#172: Every Picture Tells A Story- Rod Stewart

Listened to: MP3

Now, I’m not too familiar with the work of Rod Stewart beyond his Greatest Hits album, so I looked forward to giving Every Picture Tells A Story a listen. The album opens on the title track, co-written by Stewart and Ronnie Wood, a former member of Rod’s The Faces, now in The Rolling Stones. The track is a fun, spirited rock track, and Stewart’s crackling, raspy voice fits it perfectly. When the back-up vocals jump in about a little more than halfway through, the song fins that one thing I felt it was missing before, and by the end, I’m wishing more than anything I could hear this on the original vinyl. The second track, “Seems Like A Long Time” is a great slow track, with Stewart’s rasp adding to the sentimentality, reminiscent of the best kind of Otis Redding ballad. After performing these two kind-of safe tracks, Stewart gets real fucking ballsy really fast by taking on the King. That’s right, track three is a cover of “That’s All Right” by Arthur Crudup, made famous by Elvis Presley. Rod’s interpretation is…well, I’ll stick to Elvis, thanks, and I’m pretty sure most people will agree. This track includes “Amazing Grace”, though for some of you this may come up as a different track. The “Amazing Grace” cover is a lot more enjoyable, giving it an old, weary, bluesy feel. The next track shows Rod again trying to take on a master, this time Bob Dylan with “Tomorrow Is A Long Time”, and even Elvis again, since this song was covered by him. Stewart’s rendition of the Dylan song is a lot better than his idea of an Elvis song, and Stewart seems truly sincere, like he’s actually bothered to look at the lyrics (you’d be surprised how many Dylan covers don’t).

After this comes the under a minute unmarked track O. Henry, and then the song everyone’s been waiting for, Rod’s signature song, “Maggie May”. Written about a true affair with an older woman, Stewart sings his raspy heart out on this rock and roll classic, by far the best track on the album, not to mention one of the most fun songs in the world to sing live for anyone. Even if you decide not to listen to this whole album, if you’ve never heard it before, give “Maggie May” a listen. “Mandolin Winds” is another Stewart original composition, and is nice, mellow, and thoroughly enjoyable when you just kick back and let it wash over you. After this comes a take on the Temptations song “(I Know) I’m Losing You”, which is a nice high energy funk-rock re-imagining and one of the better track son the album. The album concludes with “Reason To Believe”, originally the album’s lead single, until radio stations discovered they all liked the B-Side, “Maggie May” better. “Reason To Believe” is a nice finale, a kind hearted, sweetly energetic ballad-type track, which closes the album the way the whole album felt, kind of dead and dull, a little bit.

Personally, I don’t get it. It’s a good album, but I don’t think it’s great or mind-blowing. However, it’s clearly culturally significant, and when compiling a “Greatest” list, it’s got to be different than a “Favorites” list, and if this album is as significant as all it’s supporters seem to think, and it’s not unbearable (it’s actually quite enjoyable on the third or fourth listen) then it deserves to stay. However, I’m not buying it being #175.

-Mike

See you guys tomorrow for an album that should be ranked a hella higher than this, #435: To Bring You My Love by PJ Harvey.