Rod Stewart “Every Picture Tells a Story”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#169 in the Series) is Rod Stewart, Every Picture Tells a Story.

When you look back at his career, it’s amazing how many times Rod Stewart has reinvented himself.  He’s segued from blues rocker to disco to rock and roll to crooner etc.  His popularity also was all over the place. He went from loved to hated to questioned to loved and everything in between.

During all that time, he never released a better piece of music than Every Picture Tells a Story.  I feel this will always be considered his Magnum Opus.

Gasoline Alley was strong, Blondes Have More Fun sold more, Foot Lose and Fancy Free had more airplay. But you could play Every Picture Tells a Story without anyone looking at you funny or telling you about rumors they heard.

Some songs here will go down as some of the finest songs of that era. The title cut, Maggie May, Mandolin Wind, (I Know I’m) Losing You, and my favorite, the disc closing, retake on Tim Hardin’s Reason To Believe.

Every Picture Tells a Story was released in 1971. It did reach #1 on the Billboard Album Chart.

Maggie May was a #1 hit.  (I Know I’m) Losing You hit to #24 while Reason To Believe made it to #62.

There were a couple members of Rod’s previous band, Faces, on this album.  Ronnie Wood added guitar, Ian McLagen on Hammond B3 organ.

In closing I just wanted to add that I’ve been doing these write ups everyday for about 8 months now.  I’m often surprised when I listen back at some of these wonderful albums. However, this one surprised me maybe more than any of done.  When I listed to this for the first time in years I can say I really forgot how good this stuff was.

Every Picture Tells a Story…..Don’t It?

OFFICIAL ROD WEBSITE:  www.rodstewart.com