Reviews (page 4 of 9)
Enjoy album.
Not for me. 1/5
Stewart was on fire in the late ’60s and early ’70s — between the Jeff Beck Group, Faces, and his early solo work, he was unstoppable. No clue what went wrong later. I’m really torn on this album though. Side one, aside from the title track, is just okay... and that Dylan cover? Rough. But side two… that’s why it’s on the list. “Mandolin Wind” is the perfect blend of Rod’s voice and the arrangement... No one else could sing that.. pure magic.
I think Every Picture is my favorite track but this is a very good record. Ronnie Wood is top and somehow Stewart’s gravelly vocals work on just about every song. Could have lost the Amazing Grace bit in my opinion.
Couple of good songs. Rod still has a weird voice.
There are some really great songs on this album and I enjoyed listening to it a lot. I will listen to this one, not just specific songs, again.
My favorite Rod Stewart album. Great stuff
It's pretty! I enjoyed it!
not bad per say but not something i frankly gave a flying hoot about either
I love every cut. I listen to it often.
I always chalked Rod Stewart off as a piano crooner, I don't know why. He's definitely more rock than jazz though. Old school rock vibes from "that's all right," sounded a little like Paul McCartney. Not really my kind of album, but better than expected. 2*.
I grew up hearing all of Rod Stewart's 80s hits, and the big 70s hits. I liked a few songs, but overall was never a fan. So I wondered why there was a lot of praise for his early albums. I'm glad I finally listened to this one. It's definitely more interesting and varied than the later pop hits. There are some good grooves, great guitar lines, and lyrics that resonate with the ups and downs of young love. I don't know that I'll come back to this album much, but if someone else puts it on I'll be happy to hear it again.
This had some great moments and some really shit moments.
Way rockier than I thought & Maggie May just slaps
Kind of a heartbreaking album. Whoever he was hung up on really got him strung along. Despite the interesting subject matter, I need more interesting musical hooks.
God, something about this album just pisses me off. The crashing of drums on the first song along with his voice... It's like soft launching a headache. Ok, post-listen. It's fine. Ok no I biked to it and it pissed me off again idk.
Not a fan of his vocals personally, too rough and raspy sounding for my taste. I honestly loved the instrumentals in his songs more than his actual voice. Some of the earlier songs were annoyingly repetitive in their lyrics.
Man I believe I have a real underappreciation for this guy's voice and songwriting style. Really good rock n roll record mixed with some country folk/americana and singer songwriter stylings.
Good album, a nice slow burn. Appreciated the artistry and flow to the album.
I'm surprised I like anything about this album, but Rod Stewart knew what he was doing with "Every Picture Tells a Story" as lead track. Over the course of the album Steward explores folk, blues, funk and rock tunes, but it all kind of sounds bland, and I could've done without "Amazing Grace". Not essential.
Margekjedelig. Et helvette å komme seg gjennom.
A decent enough effort from Rod and crew! His voice is just amazing.
A solid album, I love the raspy-ness of his voice. It is a tad boring at times, but overall not bad. Standout Songs: Every Picture Tells A Story Seems Like A Long Time Mandolin Wind
Amazing career spanning the decades. Not a fan of this album.
All I knew about Rod Stewart before this is there is a character named after him in the show Hannah Montana — a 16 year old character played by a man in his 30s. Likewise, Rod Stewart was supposedly 26 when this album came out, but he sounds like a 60 year old smoker. Still liked it though.
Not my favorite of his. A few songs I like. The others are meh.
3.5. I’m actually going to give it a four purely and simply because of nostalgia. I enjoyed it.
Rod Stewart isn't for me. He has good energy. Just not my cup of tea.
Better than expected
Not even a rod stewart fan but this is a very good album
Enjoyed it but not sure why its on the list, are there better Rod albums?
That Guy Grover Cleveland was right.
I liked the different genres and elements he fused into this album
WAKE UP MAGGIE
meh
Unique voice, great record
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, something better that a guy belting out standards. Maggie May is such a great song.
Mid
Even though he's become a bit of a joke recently, Rod had one of the great rock/blues voices. Here, he's showing it off to good effect.
Rod Stewart je laka meta za zafrkavanje. Ali izgleda da je i relativno vješt muzičar. Ako je on išta radio. Pjevati nikad nije znao. A ovaj album je skroz ok, ništa manje ništa više.
Nice. The blues influence is there but its not quite so bold. Feels more evolved. Something added. Nothing corny.
Rod Stewart is a total cheeseball. I'm giving this a solid three stars because I happen to know from experience that The Man puts on a great live show and gives it his all. But no, this is not getting added to my library.
While I'd prefer fewer covers, this is fun. And "Maggie May" is a classic for a reason.
There are a couple great songs on here - the hits, "Maggie May" and "Reason to Believe," but many are just "fine," and they are most of the songs are covers or written by other people. So, it's a good album, but I think this is a 3.5 to 4, depending on how much tilt for the songs not being written by Stewart.
Es un buen álbum, pero no conecté mucho con el material o la voz de Rod Stewart. Los ritmos son enérgicos, y toma algunos elementos del country, pero sin llegar a caer demasiado en el estilo. La duración del álbum es apropiada y la es experiencia de escucha es bastante sólida a lo largo de todo el álbum, aunque cabe destacar que los temas en si mismos son un tanto largos.
As an album is bordering a 2 but it's Rod and he's a legend and I did enjoy it !
Ok
Throwback to the 70's stands up remarkably well considering its age. Rod's distinctive voice, some Celtic influences. An enjoyable listen.
As with all Rod Stewart’s stuff, great voice, but pretty average songs. Maggie May is the most familiar and therefore perhaps the best but overall, there isn’t much that would drag me back to this album.
Pretty good album All songs kinda blended together though
His best album. Which means it’s fine. The title track is terrific albeit with questionable lyrics. I’m Losing You thumps. Never cared for Maggie May. A bit too folky at times but overall decent.
Tbh, I didn't hate it but I felt like I was left wanting just a bit more. Also Maggie May is overhyped and not even the best song on the album.
It shows rock and roll influences and from pop songs of the time as well, I'm not a huge fan, but it was easy to listen to, and a gateway into more of his music. It was okay.
Give Farage a chance, eh Stew? Well I just gave you a chance and it was bang bloody average at best.
Maybe this was cool and groovy in 1971 - but it isn't now, unlike a lot of other albums on this list from even before that year. It's ok enough to have in the background but I'll be happy never to have to listen to it again.
Good listen, quality musicianship. Interesting lyrics for 1st song🤔😆 Maggie may is the standout
Sympa, instrus chouettes au piano avec d'autres instruments qui ressortent parfois et donnent un peu d'originalité, mais bof fan de la voix et un peu répétitif malgré tout. Ambiance un peu Bob Dylan, bien sans plus, "sur la route des vacances" comme dirait Camille mdrr
Je connaissais pas cet album mais j’aime bien cet artiste ! Pas grand chose à dire : c’est chouette à écouter !
J'ai un peu l'impression d'entendre le même album tous les jours, ça m'a pas marqué de fou, mais c'était sympa a écouter en faisant la cuisine 3/5
Hearing early Rod Stewart was a fascinating experience, esp since I love his later works a bunch more. I thought it was good but nothing too special, I have no clue why Maggie May is as popular as it is tho cause it didnt really get any real reaction out of me haha.
I've always been a casual fan of Stewarts, appreciating some of his bigger hits. This album is a nice blend of folk-rock style music, which I usually don't enjoy, but I do for Rod. His British raspy voice pairs brilliantly with this album.
One of the best things I have ever heard.
I don't get the hype. The only vocal talent I see here is being able to smoke 4 packs per day from age 5. I enjoyed the blue grass roots that I heard here, almost like a CCR album with less rock. Songs were very repetitive, even boring. The religious references were interesting. Amazing grace with minimal instrumental was a choice, but I feel it wasn't the right one.
Great background music. Solid music to listen to. Really interesting vocals in a good way. Pretty good songwriting. Nothing to dislike here, just not exactly for me.
Thin mix, but it lets Stewart's voice do most of the work. I get it. Not my fave, but this record helps set context for Rod's career.
bon jovi-esque intro. Bassy as ass. Sweet guitar tones.
Familiar vocals and overall pretty good. Too country for my taste. Amazing grase was odd
3 stars I honestly didn’t know that Rod Stewart was ever anything but corny cheeseball stuff. Just the way he looks makes me feel that way. As a collector of vinyl I’ve come across many dusty and scratched copies of his records, including this one, but never felt the need to throw it on. So here I was, giving it a go for the first time. I knew “Maggie Mae” but never thought anything of it. But the album really had a rocking vibe to it I was digging. I wouldn’t say it went beyond mild interest, but there were moments of promise. I won’t completely write him off anymore. But I won’t put too much energy into listening to this again. It’s fine.
Sorprendente ed intrigante
Yeah, I don't like Rod Stewart, "Maggie May" does my head in. I don't hate him though, this isn't a terrible album, but I didn't really like it. it's listenable, I can just about tolerate it.
A good artist with a unique voice. This album has one or two great songs but the rest are very bland to me. Another of his albums might have gotten a higher score.
"This album is quite a dichotomy. It's part folk rock, part hard rock; but it's all great in it's own way. Rod's voice shines as a rock and roll singer here, which is his strength and his best work. This album is from his ""rocker"" era of the 70's (long before ""Do You Think I'm Sexy""). The more folk (even country) style tunes aren't as good as the harder tracks, but they are very good for what they are. Side two is the side that really shines and makes the album."
Gear: ZiiGaat x Hangout.Audio: Odyssey 2 Artwork: 🧑🎤✴️🔶 Production: 👂🔎👍 Music: 😒😲🆗 Rating: 🍯🍯/5
awesome
Always liked this album, still like this album. Has a lot of blues riffs from The Faces - great drumming.
I like his earlier stuff but didn’t love this
I didn't think I would enjoy this at first but by the end, it's not so bad I guess.
I don’t care what anybody on this website says, Rod Stewart is great. His voice was made for singing soul. I really like the combination of styles on this album, especially the folky bits, it lends a lot of warmth. The bass playing is really good, and I don’t think I’ve seen anybody mention that. Maggie May is one of my favorite songs ever, and I think it’s really funny how many people don’t understand that the relationship described in the song is completely unhealthy. Go in the comments of any upload of the song on YouTube, you’ll see comments from people saying their wife’s like Maggie, I even saw one comment saying they named their daughter Maggie May. 4/5
Very good. ★★★★
This never really locked me in. He had that Robin Hood song with Bryan Adams when I was a kid and I couldn't stand his voice. Ruined that song for me. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Every Picture Tells A Story - Maggie May - (Find A) Reason To Believe
Fun :D lots of songs about love/relationships though
Dad- 5 Mom- 6 Mike- NA Lori- 5.5 Michael- 6.5 Miles- NA Cole- NA Avg- 5.75
A fun listen, just not something I feel like I'll return to often. His voice is also just kind of terrible?
Enjoyable and solid. Doesn't really break any new ground or try anything too adventurous but I enjoyed this more than I expected.
Really enjoyed this one. Definitely classic classic rock - stones. But had enough flavor and soul to separate it for me.
Enjoyable listen and solid album but kinda forgettable and doesn’t really resonate emotionally for me
It was alright, if a bit unmemorable. His voice is pretty cliche folk/country and he sang fine. I did kind of forget to pay attention to what he was singing most of the time, but I did find it a kind of odd choice to end one of the songs with some silence, then an instrumental lead up and finally ending with a verse of 'Amazing Grace'. Now that I think about it in retrospect I guess it could have been a song of the entire life of a person, and the silence followed by 'Amazing Grace' could be death and funeral... But as I said I didn't listen enough to the lyrics to be sure Standouts Maggie May Mandolin Wind 3/5
Really enjoyed the guitar on this one. And I felt it was really well curated.
I like the guitar on this album. I feel like I can see the hands playing it.
I am not a Rod Stewart fan and this didn’t change anything.
Great album beginning to end.
Not bad but I wouldn’t listen again.
I like this era of Rod Stewart
Root Rock which is partialy engaging and partialy mellowy boring. While sometimes there's a raw, ragged energy that pulls you in with jangling acoustic guitars, rough-hewn electric riffs, and Stewart’s gravelly voice, at other times I fehlt drowned by a warm sentimental touch.
5/10
Absolutely nothing about this stood out to me. This must be one of those guys that's more known for image or stage presence.
A story about nothing.
Really good songs delivered by a powerful singer and driven by a really good band. Hurt a little for me by over-exposure.
Not my type of dad rock. Maggie May is an awesome song though
Great album. One of his best.
-ughhg there’s something i really don’t like about this one his voice pisses me the FUCK off -it’s definitely not all bad – especially toward the end – but i just do not have the ear to enjoy or appreciate most of it. i did like the instrumentation on a couple of the later tracks so i will give it that -Favorites are Mandolin Wind and (I Know) I’m Losing You
3.5 really. Enjoyed this more than gasoline alley
Great songs and great performances. Stewart's absolute peak.
Some of the instrumental intros sounded interesting, but then the verses would start and did not follow through.
I get an e-mail from SPIN magazine every week and it has a "5 albums I can't live without" feature that I usually enjoy reading. A week or two ago, the featured artist was Steve Jones (Sex Pistols) and he listed this album as one of his 5. Interesting coincidence to get this album soon after reading that. The only original track name I recognize is "Maggie May," which is of course a classic, but I didn't know he had also covered Dylan. Reading the description of this album, it sounds like something I should like. Let's see... I liked the title track but it went on a little too long. Liked the Dylan cover. I enjoyed this. Easy 3 star.
Maggie May is my favorite song of all time and I love the taste of flour
slay mama
Chill
Every Picture Tells A Story - 8.5/10 Seems Like A Long Time - 8/10 That’s All Right - 7.5/10 Tomorrow Is A Long Time - 7/10 Maggie May - 7.5/10 Mandolin Wind - 8/10 (I know) I’m losing you - 9/10 (Find A) Reason To Believe - 9/10 80
4/10
Good
I must begrudgingly admit that despite my misgivings I enjoyed this.
Rod has a very distinctive voice and sound and that makes his music interesting. I don't think I have ever sought his music out and this album didn't change that but it didn't make my opinion of him worse.
Huh. There’s more to him than mom rock. Color me pleasantly surprised.
I went in ready to give this a 3. But then every song brought something new and fun! there was rock, blues, and even some gospel. Not to mention Amazing Grace. Well done Rod, I had written you off and I shouldn't have
Ikkje for meg
It was fine, had a very classic rock feel. I would've loved this 10 years ago. These days it's very mid to me though.
some songs ok, but Overall too.... Rod Stewart
Not sure if it's my kind of music, but it goes hard so it gets a pass
A nice, easy listen. The songs are really pleasant on the ears and Rod's voice is simple and raspy. 6/10
Kanye sampled
Solid stuff.
There's some raw quality to it with really nice melodies
Decent. Some classic songs. Not overly in the mood for it.
This is rubbish.
Un blues rock molto blando. Sembra cantautorato, ma di seconda fascia. Una delusione
4.5 stars
Rod Stewart... we meet again. I haven't been the most positive towards Rod in the past, but I've been open to seeing if he's got the goods for a solid album for some time. Sure I didn't really enjoy Gasoline Alley much, but that's just one album. Besides, this is one of his most iconic albums! I mentioned in the Gasoline Alley review that Rod Stewart had 10 number-one albums in the UK, with Gasoline Alley not being one of them. Fortunately, Every Picture Tells A Story actually happens to be the first of them! Cool! Anyways, I can see why that was. This album's quite good. I'm still not huge on Rod Stewart's singing. It's just not my thing. Raspy singing can work, but I feel like Rod Stewart is like the extreme of raspy singing. The songs here are good though. I enjoy how the songs sound, so I can somewhat ignore the weird singing. I mean, the album has "Maggie May" on it. That's his biggest hit, and for good reason. It's pretty great. The others aren't bad, but I don't think they hit the high of "Maggie May." Still, the album is mostly consistent. I'm liking the sounds I'm hearing. You've got this bluesy vibe that works well. I can't exactly call myself a Rod Stewart fan, but I guess I can see the appeal now. This album's good. High 3/5.
Absolutely great stuff, I get that people hate his voice but something just really resonates with me and I thoroughly enjoyed this
I did not expect to like this. Some good songs on this album. Some less good as well
Not the best of his stuff... and I don't really like him...
This was a popular album when it released because of the single “Maggie May”, which was on the radio constantly (and still is). There are four covers on this album, and they are well done and varied in style from the originals. Some may be annoyed by Stewart’s raspy singing, but it doesn’t really bother me. Overall an above average record.
Previously on Rod Stewart, we landed on "this sounds like generic oldies". The album cover tells the story "buckle up for more of the same". But actually this was more rock-focused than my recollection of his previous album, and that's a negative for me (though probably a positive for most people). The track 'Every Picture Tells a Story' certainly does tell a story, but the story is boring. Consider The Decemberists -- they have a song, 'The Mariner's Revenge Song', which also tells a rambly story, and I like their sound and enjoy the song. But I still don't want to listen to it more than once every few years. So we're not looking good after track 1. 'Seems Like a Long Time'? Yes, that track sure did. As before, Stewart didn't write most of these tracks, which is probably for the best. But none of them are that great, except the 1min of 'Amazing Grace' leading into the Bob Dylan cover 'Tomorrow Is a Long Time' (which seems quite familiar, maybe someone else on here covered it too (not that I remember who)). I know 'Maggie May' is famous, but it's just alright with me (like Jesus in a way). Ostensibly it's a song about dating an old(er) lady (which I support), but in practice it seems a lot like that long story in track 1. (Maybe hypocritical of me to judge this, but my rambly album notes aren't in the "1001 reviews to read before you die", now are they?) Still, by this point on the album we've settled back into jangly oldies mode (vs rockin' guitar mode), which is a positive for me. 14 mentioned in 'Mandolin Wind'! Alas, raspy guitar mode comes back for '(I Know) I'm Losing You', another cover. Finishes with a decent mellow raspy pianoed cover of '(Find a) Reason to Believe'. Squares up to be a nice ol' boring 3. + Something nice about Roddy is that his prized model train setup was featured in at least 6 issues of "Model Railroader" magazine. It's good to have a hobby. 🚂
Ikkje for meg
A good album but nothing exceptional besides the hit Maggie May. Rod's got a unique raspy voice that I like. Would listen to any of these songs again. 6.5/10 (3.25/5)
this project is making me realize that this man is my version of the Eagles. if i get one more gd rod stewart album i'm rage quitting. (i'm 760-something albums in.) what the fresh hell is the amazing grace rendition? that, preceding Maggie May, featuring the weird little medieval guitar intro....straight to jail. do not pass go. pay me $200. otoh if you're into Melissa Etheridge, this one might also do it for you.
Good stuff
Excellent
On this album Rod Stewart continues to prove that he has an interesting voice and some very ok songwriting. Also the weird fragmented bits like the intro to Maggie May and the version of Amazing Grace tacked onto the end of That’s All Right seem kinda pointless. Favorites were Tomorrow Is A Long Time and Maggie May.
Oh no. This was way better than I thought it would be. :(
This album fucking slaps. 5 stars.
Rod Stewart has a distinctive sound. And this album put that on full display. “Maggie May” is an all-timer. And “Mandolin Wind” is deeply under appreciated.
Great summer time sound. Instruments are awesome. Very 70s vibe. Mom would like it
One of the most unlikeable characters in popular music.
Enjoyed this. Would never have ventured into listening to this had it not been for this generator, especially based on how Rod presents these days. This is a good album. Rod sounds fantastic, the band behind him are great and the songs are too. Love the production too. Nice to hear after a couple of duff albums!
Not sure how I feel about his voice. Some of the music isn't bad, but his voice makes me think of a heavy smoker's voice and he sounds like he'd be a creep. Kept distracting me from the actual music. 2/5
01) Every Picture Tells a Story - 7,0 02) Seems Like a Long Time - 7,0 03) That's All Right / Amazing Grace - 5,5 04) Tomorrow Is a Long Time - 6,5 05) Henry - / 06) Maggie May - 10,0 07) Mandolin Wind - 7,5 08) (I Know) I'm Losing You - 6,5 09) (Find a) Reason to Believe - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,13 (71/100) Current ranking: 348/630
Det er blue-eyed soul som sørger for at respektere afroamerikansk musiktradition ved at levere en ordentlig vokal. Den lyder sådan lidt rusten og følsom som jeg rigtig godt kan lide. Ellers er det folk-rock som blander blues og country. Roots rock som har rødder i country, folk og blues. ofte akustisk eller halvelektrisk. det har en lidt traditionel følelse og lyd over sig. Den blander mange genre og det er noget det er kendt for og det kan jeg også rigtig godt lide. Det virker underligt nostalgisk uden at jeg har nogen relation til lyden. Maggie may handler om en ældre kvinde og ynge mand hvor han føler sig forført og udnyttet. Det er jo noget jeg kan relatere lidt til pt, så det er meget sjovt. Hele albummet handler generelt bare om en ung mand som skal ud i livet og opleve en masse ting og begå en masse fejl, så det er vel sådan lidt coming of age agtigt?
nazwisko czy tytul nic nie mowil, ale juz po jednej nutce bylo slychac, ze to glos pana z faces, tym wieksze moje zdziwienie gdy okazalo sie, ze na tym albumiku pojawil sie caly sklad twarzowy, plyta z 71, wiec dokladnie z czasow gdy byly na fali tworzenia, dziwny przypadek ze banda tworzyla razem i jeszcze pan dowodzacy robi solowa dyskografie, jak poczytalem na wiki co sie tam wydarzylo, to doszlo do jakis dziwnych porozumien lejbelowych i pan stewart musial wydawac jako solowy artysta, wiec facesy robily za jego kapele wsparcia, troche taki uklad trzymali, ale po kilku latach w 73 ooh la la nastapila bandowa implozja, 40 minutowy krazek jest podzielony na 9 trakow z czego 4 to orginalne kompozycje pana stewarta, natomiast pozostale 5 to covery mniej lub bardziej popularnych postaci, wsrod ktorych znalazl sie bob dylan czy tim hardin, wybor trakow do zcoverowania robi sens i pasuje do calosci plyty, ktora dobrze sie slucha jako calosc, trzyma moodzik od poczatku do konca, gatunkowo jest to rokowe granie, ktore jednak rozni sie troche od facowego, bo poszlo w strone folka i bluesa, wiki wspomina nawet jakis fancy gatunek znany jako roots rock, ktory oznacza nic innego jak influencje bluesowe i folkowe, niebieskosc slychac najbardziej w kontencie lirycznym, bo sporo spiewania milosciowego, oczywiscie w tym smutniejszym wydaniu, zgnilem z tego ze creditsy wspominaja o dwoch wysoko procentowych trunkach, po takich detalach widac napracowanko nad materialem, na plejke dodam otwierajacy tytulowy traczek, maggie may, oraz zamykajacy (find a) reason to believe
White man with unpleasantly raspy voice complains in a variety of styles about various women except a single “slant-eyed lady” who was nice to him.
1. ztory - 1.5 2. time - 1.5 3 right - 2 4. tomorrouu - 1 5. maggie - 2 6. uuind - 2 7. lozing - 2 8. reazon - 1
Typical Rod really. Maggie May is one of the best songs he wrote if not the best so it's at least a point for that alone. The rest is not bad bit Dad rock he isn't really my bag don't like ehis voice much and he is a bit of a perv to say the least.
drei bis vier Maggie May
Lots of covers and even a surprising hymn! I had heard 3-4 songs from this album but hadn't listened to the whole album before. I enjoyed it and would listen again. Classic Rod!
I once accused the Jeff Beck Group of sounding like Rod Stewart and after falling down this Wikipedia rabbit hole I now understand why. This album is fine. Better than I expected because I'm not fond of Maggie Mae.
total vibe, scratchy americana rock, but not a lot of bangers. Background music for a biker bar
Every Picture Tells A Story is yet another album where it is good but is a case where i just don't have that much to really say about it. Seeing as this is Rod Stewart, it is another folk rock album with most (if not all) of the songs relying on that sound. I do enjoy the guitars and piano of this album and Stewart's raspy voice really does add a lot to this album. But then again, those are the only real things i can really say about it. There isn't really that much else that stands out when it comes to this album. It really is just another folk rock album from this list. It's still a good listen but i don't think i would be too unhappy if this album was not on the list. Best Song: That's All Right Worst Song: Maggie May
too folk, rod stewart has better songs
I was not expecting to enjoy a Rod Stewart album
10/10 Rod Stewart is an incredible talent, and I love that this book has introduced me to multiple albums of his
This is the album where, in my opinion, Rod Stewart discovered his best voice. Later in the decade, of course, he would become a megastar with albums and singles selling far more than this. But if you listen to those later songs now, they seem very jokey: like Stewart is parodying himself. The songs here, especially "Maggie May," "I'm Losing You," "Every Picture Tells a Story," and "Mandolin Wind," still feel fresh and timeless with each new listen.
3.75, rounded to a 4. Surprised how much I liked this, especially as I rated the other Stewart album I got a 1 (because it sucked), but this was fun and tuneful and well produced! I listened to it a couple times yesterday!
Love it. Always loved his energy and unique raspy voice.
Oikeasti yllättävän hyvä. Laulusta kuuluu tunteet, ja ne liikuttaa. Myös groovea. Jopa 4? Rimaa hipoen ehkä, jos vielä kuuntelisin uusiksi yksin.
Artisti on laulaja termin perinteisessä merkityksessä: vaikkei biisejä synnykään liukuhihnalta, levyn muodollinen kauneus osoittaa, että järkevä lainaaminen on, paitsi hyväksyttävää, myös arvokasta. Maggie May on muuten originaalisävellys. Sen piti olla filleriä.
It wasn’t awful, but not noteworthy to me.
Experimenté con un intento de karaoke y casi quedo mudo una semana...ufff, me recuperé preocupado.
4/5
Rod Stewart, OK, but not this album. The only song I know is 'Maggie May,' and I don't even like that one particularly much. The rest, I have no idea; I've never heard it, and it's modestly good. Hence 1 or 2 stars, and perhaps another, better Rod Stewart album will appear in this list of Reviews at some point.
Easy listening, a few classics. Love it.
Okay, granted this is just rock n roll. That being said, it's a masterpiece of "just" rock n roll. And Stewart wasn't yet lost in the fricking disco woods. 5 I can't believe Rod got lost in the 80s stars.
Well... I certainly like this better than Taylor Swift...
He really should be back in school…. Creepy.
i guess he actually _was_ quite sexy
How does a record that starts with such a (yes, cringey) banger go off the rails so hard?
I was a big Rod fan in high school. I saw the Tonight I'm Yours tour....it was one of my first concerts when I was a freshman. Great musicianship on this album. I prefer his later 70s stuff although I always like Maggie May.
It always surprises me when I like Rod Stewart, since his hits in the 70s and 80s ranged from bland to dreadful to traumatizing, but this is great (although I still can't stand Maggie May).
Early rock.
A pretty, heartfelt album. I think I should listen to it a bit more.
It was over before I knew it. Which, I'm not sure it's a good thing. It's not really my thing, and I don't think I care for Rod's Stewart voice. The whole album was packaged really weird. The songs are really up and down, the bridges didn't really do it for me. Still, I added a song or two.
As I get older Rod becomes more relatable and enjoyable. He's a grizzled road worn rockstar in a bit of a hangover on this album. Coming down from the highs of glory to write a somber more relaxed album that doesn't shy away from adding some rock n roll boogie to it. I need more time with Rod. 4 stars for now.
4.5
9.8.★★★★½
Some killer songs and cool loose atmosphere, but a bit uneven. 4 stars
This album rules. It's the same energy as the classic run of Rolling Stones albums where it has this sloppy, loose, tossed-off feel that somehow all comes together in a perfect way. Ronnie Wood just kills it through the whole album with some incredible guitar and bass parts. Stewart sounds like a grizzled old rock singer at the age of 25 . The songs are all perfect too, featuring a mix of Wood/Stewart originals and some cool covers. The standouts for me are the title track, "Seems Like a Long Time", "Maggie May", "(I Know) I'm Losing You", and "(Find a) Reason to Believe". 5 stars.
Okayish, kinda oatmeal rootsy folk rock. Maggie May is the only real essential classic snapshot on the album that has a memorable melody and a story worth telling. Underpowered closer Reason To Believe was done better by The Carpenters. The playing from the backing band throughout is good and with feeling but the hoarse scarecrow tonsils of Rod Stewart could join Betty Boop-mode Cyndi Lauper, Drive Like Jehu front guy and the Residents crew in my own personal 1001 harmony group from hell. This is a resoundingly 3 star album because of the good playing yet mainly average songs but I have to knock it further down for Rod Stewart being a Nigel Farage and Enoch Powell supporter.
2 stars. Not really my cup of tea. It’s got a couple of well known songs like Maggie May. I do like the song Losing You but a bit too long.
Rollocking roots rock, with a load of soul. Amazing Grace sounded like it belonged in the Ken Burns Civil War documentary. That said, we can't overlook all the lyrics about "a slit eyed lady".... Favourite tracks: That's All Right (still had no Elvis in this project...), Tomorrow is a Long Time, Maggie May and the other mandolin bits, I'm Losing You
I had Faces A Nod Is As Good As A Wink... To A Blind Horse not too long ago, and this is in the same vein since they were released a mere 6 months apart, it's basically a Faces album in everything but name. Rod and Ronnie Wood are the magic makers here as the voice and guitar propels this forward at a generous pace, even the slower songs. Rod may have become a self contained crooner of old songs who hasn't had a hit record of any relevance since 1993, the younger Rod was a force to be reckoned with, between Jeff Beck Group, Faces, and his solo career, he had all time bangers by the boatload.
Pretty ok
7/10 Not really a Rod Stewart fan but album is decent Not something I would buy but would listen if it came on I tunes
Fabulous album - Rod at peak performance!
No need to listen to this. By coincidence following Rod Stewart’s appearance at Glastonbury last weekend I sought out this album thinking that I had it on vinyl. I was mistaken so streamed it the other day. And what a fine album it is. One that obviously got away as I have always liked it and by thinking I had it must have years ago had it on my wanted list. Goes without saying Maggie May is an all time rock classic which I do have on single. But also Mandolin Wind and Reason to believe are wonderful love songs which hold dear memories for me (and again by sheer coincidence it is today the birthday of a person who prominently features in these memories) These early Rod Stewart albums are to me his best. As his popularity rose and he began pandering to his new post Faces fan base I took no heed whatsoever of subsequent albums. This was made when Rod was still tearing apart rock music with his raucous behaviour. Will soon make amends and get this album as it deserves to be in any music fan’s collection. 5/5 7/7/25
I'll be honest, I can never remember the difference between Rod Stewart and James Taylor. They're basically the same type of guy to me, even though they don't really sound the same. I guess actually Rod Stewart is significantly better, but he's still not anything that feels like I've been missing out on over the 28 years I've been around.
the first song is actively racist and it doesn't get much better
Is it bad? No. Did it have a lasting impact on popular music? I don't think so. Did I need to hear it? No. Favorite song: Mandolin Wind.
Wat een goed album. Beetje ouderwets maar nog steeds hele mooie teksten en goede muziek.
so...like...that was waaaaay better than I was expecting. I was expecting a whole album of Maggie May - like mediocrity. Maggie May was the worst song of the album (I mean...not really...but it's been so played out). Point being...this album was kind of a banger.
Raw Rod Stewart and some solid songs
Not a bad album by any means, not quite my cup of tea but had some moments I enjoyed.
definitely rod stewart
Solid stuff
Great energy throughout!
It’s Rod at his finest and the blues sounded blue.
Wasn't expecting to like this so much as I'm more familiar with his later music which was a bit too pop/cheese. Really appreciated the country and folk influence. "Seems like a long time" was a stand out track with the blues/soul track. Saying that, feels a little all over the place at times, despite having a solid back catalogue with the faces and solo, feels like he's trying to find his feet a bit. Would listen to it again 3.5/5
Album 821 of 1089 Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells A Story (1971) Rating : 4 / 5 I really enjoyed this one. Rod Stewart has such a distinct voice—it’s gritty, soulful, and somehow always feels a little familiar, no matter the song. That voice, paired with a mix of rock and blues, makes this album flow in a way that still feels fresh today. One of the standout elements for me was Ronnie Wood on bass. His playing adds so much character to every track he’s on—you can really feel the chemistry in the band. I was surprised by how well this album stands up over time. It’s got depth, swagger, and some real staying power. A really good listen.
3.5
Rod Stewart was pretty great around this time, and Maggie May is an all-timer. Still, the album is 50% covers, some great, some ordinary, which loses it a mark or so.
i don’t think i’ve ever listened to rod stewart on purpose, but i have to say i was more impressed with this than i thought i’d be. i liked the dylan cover the best.
I've been getting a lot of late 60s and early 70s music lately. Many of the albums share a mixture of several different genres like blues, folk and country with rock. About half of the time the mixture of ingredients is never realized into a new dish, which makes a lot of it sound the same. However, when it works I can see why the artists were popular. More interestingly for me, on the better tunes I can see the evolution if sounds that I enjoy today. This album had a few songs like this, but as a whole it was nothing memorable.
If every picture told a story then Rod Stewart must be having sleepless nights worrying that Len Houmous’ hard drive ever gets hacked! 2.4 4/8 Tomorrow Is A Long Time
he's pretty good Will I listen to again: 29%
Another great album. Really enjoyed it.
Comfortable and middle of the road music. But that's not what I'm here for, so it gets two stars for showing up.
drums sound really good his singing is kinda annoying why does he just start singing amazing grace out of nowhere tomorrow is a long time is an amazing song wow i didnt really need to hear a white man try to do a james brown impression
It's all very solid.
It was OK. A few songs I knew.
This is not what I was expecting. An interesting mix of musical styles and an entertaining album with one huge classic in Maggie May. Not my favourite but much better than anticipated.
Ja, een lekker potje bluesy jarenzeventigpop met de schorgestemde rock-opa. Maar ik hoor niks anders of beters dan de vorige platen met Rod. Zelfs mijn recensies vallen in herhaling. Maar om daar nou een puntje minder om te geven.
Ik ben inmiddels niet meer verbaasd dat Rod één van de uitzonderingen is waarvan ik de ongepolijste stem goed kan verdragen. En eigenlijk valt het op dit album wel mee. Net als het eerdere album van Rod dat we kregen, kan ik het prima luisteren, maar zal ik het niet snel opzetten. Tegelijk is met name de titeltrack een positieve uitschieter. Maar die streep ik weg tegen het Amazing Grace waar mijn haren van overeind gaan staan. Gewoon 3 sterren dus.
Wederom een lekker rock-n-roll plaatje van ome Rod. Die hebben we al eerder gehad en ik vind het dus eigenlijk een licht overbodige entry. Aan de andere kant luister ik dit moeiteloos weg. Ik heb het niet voor niets eerder ook al een 4 gegeven. Laat ik niet te zuur zijn en gewoon weer lekker een 4 geven. Liever dit dan de zoveelste hiphopplaat.
I don't really like Rod Stewart. I think the music is interesting - a blues rock I hadn't really noticed before. But his voice sounds like what chewing on plastic wrap must feel like. The music is good and then bam uncomfortable. This album has my favorite of his songs - Maggie May. Oh to be shacking up with a beautiful woman so intriguing that you want to cancel all other commitments and stay in bed. I really hated the cloyingly slow rendition of Amazing Grace in the middle of the album. Music jump scare and a huge misstep.
Maggie may is good
A super album. 5* This album is a great mix of Folk, Rock and Blues. Rod Stewart's vocals are brilliant, and of course very distinctive. He also writes the two best songs on the album, an album that has some excellent cover versions. What a run of albums Rod Stewart had from 1968 to 1976 taking in The Jeff Beck Group , The Faces and his solo albums. Stunning output. Would I listen to this album again? Yes Would I buy this album? Yes, I did. Side One 1. "Every Picture Tells a Story" 6:01 - Oh boy this swings. Lovely acoustic introduction. And Stewart's vocals when they come in really hit you. Soulful backing vocals. 5* 2. "Seems Like a Long Time" 4:02 - Very soulful. Great lead guitar. A bit rough around the edges, which I like. 4* 3. "That's All Right / Amazing Grace" 6:02 - Oh this rocks. Great slide guitar. This arrangement is far from the famous Elvis version, and then a beautiful version of Amazing Grace 5* 4. "Tomorrow Is a Long Time" 3:43 - A good cover, of a good song. The band are on top form. The slide guitar is wonderful. Stewart's vocals elevate the song. 4* 18/20 Side Two 1. "Henry" 0:32 - Beautiful. Doesn't out stay its welcome. 5* 2. "Maggie May" 5:15 - Oh that guitar introduction, and then the drums kick in (crack, crack), "Wake up Maggie". Stunning song that swings and rocks. Lovely guitar solo. Lyrically brilliant. 5* 3. "Mandolin Wind" 5:33 - Stewart's finest song. The best song on the album. 5* 4. "(I Know) I'm Losing You" 5:23 - The Faces at their best. A brilliant cover of a brilliant song. From the funky guitar introduction, to the throbbing bass, the wonderful piano and then Rod Stewart's soulful voice comes in. And then a drum solo! Then it rocks. 5* 5. "(Find a) Reason to Believe" 4:05 - Vocally superb and a wonderful arrangement. Oh that Violin solo. 5* 25/25 43/45
This album was ok. Nothing remarkable, but it wasn’t bad. I actually liked the covers he had on here. I think he did a decent job giving them his own special little twist. While his voice isn’t my favorite, it’s definitely charming in its own way.
I don't like Rod Stewart, but Maggie May is a great song. Decent listen if I but my bias aside.
Listenable enough. Reminds me of a cross between Billy Joel and CCR. Kind of feel like it's the sort of album I might enjoy more if I had discovered it younger, but as it is, didn't really grab me.
Fullt godkänd.
I recognized one track. But it was an okay album
Easy listening, good vibes. Rod Stewart has some corny moments at times, but this record is a nice listen. Some hits I've heard before, and it's a pleasant listen throughout. Not bad.
i loathe Rod Stewart. his cover of Downtown Train is among my least favorite commercially successful pieces of music. many of hits are complete dogshit and the ones that don't suck don't really do much for me either. Maggie May is not an interesting or compelling song. but other than the lattermost, this album is from a different period. Rod still has a thoroughly unpleasant voice, but these songs I can at least understand the appeal of. still sucks though. deserves to be one of the 1001? no but i can get why someone would defend it being here
Solid blues rock; great use of piano.
I gound out I’m a Rod Stewart guy
Nope. Not necessary before death.
Classic Rod, would listen again
Great voice, but the songs themselves are very meh. They all have that problem where they sound like they’re building up to something that never comes.
Great vocalist who has stood the test of time, a classic rock album and some pretty good songwriting across the whole project.(I Know) I’m Losing You is an absolute banger and so I wish the whole project was more like that but regardless, the soft rock and the crooning across the whole album is executed with tact and ends up being a very satisfying listen. Balladry galore!
A master at the peak of his powers. Great songwriting an storytelling with record-breaking levels of raspiness. One star off for being a Tory bastard.
Day518 - my favorite rod stewart album
Rod Stewart has an incredible voice—versatile and full of character. Whether he's singing rock, folk, or blues, he brings genuine emotion and style to every track. Every Picture Tells a Story features one of the greatest songs of all time in “Maggie May”, which alone earns the album a high score. Beyond that, the guitar work is outstanding—Ronnie Wood’s talent really shines throughout the record. There are plenty of other strong moments too, like “(I Know) I’m Losing You” and “Reason to Believe”, which help round out the album beautifully. Overall, it’s an easy, enjoyable listen from start to finish, with both emotional depth and musical flair. Favourite song: Maggie May – a timeless classic Least favourite: Honestly, every track feels like it belongs Album artwork: Very cool cover that fits the era and vibe This is a solid, well-crafted album that shows why Rod Stewart became a legendary figure in rock music.
If it wasn't for the mediocre covers of Elvis and Dylan, this might have gotten a 5. 8 listened to this years ago but it never clicked. This time, though, I really got it. Really good album that was aaaalmost great.
Didn’t enjoy this one. Not a fan of Stewart’s rough voice. Favourite Tracks: Mandolin Wind
sick of these mid albums bruh
his voice is so grating, why is he yelling at me on every song! except maggie may, that song fucks
Wow. I really enjoyed this. Mine kind of cooking music.
Starting off this journey with this one. '[I Know] I'm Losing You' feels like i stumbled into a private band jam session Instant Bops: Seems Like A Long Time, Maggie May It'll grow on me: [I Know] I'm Losing You, That's All Right, Every Picture Tells a Story Not my jam: Mandolin Wind, Tomorrow Is A Long Time, [Find A] Reason To Believe
Jajajaja, durschnittswar. aso vill meh mag und wetti da nöd enegeh, scusi seniors cu im negste review
Went into this thinking it’s music for Vegas residencies for older white women, but was pleasantly surprised. He can rock and has such a great voice for it. I enjoy the whole album.
If hangovers could sing!
It’s like listening to every genre at the same time. If I was rating this for Maggie May then it would be different, but the rest of the album really isn’t very good.
Rock with blues and country feel.
Old-school Rod is the best!
I remember at uni one of my friends was really into Rod Stewart, who I mixed up with Cliff Richard, which really annoyed him. His music does actually have a bit of punch and urgency to it, not the granny music I expected. Especially didn't realise how raspy his voice is. Also didn't expect the folky/bluegrassy sound I overall like the style, but the songwriting isn't hugely compelling, it rarely grabs my attention Highlights: (I Know) I'm Losing You
Have it on vinyl and if I ever do karaoke I’m singing Maggie May.
Grymt röst. Sannerligen. Sen är det rätt najs rock. Men har försökt gilla det mer än jag gör. Tycker inte nån lät sticker iväg så det blir en fyra (än mindre flera låtar). Tack Rod, för den här gången. Vi ses nog inte mer igen.
Roddan låter ju som att han har svalt ett helt jävla grustag och det älskar man förstås. I övrigt är det en habil och jämn skiva. Maggie May är bra, inte enastående bra dock, och det skulle behövas fler låtar på den nivån för ett högre betyg.
Country style blues over some fairly dull songs
A group of pleasant and quaint songs, nothing that changed the face of music as we know it, just '70s softie fare that doesn't lose itself getting too boring or filler-y. Also he has a voice that can scratch other peoples' throats for them
Eh. Maggie May is a good song, I guess.
Every Picture Tells a Story is the third solo album from Rod Stewart, who became famous as part of the Jeff Beck Group and the band Faces. The album is considered to be Stewart's best work, and appears on many "best albums of all time" lists. Every Picture... includes "Maggie May," one of Stewart's biggest hits, and a great example of the mixture of folk, blues, and rock that Stewart perfected. A few of these songs, including the title track and "Mandolin Wind," have become classics, making Stewart's distinct, raspy voice among the most recognizable in modern music.
Alright for who I thought Rod Stewart was. Some good harmonies, generally interesting voice and arrangements.
Solid early 70s rock. Maggie and the Bob Dylan cover are the stand outs
Great
Classic
Great singer. Great music. Does my Scotland proud. A definite living star.
Not a fan.
This album is kind of interesting.
This is Rod Stewart during my favorite part of his career, when he was with the Faces and the Faces were with him. The band is all over this album and the sound isn't so different from a normal Faces album. Rod Stewart's most famous song is one of the few on here that he wrote himself. There's not a bad song on here and some of the lyrics to the title track do not hold up too well. Shocking from an album in the early 1970's, so it probably would go without saying. If I had to choose one Rod Stewart album that must be listened to, then this would probably be the one.
Pretty solid album throughout. Some misses but for the most part an enjoyable listen. Will relisten
Some classic songs.
Pretty good Best song - Maggie May
Objectively a good album with folk infused blues rock.
Okay, but why does Rod Stewart kind of slap a little bit though? He's got a unique rasp and gravelly vocals and delivers them with a lot of enthusiasm and you instantly know that it's him. I think he's got a natural voice for this type of rock music. 'Every Picture Tells A Story' is a really fun, rocking, foot tapping opener. It's driving and upbeat. I'd never heard 'Maggie May' before, but I can see why it's one of his most popular tracks, it's a catchy banger. '(I Know) I'm Losing You' is the heaviest track here and is also a highlight. Surprised to like this at all, let alone it be as much fun as it was.
My second album from the Rodster on this list. I dig his gravelly voice and pure enthusiasm. Some of the compositions are surprisingly driving and upbeat. Intermingled with some lower-energy songs, the album acts as one coherent journey, and every track is pretty darn memorable. I kept having to switch my "key tracks" list around as I found new favourites. The two songs Seems Like A Long Time / That's All Right, despite ranking lowest on Spotify listening numbers, make an excellent pair of bangers – incorporating country-esque piano, active basslines, and exciting vocals. The acoustic guitar outro of That's All Right is a little out of place, sure, but it has a similar melody to the rest of the track and leads nicely into the percussion-less guitar honker Tomorrow Is A Long Time. (I Know) I'm Losing You is my favourite new discovery of Rod Stewart's discography. It's a sort of jam-session track with (importantly) a satisfying chord progression in the chorus. Add to that the drum solo and the best singing in the album and you have a certified banger on your hands. Maggie May is also great (of course). Really, there's not much to complain about here in terms of individual song quality. I do wish some of the songs were a bit shorter. Maybe some more genre variety would've been good, too, considering what Stewart was up against in 1971. 4/5 Key tracks: Maggie May, (I Know) I'm Losing You
Bluesy rock albums are often lost on me and this is not an exception. Even for me though, Maggie May is an absolutely cracking lead single. Other than that, despite the clear musical ability on display this leaves me cold. During the Amazing Grace rendition it even leaves me in despair.
3.75
Who the hell is Rod Stewart?
I don’t have many issues with Rod Stewart. I just don’t like his music, his personality or his politics… An album where the mission brief seemed to be “can you take inspiration from 60s pop, rock and roll, folk, blues and some jazz, mash it together and make it all sound truly mediocre.” No thank you.
Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells a Story I like a couple of tracks here but i’m not a fan of his voice or his personality on this record. ⭐️⭐️
Nem rossz apuka rock
classic rock with folk elements. some people just have a natural voice for rock and that definitely applies to rod stewart. quality from start to finish. highlights: “every picture tells a story” “maggie may” “(i know) i’m losing you”
I loved Rod in The Faces. This is still better than the 80’s stuff.
My mom loves Rod Stewart. She loves him so much she hung a 6 foot tall cardboard cutout of his face on the wall; not a life-size cutout, just his face like 5 times larger than life with his mole about the size of a fist. Obviously I was duty bound to make fun of Rod Stewart at every opportunity: his raspy voice that made me need to clear my throat, his reliance on cover versions, him wearing skin tight leather trousers into his 70s etc. As a result of doing that for years to get a reaction from my mom, my immediate reaction to getting this album was to groan. However, you know what? This album is alright, mama.
Je suis un peu tanné du rock des 70's en général. C'est le genre le plus présent dans cette liste. Mais bon, ce n'est pas mauvais, mais j'ai de la misère à apprécier à sa juste valeur. Ah oui, le band n'est vraimetn pas tight en commencant les deux premieres tounes. C'est un peu honteux.
Quand tu chantes comme Rod, toute est un peu meilleur que c'que c'est. Un gros 3.5 arrondi.
Can't stank rod however this is one of his two competent contributions to rock and roll. Couple good tunes undeniably
Listened to this while blowing down the leaves in my yard on my headphones. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was... boring. Never been a folk or blues fan. It also shows its age well (much like Maggie in the morning sun?), just listen to the opening track; I may be wrong, but I'm hearing that he was dissatisfied with his lack of sex and love in Europe, and feeling so very persecuted, so went "east" and found a lovely Asian "slit-eyed" woman, complete with a casually racist and distasteful description of her appearance. Wow, what a classic!!! I also found his voice largely annoying and his lyrics rambling and wandering, sometimes too specific. I knew Maggie May before (except the opening - has it always opened that way? I thought the first line hit immediately), everyone does, but had never actually properly listened to it. It's kind of... nasty. "You look old in the sunlight, but it's ok I love you lol" like, what in the nineteen sixties is that!? It's *almost* romantic, but then he continues to mount an armed assault on her character, but repeatedly comes back to "it's ok still love you lol jk". Ok Rod. I find it hard to listen to music when it's so clearly about something so specific, at least if I can't relate to that situation. Still a decent track, but it's like listening to a lover's fight, makes me uncomfortable almost, like I shouldn't be there. I really hope Maggie was as bad as Rod makes her out to be, or he just sounds like a misogynistic dickhead. Also, very personally, there's a little dinging sound that makes a couple appearances from about halfway that sounds *exactly* like the Doordash offer sound, so as a Doordash driver in my spare time I was deeply triggered by this every damn time; "oh shit a new offer!" - oh wait no, just Rod continuing to sing about how much he hates Maggie still. I find that funny, but once I tune into something like that in a song I can never listen without hearing it, and it gives me such a visceral muscle-memory reaction that I can't enjoy it. I found the sudden change 2/3 through That's All Right to a guitar strum of Amazing Grace to be quite annoying each time, suddenly I'm at a funeral? Then his horrid voice comes in. Rod Stewart sounded then how Dolly Parton sounds now - like each note they sing might actually blow their larynx clean out of their mouth (and I say that lovingly, I adore Dolly, but she's earned that struggle through a lifetime of exquisite singing and getting *old* old). Tomorrow Is A Long Time + Mandolin Wind are both nice lovesongs, with the latter being quite devastatingly sad, but also... are the Buffalos dying in the fields during the coldest winter in 14 years a metaphor for dying love? A rough patch? Or the aging/dying referred to at the end of the song (not sure which it actually is)? Or like... just dying buffalo? Cool either way just curious, Rod. Specific detail to mention. The random "hey" in (I Know) I'm Losing You also makes me jump - got me in my yard while blowing leaves and also in the office - but I do like that track. The last two tracks really save the album for me, both are quite good. The album is actually quite literally split for me; I like the final four tracks, not the first four. Something about parentheses makes good music, apparently. Largely boring and forgettable. I was expecting more. I'd say I quite liked the instrumentals, but his equally painful lyrics and voice ruined that for me. It's listenable, especially the second half, and not unpleasant, but not something I'd come back to. Probably wouldn't skip the ones I've liked, but probably won't seek them out either. I'd give it 2.5 if I could, but not good enough for three. What's bad really drags it down for me. Most / Least Favourite Track(s): (I Know) I'm Losing You and, despite everything I've said, Maggie May is still pretty good / Every Picture Tells A Story (sorry not sorry)
Great rock album
This album has that rootsy, gritty feel with a loose, bar-band vibe, but honestly, Rod Stewart just doesn’t do it for me. It’s not terrible by any means, but it feels like it’s just filling space, lacking something to really grab me.
bros got 2 hits that im sick of hearing
Okay. Many songs quieted and picked up so they felt like two songs. Maggie May was the main redeeming song for me
Thoughts before listening: More Rod Stewart huh? I love the Faces and early Rod Stewart stays in a similar lane albeit with a bit more of a pop sheen on top. I know this is one of his bigger albums so I would assume there will be some hits on here as well. Review: So about half of this album is really good. Like I said, it's a cleaned up version of the Faces' sloppy barroom blues rock swagger and I really like that sound. There are a couple tepid ballads on here, and I was ready to give this a 3. However, I've decided that as far as pop songs go, "Maggie May," "Mandolin Rain," and "Reason to Believe" are absolute bangers so they're dragging this up to a 4.
Good enough.
The songs all sound very similar and it comes across as mixed poorly. The instrumentals are louder than his voice, maybe they tried to hide his raspy voice? Not sure, but not great. 3/5
One star for Maggie May and a collection of sub standard b-sides
I suppose Maggie May is worth 2 stars.
I love Maggie May. It became quickly apparent that I would have enjoyed this album more, had it just been 40 minutes of Maggie May on repeat. 2/5 (I really do love Maggie May)
I don't really love this album. People I talk to about it describe it as if it's something holy to behold. I never got that impression. From the first time I heard "Maggie May", I was incredibly underwhelmed. Apart from all the expectations this didn't live up to, it was a good album. Probably my favorite solo album by Rod. Songs were fine, lyrics were fine, production was fine. The only big thing this has going for it is Stewart's energy and voice, but they aren't enough to carry the album. Someone should have noted that not all elements of this project were on the same scale of quality. Oh well, just me being a wet rag. I enjoyed it enough. 3/5
Not as bad as I feared, but still absolutely not what I was missing in my life. Although Stewart's later works fall into that category to a much higher degree than this, which I wouldn't mind playing in the background. As long as it's not on repeat.
Pretty fun stuff. I swear they were just better back in the 70s