Reviews (page 6 of 9)
An OK folk rock album, Rod Stewart’s voice is gravelly and fun. Songs are overly long. OK album overall.
Every Picture Tells a Story is the third studio album by Rod Stewart, originally released in 1971. This is pretty much your run-of-the-mill white boy blues apt for the time period. I'm not a big Rod Stewart fan. Didn't really like him with Jeff Beck, he was OK in Faces, but he's a bit better here as a solo artist. There are still times where he's just over the top, like when he starts doing the "Amazing Grace" cover. Ugh. I will say that his backing band on here is great. Very tight musicianship and the instrumentals compliment Rod's style well in my opinion. Definitely one of the better Rod Stewart outings I've heard.
A nice listen but little more than nice
one of my favorite rod stewart albums.
REGULAR
This shit boring
Fine overall
Such a different voice from what was typically popular of this type of music. Some decent covers and Maggie May is always a stand out
Good enough
Maggie May
One of his classic 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.
#136. Gotta say I'm really getting tired by all these white dudes' '65 to '75 bluesrocksomething albums. It's probably not bad, objectively, but I see no reason why I would have needed to hear another one of those. I get it, it's music that sounds like *this*. Been there, heard that. Oh, now sung by Rod Stewart? Yeah, okay. Boring. Next.
This is not exactly what I thought rod Stewart was like but it was enjoyable. I liked the amazing grace cover
Pleasant enough. Showing its age slightly(!) in some less than "aware" lyrics... Only song I knew was Maggie May (another song with a slightly 'iffy' theme...)...
Good
A little lackluster at times, but Stewart’s rough charm and Faces’ decent backing instrumentation pick up the slack.
Meh Maggie May is awesome and couldn’t get into the rest. Rating: 2.8
Enjoyed it! Never listened to Rod Stewart before
Every Picture Tells a Story Maggie May Mandolin Wind (Find a) Reason to Believe
Good stuff! 3.625 per track
Fine. Has its moments but kind of boring overall. Not my thing. Radio where I grew up played Maggie May to death, and I get why, but I’d be fine not hearing that song ever again.
As I’ve matured I’ve gotten over my knee jerk dislike of Rod Stewart. This album helped with that immensely. Much like his work with Faces, this is like bluesy pub rock with some solid musicianship. I bought this one recently at a record show for $2. The record is super beat up but well worth it.
I’ve always really liked Rod Stewart’s hits, but not enough to seek out his other stuff, or listen to him past what I hear on the radio. This was fine, but Maggie Mae is the standout. The rest, at times, creeps towards the cringy/eye-rolly Rod Stewart that society (perhaps unfairly) sometimes chalks his music up to.
Rod Stewart gets a bad rap because of going disco and then going Sinatra, but he was putting out some solid records around this time, both as a solo artist and with The Faces, and this was his masterpiece. There is hardly a bad song on the record and “Maggie May” deserves its place as one of the greatest classic rock songs of all time. I love how raucous and loose the playing sounds, especially on “That’s All Right.” This album feels like a bar band having a good time. And Rod Stewart as a vocalist is hard to beat. Thank God there was a time when he put his talents to good use by singing decent material.
good thing no one was around when i listened to this because it meant no one heard when i blurted out "oh, shut the fuck up" when he started singing Amazing Grace
Not my cup of tea really but there are some nice piano and guitar bits on the more upbeat tracks. Second half better than the first. 2.5 - middle of the road this one
It was pretty alright. I was kind of surprised when it was over like, where's the rest??
Such a powerful voice. Great album.
7/8 of this album is an overlong mediocre yawnfest. “(I Know) I’m Losing You” is absolutely awesome and sticks out like a sore thumb here. It brings my review score up an entire star on its own.
Really liked this one! Been familiar with some of Rod Stewart's work for ages but this was a great listen and definitely makes me want to check out more!
Soulful. Rod creates a mood and when it fits its awesome.
Great album, one hit after another. What else is there to say?
did i want to listen to this because i thought i wouldn't like it? no did i listen to this and then prove myself wrong? also, no.
De beaux arrangements, une réalisation soignée, qui mettent parfois de l'avant les limites de Rod Stewart comme chanteur. Heureusement son charisme et son investissement demeurent palpables.
I liked the first song, but then the subsequent tracks not as much
Don’t care at all
This was an ok album. Not really a fan but didnt dislike anything. One song I recognized.
This was a fun album, I enjoyed it.
I feel nostalgic about this album because I remember my grandpa putting it on. He loved Maggie May. I think that's what saves this from a 2. I can tolerate bad singers (I even like some) but his voice was pretty rough at times.
3.5 liked the country flair of the mandolins and the classical interludes. Maggie Mae is great
Good classics
Better than I expected
Nope
A mastercraft of rock, blues and jazz from a living legend in Rod. The soundwork holds up and is as relevant as ever.
don't like him or his voice, he seems like a trashy asshole. musics fine though. I like the country-flavored songs the best.
Really good music. 5/5
Ich msg die Stimme nicht Aber es ist purer Gitarrenrock Das gwht do
The “That’s All Right” cover is pretty bad, but everything else is really damn good. 4/5
Maggie May is a banger, clearly The rest, I am a bit surprised that Rod stood in 1971, when guitar music was going in all kinds of different directions. I guess there was still a place for radio-friendly pop-rock songs. He doesn't even really bring much to the covers to make them truly unique and stand out on their own. I'll give an extra star because his voice is great and Maggie May is a good song, that's it
Not a bad album, in the awful sense of the word, but it's far from good. The Bob Dylan cover is quite good, and Maggie May is an alright song. The closer is also decent. The rest, I'm okay with never hearing again. It doesn't grate on my ears, but I get bored of the songs.
Unexpectedly accomplished
Siis äänihän on vitun kova. Ja Maggie May aika ässä biisi. En oo ehkä ottanyt kyseistä artistia aikaisemmin kovin vakavasti, mutta tää oli ihan solid levy. 3/5
Kivaa musaa, mutta sama kuin edellisen Rodin levyn kanssa, että en ihan tykkää lauluäänestä tarpeeksi, että antaisin kolmosta enempää.
Klassisen varmaa klassikkorockia. Yllättävän hyvä kokonaisuus, 3.5/5
Lots of good music on this album.
How on earth does this man always sound like he is 70 haha. I have always heard him throughout my life but never felt compelled to listen to his discography. He is undoubtedly an iconic artist and has some great hits but he is just another one I struggle to listen to lots of. I did have higher hopes for this album, it is good musically but it is just almost annoying and was actually a harder listen then expected. I feel the whole album is really carried by the title track and Maggie May and the rest I just was not enjoying. Part of me wanted to be nice and respect that it is a classic but I think it just caught me on an off day. Nan would not be proud of me but it has to be 2 stars :0 Stand out songs: Every Picture Tells a Story Maggie May
This album was gifted to me by a friend a few yrs ago. My fav piece of Rod Stewarts career. He and Ronnie were a great pair...this album has classic rock, soul, and a hint of Motown sound. It sounds like it could have been recorded last week...not 52 yrs ago. Maggie May is one of those timeless pieces that for me paints a story in my mind as I listen to it. One of the best classic rock tracks evah! 3.8
Never paid much attention to Rod Stewart’s catalog so this album was a nice surprise. Mandolin Wind kind of sucked but the rest of the album is blues rock and it’s fantastic.
Niet helemaal mijn ding, maar toch wel wat goede nummers
Se on 70-lukua. Epätavallinen barnet huipulla tulitikkuja limbers lavalla. Se etenee kyntämällä 40- ja 50-luvun materiaalia, jota en tunnista. Kenen laulu tämä on? Minä kysyn. Barnet's, vastaa avulias apulainen. Olen hämmentynyt, kunnes That's All Rightin tutut sanat tervehtivät meitä. Ymmärsin! huudahdan. Barnet on kunnianosoitus, mutta se päätti haarautua ja luoda alkuperäisiä sävelmiä ilman riimiä tai syytä. Tsemppiä, jätän keikan. seems like a long time
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.
A bit of casual racism (probably fine at the time) but also a lot of 'lifting from the blues'.
Rod Stewart has one of the most enigmatic and compelling voices in rock and roll. At its best moments, this record thumps away with tremendous energy. The bass guitar work is exceptional. Frankly, I wasn’t planning to like this as much as I did. At times, it’s a bit corny, but I don’t know if there’s any other album that has made the mandolin sound cooler (maybe Led Zeppelin IV).
good
Surprisingly decent!
I never really liked his music. His hits are good but the rest is not my cup of tea.
4.5 stars
I like Rod. Maggie May is the best song on here, but at this point it's a little overplayed.
Maggie Mae is such a great song. A few other good ones on this album, but, I only really need to hear Maggie Mae before I die.
i was not prepared to really love this album
I really liked this 4.5
On the title track. The drums and the guitar seem to be doing something different to each other. They really should have played the same song. Most inconvenient, really hurt my brain. I get annoyed with every old album on Spotify being a "Re-mastered edition" I mean what's wrong with the original master? Did the engineers of yesteryear not have talent? Maybe the equipment was different, or it was engineered for tinny wireless AM radios? anyway, this one could do with a re-master. Freshen it up Roddy, you renew your wife every few years, renew your tunes too. Includes a Barn-Storming Cover of - That's alright Mama by Arthur Crudup And a folky "Amazing Grace" Great album, it's always a shame when English performers try their hardest to be "American" but still a great album. I'm still waiting for Astral Weeks to come up on this list. It must be on here somewhere.
twas good
woke up in the night and got caught with a glance, this might be my last dance. in a giant world with no haters or fans, this might be my last dance. let the roots in my bed tickle my tired stance, this might be my last dance. every mirror is knife ive a tendency to grasp, this might be my last dance. its not unbecoming of me to call in such an obscene scene, for i am not pristine, nor clean. im cursed to die like a dream, cursed to see like gleam. drop it onto the floor, let it shatter like a dream, let it shine like a gleam. this might be my last dream in a world of nightmares, this might be my last dream. its not unbecoming of me to be such an absurd being, being for the benefit of noone it seems. yes, i see. i string together a picture of blood, paper towels and minute details. it glows under a dim light from nowhere. its a road, to nowhere. there is only one light. it comes from nowhere, it seems. i go nowhere, it seems.
I bet Rod doesn’t play that opening track live anymore! Maggie May obviously slaps but reminds me of respected nonce John Peel. The rest is… whatever. Wonder if the Stereophonics have ever heard this.
Love Rod and this is a fantastic album.
every picture tells a story but this ''story'' wasn't exactly great
Feels like a mix of a classic rock 'n roll and country album. It's fine, but again, it's nothing that I would particularly listen to voluntarily.
Loll this is violently American 😂
Fine, but not something I'd put on myself.
I love how this isn't over-produced. Just relatively atraight-forward rock and roll. Always enjoy hearing Rod's distinctive voice.
Yes. Good stuff Roddy boy. Nicely acoustic & pared back. Of it’s time in places but that’s what music does.
Good album, when Rod was more of a rocker
Super fun album. Good job sir.
This was actually pretty solid. It's an interesting mix of rock, some folk sounds, a bit of country, a little blues. Stewart's voice is a bit raspy, but it works for this. This has "Maggie May", which is one of his most famous songs (and it's really great). "Mandolin Wind" is a nice way to follow it, and "(Find A) Reason To Believe" is a really solid finish to the album. "Tomorrow Is A Long Time" is a Dylan cover, and it's a nice addition too. It's definitely a bit on the soft rock side and there are moments where it's a bit dull (there's a lull after the opener which makes it a bit harder to get into early on), but it's generally enjoyable. I'm not super familiar with Rod Stewart's work, but I think his sound changed quite a bit later in his career. This early career version works pretty well though. Favorite song: Maggie May Other: Every Picture Tells A Story, Tomorrow Is A Long Time, Mandolin Wind, (I Know) I'm Losing You, (Find A) Reason To Believe 3/6/24
Best thing Hot Rod ever did, pulls offer every cut credibly and convincingly and not trying too hard. The likably loose and shambolic cut has long been a personal favorite – something about the perfect simultaneity of the cymbal crash on the opening vocal (like first syllable) sets a rollicking tone. Every cut packs a punch. Dylan cover is great and every old chestnut should hold up as well as "Maggie May." "Mandolin Wind" and "Reason to Believe" are also strong. An under-appreciated classic, really, though perhaps so because of some of Rod's less salubrious contributions to the RnR canon (and one speaks as a fan).
Kann man anhören. Die Sounds wurden später kopiert.
Gotta love Rod Stewart and this was one of his best from that era. It was an 8-track tape you had to have.
Fairly generic rock of the day. I never got the big deal with Rod Stewart It's fine I guess but there's so much better out there.
bad.
That’s a nice album. Guitar is very nice. The voice well it’s the voice. Very well produce. 4 stars
The same poppy sound for 40 minutes. Couldn’t wait for this to end
A slow banger
Not all threes are created equal and I feel this is a strong 3
Loved
I'm familiar with Maggie May, but not the album as a whole. On listening to this for the first time, I do think that Maggie May is the stand-out track. The album comes across like a gang of mates holding a roistering and boozy session down the local. It's quite far removed from Stewart's later more ballad-y output. I liked this. Maybe 3/3.
😍
Rod Stewart, how you have let me down. I LOVE "Maggie Mae." Don't we all? The rest of the album was surprisingly mediocre. He bust out with "Amzing Grace" at one point, and I physically recoiled and skipped to the next song. I'll stick to "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" thankyouverymuch.
Amazing album, not a bad track in the bunch. Rod's very best!
Rod is odd. Since the 90s, I feel like he became really uncool. But then you hear things like The Faces and you think, he's not bad. This is my first time hearing this record. So the first track, lets just say, the lyrics have not aged well in the slightest to put it kindly. The actual song was decent, but it was super hard to look past. This album is way less of my thing than i thought it was gonna be. Some of the longer songs have weird bits that don't fit with the vibe. Going in to Amazing Grace on That's All Right is a choice. Not a particularly great choice in my opinion. (Find a) Reason to Believe was probably my favourite song on my first listen. But i thought i would find a lot more hidden gems than i did After 3 listens I can't say i'd ever listen to the album again. Either a very high 2 or a low 3. on the fence, disappointing
I was already familiar with this and like it a lot. Rod Stewart was quite prolific during this time, having worked with Jeff Beck and Faces, in addition to releasing solo material as well. He has a great voice and this album is really good.
(Mai ascoltato prima) Not my cup of tea, l’ho trovato un po’ noioso e non vedevo l’ora che finisse per ascoltare qualcos’altro.
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 !!!
Always liked Rod - and thought he was an excellent vocalist... Tend to like the older material more than his "disco-era" stuff - so this album is up there for me for sure... Album is solid from start-to-finish, with several of Rod's all-time classics to boot... Top-shelf songs include the title track, "Maggie May", "Mandolin Wind" - and the best Rod tune of all - "I Know I'm Losing You"... The rest of the songs are fine, with the oddity being "That's All Right" - which is okay, but near the end, there is a 2-3 minute acoustic version of "Amazing Grace" - which is incredibly well-done - just not sure why they didn't just record it separately, as it's just weird to tack it on at the end... I'm sure the Google machine may have something on that, but I don't have time or inclination to effort that... Definitely more than a 3 based on the quality of the outstanding songs on this album, but not quite a 4 - so I'd give it a 3.50 if I could - and just have always had mad love for "I Know I'm Losing You", so it was good to be reminded of that song again...
Ugh
Good, iconic Rod Stewart
2/20/24. First time listening to Rod Stewart and this was an enjoyable album! Didn't really know what to expect, but loved the bluesy aspect across each song. Will definitely listen again.
7.5/10
My grandmother loved Rod Stewart so I've heard this album many times before. Some killers some filler. 6/10
Kinda enjoyable I guess
Unless there is something encoded in the image and the whole album is an ARG setup, I don't like the story it tells. The intro in Maggie May was the only good part for me
I thought it was boring but when he started singing Amazing Grace it somehow got worse Americans are so strange
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.
Listen at: 14/02/2024
I mean, I see why people like it, but it feels like background music
Really good! Maggie May is my favourite.
One of my favourite albums
I really can’t get past the voice.
I really enjoyed the album. The sound was iconic and felt very patriotic. This is the kind of music that you would listen to while you’re doing hoodrat shit with your boys back whenever it came out. I imagine us turning this on, combing back our mullets, jumping in the eep, and going to fight the establishment. This is the type of music that was always there and I imagine will always be there.
I know a handful of Rod Stewart songs, including Maggie May, but I was absolutely surprised to hear such a strong country/American folk sound from a British rocker in the 70s. The back end of the album is much better than the beginning though, which brings the rating down a notch. The rendition of Amazing Grace at the end of That’s All Right was gorgeous and Mandolin Wind was as well. A good album that would be great mood or background music. I’ll listen to it again but it’s nothing that blew my doors off. Three out of five.
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.
I have many of these on the radio as they are rock classics. It was a good listen.
Stewart's voice is what really sets this apart as a great album. Few songs really stood out but overall, his voice is what makes it. Someone take the bass away from Ronnie Wood.
Pretty good tbh
A bit bland. Never really cared that much for his vocal style. It's not a bad record but it's not a particularly good one either.
Better than I thought it would be
Every picture tells a shit boring story.
Confounded my expectations, liked this more than expected based on what I'd heard before. Not bad, but not sure it's enough to inspire me to explore more of his work.
Aside from Maggie May, which is a good tune for a merry sing along, I struggled to muster any kind of enthusiasm for the rest of the album. Even the artwork is beige.
4.25
Definitely better than that other Rod Stewart album on this list. This is classic Rod Stewart. This is the album with Maggie May. That said, I still don’t love this. It’s good for binge drinking in a scuzzy dive bar off the interstate. Otherwise, it can be pretty tedious. There was no need for one Rod Stewart album on this list, never mind two. Maggie May is still pretty good, though.
If I could give it less than 1 star I would.
It's all one song, a decent song, but it's all just the one
Some got turned
Didn’t feel groundbreaking to me…
Bad
Maggie May. Great payday for Rod!
Boring, short, sexist, racist. Some folky bits I liked but probably done better by other artists
It's Rod Stewart of course it will be good and it was.
Solid, not groundbreaking stuff.
Nothing really stood out here.
Excellent
The album that made Rod Stewart (as opposed to Rod Stewart with Faces) a household word and bona fide pop star. The folk influences are evident from the beginning, especially the best and most famous Rod Stewart song ever, Maggie May. While the folk is the sauce, the rock is the meat. Yes, there are quiet songs like Mandolin Wind, but much of it rocks out. The opening track, Every Picture Tells a Story, sets the tone with blues rock tempered with folk. There is a lot of sweetness as well. This rendition of (Find a) Reason to Believe, is one of the best versions of this song by any artist. Some people dislike Rod Stewart's voice. For them, this album won't make them love it. Thos who liked his more disco and pop song eras will find this jarring. Even they, though, have to love Maggie May. It's a true classic.
Great album
Blind album, I feel like i have heard this artist before by name? Album was alright I guess though.
It’s a smooth listen but there’s nothing too special nor distinctive. [0130/1001]
Quite a slow start and it switched real fast with a little jumpscare to his voice, which us a notmal rocky one. Basically first song, guitar in my left year and his voice in the middle-right. Nothing I haven't listened before. I like the piano at the end. Got slow now with some woman's voice mixed too(oops it wasn't the end) but the real end with many voices was quite fun as well. Second song, smn said lyrics are secondary so I'm not gonna check the meanings. It's a slow song, I agree with that person who said this is headphones album. His voice is actually raspy(I think) and makes it a little better. Still nothing different, but I do like these kind of songs so, it's exceptional in its way. Third song already country vibes. Now blues. Now it's vice versa, piano and guitar in my left ear plus the bass. There's little guitar chords in my left ear too. And his voice is again in the middle. 6 minutes? And it's already repetitive. It's giving two stars. I like the way he says my mamma. Last two minutes is quiet and only guitar playing. Some women starts singing and ends with it. 4th song was nice, slow and exquisite. But not unique, it made me sleep, and what I remember is that it was too good to hear. Not the best I've listened today. 5th song is more upbeat. Plus this one is globally appraised. It's not horrible, but the monotonous guitar makes me sick. Almost made me sleep. Beat is exactly same, unless I count little changes that last 2 seconds. Even though the instruments changed that bad beat was still present so no to this song. 6th song doesn't have an annoying beat, makes me feel chill actually. There was a stop, I thought the song ended, but now there's this weird instrument playing. There's guitar in my right ear, and smth else in the other ear. I like this about him little chaos he creates. Feels like 3 songs in one, now it's fully upbeat and hard rock not a glam one. Love that. 7th song piano is powerful, it's blues vibe is impeccable. The solos were great and each war was entertained as much as possible, more than good really. But I would not listen to it again. 8th song is fully different, it had instrumentals, the fully quiet times. But it was always slow. A little sad too I suppose. I liked it because it was different and a standout from the other songs. There was a violin used while beat was beating. I'm listening to it now just talking in past for no reason. To sum up, it was amazing, but only 3 stars seems right. It wasn't as good as pixies or deep purple, so 4 stars is out of question. Otherwise it was pleasing and not boring.
Fairly generic except for a few folk elements here and there; those were cool. It is interesting how I keep completely forgetting that Rod Stewart exists, even though he has a few classic rock hits. My favorite part of the album is definitely the Art Deco cover, which is very unique in contrast to the music.
Hheey c’est plutôt bon ça! Genre country folk rock de taverne de motard, mais le gars yé live devant toi
Fab classic
Brings to mind lots of granny’s throwing baggy knickers on stage….or maybe an RSL band
7 / 10 Una de las mejores voces del blues - pop - rock. Solo una canción gran éxito.
This album captures the sound of a generation. I can imagine American dads born in the 60s feeling nostalgia
Rating system is really starting to annoy me know because I really want to give this 3.5. Some of it is great, some of it, particularly the cover versions, is meh
No es un mal disco, pero es uno más. Bien de música, bien de producción, pero nada que destacar, excepto la muy maravillosa Maggie may, por lo demás, no es un disco que necesite volver a escuchar muchas veces.
Ja wel okeee
Goed!
Love you Rod, this wasn't the best of your albums and could have used some more rodalicous tracks, but overall a great effort.
Solid album. I really enjoyed the more folksy bluesy portions.
Like it more than I thought. Good for certain moods
A classic
Maggie May is great, the rest aren’t bad.
Rod Stewart’s voice shouldn’t work, but it does. The man sounds like he’s smoked 40 a day since primary school. Liked it, Maggie May is a banger.
Surprisingly better than I expected it to be.
It's a good album, enjoy most of it. However, I still have an issue with songs over 5 minutes. The instrumental for amazing grace was far too long. But Maggie May is a bit of a tune. I might listen to a bit more of Rod in the future
Really quite liked this, never really listened to Rod Stewart properly. MaggieMay is great. Interesting to hear a different version of Someone like you after hearing the Carpenters version earlier, think I preferred this one. Interesting breaks between main songs, not quite sure what he was going for but I liked it.
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.
It’s sufficient ‘70s rock. I’ve never been the biggest fan of Rod Stewart. To me it all sorta sounds the same and that sound is not something my ears really tend to enjoy. Obviously his most iconic song is on this album but it overall just is all very meh.
This album is definitely extremely dated. It belongs to a very specific time period and sub genre - but within that time period and sub genre: this is it. The quintessential album. The soul of it's specific niche. While quality may vary between tracks, I found most of this album to be very enjoyable, with Maggie May being a standout 5-star song.
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
I didn’t really like anything on this album.
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.
Beautiful in a way I wasn't expecting. I hadn't heard Amazing Grace since my grandpa's funeral so that was unexpectedly emotional in the best way. Really liked That's All Right and Tomorrow is a Long Time
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.
Top Shagger. I’ve never liked Rod but I guess this album helped me understand the appeal a little. It does kind of rock out in a shitty early 70s way. I think a lot of his fame rests on his tone and his persona (he helped write less than half the tracks on here) and I just don’t like either. But this is peak Rod Stewart and I found it tolerable edging towards enjoyable at times.
Rod Stewert is great. Solid album with hit Maggie my 3rd favorite song by him. Tonights the Night and Da Ya Think I'm Sexy are my favorites.
"Slit-eyed lady?" Really Rod? You couldn't, with all your song writing experience, find a better description?
to daddy like, but somehow i like the drum sound
Just a nothing of an album. What a dud.
I forgot that Rod Stewart was actually good
Good combo of rock, blues, folk. Great vocals of course and lots of Ronnie Wood.
This list includes four Rod Stewart albums from 1968 to 1971 (two solo, one with the Faces, one with Jeff Beck). I have a visceral dislike of Stewart's raspy mulleted crooning. I can't stand listening to him, which is a shame for the musically-solid Jeff Beck album. "Every Picture Tells a Story" is stodgy old blues rock with some strong folk leanings. The music is pretty listenable, though there are a couple of weaker tracks even on this 8-song album. It doesn't matter anyway, because I'd rather listen to a scratched chalkboard than Rod Fucking Stewart. 2*
Un poco rollo. Le pongo 3 por Maggie May.
Super repetitive until Maggie may
Great voice, some great playing and a few surprising and interesting touches - such as the drum 'freakout' on (I Know). There are some interesting choices of material (as mentioned above), but as a set I didn't find it that engaging, in the main.
Bawdy, bravado and boastful. Rod at his boozy best. He's come a long way since being Rod the Mod of Archway.
I had a visceral reaction to tracks 2 and 3 for some reason, but the rest of the album was pleasant enough that I almost forgot how much I despised Rod Stewart's voice.
The Rod so far on this list has been awful. This is...probably his best. Still not for me at all, but the song selection and playing is nothing but copper-bottomed and can see how this made him a huge star.
Every Picture Tells a Story and this album is no exception. This album is All Right.
good old Rodney
I'm not a fan of his raspy voice, but the songs are quite good. Never heard the full intro to Maggie May before. It's really lovely
This was better than I expected, and I can comfortably get around early 70s Rod (and the Faces who back him here). Can see why he is popular after listening to this. He sounds a lot more authentic here than on a lot of his later stuff, which borders on parody). I also get some early Led Zep vibes from the songs and his performance, and I can totally imagine somewhere in an alternate universe, a version of Led Zeppelin with Rod Stewart as the lead singer. 3.5, but feeling generous today so rounding up to a 4.
Pretty cool. Rod is a classic. Just like hotdogs and a side of beans.
An inconsistent album - an unnecessary version of Amazing Grace, some other filler, and then just fantastic sounding title track and of course Maggie May, a song I thought I had heard enough and seemed to always know but this time I could luxuriate in the quality of the band, everyone firing on all cylinders, in support of Stewart’s distinctive voice. When he was good etc but poor song selection choices and a weirdly flat production style make this a classic album not.
My mom used to play this album repeatedly when I was a baby. It feels like home in the best way.
Really good album.
70's Rod Stewart is really creative with his one-of-a-kind voice and utilizes a lot of different sounds, really enjoyed this album.
Loved all the mandolin and violin on this album. Total Linsanity!
Very cool indie pop
Considering this is basically a Faces album I was always going to love it
I think it’s fine and kinda fun but like its not THAT good
It all just kind of sounded the same. Classics are his best
Songs started off *almost* good, but felt a little off. His weird-ass version of "That's All Right" was pretty gross (why the "Amazing Grace" rendition at the end!?). "Maggie May" took it back to acceptable, then "I'm Losing You" dropped it back down. 2.5 stars
Rod is a legend. This is one example of where the single is justifiably the best song on the album. I've always liked and respected Stewart, but I really don't celebreate his whole catalogue. A lot of songs were just okay; nothing memorable enough to make me an uber-fan.
I love Losing You, the Kenny Jones solo at the end is superlative. Maggie May is okay. A lot of the rest sounds like a bar band jamming too late at night, as another reviewer here mentioned. The misogyny and racism on Every Picture Tells a Story is awkward. That's Alright is an abomination - the phrasing is off-putting "Well that's alright MA-MAMA" instead of NOW MAMA is irritating. Another case for me of "Why do so many people like this?" Was there a dearth of quality music in 1972? Is everyone (and by everyone I mean critics and record buyers AT THE TIME, check out the Wikipedia stats and critical reception) just overly impressed by British pub-rockers playing American country music? I know the Stones did this a lot in the 70s as well, never really found this appealing. Maybe it's more impressive if you're British and not ever been exposed. This is a bit third rate. He shouyld have stayed with the Faces, man!
It's the 70s. An erratic barnet atop matchsticks limbers on stage. It proceeds to plough through 40s and 50s material which I fail to recognise. Whose song is this? I ask. The barnet's, answers a helpful sidekick. I remain confused until the familiar lyrics of That's All Right greet us. I get it! I exclaim. The barnet's a tribute act, but it decided to branch out and create original tunes, with no rhyme nor reason. Chuffed, I bin the gig.
Pretty good, not amazing
never listened to him before so initial shock 1: ok 70s not bad, lots of beats 4/10 2: repetitive 5/10 3:too country 4:forgot to rate it in the moment 5:not really into the album so 6:huh 7:huh 8:i like the intro - EORNG SONG done
I often wonder if i am bniased to just songs I have already heard but I had nver heard the opener before and its an amazing uptempo strong song why have I never heard it? The album has 2 new songs I will listen to again and several that I know are good and respect.
Rod Stewart has some jams. His solo stuff, his time with The Faces, his collaboration tracks. He just does it and does it well. This album is great, easy listening, great strum work and Rods got one of the most recognizable and talented voices in rock and roll.
There’s more to it than just Maggie May, I thought it was good!
Decent Album. Rod Stewart has an incredible voice, and his band is solid. I think Ronnie Wood plays guitar on most of the album, and he produces some memorable riffs. The 12 guitar on the title track is great. Maggie May is obviously the stand out track. The chorus is infectious, the intro guitar part is reminiscent of some baroque chamber music that then jumps straight into another pleasant sounding 12-string riff.
Great vocals and I enjoyed the guitar work on this one. However most of the record felt a little devoid of character for me, it felt like some fairly generic blues songwriting.
not horrible but that's about all i can say
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
en stark trea!
Absolutely horrible and i'll never trust anyone who likes this.
Just another example of an album that is consistently good, but didn’t really amaze me. There were a couple moments that I loved, like when That’s All Right became Amazing Grace in the last 2 minutes, but it was mostly average. 7/10 Top 3: 1. Maggie May 2. Every Picture Tells A Story 3. Seems Like A Long Time
I can see why people would enjoy this album but frankly I found it boring. Stewart's raspy vocals are cool but paired with bland songs it really isn't so impressive. favorite track : '(I Know) I'm Losing You'
Love this album!!!! Knew some of his songs, but never knew him. Such a chill listen and could/would seek it out.
Great album. Iconic voice. Will listen again.
Tá bien y ya.
Probably not something I'd put on often, but still very good. Kind of a bluegrass sound on some tracks.
Wish it would've ended sooner
Raspy Rod
Wow that’s a raspy voice. The blues rock stuff was kinda forgettable but the more acoustic stuff was pretty good. Decent album all in all. Best song: Maggie May
This is the toasted white bread (no butter or jam) of music. Not even bad necessarily, but why would I go out of my way for it?
I wasn't a big Rod Stewart fan back in the day, but this album has the classic "Maggie May" which was the soundtrack to the summer of 1971, plus "(Find a) Reason to Believe" which was actually the A-side of "Maggie May".
I didn’t really like it at first, it sounded to me as generic rock and roll from the 70s and Rod’s grandma-like vocals were annoying. But then after a couple more listens I got to really enjoy it, especially thanks to the folky parts, guitars and mandolins and whatnot. Great stuff to put on in the background on an autumn day like today. I’ll be definitely coming back to this one.
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.
Love Rod's voice on singles, but the songwriting isn't strong enough to maintain my interest for a whole album. Also there's such a thing as too much mandolin.
Better than I thought but that voice just ain’t my thing.
A substantial improvement from Rod’s debut, bluesy grit and sweet folk combined for a potent mixture. Maggie May is a great song of course, but the rest are worth exploring too.
Приятно, мило, не свежо
Всё плохо. Я не оценил совсем. Ну да, это рутс-рок, он прикольный, все дела. Но не моё. И как-то не очень выразительно он смотрится на фоне других альбомов (по крайней мере из числа тех, что вокруг этого стоят)
This feels like such a mediocre album
essential
Breezy and full of early 70's charm. A surprising blend of influences made Rod Stewart who he was and really shone on the album. Not the most interesting thing in the world, but it was a good listen
This is definitely a great album.
Cat: pretty good. Blues rock and a cool voice
I'm sorry Rod, I just find this SO boring. It's way too boring, twangy, middle of the road rock n roll for me.
This is probably the best i have heard Rod sound. The guitar work is good. Maggie May is a hit, though it already sounds tired. meh like the rest of his work.
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.
It’s fitting that the song “I Know I’m Losing You” comes towards the end of this album, because that is definitely where he started losing me.
The vocals save this from being an extremely mediocre album. Maggie May is a great tune, but not enough to redeem the rest of the record. Most tracks here have little to no staying power. I might make an argument for the Elvis cover, but even then, meh.
I found the interplay between Stewart’s gravelly tones and the picturesque, minstrel-inspired music behind him to be the most interesting part of this story.
Not bad for rocket rod.
I'm a bit ambivalent about Rod, some of his stuff is great, a lot of it is very MOR and cheesy. But this early period stuff is rock solid. I really enjoyed this album
Better than I was expecting it to be.
Not now, rod, I'm busy
One of the classic 70’s albums, this may be Rod Stewart’s finest moments. His performance on the title track is top notch and the backing band is excellent.
Love me some "Maggie May," and the rest of the album was decent, even if some of the songs felt a little overlong. Call it 3.5 stars.
I love Rod Stewarts voice & a few songs on this album, but it doesn't quite hit the mark for me. 3.5 stars
Discount Robert Plant belts out a pretty decent album. 3.5 stars.
Not too annoying. 3/5
Well, I'll confess myself surprised at the number of Rod Stewart albums that showed up on this list. I will also confess my surprise on how much I've enjoyed these albums overall. There are some moments on this one that could be better, especially his version of Amazing Grace, which is wildly unnecessary, but overall he won me over again. His voice is great; iconic might be a better word. The music is really cool throughout as well. The songs sound pretty different from one another and do a great job of sharing the limelight with him. I think the album could have had a bit more in the way of original compositions, especially for a 3rd album, but I can't fault him for the songs he chose either 4/5
half cool half boring, what a distinctive voice
Although I know of Rod Stewart, I'd never listened to a full album of his. The voice is special and the songs are also quaint in a good way.
I enjoyed Rod Stewart's unique voice and there was a decent amount of variety. I could have lost the little opening ditties at the beginning of most of the songs but it was a good listen
A very pleasant album of easygoing rock with a full band sound of country, blues and folk. What a wonderful version of “Amazing Grace” at the end of track 3. The acoustic guitar is so expressive. “Maggie May” is the clear standout. Gorgeous song and a perfect example of this album’s style.
Sometimes I get really perplexed by a piece of music because it just doesn't make sense after breaking it down / analyzing it. Music wasn't something that came naturally to me and my way of figuring it out has always been to break down everything im hearing- what chords are being played, what scale is the melody following, what time signature and tempo are the drums, what does the drumset look like? What kind of guitar is that? How much compression is on the master bus? etc etc. A good amount of times of I can listen to music and have a rough estimate of these puzzle pieces, but sometimes there's these straightforward songs that I just never figure out and "Maggie May" is one of them. I still don't really get how and why it's so good. The super emotional intro verse just transports you to being a lovestruck teenager in the 70s. The emotion in the vocals tied to the super simple lyrics really gets me. The guitar break at 4:30 is also so killer and memorable. What an idea to have a classical guitar intro too. Where does that come from? Besides that the album is solid but nothing really comes close to "Maggie May". If it had one more track that was close to it then I could see this inching close to a 4 but unfortunately it's just short. 3/5
Highlights: "Maggie May," "Mandolin Wind," "I'm Losing You" The compliment is that this could translate to a strong performance. The band knows how to switch up the feel in these never-ending gospel vamps to keep things moving. But it's a drag that's piggybacking on Stones and some classic soul with a different flavor of vocal performance at best. The most interesting point is a semi-madrigal interlude before Maggie May, but that is just another vanishing left turn like the baffling break into Amazing Grace. There's effort in the arrangements and some of the more reflective lyrics, and it picks up in the second half, but it rarely coalesces into an effective song.
That's All Right (Arthur Crudup 1946, then Elvis Presley 1954), but Rod Stewart's version is barely recognizable, but very good rocking blues version. The last 2 minutes of this 6 minute recording us a beautiful version of Amazing Grace featuring the slide guitar. Tomorrow is a Long Time is a Bob Dylan song, but Rod Stewart's version brings it to life, especially by adding the fiddle. This is the second song on this album that was previously recorded by Elvis Presley. The 32 second classical guitar intro at the start of Maggie May is called "Henry". Maggie May features the mandolin. I Know I'm Losing You is the first rocking song on this mostly folk album, but it is a remake of the 1966 Motown hit by the Temptations, which was turned into a funk rock song by Rare Earth in 1970. Reason To Believe is another cover song, so other than Maggie May, all of my favourite songs on this album are covers.
Surprised me how much I liked this. One critique may be that the songs seem a bit scattered. Some pop, more bluesy even a few hints of country. Lots of big names on the album too. Ronnie Wood, Danny Thompson, Long John Baldry. Can’t remember which song but the Mandolin on one of them sounds so similar to what REM would do 20 years later (I don’t think it was Mandolin Wind though)
Oh wow, I wouldn't expect that it is possible to make generally good, dynamic song and end it in such a boring way. Yes, I am looking at You "That's All Right". Four out of six minutes of this song is completely different than the rest of it. It is so different that it should be different song. It is not bad album. There is nothing straight wrong with it. It is just not very interesting. Despite rating in 3 I just don't know why it is here.
Much much much much better than the hits I knew like Dont You Think i'm Sexy. But still not for me, 3 stars
Its good but not gonna be in my rotation
His was voice was in its prime and the song choices are mostly perfect.
As a Gen Z listener, I was pleasantly surprised to hear Rod Stewart opening this album with a confession about his insecurity in front of a mirror. Was this to be a meditation on body image, toxic masculinity, the pressures of fame? …Nope, three minutes later he’s describing his love affair with a “slit-eyed lady”. My mistake. “Every Picture Tells a Story” was Stewart’s third solo album, with a lot of help from his band at the time, the Faces (it was in his contract that they also play on his solo releases, which must have been a bizarre arrangement and understandably led to some tension). I ended up enjoying this album much more than the full band’s concurrent effort, “A Nod Is As Good as a Wink…”, largely because of the more varied repertoire. I’m a big fan of the arrangements across the album: driving, raw rock led mostly by acoustic guitars, with some accentuation. The band are raucous and ramshackle, and there’s a great feeling of spontaneity to the performances which gives it some edge. When they lean into loose, Stones-style jams (like the end of the title track) it’s predictable but it is a joy. Bonus points go to: Ray Jackson of Lindisfarne’s mandolin in, of course, “Mandolin Wind” and the absolutely beautiful outro of “Maggie May”; the gospel backing vocals in “Seems Like a Long Time”; the lap steel in “Mandolin Wind”. Points deducted due to Micky Waller kicking into a double-time drum beat in the “Mandolin Wind” outro and the entirety of the otherwise serene “(Find A) Reason To Believe”. Both unnecessary! Experimentation with folk-rock is all very well-handled too in numerous spots on the record. I had no idea that “Tomorrow is a Long Time” is a Dylan-penned track, having been dropped from the “Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” track listing. It’s nice to hear it be given an outing here, stripped back to Stewart’s ragged vocal and some good fiddle. We also have some interesting diversions: a solo acoustic rendering of “Amazing Grace”, the classical intro of “Maggie May”. Inessential, but nice seasoning. And while the likes of “That’s All Right” and “(Find A) Reason to Believe” are relatively forgettable, it doesn’t detract from a solid set of songs. Let’s all agree to ignore the aforementioned blemish on the opening track, if only to bask in the bliss of “Maggie May” a little longer.
A Great album for sure!
I should probably appreciate Rod more.
Olipahan pettymys. Ei sillä että olisin Rodia juuri koskaan kuunnellut, mutta mielikuvissa oli paljon kovempi rokkikukko. Mjeh...
Ok perussettiä, ei mitään ihmeellistä eikä mihinkään suuntaan suuria tunteita herännyt. Varma kagonen
Rod Steward has never been my cup of tea, but credit where it is due; this is a fine album that I will never listen to again. A bit folky at times (Mandolin Wind) with mega-hit Maggie May smack in the middle. soft 4 / 5
Not bad but not my jam
Another good Rod Stewart album. This one had more of the hits than Gasoline Alley. Overall I liked this album more. Didn't know Rod Stewart was British, because his music just sounds so American. Not sure if other people think the same or if that's just ignorance on my part.
Rods voice kind of annoys me after a while but this was good song writing and solid soft rock
Love Rod's raspy ass voice but this album just didn't do it for me minus Maggie May which is a classic.
Great album with a bunch of great songs! I love me some rod Stewart.
4/5 Solid but not spectacular.
I don't want to talk about it, just listen to Mandolin Wind.
Yeah, so, this isn't going into my regular musical rotation or anything but this was pretty good. The key is to happiness is to have low expectations.
Good album, had a couple of great songs in there. His voice is so unique he makes the most boring song interesting.
Ok so there is only one standout track. But it's a great one. And this bluesy, rocky Rod is the side of him I like. It just doesn't feel like one of the top 1001 albums ever...
NOT MY STUFF.
Some songs more suitable for other voices.
Meh
Tja, Rod Stewart. Langweilig, aber überwiegend interessant arrangiert.
This is an easy 4 for me, and getting close to a 5 The guitar parts are truly excellent. The vocals are really spectacular in places. There are a couple of low-points on this one that keep it from being truly great, but there are some really fantastic highs also. At its best it is funky and folky and bluesy all at once.
Ehhhhh. Rod Stewart’s fine. Just in general. Wish he didn’t have two albums on the list, but this one’s fine. I don’t mind that it’s on here. The music is decent. The vocals are decent. I really just feel indifferent to this one.
I listened to this while starting my day and barely noticed it was playing. So generic it felt ambient
There’s an entire genre of early 70s rock where it seems like the artists didn’t realize they could re-record a song if it sounded terrible. This fits squarely within that genre
Good, easy listening. Wasn't quite my favorite, but no complaints!
That rod Stewart voice - soulful and a little rough - very nice, but only in small chunks for me. A whole album gets a bit "one note" style wise. But pepper in some rod Stewart to many a playlists. I liked this more than faces.
Anytime I hear a Rod Stewart song, I think he could use a throat lozenge. That being said this is a strong album, I suppose I had to listen to it over a full album. I really enjoyed the blend of folk, blues and rock. I had no idea that Ronnie Wood played with Rod Stewart until now, he was solid on the steel guitar. Great stuff! 4 stars