at least 4.7 for me to round up to a five star! So, my first five star review !!!

This record is the rare package—hit jukebox, artist sampler, primer, manifesto. Everything you need to hear and understand about who Rod Stewart is and where his roots are you can hear on this record. The standout classic “Maggie May” does the job by itself. Part Folk tune, part roots Rocker, part coming-of-age story, it predicts several ‘70s Rock radio niches that it would dominate even as airwaves turned to satellite signals. The formula is basic but unmatched: start with an acoustic guitar base, layer on mandolin touches, add bluesy guitar fills, ground it all with garage rock drums, and lift it all with Stewart’s distinctive beautiful melancholy rasp of a voice. “Mandolin Wind” is another instant classic, and it also embraces the musical ethos of the record in its tone and musical character, but it still holds surprises. Stewart takes you on a Folk journey for nearly 5 minutes only to guide you to another level in the final 45 seconds as the song splashes into new roots-rocking territory. It always sounds fresh and exciting. No music fan ever listened to more than 30 seconds of a Rod Stewart song still wondering who was singing. He’s that talented and that singular and that memorable, and this record is a huge part of that.

One of my favourite albums

I have been listening to "Every Picture Tells a Story" since I was a kid, so I "Maggie May" be biased in this review. I'm hoping that once everyone listens to this album they will "Find a Reason to Believe" it's as good as I do. It "Seems Like a Long Time" since my dad first played this for me, and although those days have gone with the "Mandolin Wind", this album has stuck around. I really love Rod Stewarts voice. It has an "Amazing Grace" to it's roughness. Like looking at the Mona Lisa through a dirty screen door. "That's All Right" if it's not your thing. This review is dragging on and "I know I'm Losing You", so I'll wrap it up. All I have to say is that "Tomorrow Is a Long Time" for me to have to wait to give this 5 stars.

Excellent

7 / 10 Una de las mejores voces del blues - pop - rock. Solo una canción gran éxito.

A classic

One of my favorite albums, ever.

Raw soulful voice of Stewart is so evocative. He pays homage to American Blues music. This is a well rounded wonderful album.

Rod Stewart is another one of those artists I never liked as a kid, but who I've grown to appreciate. This album is full of texture, with songs transitioning through various genres. A good example of this is That's All Right, with its bluegrass intro leading into the honky-tonk main song. It starts to get a rock edge as it progresses, but it adds an acoustic guitar Amazing Grace as a postscript.

Classic, when Rod hadn’t yet gotten arrogant and silly

Eight songs and 40 minutes. Why don't people make good music and learn to edit?

Stellar bluesy soulful rock record. Passionate and purposeful, the sound is timeless and isn't mired in the tropes of this era. Maggie May and Mandolin Wind stand out, but there isn't a bad track on this album.

Mandolin Wind is the best song on this album. Tomorrow is a Long Time is a beautiful song. Love that Rod Stewart covered it. Reason to Believe and Maggie May are classics and timeless.

Bawdy, bravado and boastful. Rod at his boozy best. He's come a long way since being Rod the Mod of Archway.

good old Rodney

My mom used to play this album repeatedly when I was a baby. It feels like home in the best way.

Considering this is basically a Faces album I was always going to love it

Favourite songs: Maggie May, Every Picture Tells a Story, That's All Right, Seems Like a Long Time, Mandolin Wind, Tomorrow is a Long Time, (Find A) Reason to Believe Least favourite songs: if forced to pick, (I Know) I'm Losing You 5/5

This album is 51 years old and still rocks. Slit eyed girl is a bit of an eye opener but indicative of the time. The rest however is great.

essential

I don't want to talk about it, just listen to Mandolin Wind.

Such a very good album. An underrated singer, Stewart makes great music.

I love how early Rod Stewart albums often turn out to be stealth Faces albums. This is vintage Rod, probably the best he ever made. Backed up by some stellar musicians (including his Faces bandmates Ronnie Wood, Kenney Jones, Ian McLagan and Ronnie Lane), the sound is rich and bluesy and loose. Rod is in perfect voice, both on his own songs and on some fantastic songs from the likes of Dylan, Tim Hardin and the Temptations. Rod manages to make them all his own. Fave Songs (All Songs, from most to least favorite). Maggie May, Mandolin Wind, (I Know) I'm Losing You, Every Picture Tells a Story, (Find a) Reason to Believe, That's All Right / Amazing Grace, Seems Like a Long Time, Tomorrow Is a Long Time, Henry

By far my fave Rod Stuary album...so many memories

I just really love Rod Stewart's voice

I always have the unfortunate tendency to think that good music is perhaps in the past. Besides being extremely unfair to the great musicians we have active today, it is also unfair to all the musicians who are still active, even though they have a wonderful musical past, as is the case of Rod Stewart. I had never heard this album before, and I was really surprised, what a quality, what a delight to listen to these songs. It saved my afternoon, and made my day much more cheerful!

Side one is good, while side two is amazing. Reason To Believe is yet another stunning cover of a Tim Hardin song. Rod is one of the great interpreters of other people's songs. He also wrote a few classics. Mandolin Wind is one of the best songs of that era.

(I know) I'm losing you and (Find a) Reason to believe are great covers!

Love this album

Slow to start but worth it when it ramped up. Can see the influence in newer rock. Great instrumentals. 9/10

i absolutely loved this album. so much passion in his voice and the blend of rock, folk, and blues just works so well.

I'm guessing this list is too stupid to have a Jeff Beck album on it, so they are compensating with this. This is all great shit. Killer band (Faces). Great melodies. Too bad Rod moved to LA and stopped making good music.

Rod Stewart. Varios megahits. Vinilo.

Definitely, this is the highlight of Rod Stewart's long and illustrious career, at least artistically. Recorded with his mates from, The Faces this could also be considered the best Faces record, as well. Quality songs and excellent musicianship, Every Picture Tells A Story is an essential listen, especially if you only know Stewart from his later work and god forbid, the disco era.

You know how you remember some albums from the party you were at where that was the only album that got a spin all night. I remember the Abbey Road party in Sefton when I was 19 & a local thug named Harold Smith did a job on my mate Geoff & we ended up in Emergency at Fairfield Hospital. I remember the Hot August Night party at Ultimo when I was 23. And in-between those two, I remember the Every Picture Tells A Story party at Dulwich Hill when I was 21 & the party’s host, Glenn, was sniffing around my girlfriend. I think I was totally familiar with this album by night’s end. I have to say it still sounds great. And I have to agree with Robert Christgau that “ it's the mandolin and pedal steel that come through sharpest.\" So true. Ronnie Wood and “the mandolin player in Lindisfarne” are terrific. Stewart was always great at choosing material & it’s no different here, but I reckon the best 3 tracks are the 3 originals. This is Rod at his peak. A winner.

WTF happened to Rod Stewart? With this album he makes the quintessential rock/folk album and then just a few short years later he's dressing in spandex and singing Do Ya' Think I'm Sexy. Oh well, at least we have these early years. Just a beautiful album full of beautiful songs beautifully produced. 5 stars.

All time classic. Have love this one since I was a teenager in the late 70’s

When I was young I read an article that asserted no musician squandered God-given gifts more than Rod Stewart. These early discs and the descent to Do Ya Think I'm Sexy are, obviously what gave rise to that comment. Rod blends folk, blues and hard rock in a mix of self-penned and covers at a level few have achieved. The material was so deep that Maggie May was a B-side (Reason to Believe was the A-side until DJs had their way). A tremendous achievement and for me, the highlight of a long career.

Rod Stewart (and the Faces -- sort of) at their best. The mix of covers and originals work beautifully together with Stewart's rasp to pull it all together. Just so many great songs on this record. For me, this is the Apex of his work.

Really enjoyed the album some great songs, and one that I listened to throughout my life with my parents and grandparent big fans.

Yeah, this is pretty great. What a great band. Probably a lot of people think Rod Stewart is kind of cheesy from his 80s power-ballad output. This shows he is one of the great rock vocalists. Also from a time when records meant you had 8 great songs and no room for filler. (If I was able to type something for Siamese Dream, that was my only complaint). Classic!

I love this album.

This is a fucking masterpiece. Every single song.

Vraiment trop bon vhaque chanson est bien produite. Ca a ca plave dans cette liste absolument et je reecouterai certainemebt. Une belle note merité

I knew I was going to love it and I did.

This is Rod Stewart's third album where all members of his current band at the time, Faces, appeared. The music on the album is described as rock, folk, blues, country and soul. All those styles are easily heard throughout the album. The album is essentially classic Rod Stewart orginal songs and great cover versions of other songs. There is a looseness to the playing that almost gives it a jam band feel. Stewart's vocal delivery is pretty much phenomenal; is it his best career moment? All of these songs are about girlfriends, former lovers, current lovers or relationships. The title track, "Every Picture Tells a Story," has always had an urgency in the music and his vocals that I've really liked and never really heard again from him. It's loose but it rocks. "Maggie May" was a B-side to "Reason to Believe" and became the albums' biggest hit. Just great vocals and an iconic song. Another B-side song, " Mandolin Wind" is the highlight of the album for me with its mandolin, slide guitar and heartbreaking lyrics about sticking with his lover/wife/girlfriend through sickness. Just a masterpiece. I also really like the rockin" Temptations cover "I'm Losing You." So, this is what Rod Stewart can be and was...a pretty high achievement.

I like Rod Stewart. This is really good songwriting and a very soulful performance.

Classic old rod Stewart, Maggie may.

Rod Stewart. Varios megahits. Vinilo.