Best of Rod Stewart Vol. 1 & 2
Rod Stewart
(This review originally appeared on the Classic Rock
channel of about.com, Summer 1998)
How Rod Stewart has managed to sustain a career that essentially died in the 70s is
beyond me. In the last 20 years or so, Stewart's sporadic collaborations with Jeff Beck
and Ron Wood have borrowed randomly from the past, in a sad attempt to revitalize a solo
career cruising on pop-tart ballads and lulling the easy-listening crowd to sleep. The
distinction is alarmingly clear.
Stewart's back catalogue is the only reason I can attribute to his legacy. It is well
grounded enough that it continues to be re-released in a number of different formats and
combinations. The latest is the re-release of one of Stewart's earlier compilations from
1976 -- The Best of Rod Stewart, Volumes 1 & 2.
These two CDs, freshly remastered, are filled with the hits and highlights of Stewart's
first six solo albums, released from 1969 to 1974. It was during this period that Rod made
his most vibrant music.
His apprenticeship with Jeff Beck well behind him, Stewart juggled a catapulting solo
career with the role of frontman for Faces -- a band boiling on the brim of superstardom.
In the case of these two separate acts, it was sometimes difficult to tell where one met
and the other began. As Faces members unknowingly lent their best bits to Stewart's solo
records, it became apparent that Rod could do well without the added baggage.
Subsequently, Faces disbanded and Stewert went disco.
Fortunately, before Ron Wood headed for greener pastures with the Rolling Stones, he
assisted Stewart on some of the biggest hits of the early 70s. That was when Stewert would
freely mix his own material -- perhaps Maggie May
or Gasoline Alley -- in with a slew of covers
-- ranging in anything from the Stones (Street Fighting Man
and The Who (Pinball Wizard) to Jimi Hendrix
(Angel) and Sam Cooke (Twistin' The Night
Away). During it all, a tapestry of instrumentation -- lots of mandolins, violins and
guitar -- washed over Rod's soulful vocals. A Jaggeresque stage presence, a jet
set/playboy image of his own, and a penchant for strong songwriting and delivery -- Rod
Stewart, in many ways, exemplified the archetypal rock star.
This collection captures those magic moments, remastered with a superior sound that's
bound to draw the audiophiles to the counter. The organ on Reason
To Believe is bouncier and brighter as the violins work seamlessly through
the cracks. You Wear It Well has never wore
better. You can feel the breeze of Mandolin Wind.
Over the course of 37 songs, both CDs exhume a remarkable spirit and attention to detail
absent from many newer releases. Now if we can only figure out how the rest of Rod's music
figures into the equation.
Shawn Perry
For submissions, comments, suggestions and offers of sponsorship
Send E-mail to stperry@inetworld.net
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