#177 Rod Stewart, 'Every Picture Tells a Story' (1971)

Previously #172

Rod Stewart’s breakthrough album set off a chain reaction of #1 records for years to come. The album opens with the sounds of Ronnie Wood’s twelve string guitar on the title track. Micky Waller’s drums enter along with Stewart’s iconic voice. The song is a mildly sexist and casually racist song about a man travelling around the world sharing his experiences with different women. Featured on backing vocals is Long John Baldry, the man that literally put the “John” into Elton John’s name (the other was Elton Dean – both members of Elton’s previous band, Bluesology). The song was used in ‘Almost Famous’ later on. The rest of side 1 features covers including ‘That’s Alright’ (Elvis Presley’s first single), which segues into ‘Amazing Grace,’ Bob Dylan’s unreleased-at-the-time ‘Tomorrow Is A Long Time’ and Brewer & Shipley’s ‘Seems Like A Long Time.’

Side 2 open with the track that would change Stewart’s life and set the course for a massive career. That song was ‘Maggie May,’ an autobiographical song about a boy involved in a relationship with an older woman. The song was actual the B-side to lead single, ‘(Find A) Reason To Believe,’ but radio stations preferred the B-side to the single and started playing it. It would go on to become a #1 hit in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, taking the album with it to the top of the charts in those same countries. The album often reminded me of mid-‘70s Rolling Stones, surely thanks to the influence of soon-to-be Stones members, Ronnie Wood. Stewart’s voice is unique and distinct. It lends itself perfectly to these songs. Never been a major fan of Stewart’s voice, but this is a great rootsy rock record that I totally enjoyed.

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