The year was 1971. A rooster cut, folk hero was about to release his signature album. The artist, Rod Stewart. The album, Every Picture Tells A Story. Over the course of his six decades in the music industry, Rod Stewart has been a force. From folk/rock, arena anthems, disco, new-wave, and the Great American Songbook, Stewart has pretty much sung every type of song.

As a die-hard, lifelong Rod Stewart fan, I decided to share with you, the loyal readers and listeners of my movie podcast my ranking of all of Rod’s solo studio albums. I really had to limit myself on these as he was a member of The Jeff Beck Group and The Faces. Plus, I omitted his live albums and The Rod Stewart Sessions which contained unreleased, unfinished and early versions of his hit songs. I wanted this to be a list for the Rod Stewart fans to debate and for non-fans to discover why I love his music so much.

32. Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook Vol. 4 (2005)

I was never bothered by Rod’s choice to cover the Great American Songbook. At first it might seem odd, but if you heard or read interviews with Stewart, he often citied the American Songs from the 30’s and 40’s as big inspirations to him. Thanks for the Memory…is perhaps the laziest Rod has ever been recording/making an album. Coming off the heels of his first number 1 album on the Billboard Charts in 25 years, Rod went to the well a few too many times and delivered an uninspired follow up.

I remember getting this CD and looking on the back and thinking it was odd that the songs did not have numbers on them, even more odd that the songs listed on the back were not in order, almost as if the record company said to Rod, “Quick! Release another Great American Songbook album, the last one went to number 1!” and did not bother with details like track listing.

On most of Rod’s albums even not his strongest ones, there are a few gems, Thanks for the Memory…is no exception as “Taking A Chance on Love” and “Nevertheless” are good. “Makin’ Whoopee” is a fun, cheeky duet with Elton John. But a complete misfire is the duet with Chaka Khan on the Sam Cooke classic “You Send Me” is enough to land this as Rod’s weakest effort.

Grade: D+

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #2

Songs to Groove To: Taking A Chance on Love, Nevertheless

31. You’re in My Heart: Rod Stewart with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra-2 Disc Deluxe Version (2020)

After three successful albums that saw Rod Stewart return to songwriting, You’re in My Heart was released that saw some of Stewart’s biggest hits reimagined with an orchestra. The biggest obstacle I think for any of these kinds of albums (see Buddy Holly, Elvis) is that are they necessary? The answer of course is no.

I will give some credit to producer Trevor Horn as he takes alternate vocal tracks for some of the songs. And the new song, “Stop Loving Her Today” is a doozy. I can’t help but wonder though how much better I would like that song with no over blown orchestra backing Rod. The album itself is not bad, it’s not great, it’s just there. I do really enjoy a couple of songs on the album, just not enough for me to give it anything more than a “meh”.

Grade: C-

Highest Billboard Chart Position: Did not chart

Songs to Groove To: What Am I Gonna Do (I’m So in Love With You), Stop Loving Her Today, Maggie May

30. As Time Goes By: The Great American Songbook Volume II (2003)

With the unlikely smash success of It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook, mega producer Clive Davis quickly ordered the sequel, almost to the day a year later.

On the second volume Stewart has a little more confidence and it shows in his vocals and arrangements. Also popping up on the second volume that would define the next two were duets with some pretty big stars. Rod and Cher team up for a sultry reading of “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”, and “As Time Goes By” with Queen Latifah. The song selection is a little tighter and the album has more bounce.

Grade: C

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #2

Songs To Groove To: “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”, “Smile”, “Time After Time”

29. It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook (2002)

After the commercial flop (unfairly) of Human, Rod Stewart took one of the biggest chances of his career. He would dip his toes into the standards of the American Songbook. Armed with a killer lineup of music producers, Rod released It Had to Be You into the world. To his surprise the album debuted at number 4 on the Billboard Charts, and went on to sell 3 million copies in the USA alone.

The critics once again could not understand the appeal of these albums and pretty much every album after A Night on The Town. Even Rod’s biggest fans who stuck by him were flabbergasted. I consider myself a pretty big fan (in fact, I love saying I am the biggest Rod Stewart fan in Colorado) and I still find his Great American Songbook phase fun. The songs themselves stick pretty close to the original recording’s arrangements, but given the Stewart vocal treatment. I implore anyone who hasn’t listened to these albums or listened to them once and wrote them off to give them a first or second chance. Stewart’s vocals on several tracks are incredible, especially the closer “That’s All”. My biggest critique of the album is that is too safe and a little boring.

Grade: C

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #4

Songs To Groove To: “These Foolish Things”, “That’s All”, “The Way You Look Tonight”, “The Nearness of You”

28. Stardust: The Great American Songbook Volume III (2004)

The third time proved the charm for Rod Stewart as he scored a number one album on Billboard with his third American Songbook album in as many years. By now Rod’s Songbook’s have become a staple in the music world, with each volume gaining in popularity, in fact other artists would dip their toes in the water without as much success. Also, of note and also shocking is Rod Stewart received his first Grammy EVER for this album.

Stardust is a solid affair with Stewart again starting to really get into a groove with these albums (which came to a screeching halt with volume four). Heavy hitters are once again all over the album not just vocally but musically as well. Eric Clapton lends his guitar on a solid cover of “Blue Moon”. Stevie Wonder helps out on a wonderful cover of “What A Wonderful World”.  Stardust is one of the better Songbook albums due to a nice balance of slow songs and truly fun songs. Having musicians lend a hand also helps elevate the album to heights the previous albums did not have.

Grade: C+

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #1

Songs To Groove To: “Embraceable You”, Blue Moon”, “What A Wonderful World”, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”, “A Kiss to Build A Dream On”

27. Still the Same…Great Rock Songs of Our Time (UK Bonus Track Edition) (2006)

After spending four years in standards land, Rod returns to Rock N’ Roll roots with yet another cover album but tackling “classic” rock songs. The album gets off to a great start with Rod lending his trademark voice to “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” and “Fooled Around and Fell in Love”. Both songs are loaded with energy that make them winners. But the momentum is stopped when the songs lose the rock edge and veer into ok ballad territory.

That is my biggest complaint on an otherwise fun album. Tonally it’s all over the place. For every rock song there is a saccharine song waiting in the wings from “I’ll Stand By You” to “Missing You”. Stewart makes us forget about those choices (which I am not sure were just his, I am just guessing the record company gave him songs to record and the put those on the album. My theory is I read an interview with Rod where he said that he wasn’t a fan of “Still the Same”, but then the album wouldn’t have a title) when “It’s A Heartache” or “Father and Son” blast through the speakers. If you plan on getting this album, seek out the U.K. version, it contains “Lay Down Sally” one of the best on the record.

Grade: C+

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #1

Songs To Groove To: “Have You Ever Seen the Rain”, “Fooled Around and Fell in Love”, “Father and Son”, “It’s A Heartache”, “Lay Down Sally”

26. Merry Christmas, Baby (2012)

I used to tell my wife, “Rod Stewart will never release a Christmas album”, in 2012 he proved me a liar. And also, he proved me wrong as Merry Christmas, Baby is a safe, solid trip down Candy Cane Lane. Ironically this record also features the first Rod Stewart written song in 14 years with a new Christmas standard, “Red-Suited Super Man”.

Merry Christmas, Baby is a classy album with some nice touches. On the opening track, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” a piano that tinkles “Jingle Bells” as the song fades out is nice. Give “Silent Night” a spin and you will be impressed on how well Rod owns that song.  Every Christmas I listen to this album; I am always shocked about how fast it moves. There isn’t really a downer on the album. The biggest complaint is that it’s a Christmas album so it is limited in its appeal, not its likeability.

Grade: B

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #3

Songs To Be Merry To: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” “Red-Suited Super Man”, “Silent Night” “Auld Lang Syne”

25. Fly Me to the Moon…The Great American Songbook Volume V Limited Edition Bonus CD version (2010)

It took five volumes, but I truly believe Fly Me to the Moon is an underrated, on the verge of great Rod Stewart album.

Gone are the stuffy arrangements that plagued the previous volumes and in its place are fun, wonderfully sung all-time classic songs. The biggest change in my opinion is Stewart serves as producer giving the album more bounce.

As a listener you will notice right away that this album is different. When the opening chords of “That Old Black Magic” hit your ear drums and Rod steps up to the mic you hear a more confident singer and music. This album absolutely sparkles from start to finish with one little bump in the road and that’s “What A Difference a Day Makes”. It brings the album down but luckily it is track 4 and Rod rebounds nicely with “I Get a Kick Out of You”.

I’ve included the bonus CD in this ranking as it is not just through away songs. “All of Me” is a winner so too is “Cheek to Cheek”. However, the best of the whole album for me is the song that closes out the album/bonus CD, “When I Fall in Love”. Rod is in top form on this track, easily his best performance in the whole series.

Grade: B

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #4

Songs To Groove To: “That Old Black Magic”, “Beyond the Sea”, “My Foolish Heart”, “Bye Bye Blackbird”, “All of Me”, “Cheek to Cheek”, “When I Fall in Love”

24. Body Wishes (1983)

The album of Rod’s that I think is his most uneven is 1983’s Body Wishes. The album boasts some stone-cold Stewart classics. “Baby Jane” is one the most 80’s songs of the 80’s. Synths, guitars and a hooky chorus make it a winner. The cheeky, “What Am I Gonna Do (I’m So in Love with You)” is a favorite of mine. It has the hidden gem track of “this should be a hit” of “Dancin’ Alone”.

But Body Wishes seems to not know what it is at the same time. Stewart remarks in the linear notes that he called on Tom Dowd to help from keeping this album from going down in the toilet. And I have read that this was intended to be a double album. Listening to it you can see maybe trying to make the album too big, hurt it in the long run. The title track is silly but fun. The same can’t be said for the misstep that is “Ghetto Blaster” or the over the top “Ready Now”.

I will say that it is one of my favorite Rod Stewart album covers. It’s a parody of the album “50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong”.

Grade: B

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #30

Songs To Grove To: “Baby Jane”, “What Am I Gonna Do (I’m So in Love with You)”, “Dancin’ Alone”, “Sweet Surrender”

23. Soulbook (2009)

Four volumes of the Great American Songbook and a detour in rock covers led to another cover album, Soulbook. Rod has made it clear that his most cherished artists are Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and other great African American singers. So, an album where he covers some of Motown and soul’s biggest hits is a no-brainer.

While most of the songs on Soulbook are pretty straight forward, Stewart does add some distinct flavor to several of the songs. His funkified version of Sam Cooke’s “Wonderful World” is a standout track. So too is the opening track of “It’s The Same Old Song” which is stripped down before it kicks into high gear. I had a wish that when this came out, or even now, when Rod was in concert, he would come out with just a spotlight on him and start singing this song. Just him and his voice. It gives me chills just thinking about it. High marks too for “Rainy Night in Georgia”, a soul song Stewart was born to sing.

Soulbook is a tribute to Rod’s heroes, and he brings the goods on a truly fun album.

Grade: B

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #4

Songs to Groove To: “It’s The Same Old Song”, “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher”, “Tracks of My Tears”, “Rainy Night in Georgia”, “Wonderful World”

22. Camouflage (1984)

The 1980’s are all about excess. Big hair, loud clothes and electronic music. After the slight misfire of Body Wishes, Rod decided to make an album for his American audience and Camouflage was born.

Camouflage starts really strong with the 1-2-3 punch of “Infatuation”, “All Right Now” and “Some Guys Have All the Luck”. It tries to replicate the magic the rest of the way and it can’t quite make it. The album is short so a lot of times you listen to it and say, “That’s it?”

I will say however, Camouflage has a lot of guilty pleasure songs on it that I love. No song more than “Bad for You”. I love this song. It’s sexy, dirty and a little dangerous and the born-again Christian producer, Michael Omartian refused to produce it, I only know this because it is clearly stated in the liner notes he is not the producer because of this.

Grade: B

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #18

Songs To Groove To: “Infatuation”, “Some Guys Have All the Luck”, “All Right Now”, “Bad for You”, “Heart is on the Line”

21. Foolish Behaviour (1980)

The smashing public success of Rod’s 1978 album Blondes Have More Fun was somewhat overshadowed by the critical drubbing Stewart took for releasing a “disco” album, and while I will tackle that a little later in this article, Foolish Behaviour seems to be a somewhat response to the critics. The disco music is gone, and it in its place are some more rock songs and a few ballads.

The first single, “Passion” is a fun, somewhat shallow smash hit that has a haunting beat with some truly great lyrics, it is hampered however by a cool at the time shouting out of random things that have “Passion” that make the song lose its impact. If I remember right, and I can’t find the source, but I remember reading that Rod’s mother hated this song, hopefully someone can fact check me for sure.

The rest of the album is somewhat hit or miss with a lot of ok songs, good songs and in my opinion one of Rod’s best, most underrated songs ever, “Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight”. “Oh God” is Stewart at his absolute best. Funny, homesick, and heartachingly honest it should have been a massive hit. Other standout tracks are the self-deprecating “She Won’t Dance with Me” and the crunching guitars of “Gi’ Me Wings”.

Grade: B

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #12

Songs To Groove To: “Foolish Behaviour”, “Passion”, “Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight”, “She Won’t Dance with Me”, “Gi’ Me Wings”

20. Human (2001)

After being with Warner Bros. Records for over two decades Stewart released his only record for Atlantic in 2001, Human. It was a big departure for Rod as he decided to release an album of all covers, no original songs written by him. In fact, he would not release an original song until Merry Christmas, Baby.

On Human Stewart teams up with a lot of, at the time, hot shot producers to try and replicate the magic that Cher captured with “Believe”. Gone are the days when Rod was the only producer as Human sports ten(!) and the critics and a lot of fans were not impressed. In my opinion, I think they both were misguided. I truly believe that Human might be Stewart’s most underrated album.

Yes, it is slightly over produced and a little too glossy but some of the songs and Rod’s vocals are on point. Take “Soul on Soul”, a little much in production but the song is a winner. Rod absolutely crushes “Loveless”, just a little too much backing vocals. There are a number of gems on the album. Macy Gray wrote “Smitten” for Rod and it is magical. Slash of Guns N Roses lends his guitar on the weird but effective title track, “Human” giving it some teeth. One of the most bizarre songs Rod had ever recorded, “Charlie Parker Loves Me” is stunning. It makes no sense but I adore the dream like quality of the song.

Tracks 8-11 is where Human really shines. Starting with a fun cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “It Was Love That We Needed”. Track 9 is a country-tinged sing along doozy “To Be with You”. I adore “Run Back into Your Arms” and “I Can’t Deny It” to close out the album.

“Human” did not get a fair listen when it was released, and I think is due for a fresh listen.

Grade: B

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #50

Songs To Grove To: “Smitten”, “Soul on Soul”, “Charlie Parker Loves Me”, “To Be with You”, “Run Back into Your Arms”, “I Can’t Deny It”.

19. Smiler (1974)

After a string of four amazing albums that Stewart released from 1969-1972, Stewart approached his fifth studio album with a swagger. The opening track on Smiler is a blistering, winning cover of Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Rock ‘n’ Roller” and continues with an absolute classic “Farewell”.  Stewart however seems to coast a little for the rest of the album. That’s not a slight, it just seems that he wasn’t challenging himself and settled into a comfort zone with the formula he had established over the last five years.

“Sailor” is a fun rock song that could easily find its place on a Faces album. A standout cover of two of Sam Cooke songs, “Bring it On Home to Me/You Send Me”, followed by a relentlessly paced duet with Elton John, “Let Me Be Your Car”.

The next track is in my opinion one of Rod’s biggest missteps and I song I have a hard time listening to. Rod switches up the gender for “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man” and it falls flat. It is one of two Rod Stewart songs I always skip. I try to listen to it, I can’t.

The album detours after that into more hard rock songs, with the Stewart and Ronnie Wood penned “Dixie Toot” being a true winner. One of Rod’s best covers of a Bob Dylan song, “Girl from the North Country” is a stunner, Stewart’s reading of this song is magical and helps elevate the album.

Grade: B

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #13

Songs To Grove To: “Sweet Little Rock ‘n’ Roller”, “Farewell”, “Bring it On Home to Me/You Send Me”, “Dixie Toot”, “Girl from the North Country”

18. Every Beat of My Heart (1986)

Some of Rod’s album get lost in the shuffle due to huge hits they are sandwiched between, and Every Beat of My Heart is such an album. Rod scored hits on 1984’s Camouflage and 1988’s Out of Order produced many hits. Stewart brings the goods on this forgotten gem with winning covers and some truly great original songs.

The album opens with a sort of recapture the magic of “Young Turks”, “Here to Eternity”. The story of a wrongfully accused man is told with a great vocal performance by Rod and gets the album going. “Another Heartache” has a catchy chorus that Rod wrote and bet Bryan Adams, one of the co-writers that his new and improved version would be a hit, it kinda was but not quite. The next three songs are written or co-written by Rod and are all really fun rock songs. “A Night Like This” takes a virginal boy excited for his romantic evening with a more experienced woman. The greatest song title ever, “Who’s Gonna Take Me Home (The Rise and Fall of a Budding Gigolo)” is silly fun. “Red Hot in Black” has fighting guitars and a blistering pace.

Next up is the hit song “Love Touch”, which Stewart is too embarrassed to sing live because the lyrics are silly and lame. But it is catchy and you can forgive it for that.

The four songs that close the album are all winners. “In My Own Crazy Way” is Rod at his vocal finest. His heart-wrenching homesick, anthem ready “Every Beat of My Heart” is an effective tear jerker. The sweet, again killer vocals of “Ten Days of Rain” is an absolute gem waiting to be discovered. It seems most Rod Stewart albums have a song that should be a hit, “Ten Days of Rain” is one of those songs. Stewart closes the album with a cover of The Beatles’ “In My Life” and gives the song a much more romantic feel. I don’t care who knows it, but Rod’s version is superior.

Grade: B+

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #28

Songs To Grove To: “A Night Like This”, “Another Heartache”, “Red Hot in Black”, “In My Own Crazy Way”, “Every Beat of My Heart”, “Ten Days of Rain”, “In My Life”

17. Blondes Have More Fun (1978)

Overshadowed by the worldwide smash hit “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” (yes, it’s “Da” not “Do” it is commonly misprinted in most everything related to the song, it’s one of my Rod Stewart they don’t really pay attention to him pet-peeves), Blondes Have More Fun, might be Stewart’s most fun album. The album is full of energy with Rod really embracing his one of the boys persona.

The opening track, “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” is an absolute blast of a song. Yes, it’s a disco song but it is one of the best. A catchy chorus, and an instantly recognizable hook make it a can’t miss. I also love the lyrics of the third verse; “They wake at dawn, ‘cos all the birds are singing. Two total strangers, but that ain’t what they’re thinkin’” Pop music gold there.

Next up is the truly dirty and raunchy, “Dirty Weekend” it’s over quick and doesn’t leave much of an impression. One of the hidden gems on this album is the folksy “Ain’t Love a Bitch”. Peppered with catchy lyrics and guitars, I love this song. Rod gives a relationship one-two punch with the sweet, “The Best Days of My Life” and then shows his vindictive side with the mean and relatable “Is That the Thanks I Get?”

The next three songs continue the fun, a lovesick man yearns for an “Attractive Female Wanted”, the title track of the album is another catchy rock song, “Blondes (Have More Fun)” and the wistful, “Last Summer” slows things down. A discofied version of “Standin’ in the Shadows of Love” doesn’t quite gain traction and the end track on the album is one that seems really out of place on Blondes Have More Fun, but it one of Stewart’s best.

“Scarred and Scared” is a heart-breaking song about a man on death row. Yes, on Rod Stewart’s “disco album” is a tender, sweet, painful song about a man who’s in prison for murdering someone, waiting to be executed.

Grade: B+

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #1

Songs To Dance To: “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?”, “Ain’t Love A Bitch”, “Attractive Female Wanted”, “Is That the Thanks I Get?”, “Blondes (Have More Fun)”, “Scarred and Scared”

16. Once in a Blue Moon: The Lost Album (2010)

In 1993, Rod Stewart released the incredibly popular live album, “Unplugged…and Seated”. That album was a smash hit going platinum over 3x. Stewart was also working on a covers album that was a folksy-rock album that would never see the light of day…until 2010.

All the songs on “Once in a Blue Moon” (honestly probably my favorite album title) where eventually released, however they were remixed and besides showing up on the UK only compilation album, Lead Vocalist , most songs were regulated to B-Sides of singles.

What makes this album so great is the striped down versions of these songs are wonderful. They give Rod’s voice so much room that I grin ear-to-ear every time I listen to the album.

“Ruby Tuesday” opens the album with Rod showing Jagger how it’s done. A fun Dylan cover, “The Groom’s Still Waiting at The Altar” is next, followed by its brother from another mother, “Shotgun Wedding” where Stewart said he drunkenly wrote a third verse in the liner notes for Lead Vocalist. The over-production of “The Downtown Lights” hindered its effectiveness on 1995’s A Spanner in the Works, not here. It is beautifully understated. “Windy Town” also is stripped down and more effective. Rod really sinks his teeth into “This” a song that he was born to sing.

“Stand Back” is a driving song by Stevie Nicks, and Rod wanted to give it a go, it is a highlight track that is unexpectedly good. The true winner on this album is a song that has been the same in every release and that’s Tom Waits’ haunting “Tom Traubert’s Blues”. Complicated lyrics beautifully sung by Stewart, a truly remarkable cover.

Grade: B+

Highest Billboard Chart Position: N/A

Songs To Grove To: “Ruby Tuesday”, “Shotgun Wedding”, “The Downtown Lights”, “This”, “Stand Back”, “Tom Traubert’s Blues”

15. When We Were the New Boys (1998)

“Hey you cover my songs, I am going to cover yours!”, is the approach Rod Stewart took with his 1998 album and his last for Warner’s Brothers, When We Were the New Boys. Taking songs from Primal Scream, Oasis, Graham Parker and others Stewart delivers a lively rock and ballad album.

Kicking things off with Oasis’ “Cigarettes and Alcohol” launching the album into high gear. What is striking about this album is the next song is a tribute to Ronnie Lane, who had recently passed on his masterpiece from The Faces, “Ooh La La”. Stewart had never sung it before as on The Faces’ album of the same name, Ronnie Wood took lead. Hearing on When We Were the New Boys makes you long for a 70’s version sung by Rod, it’s that good. Stewart delivers one of his finest performances on “Ooh La La”. Not staying sentimental long, the next song is “Rocks” which finds our hero partying downtown.

When We Were the New Boys is a nice balance of rock ‘n’ roll and some heartbreaking ballads. Standout tracks include, “Secret Heart” a Ron Sexsmith song that Stewart delivers with heartbreak.  “Shelly My Love” a tender reading by Stewart carries this song to a satisfying listen. The powerful “Weak” is not to be missed. Stewart is on fire with this song, with the chorus being especially raw and powerful.

A guilty pleasure song, “Hotel Chambermaid” is a favorite of mine as it invokes memories of “Hot Legs”. Not to be missed is the Stewart penned title track. In it he reminisces about days gone by.

Grade: B+

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #44

Songs To Grove To: “Cigarettes and Alcohol”, “Ooh La La”’ “Rocks”, “Secret Heart”, “Hotel Chambermaid”, “Weak”, “When We Were the New Boys”

14. Blood Red Roses (2018)

By 2018, Rod Stewart had been producing albums for over 50 years. He had done everything and with Blood Red Roses he made an album with just about every style of music that he has recorded. Writing nearly every song on the album Stewart is in full command of his music and vocal stylings.

Opening with a dance number “Look in Her Eyes” is a stark contrast to some of Rod’s earlier songs, in which the female doesn’t fall for the guy at the club. My little boy has a favorite Rod Stewart song and that’s the thumping “Hole in My Heart”. After two fun songs the album takes a serious turn with fond memories of a friend no longer with us in “Farewell”. “Didn’t I” is Stewart at his song writing best. A powerful song dealing with the fallout of a child’s overdose on drugs. The line “There are times to remember and there are times that I wish to forget”, is poetically devastating.

If you ever wondered why Stewart is an amazing interrupter of others songs, look no further than Frank O’Meara and Sean O’Meara’s beautiful “Grace”. The true story of Joseph Plunkett and Grace Gifford the day before his execution is so wonderfully told through lyrics and beautifully sung by Stewart.

Not all songs are winners, in fact “Give Me Love” is just not good. I don’t say that often about Rod Stewart songs but trying to recapture the magic of “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” in 2018 just doesn’t work.

But forget about “Give Me Love” and enjoy the 1-2 punch of “Julia” and my favorite song on the album, the out of reach girl of “Honey Gold”.

Grade: A-

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #60

Songs To Grove To: “Look in Her Eyes”, “Hole in My Heart”, “Grace”, “Didn’t I”, “Rest of My Life”, “Julia”, “Honey Gold”

13. A Spanner in the Works (1995)

Stewart was encouraged by the response to Unplugged…and Seated and cut an album with folk songs, that was lost until 2010. Stewart revisited a lot of those songs on A Spanner in the Works, or rather producer Trevor Horn took a lot of the songs and “punched” them up. The first two tracks, “Windy Town” and “The Downtown Lights” get the album off to a wistful, longing start.

The first single off the album is the Tom Petty penned, “Leave Virginia Alone”. Stewart stated that it was supposed to be on the Petty’s album, “Wildflowers” that Petty left off because it sounded too much like a previous hit of his. It was the last song for the album and a great one. Stewart also admitted that he did not like the song at first, but he warmed to it. It is a winner, especially if you’re a fan of Rod’s early work as it hints of a song that could be on “An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down”.

Rod covers Dylan with a great reading of “Sweetheart Like You”, goes power ballad with the effective “This”, and brings some Irish Charm to the underrated co-written “Lady Luck”.  The album gets a little sugary with the ballad, “You’re the Star” but it is saved by a powerful performance by Stewart. Rod pays tribute to his idols on the infectious “Muddy, Sam and Otis” and again covers Tom Waits with another unusual choice, “Hang on St. Christopher”. Stewart reaches back to his Faces days for the raunchy love song, “Delicious” with fighting guitars peppering the song throughout its runtime.

Stewart closes the album with a barn-burning cover of Sam Cooke’s “Soothe Me”. It is an absolute gem of a song. Rod brings the house down with his reading of “Wild Mountain Thyme”, which is renamed “Purple Heather”. It’s a tremendous send off to a great album.

Grade: A

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #35

Songs To Groove To: “Windy Town”, “Leave Virginia Alone”, “Sweetheart Like You”, “Lady Luck”, “Muddy, Sam and Otis”, “Soothe Me”, “Purple Heather”

12. Time (2013)

Stewart spent the better part of two decades not writing songs. In 2012, he released his autobiography, “Rod” which gave him the spark he needed to write new songs and deliver one hell of an album.

Stewart turned to his longtime band mate, Kevin Savigar to help produce the album, and his current band to help him write the songs. What makes the album even sweeter is there are deluxe versions of the album that feature more great work from Stewart and company.

Time kicks of right away with a fun, bouncy catchy tune that was also the first single, “She Makes Me Happy.” Stewart here sings about the joy of love and how it can bring happiness. One cool, sort of bummer about “She Makes Me Happy” is there are two versions of the song. When it was first released the second verse said “Now I’m working out daily and watching my waistline, no more burgers and fries.” But it was soon updated on the album with, “Now I’m working out daily and watching my waistline, I’m rocking in paradise!” I prefer the first version but still a fun tune.

The joy of the infectious tribute to his father, “Can’t Stop Me Now” is next, but the best song on the album follows with Rod teaming up with former Marilyn Manson guitarist Johnny 5 for the heartbreaking song of divorce, “It’s Over”. I adore the lyrics of this song “Inseparable were we, with a . breeze in our sails, now I feel a chill wind of a marriage that failed.” Stewart continues to reflect on his past with the auto-biographical “Brighton Beach”. Next, Stewart sings about love in a driving beat, “Beautiful Morning”. A hidden gem is next, a song of advice to his children, “Live the Life” is bouncy and catchy. Not the deepest song on the album, but “Finest Woman” is fun and breezy. The title track, “Time” is next followed by another Tom Waits cover, the simple and effective “Picture in a Frame”. The silly disco-y “Sexual Religion” seems a little out of place with the tone of the rest of the album, but is solid. The album closes with a love song, “Make Love to Me Tonight” and slows way down with “Pure Love”.

There are two(!) deluxe versions of this album that contain six more tracks. The Target version, contains “Here Comes the Night”, “Cold Water” and “Shake Your Money Maker”. The iTunes version comes with “Corrina Corrina”, “Legless” (so much fun!), and “Love Has No Pride”.

Grade: A

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #7

Songs To Groove To: “She Makes Me Happy”, “Can’t Stop Me Now”, “It’s Over”, “Brighton Beach”, “Live the Life”, “Time”, “Legless”

11. Foot Loose & Fancy Free (1977)

Stewart followed up his smash album A Night on the Town, with the almost as good, Foot Loose & Fancy Free.

Truth be told, I adore Rod’s dirty rock songs and “Hot Legs” is one of my most cherished songs. I remember being a new Rod fan and this was my go to jam. It’s fun and the definition of a rock song. The rock moves into funk, with “You’re Insane”. The ultimate Stewart sing-along is next “You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)”. To this day I am not sure if he is singing about a beautiful woman, “The big-bosomed lady, with the Dutch accent, who tried to change my point of view. Her ad-lib lines were well rehearsed but my heart cried out for you.” Or the beautiful game, either way it’s brilliant. Stewart really leans into his wild side with the “don’t count on me, to be here when the sun goes down” stylings of “Born Loose”.

Stewart really slows things down with a haunting cover of Holland-Dozier-Holland’s “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”. Rod stays in slow mode with a song he had tried a couple of times before “(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” (also on The Faces compilation Five Guys Walk Into a Bar…). A buried treasure on this album for sure is the break-up, not gonna make-up song, “You Got A Nerve”. Stewart is brilliant on this song.

The best song on the album closes it out, “I Was Only Joking”. Written by Stewart and Gary Grainger, this tale of growing up and striking out on love has always been magical to me. It really spoke to me in High School where I was always telling my girlfriends, “I Was Only Joking.” The catchy chorus, the catchy guitar riff, invokes Stewart’s early works with his now refined lyric-writing to create something that will forever stand the test of time.

Grade: A

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #2

Songs To Grove To: “Hot Legs”, “You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)”, “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”, “You Got A Nerve”, “I Was Only Joking”

10. Another Country (2015)

Stewart returned to song writing with the great, Time. He returns two years later with another round of self-penned songs and some winning covers. Another Country is an impressive follow-up to an impressive album. Stewart did not rest on his laurels; in fact, he delivers a better more well-rounded album.

The Irish-y, folky opening track, “Love Is” is the perfect opening to the album. The music, the lyrics are so joyous that you smile after the first couple of bars. My favorite song on the album is the down and dirty rock song, “Please”. I love this song. It invokes late 70’s Rod to me and his screaming “Please!” proves how great of a singer he is. If “Please” is the 70’s, then “Walking in the Sunshine” is the 80’s. Happy-go lucky and synth sparkle in this jaunty tune. The reggae song, “Love and Be Loved” is ok, and the rousing “We Can Win” tries to rally soccer supporters. It’s fine but not the strongest on the album. The lyrics on the title track, “Another Country” are wonderful. The tale of a soldier missing home, and writing to his love is great. Stewart follows the bouncy “Another Country” with Stewart remembering his family telling him the stories of Britain’s bravery during World War II, in the powerful “Way Back Home”.

Rod again is romantic in the understated and beautiful, “Can We Stay Home Tonight”. If you have a child, try not to shed a tear with “Batman Superman Spider-Man”. Stewart relishes in his former ways with the Faces style of “The Drinking Song”. It’s a funny trip down memory lane with some truly clever lyrics.

I’ve been telling you throughout this article about Rod Stewart songs that are brilliant and should be hits, Rod’s cover of “Hold the Line” is such a song. It features a ukulele, plus some inspiring lyrics that anyone can relate to, “Sometimes we’re lost and astray and the hope far away. Hold the line, we’ll survive. So just smile through the rain, through the heartache and pain. Hold the line, we’ll survive.”

There is a deluxe version of the album that you should seek out as it contains several good songs. The rock ‘n’ roll shout out song that is too clever, “Every Rock ‘n’ Roll Song to Me” is great. “One Night with You”, Rod is back to his trickster ways with a woman, who won’t budge. A re-release of the classic “In a Broken Dream”.  The ok, “Great Day” is next and forgettable. But, “Last Train Home” is left of the album for some unknown reason, it is awesome and deserved a spot on the final album.

Grade: A

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #20

Songs To Groove To: “Love Is”, “Please”, “Another Country”, “Way Back Home”, “The Drinking Song”, “Hold the Line”, “Every Rock ‘n’ Roll Song to Me”, “One Night with You”, “Last Train Home”

9. Atlantic Crossing (1975)

After Rod officially split from The Faces, he also made another radical change. He decided to ditch the folksy-bluesy sound of all his previous solo efforts and release an album with stadium ready anthems and a more polished rock ‘n’ roll sound.

Stewart enlisted mega-producer Tom Dowd behind the glass and highly qualified backing band of Steve Cropper, Jesse Ed Davis, Booker T. Jones, Al Jackson Jr., and more. Atlantic Crossing was a big departure for Stewart but he slid right into the polished sound with ease. Also, lost these days is how much care was put into records. Atlantic Crossing is meant to be listened to, start to finish, it is expertly crafted that way.

The record is divided into two halves, the first half is call “Fast Half” and finds Rod embracing not only his Faces roots but also the more polished sound he craved.

The album opens with the barn-burner tale of catching VD, yes venereal disease, not once, not twice, but it makes you a “Three Time Loser”. And who needs a long term relationship, when you’re a rock star? As Rod is only “Alright for an Hour”. Partying with the boys and being in a rock band, and the trouble they get into is the basis for “All in the Name of Rock ‘N’ Roll”. A winning cover of “Drift Away” keeps the album humming along. And my favorite song on the Fast Half is the down and dirty rock song “Stone Cold Sober”. This is a great rock song with energy and guitar riffs to spare.

The Slow Half is more winning songs. Danny Whitten wrote, “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” but Rod Stewart owns it. Rod has said it’s one of the best songs ever written, I don’t disagree. Whitten’s version is more intimate, Rod’s is full blown sing along mode. Rod elevates the song to levels that are unprecedent. Whitten’s version is worth a listen and implore you to seek it out. “It’s Not the Spotlight” is a wistful cover, followed by “This Old Heart of Mine” which is a favorite of Stewarts. He would record it 14 years later with one of the Isley Brothers. Here he slows it down a touch, making it more romantic. As the only writer for “Still Love You”, Stewart captures the magic of his Mercury records with some wonderfully melodic music. Another Stewart standard closes the album, a cover of Gavin Sutherland’s “Sailing”. Rod is in top vocal form on the track, yearning for his love while at sea.

Grade: A

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #9

Songs To Sail To: “Three Time Loser”, “Alright for an Hour”, “All in the Name of Rock ‘N’ Roll”, “Stone Cold Sober”, “I Don’t Want to Talk About It”, “This Old Heart of Mine”, “Still Love You”, “Sailing”

8. Vagabond Heart (1991)

Rod Stewart owned the airways from 1988-1991. Stewart released three albums that dominated the charts. One that I won’t touch on is the career spanning Storyteller, that compilation though has Rod’s cover of “Downtown Train” which rolled into the station and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Single Charts, and an updated version of “This Old Heart of Mine” that would peak at #10 on the Single Charts.

After that success Stewart returned to the studio and cut one of his strongest top to bottom albums, Vagabond Heart.

Stewart kicks things of right away with a mesmerizing cover of “Rhythm of My Heart”. Rod crushes this song and it just pops. The album continues with the rock, “Rebel Heart” is funny and a great tune. Leaving the power songs behind, but not the power in his voice, Rod crushes “Broken Arrow”. Stewart is a master at phrasing lyrics, and he shows that off on “Broken Arrow”.

Tina Turner (and Pepsi) stop by for a blistering cover of “It Takes Two”. And while Vagabond Heart has some remarkable covers, Stewart’s originals are just as good if not better. “When a Man’s in Love” is a fitting song to anyone who has been struck by Cupid’s Arrow. Another big hit on the album, with one of Rod’s coolest video’s, “The Motown Song” pays tribute to the Legends from there with help from The Temptations. It’s not written by Stewart and is a little silly, but damn is it a fun song to sing along to. Hey! It’s time for, this song is so good it should’ve been a hit and released as a single time! “Go Out Dancing” is a pop masterpiece that should be cranked at maximum level. Although it would take the Unplugged version for the public to notice, Rod’s cover of Van Morrison’s “Have I Told You Lately” is pretty great. I prefer the stripped down live version more, but Stewart sings it with great conviction here.

Stewart closes the album with two more originals, a cheating husband gets caught for his “Moment of Glory”. “If Only” closes the album and it’s another winner. Rod is in top vocal form here and commands the song.

Grade: A

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #10

Songs To Grove To: “Rhythm of My Heart”, “Rebel Heart”, “Broken Arrow”, “It Takes Two”, “The Motown Song”, “Go Out Dancing”, “No Holding Back”, “If Only”

7. The Rod Stewart Album or the better title, An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down (1969)

After a short stint in The Jeff Beck Group, Stewart went out on his own. Rod would forgo most of the Blues and Hard Rock that defined his days with Jeff Beck and release a folk/rock album that changed music landscape forever.

Stewart starts the album off with a tremendous cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Street Fighting Man”. It differs from the original slightly, of course with a more laid-back approach and to me a better version. I am a fan of Stewart’s so I think he sounds better than Jagger and gives a better performance, I could be biased but I also think I am right.

He changes some of the lyrics to the traditional song, “Man of Constant Sorrow” and brings some raw energy to the track. The blues and hard rock somewhat return in the as Rod gets down and dirty with self-penned, “Blind Prayer”.

Stewart takes Mike d’Abo’s “Handbags and Gladrags” and makes it his own. In fact, many years later he would sing it on Unplugged…and Seated, and it now it pops up in his live sets once in a blue moon. It’s a brilliant cover.

The title track, “An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down” is Stewart as his song writing best. Reliving his youth, his fashion style and telling a funny story about it is trademark Rod Stewart. It is one of my favorite songs. I wonder if he would ever consider singing this in concert? Probably not, since I would be the only one in the audience singing along and crying at the same time.

Stewart continues his song writing ways with another song about friends and their adventures together, “I Wouldn’t Ever Change a Thing”. “Cindy’s Lament” is Stewart having a hard time being ignored by a girl.

Stewart brings the house down on at the end of the album with the wonderful, Irish folk song “Dirty Old Town”. I will never forget the night I saw Stewart perform this song. It’s beautiful, and poignant and a song Rod Stewart owns.

Grade: A

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #139

Songs To Get Folksy To: “Street Fighting Man”, “Man of Constant Sorrow”, “Handbags and Gladrags”, “An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down”, “Dirty Old Town”

6. A Night on the Town (1976)

Rod Stewart had successfully changed record companies and coasts with his platinum smash-hit album, Atlantic Crossing. Stewart confident he was on the right track returned to the studio in 1976 and delivered one of his finest albums.

Stewart again kept the format of a Slow Side and a Fast Side but on this album, the Slow Side was side one. “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” is the first single, the first song on the album and a gigantic hit. The story of a virginal girl and her more experienced paramour is a deliciously, not too subtle lyric roller coaster. The line, “You’d be a fool to stop this tide, spread your wings and let me come inside” got the song banned and me hot under the collar. It also shot to number 1 on the Billboard single charts with its catchy chorus and hooky music.

“The First Cut is the Deepest” is a song written by Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam as he is known now), but is owned by Rod Stewart. Stewart cuts the definitive version so much so that when Sheryl Crow releases it in 2003 it is exactly like Stewart’s version, she even keeps the lyric change he did which is “when it comes to loving me she’s/he’s the worst” omitting the end of Stevens’ version of “when it comes to being loved, she’s first”. Thus, making Stewart’s version a much more love sick cut.

“Fool for You” is a light, fun breezy song that is a nice bridge to one of Stewart’s best songs.

“The Killing of Georgie (Part I and Part II)” that chronicles the life and shocking murder of Stewart’s gay friend is hands down one of his best. Stewart weaves the tell of happiness, sadness and confusion all in one song. Stewart bears his soul, his voice in a 6:30 song that is hardly ever matched.

The Fast Side kicks off with the raunchy, catchy not suitable for grandma, “The Balltrap”. “Pretty Flamingo” is a hoot, but after my mom (yes, my mom) told me she watched a stripper to this song I will never listen to it the same. “Big Bayou” is some southern rock that was also covered by Rod’s longtime friend Ronnie Wood on his 1975 album, New Look. I adore “The Wild Side of Life”.  Originally a twangy country song released in 1952 by Hank Thompson, Stewart tears into the song with confidence and gusto, giving it a driving purpose.

A Night on the Town would be higher in my personal rankings if “Rosie” made it on to the album. It is a winner of a track that was regulated to B-Side of “The Killing of Georgie”. Instead, the album concludes with my least favorite Rod Stewart song, “Trade Winds”. It is over-produced, and just a lame song. Some people say “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” is Stewart’s biggest misstep, in my opinion it’s easily “Trade Winds”.

Grade: A

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #1

Songs To Groove To: “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)”, “The First Cut is the Deepest”, “The Killing of Georgie (Part I and Part II)”, “The Balltrap”, “The Wild Side of Life”

5. Tonight I’m Yours (1981)

Foolish Behaviour could not quite match the success of Blondes Have More Fun, Tonight I’m Yours returns Rod to chart and critical success with several hit songs, stone-cold classics and buried gems. From top to bottom it is a well-made album.

The album also signaled that Stewart was fully embracing the 80’s right from the opening beats of the title track, “Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me)” which is a confident, crazy fast song about hooking up just for a night. The chorus is catchy, the music is fantastic, Rod’s voice is in full power. “How Long” is a solid cover that Stewart delivers with oomph. I’ve mentioned I love that Rod is one of the guys, and some of my favorite songs are about being “one of the guys”. The silly, out of order ( 😊) driving force of “Tora, Tora, Tora (Out with the Boys) delivers on all of this.

If you want more rock ‘n’ roll Stewart obliges with a rip-roaring cover of “Tear it Up”. Ever the sentimental lad, Rod returns to his youth with “Only a Boy”. A winning Bob Dylan song makes its return to a Rod album with “Just Like a Woman” and just like other Dylan songs, Stewart does it better. Dylan can write songs like no one else; Stewart can sing Dylan songs the way the were supposed to be.

After the sweetness that is “Just Like a Woman”, Stewart shows his vindictive side with “Jealous”. Never one to stay negative for a long time, “Sonny” reminisces about a love lost.

Where Rod really excels at storytelling is when he writes a song with a beginning, middle and end. Add in some really great music, catchy chorus and a sliver of rebellion and you have a classic rock ‘n’ roll song. “Young Turks” is everything. It’s a song I will blast every time it pops up. It deserves to be played loud.

A buried gem closes Tonight I’m Yours, “Never Give Up on a Dream” is dedicated to Terry Fox, a Canadian athlete, who had a leg amputated due to cancer, and died after running for 143 days raising money and awareness for cancer. Fox attempted to run across Canada and although he did not make it, he inspired millions, including Rod Stewart.

Grade: A+

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #11

Songs To Groove To: “Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me)”, “How Long”, “Tora, Tora, Tora (Out With the Boys)”, “Tear it Up”, “Only a Boy”, “Just Like a Woman”, “Young Turks”, “Never Give Up on a Dream”

4. Out of Order (1988)

Do you remember your first album you’ve ever bought? I sure do. My dad introduced me to Rod Stewart with the 1984 Concert Video. I’ve loved him ever since. I remember me dad telling me he was going to our local Target. I am not sure the year, but it was before Vagabond Heart. I was either 7 or 8 and when we got to Target I asked my dad if I could buy a Rod Stewart tape. I might be romanticizing this next part but it’s how I remember it. My dad with a twinkle and a tear in his eye, said “Yes.”

We walked over to the music section, and in those days the cassette tapes were in slots, sideways. I walked over to the “S’s” and started looking for Rod Stewart.

I found them and was hit with a dilemma. There were many Rod Stewart tapes. I asked my dad for help and he said “Pick whatever one you want.” I grabbed two, Absolutely Live, and Out of Order. I wanted Absolutely Live because it had so many songs on it. I also wanted Out of Order because it looked cool. My father sensing I was having a crisis, looked at me, smiled and said, “Get them both.” I couldn’t wait to get home and put these tapes into my Teddy Ruxpin tape player.

Now that I am older, I can say that Out of Order is an incredible album. In my view not a misstep on the album. Rod has never sounded better.

“Lost in You” is a classic Rod Stewart song with some awesome music and lyrics. I love this song. Rod is so good a phrasing, it hooks you in right away with the opening shout of “Hey Baby you’ve been on my mind tonight!” Are you looking for an incredibly catchy, buried gem of a song, look no further than the life of a troubadour song “The Wild Horse”.

“Lethal Dose of Love” is a divisive song amongst Stewart’s fan. I like it, it reminds me of “Hot Legs” with a dash of “The Balltrap”.

The song that everyone knows is a Rod Stewart song is on this album, “Forever Young”. Borrowing heavily from the Bob Dylan song of the same name, (in fact Dylan would receive song writing credit for the song after its initial release) is one hell of a song.  It’s been the graduation song for many people, (including my brother. I graduated high school in 1999, he in 1998. Our class choose the Prince song “1999”, how unoriginal…).

Not to be missed is the smash hit, “My Heart Can’t Tell You No”. The pain of someone cheating on you and still loving them is painstakingly conveyed in Stewart’s impassioned reading of the song.

A rock song through and through, “Dynamite” is the hit that was not to be. I still have no idea how this song never caught on. A blues standard, “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” is given the proper Stewart treatment.

So, it’s a little creepy and somewhat stalker-y but the fun of “Crazy About Her” cannot be denied. The sax in it alone makes it a winner, and the lyrics are incredibly clever. Rod is in top vocal form with an unbelievable cover of “Try a Little Tenderness”. This is one of Stewart’s best covers hands down and for more listening enjoyment, seek out the live version from the album Tonight’s the Night, it will give you chills. “When I Was Your Man” keeps things romantic, and the album closes with the winning song about hooking up with “the farmers daughter” in “Almost Illegal”. The chorus is magical and the rest of the song is Stewart at his most clever.

Grade: A+

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #20

Songs To Groove To: “Lost in You”, “The Wild Horse”, “Forever Young”, “My Heart Can’t Tell You No”, “Dynamite”, “Crazy About Her”, “Try a Little Tenderness”, “Almost Illegal”

3. Gasoline Alley (1970)

Although Rod Stewart’s solo album debut stalled at 139 on the Billboard Charts, there were signs that his star was starting to ascend. He would really break through with his next album, but he had laid the groundwork through his work with Jeff Beck and The Faces.

Gasoline Alley is Stewart’s before superstardom masterpiece. A showcase album of winning covers and undeniable originals. As you listen to this album there is not a bum in the bunch. The acoustic guitars that drive “Gasoline Alley”, the title track tell your ears all that needs to be known about this album. It’s sensitive, thoughtful and a gem. The Faces lend a hand to a rip-roaring cover of the Womack’s “It’s All Over Now” with a confidence that only Rod Stewart can bring. “Only a Hobo” is heartbreaking and one of Rod’s best interpretations of a Dylan song. Stewart turns to the Small Faces for his next cover, “My Way of Giving” which I adore Stewart being the backing vocals on this as well.

Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote “Country Comfort” and Rod brings it right into his wheel house. Who knew that when Rod cut “Cut Across Shorty” in 1971, it would gain new life in 1993 on his Unplugged album? The fable of “A Country Boy named Shorty and a City Boy named Dan” in a race for the beautiful Ms. Lucy is gold. Seek out the Eddie Cochran version too, it’s fantastic.

Rod’s pen returns with the great “Lady Day”. Capturing the missing of a love in a wistful, beautiful folk song. The absolute gem on this album is Rod’s semi-autobiographical song “Jo’s Lament”.  Where “Cindy’s Lament” is anger towards the woman, “Jo’s Lament” has Stewart internalizing the hurt and pain his caused to his love. I don’t think I am going out on a limb here by saying this is one of Stewart’s finest compositions. He breaks your heart with lyrics that say “You bore my child then I left aside, I don’t expect you to forgive, but I am not so young and I’m so afraid, to sleep alone for the rest of my days.”

Rod closes the album with the barn-burner “You’re My Girl (I Don’t Want to Discuss It).”

Grade: A+

Highest Position on Billboard Chart: #27

Songs To Groove To: Listen to the whole album!

2. Every Picture Tells a Story (1971)

Stewart broke through big time with his third solo album, the genre defining Every Picture Tells a Story. The album took Rod from “Hey you’re cool if you know who Rod Stewart is” to a superstar. And it’s easy to see why.

Stewart really mastered the folk/hard rock scene with his previous album, Gasoline Alley and perfected it here. The title track kicks the album off with Stewart and Ronnie Wood writing a song about his basking days. There is no real hook on “Every Picture Tells a Story” but the song revs up to a blistering crescendo. Stewart further builds his cred with a harrowing cover of “Seems Like a long Time”. And in a moment of brilliance or really big rock ‘n’ roll balls, Stewart tears into a cover of “That’s All Right”. But that is only half the story of that song. As it fades away, we the listener are treated to a beautiful rendition of “Amazing Grace”, which is not listed on the album.

Bob Dylan is covered again with a country style version of “Tomorrow is Such a Long Time” that he fully makes his own.

What can be said about “Maggie May” that hasn’t been said before. It is five minutes of pure folk/pop bliss. It is a standard in which all folk songs will be measured. Almost left off the album, it was placed on the B-Side of “Reason to Believe” and according to Rod a DJ in Cleveland flipped it over and rock music forever changed.

Most likely Rod Stewart’s best written song, “Mandolin Wind” is often overshadowed by the success of “Maggie May”. The tale of struggling to survive a brutal winter and “the coldest in nearly 14 years” is a masterpiece.

The Faces lend a hand on a hard rock version of “(I Know) I’m Losing You” giving it a dark quality that is haunting reminder of love lost. Rod closes the album with a soulful rendition of Tim Hardin’s “Reason to Believe”. “Reason to Believe” was the original A-Side single, and it wouldn’t be until 1993 when Stewart recorded it for his Unplugged performance that it truly gained traction, on “Every Picture Tells a Story”, it’s a little slower but doesn’t lose its power.

Grade: A+

Highest Billboard Chart Position: #1

Songs To Groove To: Listen to the whole album!

1.  Never a Dull Moment (1972)

After releasing one of the greatest albums of all-time how does one follow that up? Rod Stewart decided to stick to the same basic formula but in my opinion deliver his best album. He does however lean a little more on The Faces for this album, which in turn makes it slightly more rocking. Ronnie Wood lends a writing hand on “True Blue”. A tale of returning home, or rather trying to get home with no money.

Wood helps out again with “Lost Paraguayos” which is a down and dirty rock song about ditching your (gulp) too young girlfriend for “some South American sun”. Not sure if you could get away with this song today, but it is a hell of a good time. Outdoing Dylan is a trademark of Rod Stewart and he does it here again with the beautiful “Mama, You Been on My Mind”. And while escaping to South America might not have worked, Wood and Stewart try again this time with “Italian Girls”. But this time, his love lust proves his downfall as he is outsmarted by the woman in question and the song fades with the melancholy “She broke my heart, she broke my heart”.

Jimi Hendrix recorded “Angel” just before he died and was released posthumous in 1971. Stewart records it in 1972 and I think Jimi would have been proud.

I am often asked what is my favorite Rod Stewart song, and it always makes me pause. I do always end on the same answer and that’s “You Wear It Well”. My argument being that it has the feel of “Maggie May”, but it has Stewart’s charm and wit throughout and I just connect with it.

Rod is hands down one of the best interpreters of music period. His take on “I’d Rather Go Blind” is pure fire. It gives me chills every time I listen to it. I can picture Rod tilting his head back and just unleashing some of his best vocals put on record. It is a stunning piece of blues/rock.

If you can’t outdo Sam Cooke (and no one can) take one of his songs and make it your own. Rod does that with a down and dirty version of Cooke’s “Twistin’ the Night Away”. Rod has said he could never do it better then Cooke, so he just did it different. Rod’s version is really great as it speeds up and slows down and lets the drums breathe.

Grade: A++

Highest Position on Billboard Charts: #2

Songs To Twist The Night Away To: Listen to the whole album!