Rod Stewart - Rock Legends (1980) + Bonus Tracks

(U.K 1964 - Present)
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Although hailed as something of an 'over night success' when Rod Stewart suddenly found himself simultaneously a top the UK and US singles and albums charts In October 1971 with 'Maggie May' and 'Every Picture Tells A Story" respectively (the first solo artist to achieve such a feat, incidentally), Rod Stewart was already something of a veteran, having been around the UK's R&B club scene since the very early 60's, and having recorded prodigiously - both as a solo artist and with several groups including John Baldry's Hoochie Coochie Men, Steampacket. Shotgun Express and the highly touted Jeff Beck Group.

Briefly a trainee footballer (he was on Brentford's books as a junior) he spent a year or so busking around Europe after failing an audition for legendary indie producer Joe Meek as a 16 year old. The Raiders, were taken on by Meek and recorded as The Moontrekers. Upon his return he briefly joined Jimmy Powell And The Five Dimension; on harmonica and worked with Baldry's band before cutting his first solo record 'Good Morning Little Schoolgirl' for Decca In 1964. In 1965 he formed The Steampacket with Baldry. Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger - now widely regarded as one of the first 'supergroups' - and the following year he teamed up with Beryl Marsden and Peter Bardens to form Shotgun Express. By now he'd also released a number of solo singles and his reputation was very much on the up.

In 1967, Rod joined the Jeff Beck Group, singing on two hit albums 'Truth' and 'Cosa Nostra Beck Ola' but when Beck broke the  band up in October l969 Rod and guitarist Ron Wood hooked up with former Small Faces Ian McLagen, Ronnie Lane and Kenny Jones to form The Faces, At this juncture Rod was effectively pursuing two parallel careers, as The Faces were signed with Warners whilst he'd signed a solo deal with Vertigo.. The latter released his first solo album 'An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down' in November 1969 and whilst not a major hit it served to give him his first taste of chart action, registering on the lower regions of the US album listings.

Meanwhile. The Faces were building a reputation as just about the loosest, most shambolic good time band on the circuit and their debut album 'First Step' - released in April 1970 - picked up excellent reviews and cracked both the UK and US charts, paving the way for Rod's next solo effort "Gasoline Alley" which came out two months later, Consequently, by 1971, he was all set to crank up a gear which he did in two neat stages: The Faces 'Long Player' was released in March, making both the UK and US top 30, and then the floodgates opened with the release of his third solo album "Every Picture-Tells A Story". Released In June 1971, it took off in the States initially, as did 'Maggie May'/ 'Reason To Believe' - the single taken from it which had already made the US Top l0 in September when it began to take off in Britain.

The Many 'Faces' Of Rod

By the middle of October' Rod was safely ensconced at No.1 on both sides of the Atlantic and his next five albums - 'Never A Dull Moment', "Sing it Again Rod', 'Spoiler, 'Atlantic Crossing' and 'A Night on The Town' - all tilt the top of the charts as he moved into the "superstar league", becoming just about the biggest solo star of the 1970s  Not bad for an "overnight sensation!"  [Mark Brennan]
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Liner Notes
Rod Stewart became widely known to popular music audiences during the early seventies. By that time, however, he had already put the equivalent of an entire music career behind him, as well as apprenticeships as soccer player and grave digger.

As a founder member of the Jeff Beck Group in early 1967, he began a longstanding association with Ron Wood. In 1969, when Steve Marriott left the Small Faces, both Stewart and Wood joined the band and The Faces were born. Once established with The Faces, Rod began pursuing a parallel solo career. His first solo album "An Old Raincoat Will Never Let You Down" was released by Mercury in 1969 and was followed a year later by "Gasoline Alley". The latter remained on the charts for almost all of 1971. But it was his third release "Every Picture Tells A Story" that provided his major international breakthrough by yielding a double-sided hit single "Maggie May' / 'Reason To Believe" and was No. 1 simultaneously in England, America and Australia.

Rod Stewart / The Faces Discography

Further album releases, "Never A Dull Moment" featuring the hit single "You Wear It Well", and "Smiler" which contained the track "Hard Road" written by Australian composers Vanda and Young, plus three sell-out tours of Australia, one as a member of The Faces and the other two as a solo artist, saw his popularity in this country grow to immense proportions.
This album contains the songs that started the ball rolling for Rod Stewart — every one a true classic.
[August 1980 - Liner notes by Bob Ami]
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This post consists of MP3's (320kps) and FLACs ripped from one of the many Rock Legend Compilation records in my collection - which even feature the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Sebastian Hardie.
Full album artwork and label scans included, this 'Best Of' collection features most of Rod's early pre-Faces material. To add some meat to the bone, I have thrown in a couple of Faces' classics as bonus tracks - "Mandolin Wind" and "Cindy's Lament".  It's hard to believe that Rod is now in his 70's and is still going strong - so let's face it folks, Rod is still a Rock Legend.
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Track Listing
01 - Maggie May
02 - I Know I'm Losing You
03 - Every Picture Tells A Story
04 - You Wear It Well

05 - Hard Road
06 - Sweet Little Rock 'N' Roller
07 - Farewell
08 - Sailor
09 - Pinball Wizard
10 - Reason To Believe
11 - Mandolin Wind (Bonus Track)
12 - Cindy's Lament (Bonus Track)
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Rod Stewart Rock Legend FLACs Link (312Mb)
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