Rod Stewart songs

Subject: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 06:00 PM

I know he has leant heavily on the 'tradition'. I know he has ripped off, or tried to, a few people. But does anyone else find his songs mildly pleasant? I heard the one that starts 'Poor old Grandad' tonight and it is very pleasant and very 'folky'. Maggie May and Manolin Wind both have lovely riffs and he does a mean version of Gasoline Alley.

In Mr Hardins words, as sung by Rod the Mod and borrowed by me...

"If I listen long enough to Rod
I'll find a way to believe that he is good..."

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: gnu
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 06:08 PM

I use to like he music, but, when sang that sexy body song I lost all respect. Of course, I respect his bank account.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 06:10 PM

Aye - Know what you mean about the sexy body - and the leopardskin catsuit! Never get Marty Carthin in one of those. I'm glad to say...

:D

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: bobad
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 06:16 PM

I've always liked his album "Gasoline Alley".

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: pdq
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 06:17 PM

Almost all the records he made for Mercury in the very early 70s were very good Pop music, taking some of the standard elements of Country music, as well as Rock and Folk.

Was there ever a record called "A Wink Is As Good As A Nod To A Blind Donkey" or did I just hallucinate that one?

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: michaelr
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 06:51 PM

pdq -- "A Nod's as Good as a Wink (To a Blind Horse)"

Why is this BS? It's obviously about music.

Lots of Stewart's early stuff is pretty folky. Heck, his is the first version I heard of "Man of Constant Sorrow". I also like his recording with the Jeff Beck Group, I think "Truth" was the name of the record.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: pdq
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 07:01 PM

michaelr - thanks for the correct title. I looked at AMG and did not see it listed but maybe I'll look again...

Rod Stewart is also on the heavy Rock classic "Beck-ola".

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: John O'L
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 08:57 PM

After reading this thread I went to check just which albums I've got, but all I could find was Atlantic Crossing. Then, while walking the dog I realized they wouldn't be in the S's, they'd be under F for Faces. There I found Long Player, A Nod is as Good as a Wink, and Every Picture Tells a Story.

This is the thing about Rod Stewart. Up until Atlantic Crossing he was just the singer in the band. Then he became the superstar and his musical artistry plumetted. The Faces were a great rock/blues band and he was a great rock/blues singer, but superstardom demands mediocrity and Rod jumped in boots & all.
(There are exceptions of course but unfortunately Rod's not one of them.)

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Ron Davies
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 10:07 PM

I thought "If You Want My Body and You Think I'm Sexy" was fun. Admittedly it doesn't help to take it very seriously. I thought the absolute classic rendition of this ditty was by, I think it was Bob and Ray on Saturday Night Live. Anyway, two middle-aged balding paunchy guys sat in chairs, not moving at all, and totally deadpan, and sang? this song to the camera. I wonder if this is on YouTube somewhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: pdq
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 10:37 PM

John O'L,

You are right on all counts.

Interesing that Michael Jackson must have known the tendencies of superstars and decided to stink fom day 1!

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 11:59 PM

python lee jackson - in a broken dream



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z_8q6HE8uI


seems rod was just a session voice for-hire on this one..


still think its a brilliant & evocative rock one hit wonder
from the very early 70's

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: John O'L
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 12:27 AM

Well done fpr, I'd forgotten all about Python Lee Jackson. Ah, sweet memories. Here's Stay With Me live.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: The PA
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 03:48 AM

I like him, especially the old stuff from the early 70's. Saw him in Brum when MagMay was No 1. He's got a nice bum, (or did have - probably sagged a bit by now) but that's a girlie thing and very shallow. I do like the old broadway type stuff he's done recently - easy to listen to.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: GUEST,HP
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 04:17 AM

A terrible waste of talent but he did good versions of Tom Waits' Downtown Train and Tom Traubert's Blues.
hp

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Darowyn
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 04:55 AM

I was lucky enough to see Rod Stewart and the Faces (with Ronnie W and Ronnie L ) live on the Saturday of the week that Maggie May first hit number 1. The gig was at Leeds Uni.
He was absolutely superb- one of the most dynamic performances I've ever seen, and that includes all my Soul heroes like Otis and Sam and Dave.
I've also found that he has a great instinct for a good song when he does a cover. First Cut is the Deepest, Reason to Believe, and the brilliant, I'd Rather Go Blind.
I listen to those a lot even now, and Reason T B is one of the spares in my repertoire, when I need another song that I can do without any preparation.
I don't play "American Songbook" very often though.
Still it's not regarded as good form to be successful, so there are sure to be some of the standard bitching to follow.
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Silver Slug
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 08:37 AM

Gasoline Alley and Every Picture... were recorded under his own name (at least in the UK) and that is where they should be indexed. 'Ooh La La' (Poor old Grandad) was written by Ronnie Lane and released on 'A nod's As Good As A Wink,' I think Ronnie Wood was the vocalist on that version. Every Picture is one of my favourite albums of all time and I don't think that Rod Stewart ever reached the same heights again.

Ronnie Lane formed Slim Chance (with Gallagher & Lyle, amongst others) and recorded recorded some wonderful stuff. An underrated and much missed performer.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: pdq
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 09:43 AM

Faces keyboard man, IanMcLagan, has been a session player in the US for many years and has been a featured musician with several stars including Bonnie Rait, Bob Dylan, Robert Earl Keen Jr. and even Springsteen.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: GUEST,HP
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 10:24 AM

I also saw Ian McLagan playing in Billy Bragg's band and wonderful he was too!
HP

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 12:53 PM

Well, I am glad it's not just me:-)
Thanks peeps.

D.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 05:25 PM

He never could sing, so how could he ever have a song? Call it a groan, or a rasp, or a grunt. No wonder it is not in the music section.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: alanabit
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 05:38 PM

I enjoyed a lot of his early stuff, from the blues with Jeff Beck to the folk rock stuff with the dobro and Ray Jackson's mandoline. "Mandoline Wind" is still a favourite from those days. He is still getting a lot of stick for "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" from all sorts of people, who have not noticed that the story is told in the third person. "The Killing Of Georgie" was probably the first ever overtly positive pop song about a gay man, which received massive approval.
Indeed, Rod Stewart has on occasion made a prat of himself many times, but I would not want to forget every good thing he has ever done, even if they have been a bit thin on the ground lately.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 12:46 AM

I find I enjoy Rod's choice of material, but seldom enjoy what he does with it!

(2 cents)

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Darowyn
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 04:23 AM

Richard Bridge's comment is interesting.
"He never could sing, so how could he ever have a song? Call it a groan, or a rasp, or a grunt. "
I'm not having a go, but it seems that you are saying that a song can only be a song if the vocal technique lies withing a very narrow range of what you feel to be singing.
I'm interested to know where you would draw the line. Pavarotti would be OK I presume?
How about Sinatra, or Sam Cooke or Otis Redding?
And what about to distinctly un-classical Copper Family or Watersons?
Tell me, when you are under stress or feeling despair, does it not show in your voice?
Should you sound the same when you sing "Vincero, Vincero, Vincero !" as when you sing "I would rather go blind, Girl, Than to see you walk away from me"?
Should the emotion of a lyric not be expressed in the vocal tone of the singer?
Personally I find nothing more out-of-context that Conservertoire- trained singers doing Pop or Blues- and I don't think Rod would make much of a job of "The Magic Flute" or "Lohengrin" either.
However I do think that your simple, unsupported statement, Richard, is an example of narrowness. I see the same in some of my Steel Guitar playing associates.
-"I didn't like it. There's no Steel Guitar".
-"It's Mozart's Requiem!"
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 07:49 AM

I think is a bit unfair, Richard. He has power, accuracy and emotion as and when necessary. Adds up to being able to hold a tune and more. The timbre of his voice may be subject to discussion but I don't think that the 'quality', in the sense of accuracy etc. can be in question can it? I am always willing to learn though!

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 07:51 AM

BTW - I put it in BS because the thread is not to do with Folk or Blues music even if some of the songs are!

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 06:27 PM

According to my late wife, he used to go busking with her, her first husband, Long John Baldry, and others including Hughie Flint and Tom McGuinness. The South London "Scene" of the time. They always took more when he didn't sing. They took most with Dave and Jo-Ann Kelly. Also, although Baldry later took credit for discovering Stewart, he wouldn't let him sing with his band.

There aren't many "singers" I can guarantee to hate every performance and recording (although the songs may be fine). Two would be Bob Dylan and Rod Stewart. They just sound worse than fingernails on a blackboard. Oh, and there's another "Song Stylist" - who was he, was it Rod McKuen or something like that? I don't demand bel canto, Janis Joplin was fine, and I don't mind Louis Armstrong. I could even tolerate (just) Wild Man Fisher.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: John O'L
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 07:26 PM

That's a very interesting anecdote. Perhaps you should have begun with it, rather than having to have it wrung out of you.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Gulliver
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 09:31 PM

Richard Bridge has expressed his personal opinion.

Several million fans world-wide might disagree (I'm one of them).

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 10:16 PM

i guess.. way way far back in the dark dismal early 1960's

rod stewarts voice may have sounded a bit too raw and uncomfortable
for some narrow minded folks of an over-sensitive disposition..




btw.. considering his notorious history of personal relationships..


it now seems quite uncannily apropriate
that one of his very early first recordings..

was a cover of "Good morning little schoolgirl"..?????

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Matt_R
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 02:39 AM

All his Mercury stuff is great (Smiler is the beginning of the end through). An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down is my favorite. "Blind Prayer" blows my face off every time.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 03:24 AM

Didn't Rod start off as a 5-string banjoplayer?

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 03:55 AM

Now that's a really difficult choice - let him play the banjo, or let him sing....

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 06:51 AM

:D That got a good Sunday morning giggle, Richard!

Hope you have your asbestos undies on when all the Rod fans and banjo players gang up...

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Ron Davies
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 08:16 AM

Richard--

As you say over there, I believe--horses for courses.

You say you don't mind Janis Joplin. Man, I can take a lot more of raspy Rod than Janis (with a similar style, I believe.)

Come on, come on, and take a little bit more of my voice, now baby--or whatever she was saying. It sure did sound painful for her, as well as us.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 10:13 AM

Who was th efemaile Rod Stewart? Well, I always thought she looked and sounded like him anyway - Was it Bony Tyler?

Earache, nothing but an earache...

D.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 12:36 PM

Bonnie (which is a dog's name). Bony she was not. But I did think she had quite a good tonality, in the "leather-lunged belter" style.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 10:11 AM

Ahhhh - That's the one! Could bring us back to fok songs. All together now...

"Sheeeeeeeeeee's aaaaaaaa big lass and a bonnie lass..."

:D

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: closet-folkie
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 11:59 AM

I'd put "Every Picture Tells A Story" and "Never A Dull Moment" up against anything from the 70s (and after, come to that). Of course, he's slowly morphed into Barry Manilow, so it's all over now, but the man was golden back then.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 12:42 PM

All over now was Stones.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Brakn
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 04:07 PM

He did a great version of "It's All Over Now".

Saw him with Jeff Beck but kind of went off him when he said he'd never wear jeans.

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: GUEST,IFOR
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 04:23 PM

I was in school with Bonny Tyler and a lovely person she was and is!
Lost in France had a very pretty accordeon sound as I recall!
ifor!

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 04:27 PM

Richard, I wasn't referring to the song "It's All Over Now"; I was simply using the phrase. It's purely a coincidence that Rod did indeed cover the song "It's All Over Now", but then again, so did the Stones. It was a Bobby Womack song if I remember correctly.
Cheers then,
Steve R.
PS. You're telling me that "You Wear It Well" isn't a great sounding piece of music?
Really??

Subject: RE: BS: Rod Stewart songs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 08:16 PM

Nothing wrong with the song. I'd like to hear it sung by a singer.

Subject: RE: Rod Stewart songs
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Jun 16 - 07:24 PM

I have a soft spot in my heart from "Lady Day", I think it's from his solo album "Gasoline Alley." It's an oddball song; none of the verses have rhymes in them, and a few verses even go completely unfinished, the vocal just marks time with "la la la la la la la la." There are more criticisms to be made of the song, I won't voice them here. But it must be the interpretation and the production; the darned thing is seductive. It is addressed to a lady and I suppose that is why there is considerable effort to put the song across with charm. "Lady Day" will rub some listeners the wrong way, and for them there is nothing to add. But if, like me, you find it appealing at first, then you are in trouble, because the performance will get under your skin.

I don't even think you're listening
Just let me tell you how I really feel
I've seen the inside of your heart, Lady Day
when you wanted to be shown the way
I loved you then as I love you now....