From 1970 thru 1974, singer/songwriter Rod Stewart released 4 solo albums. This run of albums was a tour de force for fans of acoustic-based rock, and was the springboard for his knighthood. The albums are a mix of originals and covers, played and recorded wonderfully. He was smart enough to have his concurrent band, Faces, do most of the instrumental work.
Allmusic: “Nearly all of Gasoline Alley is played on acoustic instruments -- Stewart treats rock & roll songs like folk songs, reinterpreting them in individual, unpredictable ways… It's an album that celebrates tradition while moving it into the present and never once does it disown the past.” This was his 2nd solo album, from 1970.
Rod Stewart, Gasoline Alley, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link
Rod released what many consider his masterpiece in 1971. Allmusic: “It's a beautiful album, one that has the timeless qualities of the best folk, yet one that rocks harder than most pop music -- few rock albums are quite this powerful or this rich.” The album, and the single ‘Maggie May,’ went to #1 ~ worldwide. The video below is from the MTV Unplugged sessions, with Ron Wood on guitar.
Rod Stewart, Every Picture Tells A Story, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link
Allmusic: “It's possible to hear Stewart go for superstardom with the hard-rocking kick and fat electric guitars of the album, but the songs still cut to the core. A masterful record. He never got quite this good ever again.” From 1972, went to UK #1, US #2.
Rod Stewart, Never A Dull Moment, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link
Rod released Smiler in 1974, which was panned by critics as now too formulaic. Bunk. It fits right in with this run, and at times sounds more like a rockin' Faces album than the above 3 albums. Tax problems after this led him to move to the USA (hence, Atlantic Crossing), quit Faces, and change his sound, on his way to pop superstardom.
Rod Stewart, Smiler, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link
Allmusic: “Nearly all of Gasoline Alley is played on acoustic instruments -- Stewart treats rock & roll songs like folk songs, reinterpreting them in individual, unpredictable ways… It's an album that celebrates tradition while moving it into the present and never once does it disown the past.” This was his 2nd solo album, from 1970.
Rod Stewart, Gasoline Alley, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link
Rod released what many consider his masterpiece in 1971. Allmusic: “It's a beautiful album, one that has the timeless qualities of the best folk, yet one that rocks harder than most pop music -- few rock albums are quite this powerful or this rich.” The album, and the single ‘Maggie May,’ went to #1 ~ worldwide. The video below is from the MTV Unplugged sessions, with Ron Wood on guitar.
Rod Stewart, Every Picture Tells A Story, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link
Allmusic: “It's possible to hear Stewart go for superstardom with the hard-rocking kick and fat electric guitars of the album, but the songs still cut to the core. A masterful record. He never got quite this good ever again.” From 1972, went to UK #1, US #2.
Rod Stewart, Never A Dull Moment, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link
Rod released Smiler in 1974, which was panned by critics as now too formulaic. Bunk. It fits right in with this run, and at times sounds more like a rockin' Faces album than the above 3 albums. Tax problems after this led him to move to the USA (hence, Atlantic Crossing), quit Faces, and change his sound, on his way to pop superstardom.
Rod Stewart, Smiler, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link
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