Reviews (page 7 of 9)
nice
4/10
7.5/10. Good for non-working out type stuff
Own the vinyl. Classic. Should learn some acoustic guitar parts.
didn’t like his voice which made it not great overall. the vibe was there though
Неплохой альбом
Such a very good album. An underrated singer, Stewart makes great music.
I was apprehensive when I saw Rod Stewart's name but this is a solid album, nothing too different but there are some good tracks on here.
Every song on this album feels 2 minutes too long, and it's not even a long album! I was surprised by how much I did enjoy it, though, even if it dragged in places.
Weird; I woke up singing 'you wear it well' this morning. Ok, it's not on this album, but even so. This album has no surprises, it's early seventies Rod Stewart, is exactly what you'd think it sounds like, the only track that was stand out was "I know I'm losing you" and that's a cover, with the faces. Overall hum drum.
Terrific album, love the way Rod Stewart sings
Mostly inoffensive Stones impression. The voice does get old. Just kept chuckling to myself that apparently Rod Stewart has the reputation of being the dumbest motherfucker in show biz... some of the awful rhymes seemed to lend that credence.
first listen something so american heartland about this
Overall a pleasant album. His voice isn’t my favorite, but that wasn’t detrimental. Sort of classic rock sound with some folk influences. 3/5
I love how early Rod Stewart albums often turn out to be stealth Faces albums. This is vintage Rod, probably the best he ever made. Backed up by some stellar musicians (including his Faces bandmates Ronnie Wood, Kenney Jones, Ian McLagan and Ronnie Lane), the sound is rich and bluesy and loose. Rod is in perfect voice, both on his own songs and on some fantastic songs from the likes of Dylan, Tim Hardin and the Temptations. Rod manages to make them all his own. Fave Songs (All Songs, from most to least favorite). Maggie May, Mandolin Wind, (I Know) I'm Losing You, Every Picture Tells a Story, (Find a) Reason to Believe, That's All Right / Amazing Grace, Seems Like a Long Time, Tomorrow Is a Long Time, Henry
Big Rod (that's what his friends call him) knew he was losing me, so he made "I know I'm losing you." Favorite: I know I'm losing you by Big Rod
nice listen
Strong album with several hits and a great sound. Still lacking some of the edge that the Beck albums had, but great nevertheless.
Enjoyable album, liked the mix of more poppy lyrics with blues background
Rod is the king. Great stuff that reminds me of good times with my parents listening to him as a kid. Reason To Believe is such a killer closing song to this album.
By far my fave Rod Stuary album...so many memories
Even as somebody who enjoys longer songs, almost every single track here feels bloated. Slapping on a cover of Amazing Grace to the end of a song? Why? Not bad but don't envision myself revisiting. 2.5/5
This stuff is really nice, Rod Stewart has a great voice and he's not scared to use it to help lead a track. Would give it a 4 but some of the tracks fall a little flat towards the end of tracks - I think if they were a little shorter they'd retain more of the punch that's present in Stewart's voice.
This mole-faced, tuft-haired, gravel-voiced Muppet has one of the most overrated singing voices in recorded music history. Blows my mind that he's had a successful career at it with such a shit voice. Maggie May is ok but that's about it. This singing style (see also Tina Turner, Joe Cocker etc) can die a painful death soon. I will not mourn it.
nah
Not bad. Rod's scratchy voice suits this material well, and the performances are loose and fun. Mix is a little unconventional at times (panned bass!) I've heard Maggie May a million times and didn't think much of it at first but a couple years ago I learned an interesting factoid about it. Back in 1979, Rod Stewart was among a group of artists who each pledged to give all the future royalties from a song to UNICEF. All the other participants gave their current hits - for example, the Bee Gees pledged "Too Much Heaven" which was the current number 1. Rod Stewart chose Maggie May, and was criticized for giving such an old song: "[it] surely won't earn many more royalties for UNICEF". Show of hands: who has heard "Too Much Heaven" recently? And "Maggie May"? Standout tracks: Every Picture Tells A Story, Mandolin Wind 3.5
Like, 3.5. Pretty good. Will probably give it another listen later on.
It's funny to me that even after not listening to broadcast radio for nearly 20 years, I thought my Rod Stewart saturation might have subsided. Nope. Still too much. Great album. I can't listen to it.
I just really love Rod Stewart's voice
It was fine
I really dislike when one line of lyrics is repeated over and over again to fill out a song. I won't go so far to say that it's an invalid form of song writing, and there are exceptions where I think it can be done well, but it certainly feels lazy and Rod does not do it well. This album is plagued with such repetition. Maggie May is alright but the rest of the album is a bit of a slog.
Très bon
- Never listened to a Rod Stewart album in full before - Shocked to learn that Rod is good actually!?!?!? - Enjoyed this way more than I thought I would, Maggie May was the only song I was familiar with before - Fav songs: Maggie May, Tomorrow is a Long Time, Mandolin Wind
Maggie May is an all time great song and I was looking forward to finding another gem that I'd like and add to a playlist but never heard one.
Decent blues album, better than expected, Maggie May and that’s all right are the highlights
I think this is the 3rd RS album I've had...and its getting a bit tiresome....however this was the best so far. His voice still bugs me though.
Pretty damn classic. 4/5
Rod Stewart is one of those guys, and I’m not sure if we’ve had an album of his yet, that just kind of ended up in coffee shops and as easy listening. The kind of guy the elderly love hearing. But this album is more in his hay day with a rock bent that I liked way better. Now, when I say way better, that’s relative to his other stuff. I can see why this might make its way to a list like this, but comparing it to similar stuff like CCR, there’s no comparison.
Not bad Rod, not bad at all. This guy became some weird sex symbol guy, like Michael Bolton or something, I don’t know why or what his deal became. Do women go wild for Rod? No idea. This album has to be pretty early in his career, it’s got a folk-rock twist to it that’s pretty enjoyable. “Maggie May” is a big one, and I really liked the back end of “That’s Alright.” The Elvis cover isn’t great, but the instrumental outro was really nice. Not enough here to put Rod in high esteem for me (almost typed Rot there, that made me laugh), but it’s alright mama. Favorite tracks: Maggie May, I’m Losing You, That’s Alright. Album art: Pretty cool art style, seems anachronistic for some reason, like it was made in the 2010’s to look old? Not bad though. 3/5
A really chill album with mostly love as the topic, reminds me of The Beatles' first album. Fine per total
I've always known Maggie Mae was a bop, but it's awesome to learn od goes hard sometimes. Great listen.
Rod has a unique voice. Sometimes it works for me very well, and sometimes it's rough. Maggie May is such a classic and it's really hard for me not to love. On the other hand, the snippet of Amazing Grace at the end of That's Alright sounds kind of like nails on a chalkboard to me. Overall though I enjoyed this album. Rod is very talented and he is a great songwriter.
So far, I’ve not really been too impressed by the Rod Stewart or The Faces albums that I’ve heard. I’ve been really surprised by how many albums Rod has in the 100 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die book! Regardless, I’ll try to go into this with an open mind. Songs I already knew: Maggie May Favourites: Maggie May, Seems Like A Long Time Partway through the first track on this album, I knew that my expectations here had been wrong. I couldn’t even tell you what is different to the other albums, but the music just felt warmer somehow. Where there had seemed to be an emptiness on his other albums, I didn’t feel that here. The mix of typical rock instruments, together with the piano and mandolin, make a really nice folk-rock feel. Maggie May is a genuinely fantastic song, and will likely be in my head for the rest of the day now. Overall, it hasn’t made me want to go back and try his other albums again, but it has shown me just how good some of his music can be.
Best Song: Maggie May. It has by far the most listens on spotify. Is that why I liked it most? Honestly, probably. Worst Song: That's All Right. What an awful, buzzkill ending to that song. Overall: It honestly feels like a big prank that Rod "singing through a wind tunnel" Stewart ended up having the career he did. His voice sounds like it's perpetually raspy from some amazing performance the night prior. I wish I could hear that Rod Stewart.
I always have the unfortunate tendency to think that good music is perhaps in the past. Besides being extremely unfair to the great musicians we have active today, it is also unfair to all the musicians who are still active, even though they have a wonderful musical past, as is the case of Rod Stewart. I had never heard this album before, and I was really surprised, what a quality, what a delight to listen to these songs. It saved my afternoon, and made my day much more cheerful!
Typische rockmuziek. Heel goed te luisteren. ***
I know a lot of Rod Stewart songs, but I can't say I had ever listened to an actual Rod Stewart album before this one. And his voice is so distinctive that you can't help but be drawn in by it. Some interesting tracks on here, with the opening title track being one of the best, the right tempo and guitar drum drive. "Maggie May" is one of his most famous, though not one I've ever really thought a lot of. There is a divergent mix between rock guitar and then country and folk, especially on the Bob Dylan track "Tomorrow is a Long Time". As it turns out, I would love to have heard more made of these songs in pushing them with a rockier instrumentation, because Rod's voice to me always operates better when the music is that way. This album is still good enough in my opinion to take a listen to without setting the world in fire.
Rart. Konsekvent lyd. Gør det lidt svært at skelne mellem sangene. Smadrede ikke mine knæskaller..
this was absolutely a charming, easy album. i could hear similarities between artists like tom petty and the heartbreakers or lynyrd skynyrd, but still not quite the same. the roots rock genre is a real back to basics genre. the fact that rod stewart made sure to include several covers to accompany his originals shows he's giving a nod to the roots of rock and roll. i want to call this album simplistic, but then rod stewart threw in the mandolin into the mix--and "mandolin wind" is so beautiful! it isn't simplistic at all. the intro to "maggie" may proves that easily enough, or even the quick inclusion of "amazing grace". i probably mention this too often in my reviews, but i'm always impressed when an album is so uniform. it's a smooth ride, and stewart has the covers weave seamlessly with his original songs. nothing is out of place. on a final note, i knew "maggie may" was originally a b-side, but gosh it goes to show you how baffling music can be.
This album was a nice listen. I really do enjoy the raspy aspect of Rod Stewart's voice and how he uses it in his music. Aside from Maggie May, I'm not overly familiar with Rod Stewart's solo work, so I was pleased to hear that the rest of at least this album had a nice rock sound to it. There was an audible mix of blues, soul, and folk in here too; giving things a slight country-esque lean. One thing I will say about this album is that it somehow sounded newer (if only slightly newer) than 1970. If Rod Stewart played a part in the furthering of harder rock music mixed with bluesy and folksy sounds, I wouldn't be surprised.
People love Rod’s voice or they don’t. I don’t. Music was generic.
Some good old time music with a great proper band behind him
Classic voice and music. Great lyrics. Good memories for a few lot of times. Saw at Tiger Stadium in the rain. Except for Amazing Grace. Not for Rod Stewart!
Have always loved this record. great continuation of the grittiness Rod had with Faces, but adds layers of complexity and dynamics to the mix. How can you not love an album that has Maggie May on it.
I used to listen to a lot of classic rock like this, but somehow this particular album just doesn't really do it for me... the mix of the bass is a bit weird in the earlier tracks and that continued to distract me haha. And man is the bass line so busy in the opening track! Is it sacrilege to criticise an album that every boomer rates 5/5 stars? That said, the more mellow acoustic songs were quite nice (maybe because the arrangements didn't have as much bass!). Obviously Maggie May is a classic but for me the standout tracks are "Tomorrow is a Long Time" (which turns out to be a Dylan cover... figures!) and "Mandolin Wind".
I know I'm losing you is fantastic. First half of the album is country garbage. If it was just the last 4 songs it would be a 4/5.
To me not a top tier album but a solid 7 nonetheless is a grooving bit of a weird hybrid of rock, country and blues. Ronnie woods guitar work on some tracks was really fun especially the slide guitar. Favourite tracks - Every Picture Tells A Story
Damn, this generator REALLY wants me to listen to Rod Stewart. This guy was absolutely made in a lab or something. I don't believe it's humanly possible to be a more boring person than Rod Stewart. Man had to go out of his way to create an album that has literally no interesting qualities whatsoever. Can's Tago Mago released in the same year as this, there are no excuses. Essential listen my ass. My crackhead neighbor yelling out of the window at 3AM is a more essential listen than this album. The Hampster Dance probably had a bigger impact on the history of music than this.
You know what... I can't fucking stand Rod Stewart. But this album made me see it's that I hate him, his inability to sing, and complete overexposure NOW rather than his albums that came out in the 70s. Enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
Okay, sounds like a well polished bar band
bang bang
Amazing classic rock album and arguably, Stewart's masterpiece! Rod knew who he had to jam with, there's an amazing cast of musicians on this record! It helps that the songs are so powerful, because the lyrics don't really standout. The performance of the band is what makes this record so so good! Favorite lyrics: - I fell in love with a slit-eyed lady. By the light of an eastern moon. - There's beauty in the silver singin' river. There's beauty in the sunlight in the sky. But none of these, and nothing else. Can steal the beauty. That I remember in my true love's eyes. - When the rain came I thought you'd leave. 'Cause I knew how much you loved the sun. But you chose to stay, stay and keep me warm. Through the darkest nights I've ever known. - Someone like you. Makes it hard to live without somebody else. Key tracks: Every Picture Tells A Story, Maggie May, Mandolin Wind, (I Know) I'm Losing You, (Find A) Reason To Believe 8 out of 10
Parece ser um disco para celebrar o cantor. Só que não me agrada o vocal, de fato a voz incomoda bem na sequência das músicas.
Stod Rewart
Solid album all the way through. With a couple standouts. Liked the last half the best. 7/10
Not as good as the previous one
Prima, was nog niet echt bekend met zijn albums. ‘Da Ya think I’m sexy’ is wel echt een banger, jammer dat die niet op dit album staat.
Album beetje half geluisterd was denk ik wel prima, maar rod stewart mooie vent dus 3 sterren
“War time is only the other side of peace time” - Rod Stewart
Er þetta meistarastykki já? Ég er ekki sammála. Ekki stakur banger á plötunni. Maggie May maggí smei, það er í besta falli sæmilegur smellur, þótt mandólínið virki reyndar vel. Sæmileg plata og ekkert meira en það.
Few songs really stick to me. Some good riffs in there though
Found the first bit repetitive and uninteresting, though that could also be related to the style no longer being as new. Tomorrow Is a Long Time was good, but because Dylan is very good. Also I like the finger picking. Maggie May’s start was especially strong. Mandolin Wind was where the album really took off for me. Overall I much preferred the second half of the album.
White grandpa music.
16th Feb 2023 - Honey on toast, Janine Kitchen. The Clouds covering the hills and mountains creating a lake of white cotton over Bagni Di Lucca.
Sounded like a dollar store Bob Dylan record. Really repetitive at times. Musically mostly uninteresting despite incorporating a range of instruments. Standout is "Mandolin Wind."
Solid. I’ve never listened to Rod Stewart but this was not what I expected. A lot of heart and good musicianship. Maggie May was my favorite.
Side one is good, while side two is amazing. Reason To Believe is yet another stunning cover of a Tim Hardin song. Rod is one of the great interpreters of other people's songs. He also wrote a few classics. Mandolin Wind is one of the best songs of that era.
Wake up Maggy I think I've got something to say to you! Loved the album. What I liked equally was the Spotify Autoplay suggestions of TRex etc. assorted with this age and genre of music
An enjoyable listen.
(I know) I'm losing you and (Find a) Reason to believe are great covers!
I had a friend who loved this album back in the early 70s. I didn;t, but now it seems to have gained a certain nostalgic value.
This sure was a classic rock album.
Not for me really, but a couple decent tracks. Just a bit of a bluesy snoozy album.
Not great.I don’t like rod stewarts voice as it comes off as more of a shriek to me.The songs were all middle of the road with nothing memorable about them.I didn’t like how the acoustic guitar sounded either.
I really enjoyed the first half of the album. Definitely fizzled out.
Unsurprisingly, this is not for me. Rod Stewart is about as plain and inoffensive as it gets. Just basic blues rock stuff. It's fine I guess.
folk bello, suena bien las canciones se me mezclaron entre sí, me parecieron todas muy parecidas no me sonaba el hit (maggie may)
Love this album
Overrated artist
What a great album. Heard it before and it never fails to blow me away. Probably the stand out track is Mandolin Wind
I love the vocals and I think that there is probably more potential here. Will have to check out more to know.
Alright album. The highlight obviously is the Maggie May song. Is it one of the 1000 best of all time? Maybe.. but certainly near the bottom of the list.
No lo escuché entero, pero buenos temas
I need to pinpoint when he started to suck. It came after this record.
Slow to start but worth it when it ramped up. Can see the influence in newer rock. Great instrumentals. 9/10
Was not a fan of the album.
a fairly dull mix of easy listening pop country retirement home beats with extra raspy singing
The Chameleon Rod is pretty believable in this rootsy/folkie mode. Title cut is fab, has long been one's personal fave. "Maggie May" Is timeless – with nonpareil lyics in every other stanza, "really should be back at school" engendering a million relatable fantasies across generations in just a few syllables, as does "morning sun ...really shows your age" in the opposite direction. "Mandolin Wind" and "Reason to Believe" are high-caliber cuts as well. "Tomorrow is a Long Time" is most credible as Dylan interpretation, one unforgettable voice covering the work of another. That "I Know I'm Losing You" is just about the weakest cut speaks volumes. Solid and gracefully aging, much like the artist himself. Nobody's musical or creative genius, but whoa the lad could sing.
Maggie May is alright, but he's got a voice more suited to taking a constipated crap than singing, hasn't he? Probably the most narrowly a two album yet. Probably should be a 1. Won't get these 40 minutes back, and given the entirety of music history, I find it hard to believe this is one of the best 1001.
3.5/5. This is pretty solid. I enjoyed listening to this. There is not anything crazy going on here. Overall, a good album that I would not have an issue listening to again.
Die amazing grace hoefte niet
I'd give this a half and half. It's a good mixture of rock, folk, blues and a wee bit country. Some of the songs on this are obvious hits others a bit dated and boring.
Solid. In retrospect, not spectacular but very good. I love Rod Stewart after reading his book so I’m leaning towards giving it a bit more grace. 3.75/5 77/100
Not sure I needed to hear two Rod Stewart albums in one week. This one seems very similar to the last one, so it’s getting a similar review: Some good moments but generally a bit dull and uninspired. His own writing is decent so why waste so much time on mediocre covers? etc etc
Wow…I liked this. I haven’t ever had a positive responds to RS’s music, but this was enjoyable! No major standout favourites but I think that it was a short album helped me to enjoy it more.
Mostly annoying
i absolutely loved this album. so much passion in his voice and the blend of rock, folk, and blues just works so well.
7/10
!!!!!
Never took the time to listen to Rod Stewart. He has a really unique voice which I was impressed with. But the twangy, singer songwriter vibe isn't hitting for me. Maggie May is the standout here but I don't see myself coming back to this album
I'm guessing this list is too stupid to have a Jeff Beck album on it, so they are compensating with this. This is all great shit. Killer band (Faces). Great melodies. Too bad Rod moved to LA and stopped making good music.
Some pleasant tunes and good covers. Maggie May is gorgeous. Title track rolls along well. Elvis cover rocks. Not as bluesy or rocking as with The Faces or Jeff Beck, but Rod’s vocals in the 60s and early 70s were great for the style.
nostalgic road trip music
Not a fan
Bluntly, a bunch of average songs, a Dylan cover, and 'Maggie May'. I heard 'Maggie May' when I was younger, and it is catchy, so I'll listen to that one every now and then. His voice gives me intrigue, but that's kind of it.
Мне не особо нравится подобное кантри, оно слишком формулированное и не очень изобретательное. Но музыкальный талант Рода одержал вверх и мне более-менее понравился этот альбом. Хорошие инструменты, отличный вокал, но не хватило общего разнообразия. (6.5 - 7)
Rod the God - some great, some meh
A classic!
Better than I expected. Appreciate the rock and roll sound much more than his later albums.
Rod Stewart is awful, boomers.
This is peak boomer rock. Not for me.
The band takes it straighter on these (arguably better) songs, though the axis really has less to do with swing than inebriation. That means less to recommend Stewart, though certainly not nothing. It's the strings for me, backing a glossier project.
Maggie May and Find A Reason to Believe are both awesome, good listen through
I enjoyed this. Still pretty mellow but better than later era Rod.
MAGGIE MAY, ALL FOR LOVE, I DONT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT... MANY HITS, MANY SONGS
Near the end of the record, I realized that Rod Stewart reminds me of a lower-pitched Robert Plant. Never been the biggest Zeppelin fan, and never been the biggest Rod Stewart fan. Maybe it's all correlated. Not for me. Favorite tracks: "Maggie May", "(I Know) I'm Losing You"
In genom ena örat och ut genom de andra, kanske mitt fel sorry Rod. Hans röst påminde mig om album #447 Fisherman's Blues av The Waterboys så efter att albumet tog slut lyssnade jag på låten Fisherman's Blues o de va kiva vibes, Kjell Westö skrev om Fisherman's Blues i en bok!
Billly
Cozy
Bleh
The musicianship is quite impressive when it’s doing more than the dull boomer-blues/Americana roots-rock nonsense (see the intro to Maggie May). But even at its best, the instruments are overwhelmed by Stewart’s voice. The result is… annoying.
no offense man, i just find this album and rod's voice really grating there's a lot of special special rock music in this world. rod stewart does not have a hand in making much of that special rock music. the title track is alright, maggie may is alright, the rest i could really have lived without hearing, basically ever. eh.
som foda, um rock blues pesado com essa voz rasgadassa e riffs de guitarra marcantes. o unico defeito é o tamanho das musicas, muito longas pro tipo de musica que é. podia ser um album bem mais curto e menos cansativo de ouvir.
Tylsää ja junnaavaa. Ehkä American barbequen surullisilla kaljanjuontijatkoilla.
Rock, med lidt blues og folk-ting kørende, hyggeligt nok, men ikke helt deroppe
Some people have a soft spot for Rod Stewart, particularly his early rock years. He evokes a certain nostalgia with his sentimental lyrics and roots rock sound. Stewart's raspy vocals are instantly recognizable, making him an icon in his own right. It is no small wonder why he's on this list. I am not so fond of his work. In much the similar way that I recognize Janis Joplin's place in music history, I can see why Every Picture Tells A Story is that landmark rock album. I simply do not wish to listen to it again. As hard as it may rock and as well-written the songs may be, I cannot find it in me to like these songs. They irk me.
Classic style
I missed this one
To me it’s an album carried by Maggie May. The rest are ok to listen to but like so many albums of the time it had a hit and a lot of b-tracks.
Not exactly my thing but 'twas solid. "I'm losing you" was the best. Will probably listen again
I loved this! Rod Stewart really showcases his talent well on this album. Favorite track: Mandolin Wind
The songs were good but they kept reminding me of different artists. It didn’t feel fully like its own thing. I don’t like when a big chunk of the song is just singing one line over and over again.
I never really followed his discography, but this has to be his best album, right?
2.6
The hits were good, the rest of ok
Like CCR, but less good
Good but not great. Lots of filler and interlude instrumentals for what is a pretty short album. Maggie May is a classic though, and he's (sort of) Scottish, so I can't really be too harsh.
Notes - Bluesy rock album with folk elements - Includes no 1 hit Maggie may - First Half of the album? Not a fan - Second half is way stronger - The songs all blur together quite a bit other than Maggie may and mandolin wind - Lots of raw live energy - Wasn’t a huge fan of this album, found it a bit shrill and grating, distracted me from enjoying the songwriting Fav - Maggie may - Absolute classic least fav - thats all right - Its an Elvis cover that feels like goes on for quite a while 2.5/5
75/100: Never before has a new album met my expectations so precisely. Knowing a little bit about Rod Stewart, I found this album sounded exactly how I thought it would. It was exactly as good as I thought it would be. Let there be no confusion, though, I did not expect this album to be fantastic. I expected a lot of moody guitar riffs and got them. I do love moody guitar riffs, but not an entire album full of them. This is still a good album, but it's by no means anything monumental or even that memorable. With that being said, "That's All Right" was fantastic, mostly because I was not expecting a cover of "Amazing Grace," so that was a cool surprise, albeit the only one in the album.
*Yawn*... Assets: Classy and multilayered instrumentation going from the usual guitar solos to mandolin, steel guitar and fiddle. Plus, Rod Stewart is a more than decent vocal performer, I guess... Flaws: Most of those songs, whether covers or originals, are middle-of-the-road rock numbers, including *Maggie May* (I don't get what some listeners heard when they made this song a hit--it's pretty middling in my book). And those compositions are *all* too fucking long anyway, except "Tomorrow Is A Long Time" which sounded far less grating than the rest. At first, I wondered why this one stood out... Surprise, it's a cover of an old and quite obscure Bob Dylan cut. Thanks, Rod, for letting me know this song exists, at least (everyone else, please listen to the original or Nick Drake's version). To return to the bulk of *Every Picture Tells A Story*, and to put it in a nutshell, the overall energy that's displayed in this clearly overrated record seems to be squandered. Besides, everytime the music could go to an interesting chord or harmony, it chooses a bland, boring, or predictable one instead. Energy and jam shenanigans can't just sell *everything*. Conclusion: to be honest, as downright cheesy as it is, I think "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" is a lot more *fun* than anything in this earlier, supposedly better album. Rod Stewart seems to be a nice bloke, though. Him boycotting the Qatar World Cup's opening ceremony probably helps him avoiding a 1/5 grade from me. Not that he cares about what I think, obviously. Good for him if others want to include *Every Picture Tells A Story* in their list of essential records. Personally, I'm out. Number of albums left to review: 726 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 135 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 65 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 75 (including this one)
Enjoyed this, not listened to much prolonged Rod previously, really liked “That’s alright”
meh
Rod Stewart. Varios megahits. Vinilo.
Rod pre-Power Ballads, thank god. These are solid songs with great melodies. I’ve never been a fan of his voice but these are pretty good and I can just about endure that gravel.
Definitely, this is the highlight of Rod Stewart's long and illustrious career, at least artistically. Recorded with his mates from, The Faces this could also be considered the best Faces record, as well. Quality songs and excellent musicianship, Every Picture Tells A Story is an essential listen, especially if you only know Stewart from his later work and god forbid, the disco era.
Rod Stewart is commonly associated with something like music for grandmas and that's exactly how I was picturing it in my head actually. And you can sense that while listening to the album, it is very approvable and likeable for an old person. But I don't think it means that the music is terrible, because it sounds very solid to me. What is visible is the spirit of this decade and it's something that isn't now produced and probably never will be in the future. It stayed in the past and remained as those albums, such as 'Every Picture Tells A Story' by Rod Stewart. Long story short, I like it. Not love, but like. And I'm at peace with that. Favourite track: "Seems Like A Long Time", least favourite track: "That's All Right"
Did not finish because it's not my style, definitely has energy and it belongs to a different generation. I don't see myself going back to it anytime soon. There was 1 song that was pretty good but I felt very underwhelmed
Maggie May is great, Rod Stewart has a incredible voice, but the rest of the album consists of mediocre songs and covers.
When you don’t really have a good hook for a song but you’re just gonna put more backup singers and different instruments on top, and you just shove it across the finish line. And I like a lot of other Rod Stewart
This album is good folk and blues. It has rock elements in some of the songs It’s good folk and blues. It has rock elements in some songs which give it a fast paced feeling in those songs. The instruments are interesting, and I wish there were more rock elements but I get how that was simply not in the cards during this time. One last thing is that the Amazing Grace touch was an odd one. Favorite track: (Find A) Reason to Believe
A lot of the notes, specifically the bio about Rod Stewart on Spotify, says that he competes or rivals The Rolling Stones. Whoever wrote that is off their rocker. That take is absolutely nuts. He has nice vocals, but the Stones had much, much better songs than even the best song on this album. The album is fine, it doesn't feel particularly special. "Maggie May" is the obvious highlight of this album, but that really isn't saying much at all. Feels like a worse Joe Walsh, and that's an incredibly low bar. The instrumentation on this album is well done, but it's nothing exciting. In conclusion, this is just another boring 70s album on this list.
I'm not sure what it is about young Rod Stewart that repels me so. These days it's the creepy old man thinking he's sexy thing. For 1970s Rod Stewart I think it's a feeling that his soulful and rocker stylings are not for real. I may be doing him a big disservice, but I just get the impression that Rod's career has been very calculated. This is a perfectly adequate rock, folk, blues record, but to me it just seems faux. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: Maggie May Date listened: 02/11/22
The bones on this are fine as far as folky rock goes, but the songs go on way too long for how simple + repetitive they are, and not much variety between them.
So, I was never a fan of Rod Stewart. Having listened a couple of times through, I'm afraid that's still the case. I could nitpick about aspects of the songs, or the arrangements, but I think it's mostly just his voice. (I will add, though, that the mandolin playing on "Mandolin Wind" is exactly the kind of sound that made me not want to play this lovely instrument for decades, until I heard Chris Thile and other leading players of the 21st century.)
You know how you remember some albums from the party you were at where that was the only album that got a spin all night. I remember the Abbey Road party in Sefton when I was 19 & a local thug named Harold Smith did a job on my mate Geoff & we ended up in Emergency at Fairfield Hospital. I remember the Hot August Night party at Ultimo when I was 23. And in-between those two, I remember the Every Picture Tells A Story party at Dulwich Hill when I was 21 & the party’s host, Glenn, was sniffing around my girlfriend. I think I was totally familiar with this album by night’s end. I have to say it still sounds great. And I have to agree with Robert Christgau that “ it's the mandolin and pedal steel that come through sharpest.\" So true. Ronnie Wood and “the mandolin player in Lindisfarne” are terrific. Stewart was always great at choosing material & it’s no different here, but I reckon the best 3 tracks are the 3 originals. This is Rod at his peak. A winner.
I bought a copy of this from a $2 box about a year ago, but I don't think I ever sat down to listen to it all the way through. Quite enjoyed the rough and ready recording, and Rod's vocals at the height of his powers. The band (largely the Faces) are that great mixture of tight and loose, and really digging in. I like the rockier tracks particularly, and the cover of the Temptations (I Know) I'm Losing You is outstanding. Feeling like I scored a real bargain.
Nääää
At least he has a good band playing behind him
Good album! Great riffs and lyrics
Epitome of Rod Stewart
I've always heard of Rod Stewart but never really knew what kind of music he made or what era he was popular in. My sense going into this was that I wouldn't like him but I didn't have a solid reason. Sad to say my suspicions were confirmed! So many of the songs repeat the same lines over and over again and are way longer than they need to be. The sound of the band is uninspiring and bad. And his voice, eh, it's fine. I'm so confused by all these people on the internet saying he has one of the best voices in rock history. It's just...raspy. Doesn't make him a good vocalist. A couple lovely moments with Amazing Grace and Mandolin Wind. Maggie May is a great song but Melissa Etheridge sings it better check it out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGv3LTgpRrU
It's definitely not an album that I thought I'd be into, but I found things to love in it after giving it more listens. I like the more 70's folk elements of the songs, and the more tender moments. Rod Stewart is kind of a force on all the songs, and I wish the songs were a little more dynamic to go along with his singing.
I didn’t know much Rod Stewart at all before listening to “Every Picture Tells a Story.” I don’t think I’d seek out this album again. My favorite song was “Tomorrow is a Long Time,” but I like the Dylan original better. Though the harmonies are beautiful. “Mandolin Wind” is also beautiful. I think if I were to like any Rod Stewart album, it would have to be this one because of its folky, bluegrass, mandolin flavor. But for me, it misses the mark.
Not for me.
Enjoyable listen
Bit karaoke but pretty decent
I wanted to like this album. My brain thinks Rod Stewart is good. This album proves my brain is full of shit. I was able to listen to the whole thing, so it's not 1 star. None of the songs resonated with me, and his voice is not great. Maggie May is supposed to be some amazing single, but it's disappointing.
I guess I was more familiar with Rod Stewart than I gave my brain credit for, and I did find myself enjoying it, especially Every Picture Tells a Story, Maggie May, and (Find a) Reason to Believe. I was surprised by the Amazing Grace included in the second half of the track That's All Right.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Seems like a long time, Maggie may, (I know) I’m losing you
A lot of this album was in the background but it was pretty alright. It rose above the forgettable blandness of a lot of the albums I've gotten on this list but not too far above. I liked the second half more than the first half and maggie may was a standout.
4/5
Some bops. Some flops.
Some of the songs suffered from being needlessly long despite clearly running out of material (That's All Right clocking in at 6 minutes??) That fortunately wasn't the case on the whole though, and there were some great tracks (especially the opener and of course Maggie May)
Rock. Blues
Bra drag
Listened to on 10/25/22 4/5 Favorite song: Maggie may This album was phenomenal and Rod Stewart did not disappoint
Love a bit of Rod
WTF happened to Rod Stewart? With this album he makes the quintessential rock/folk album and then just a few short years later he's dressing in spandex and singing Do Ya' Think I'm Sexy. Oh well, at least we have these early years. Just a beautiful album full of beautiful songs beautifully produced. 5 stars.
so fucking repetitive
I'd enjoyed this more than I expected to.
A bit racist.
Not a Rod Stewart hater really, but this album started as a cluster, didn't have a pace, and kinda went all over. Every Picture Tells A Story (1st track) showed its high quality 1971 production. The band must have been on drugs and the theme just followed through the rest of the album.
y bien qsy no es mi estilo honestly? 6/10
I expected much less from Rod Stewart, but this album is enjoyable. Nothing exceptional or out of the box, but nice
One of Rod Stewart's best albums
3.5
Songs needlessly long and really hasn't aged well thematicly. Not a fan
I love Rod’s voice but I don’t like the audio mixing. Maggie May is a great song!
All time classic. Have love this one since I was a teenager in the late 70’s
Now I see why old white people go crazy for this shit
Enjoyed listening to this project, Rod has got a great voice, but the lack of variety and risk taking starts to drain on you when listening through it all. I wish this project had more going for it, but everything I hear here has been done better somewhere else. Best bet is to pick a couple good songs and never listen to the whole thing again.
Listening to this record was a confusing ride. Everything I've known about Rod Stewart since being a kid in the late '90s has led me to believe that he's made all this incredible music throughout his career. I think that illusion was just shattered today? Don't get me wrong, he's talented and I enjoyed the raspiness of his voice but... this album is surprisingly just okay. I may have expected The Rolling Stones, only to receive a pebble making a single splash in a small puddle. I did enjoy Maggie May, Mandolin Wind, and (I Know) I'm Losing You. Otherwise, I'm shockingly whelmed? Oh well, I'm still happy to add this to my Rod Stewart memory bank, along with his many American Idol appearances and the 10,000 versions of Maggie May that contestants on that show have performed during the 2000s.
There’s really nice song writing in here and some interesting song structures. I like the instrumental breaks followed by the return of the chorus or hook with lots of energy. Rod Stewart is a lot more than the cheesy crooner I thought he was
I like seems like a long time. Also enjoyed his rendition of that’s all right. Was not expecting it to go into Amazing grace. I liked this album but wouldn’t say I loved it
When I was young I read an article that asserted no musician squandered God-given gifts more than Rod Stewart. These early discs and the descent to Do Ya Think I'm Sexy are, obviously what gave rise to that comment. Rod blends folk, blues and hard rock in a mix of self-penned and covers at a level few have achieved. The material was so deep that Maggie May was a B-side (Reason to Believe was the A-side until DJs had their way). A tremendous achievement and for me, the highlight of a long career.
Rod Stewart (and the Faces -- sort of) at their best. The mix of covers and originals work beautifully together with Stewart's rasp to pull it all together. Just so many great songs on this record. For me, this is the Apex of his work.
I have never heard this in full before and thought this was fine, verging on good. My favorite tracks were Mandolin Wind and Maggie May. Honestly I don't think I like Rod Stewart's voice very much. I'd much rather hear Mick Jagger.
I really don't want to like Rod Stewart, but this is pretty good. The sound/recording is great.
4.4 - So this foppish Brit put out a roots rock album that rivals anything by Lynyrd Skynyrd or the Allman Brothers? Impressive. "Maggie May" is an obvious classic, like "Lolita" with the gender roles reversed. "That's All Right" is loose and soulful, especially as it fades into a primitivist arrangement of "Amazing Grace." I also love the gospel choruses, delicate mandolins and sassy fiddles.
Bluesy, but ultimately kinda boring
some decent jams
I really wanted to love this album, as I am a fan of Rod. But it just didn't do it for me. Apologies.
Big fan of this one
Enjoyed this album, only ever listened to his bangers, I liked that it was a bit folky with a bit of rock thrown in.
Rid Stewart was my wife's first ever concert! Remember my uncle having this album back when everything was vinyl in my Kokomo days. Distinctive voice for sure. Enjoy a lot of his music through the years and absolutely love I'm losing you. The cover of Elvis's That's alright alright into Amazing grace was another great memory from the past. Good solid album that brought back a lot of good memories from childhood. 3 to 3.5 for me.
2.5 I’ve heard this album before but it didn’t leave much impression tbh. I absolutely adore Maggie May and it’s iconic bass line but sadly, despite being perfectly serviceable 70s rock, the rest of the album didn’t quite stack up. The gospel influences were nice to hear (I love gospel vocals) but they were too few and far between with an inch too much country twang for me. That’s All Right was almost unrecognizable in a good way but I still prefer the original. Some okay stuff here but not much I’ll be clamoring for any time soon (except for Maggie May) Favorites: Seems Like a Long Time, That’s All Right, Maggie May, (I Know) I’m Losing You
2.5 Don't feel like I have a ton of thoughts here. Never been much of a Rod Stewart fan, but this is a serviceable classic rock record. Maggie May is a decent song, not much else stuck out. Could see myself owning and listening again on vinyl, but likely because I'm more in the mood for classic vinyl rather than Rod Stewart himself. Favorite song: Maggie May
Ég elska þessa plötu. Elska þetta hálf-hráa sánd. Maggie May er náttúrlega eitt það allra besta sem kom frá fyrri hluta sjöunnar.
I don't connect with the lyrics of the songs in all cases with Rod Stewart, but these records from the 70s have a nice sound. Perhaps, if the storytelling were different I'd be drawn to them more but alas that's not the case.
pretty inspired by blues just made so white 2.5
Too short.
Beetje zeikerig
See that picture of Rody singing with a vintage something as background? That's right, that bathroom corner colored photo. Like any pictures, it tells a story. A story about the most generic album of 1971.
Better than I thought. Good for party
Really enjoyed the album some great songs, and one that I listened to throughout my life with my parents and grandparent big fans.
Listened before: No Enjoyed: Yes Listens: 4 Great until the small cover of Amazing Grace
Solid RS album, with a good mix of originals and covers, quite an improvement from Gasoline Alley.
Kos! Litt Jethro Tull-vibe? Kul sound. Ble glad av den surprisen på slutten av that’s all right. Men ikke et album fylt av bangers akkurat. 4
Exile on main street vibber? Tidvis kul amerikansk stemning fra briter. Det beste med albumet er vel navnet. Noen bra låter underveis, men jeg ble ikke helt overbevist.
The music is good but his voice ruins it
classic rock that does not get too original.. in its time maybe...
Not something I would have listened to without being told by a website but I liked it
Sorry,just not a fan of rod,just feel kinda boring
Sounds like The Rolling Stones for retired people
I love his first solo album, but this is just plain boring classic rock.
Cough Rod! I think you have something in your throat...boring.................
It was so boring and generic. Thank you.
"fell in love with a slit eyed lady" good good good Maggie may is solid
Sasvim okej album, ništa pretjerano - bar što se mene tiče.
Prefs: Every Picture Tells a Story, That's All Right/Amazing Grace, Tomorrow Is a Long Time, Maggie May, Mandolin Wind, (Find a) Reason To Believe Moins pref: Seems Like a Long Time
I think the Rod Stewart Unplugged album really ruined this album for me. There are some really good tracks here, but the Unplugged version of "Mandolin Wind" soured me on that track, and especially "Reason To Believe". Then there's the repetition. A lot of the songs are stretched out by the repetition in the lyrics. (For example, the title track.). It started to get a bit tiresome. I was also particularly bothered by "That's All Right." The extra addition of "Amazing Grace" really made that song 1 that would be listened to once or twice and that's IT. I don't mind noodling at the end of songs, but doing the whole song was unnecessary. Maggie May... how many times have I heard that one. Still, a great song, though. I can hear all of the other Faces on the album, even though contractually they don't say really who's on each track EXACTLY. So I liked the album, but probably would have liked it more if I hadn't heard the Unplugged album so much.
This album is just a little uneven. I really enjoyed the title track - it's a great opener that shows off Stewart's energetic (despite flawed) vocals and the eclectic yet rocking musical style he and his various backing musicians bring. Best track on the album. Then it's a little hit and miss for the next two songs until we get to the slide guitar (by Sam Mitchell) version of Amazing Grace - phenomenal. Tomorrow is a Long Time isn't great but I like the Celtic sound intermixed into it. Maggie May has never been my favorite (except for that awesome bridge and mandolin solo) but like the title track it's a very good blend of the best Stewart's vocals give and the ability and creativity of his backing musicians. Unfortunately, the next track Mandolin Wind was also hit and miss. But the album closes well with Reason to Believe. It's got some real nice highs, but also some lows.
Really enjoyed this, plenty of new Rod Stewart songs I’d never heard before. Really nice sound throughout.
Damn, Rod Stewart is such a basic bitch. I enjoy his raspy vocals when I hear Maggie May on classic rock radio, don't get me wrong. I just had no idea the songwriting in his broader catalogue was so full of sappy poor-man's witticisms and cliches. "Nighttime is only the other side of daytime" and "War time is only the other side of peace time" *eyeeeeeee rollllllll* Also, peep the lyrics on the album's titular track, just rampant misogyny and racism. It's hard to listen to some mediocre old white man talk so much shit about women.
Great performances and songs.
Pretty good early 70s rock. Maggie May a longtime favorite.
way better rock than I was expecting. Cool classic sound.
Some great songs on this album... and some duds. Not a bad listen
As the first song hit I thought this would be a 3, but it's not. I admire Rod Stewart's voice in a way - it's pretty unique and he's kept doing it for a long time now. But this is a covers album and it's really obvious after a few songs. All over the place. And Christ, piss off with Amazing Grace. That song just gives me the creeps. The rest just descended into folky crap and so final score is 2/5.
Yeah, this is pretty great. What a great band. Probably a lot of people think Rod Stewart is kind of cheesy from his 80s power-ballad output. This shows he is one of the great rock vocalists. Also from a time when records meant you had 8 great songs and no room for filler. (If I was able to type something for Siamese Dream, that was my only complaint). Classic!
Better than bon Jovi 1
Solid blend of blues and even a little English folk. The tracks drive, and several of them are classics - unforgettable parts of the canon. I've heard many of the songs plenty of times, but can still listen to them, although probably not often. It's honestly not an album I would download. Some of the songs are dull, and it's not really my cup of tea. But it's damn solid work.
This is one of those albums that I probably have never listened to front to back before, but I knew every single track. Always appreciate hearing tracks in the context of an album, and this is an impressive collection of songs and performances. I know Stewart has made some choices in his mid and later career that undermine his standing as a pillar of pop/rock/folk history, but this album is evidence of his talent as a singer, writer, and arranger. As iconic a vocalist as he is, surprisingly, Stewart is not the best at harmonizing with himself — he sounds more powerful/musical when paired with another vocalist, and the women performing on this album bring it, big time. Last thing thing, for the hundreds of times I've probably heard "Maggie May," I somehow missed the amazing bassline in the tune until this listen.
Yeah, I dig this one. I never liked Rod's voice as a kid/young adult, but a few years ago it clicked and I went on a Rod/Faces tear. That group from 1970-2 were pretty great. I haven't listened to this album in a while. My impression going in was that it was a 5 star album, but this time through, while I still liked it, it didn't feel quite as essential. Most of these songs are amazing. A few are just OK. Maggie May is still incredible and the last two songs are perfect.
Who doesn't love the first song on this album? Well...2022 me, that's who. I was cool with it until the 7th and 8th line when he sang about "a woman stealing his bread." Given that this was written in the early 70s before the passage of Title IX in 1972 (which forbade sex discrimination in any educational program that received federal financial assistance), the suggestion of women on the prowl for men's "bread" just doesn't sit right. And then whoaaa Rod...the Asian slur was just too much. But yeah yeah I get these were different times. I did enjoy the mandolin mixed into some tunes and I was excited to hear Rod cover Bob but Rod's version of "Tomorrow is a Long Time" just didn't have the gentleness of Dylan. Maggie May still hits me right. That's a tune I've carried as a fav since I was a pre-teen. I'd say it saves the album for me but now 55-year-old me hears and recognizes the inappropriateness of the situation and I would love to know how old Maggie was to a young Rod. I did not know Rod could rock so hard on (I Know) I'm Losing You. By the time I got to (Find a Reason) to Believe, I was done with Rod's vocal fry. Finally, I think the cover art could be so much better.
Rod, this was all over the place, and honestly, a bit boring. That 2nd to last hard rock track really felt out of place up against the folk-based tunes preceding it.
I wasn't really expecting to enjoy this, but it was sneaky good.
I love this album.
This is a fucking masterpiece. Every single song.
Cool
Vraiment trop bon vhaque chanson est bien produite. Ca a ca plave dans cette liste absolument et je reecouterai certainemebt. Une belle note merité
2/5 without Maggie May
Music good, Rod bad
It's such a sweet album. I think only because of all the memories listening to it on vinyl as a kid, it gets a 4. All my single mother's occasional heartaches come back in waves listening to Reason to Believe.
3 or 4 songs that I liked rest was just ok to me
Good
Everything about this album is just really good.... But I just don't like stewart's voice much.
Instrumentation... not for me. Voice... really not for me. I appreciate his vibe and some of his lyrics, but as an enjoyable listen... nope.
Lotta Roddy Stew doing Stones cosplay here, but a few true great moments 👍
Rod Stewart is a referent. His song "Maggie May" is fine.
I couldn't get with this album. Music was the only good thing and that's being generous.
Maybe not best for getting amped up for work but very nice for easy listening. Although as much as I would enjoy listening casually, not sure if I would ever think "oh I want to listen to that album specifically". But would definitely listen to again when I am not working, maybe on a sunny summer day relaxing on my busted lawn chair in my backyard while sipping on an ice cold beer watching the dogs frolic in the grass. It makes me want to reminisce about the good old days when life was easier and I could cruise around in my pick up truck and when Tiesto made trance.
Beetje van hetzelfde. Maar niet verkeerd
I had no real history with Rod Stewart, but always liked his voice. This is a pretty good album I hope to come back to.
It's fine. Roots rock isn't really my thing so it doesn't do a lot for me but it's not unpleasant either. Some nice guitar playing on it.
This is very close to being The Faces, and that's great. The vibe is very much like that Faces album we already listened to. It's not Rumours good, but it's pretty good. Every song has something to grab on to, and I'm not a fan of Rod Stewart's voice. I'm liking all of this in spite of that. The album starts strong and builds to Maggie May, and then gently plays itself out. I don't know if I'll go back to this on purpose, but I wouldn't turn it off if it came on.
Pleasant, with a couple of standouts - 'Mandolin Wind', 'Maggie May', ah go on, add 'I'm Losing You' into the mix too - but little to grab the listener by the throat. Amiable, comfortable and definitely worth another spin on a slow, sunny afternoon - but that's as far as I'll go. Stewart is a distinctive and characterful vocalist for sure, but nowhere near my favourite.
C'était bien mais pas transcendant
Rod s'est pris pour un américain on dirait
Average
I've personally never been much of a fan of Rod Stewart's ragged voice or most of his music, but I do appreciate this album for what it is, Sir Roderick's breakthrough to understandable fame. It didn't really start off great, perhaps, with the title song, which doesn't seem to have aged well, let's just say. The rest is folky, bluesy, raspy, so raspy. Repeat. It's Rod Stewart. Not my fave.
I generally enjoy Rod Stewart's tunes. This album didn't disappoint.
I knew I was going to love it and I did.
My sister had a number of Rod Stewart albums I used to listen to when I was young. This one didn't get as much Close 'n' Play time as "A Night On The Town" or "Blondes Have More Fun", so I don't remember much of it well. This is pretty great! I'm sure I enjoyed it more now than I did then. I like the early 70s rock feel with dashes of folk. Excellent!
I suspect I'm rating this higher than I should because it's Rod Stewart and I wasn't expecting to enjoy it, but I did
I really liked this, a good mix of raspy voice and good guitar (especially). Always seems to be a creepiest overtly sultry dude with an undone bow tie around his neck, but I don’t know a lot about him.
J'ai adoré le moment où Titeuf dit "C'est pô juste" à Rod et que ce dernier vomit dans la cour de récréation.
Rod Stewart ne décoit pas et viens une nouvelle fois nous vomir à la figure. Celui que l'on appelle désormais Rot Stewart restera à jamais gravé dans la légende du générateur.
Great album!
Didn't feel it was particularly ground breaking but it had some good somgs
Классный альбом! Такой рок хороший оказался. Я даже готов переслушивать.
This is Rod Stewart's third album where all members of his current band at the time, Faces, appeared. The music on the album is described as rock, folk, blues, country and soul. All those styles are easily heard throughout the album. The album is essentially classic Rod Stewart orginal songs and great cover versions of other songs. There is a looseness to the playing that almost gives it a jam band feel. Stewart's vocal delivery is pretty much phenomenal; is it his best career moment? All of these songs are about girlfriends, former lovers, current lovers or relationships. The title track, "Every Picture Tells a Story," has always had an urgency in the music and his vocals that I've really liked and never really heard again from him. It's loose but it rocks. "Maggie May" was a B-side to "Reason to Believe" and became the albums' biggest hit. Just great vocals and an iconic song. Another B-side song, " Mandolin Wind" is the highlight of the album for me with its mandolin, slide guitar and heartbreaking lyrics about sticking with his lover/wife/girlfriend through sickness. Just a masterpiece. I also really like the rockin" Temptations cover "I'm Losing You." So, this is what Rod Stewart can be and was...a pretty high achievement.
A mixed bag here, but most of what's in the bag is good. Some of Stewart's best guitar work and catchiest songwriting means most tracks are toe-tappers, with only 1-2 duds to slow things down. Stylistically it never coheres as a full LP for me, but still an enjoyable listen all the same.
probably not bad, but I really liked it, a little not my style, but I added one song, but I'm glad I listened, + point for an interesting title
Lost me at Amazing Grace.
I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Loved the slide guitar and rootsy feel.
Overall the album's not horrible, but I won't listen to it again. Toughts: It's weird hearing him sing the song "That's All Right", which was made famous by Elvis. I just listened to the original of "That's All Right" by Arthur Crudup and it FAR surpasses both Stewart and Elvis. But the Elvis version is good too. Stewart can't hold a candle to either of them. And why the hell did it transition to Amazing Grace?! That did not work at all! Why does "Maggie May" start with a classical sounding chamber piece? This album is trying too hard, and comes across as pretentious for no reason. I just realized that almost all these songs are cover songs done bady! Look up the song "(I know) I'm Losing You", the Temptations sang it, Gladys Night and the Pips AND The Jackson Five. This version by Stewart sucks! And on a weird note I know most of the words to "Reason to Believe", and I had no idea until I listened to this album. My parents were Rod Stewart fans so I blame them. I don't recognize this version, so I guess I just know the unplugged version.
I have now listened to a full album by the famous Rod Stewart. And for that cost of admission? I no longer have to report that I don’t know his music at all. Instead, I can now report that I just don’t care for him!
Strong record. Very enjoyable
Long ago, for some dumb reason, I had decided that I didn’t like Rod Stewart. This was despite not knowing literally any of his music or even knowing what his music sounded like. I don’t know why I came to this conclusion and this album proves that I was an idiot (although I already knew that). This was great, I really enjoyed it. I’m not a big fan of his voice and so that dissuades me from pursuing more Rod Stewart, but I’ll be adding a couple songs from this onto my 1001 highlights playlist.