Aladdin Sane by David Bowie (December)
Abraxas by Santana (January)
Rumours by Fleetwood Mac (February)
Bad Girls by Donna Summer (March)
Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones (May
Any thoughts or comments on this album greatly appreciated. I will be posting my own over the next month
Upfront thoughts: this is Rod's best album. It's his coolest album. It's also pretty much a Faces album. The entire band is here, whether credited or not. The guest list is solid. Only 3 Stewart originals here, but they are all great. He still had great taste in covers at this time (something that would disappear not long after this): he covers Dylan, Tim Hardin and an old Elvis hit. "(I Know) I'm Losing You" is an old Temptations hit: here, it's a full Faces track.
It's hard to believe that just 5 years later, Rod became the poster child for the uncool. His song choices got weird, his hair got weirder, and his sound closely followed everything mainstream. By 1978, everything that was cool about Rod was gone. But this album will always be truly great. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
Upfront thoughts: this is Rod's best album. It's his coolest album. It's also pretty much a Faces album. The entire band is here, whether credited or not. The guest list is solid. Only 3 Stewart originals here, but they are all great. He still had great taste in covers at this time (something that would disappear not long after this): he covers Dylan, Tim Hardin and an old Elvis hit. "(I Know) I'm Losing You" is an old Temptations hit: here, it's a full Faces track.
It's hard to believe that just 5 years later, Rod became the poster child for the uncool. His song choices got weird, his hair got weirder, and his sound closely followed everything mainstream. By 1978, everything that was cool about Rod was gone. But this album will always be truly great.
Thanks Rom. I was really pleased when this came up as the suggested album at the group yesterday. Like you, this is my favourite Rod album so looking forward to jumping back into the album and looking at it with fresh eyes, track by track.
Title track so an appropriate place to start talking about the album. Archetypal Rod track.
Autobiographical song and a track that doesn’t let up all the way through. Not my favourite track on the album and the structure of the track feels a little “off” but can’t quite put my finger on it. I’ve read the song being described as "just plain visceral -- so much so that [it is] better heard than described". Sort of sums up how I feel about it.
Title track so an appropriate place to start talking about the album. Archetypal Rod track.
Autobiographical song and a track that doesn’t let up all the way through. Not my favourite track on the album and the structure of the track feels a little “off” but can’t quite put my finger on it. I’ve read the song being described as "just plain visceral -- so much so that [it is] better heard than described". Sort of sums up how I feel about it.
The structure feels off because it is. In the traditional rock sense. There are no real verses, and there is no bridge, and no chorus. It doesn't rhyme, except in occasional odd spots. And there are no extended solo sections. It's just straight up story telling set to music. Which, in a rock sense, makes it unique. It rocks, and Rod sings the crap out of it. It should be monotonous, but it's not. Instrumentally, it's highly interesting. The rhythm guitars and piano are all acoustic, with a few electric leads thrown over the top by Ron Wood. And yet, it rocks as hard as anything the Stones were doing at the time...it sounds, in spots, as if it really might actually BE the Stones, pre-dating Wood joining that band a few years later. You can really hear on this track what he would bring to them on guitar. And despite the acoustic base of the song, Mickey Waller almost destroys his drums on it...they are VERY heavy.
If you listen to what Georgia Satellites did years later covering this (below), you can hear that treating it as a straight hard rocker just doesn't work. Which is why Stewart and Wood's arrangement of the song is pretty genius.
Even though it was a hit, and even though it's the opening track on the album, I think it's also misunderstood and under appreciated. It's actually the best of the three originals on the album (over "Maggie May" and "Mandolin Wind"), and it could be Rod's best moment.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
Title track so an appropriate place to start talking about the album. Archetypal Rod track.
Autobiographical song and a track that doesn’t let up all the way through. Not my favourite track on the album and the structure of the track feels a little “off” but can’t quite put my finger on it. I’ve read the song being described as "just plain visceral -- so much so that [it is] better heard than described". Sort of sums up how I feel about it.
The structure feels off because it is. In the traditional rock sense. There are no real verses, and there is no bridge, and no chorus. It doesn't rhyme, except in occasional odd spots. And there are no extended solo sections. It's just straight up story telling set to music. Which, in a rock sense, makes it unique. It rocks, and Rod sings the crap out of it. It should be monotonous, but it's not. Instrumentally, it's highly interesting. The rhythm guitars and piano are all acoustic, with a few electric leads thrown over the top by Ron Wood. And yet, it rocks as hard as anything the Stones were doing at the time...it sounds, in spots, as if it really might actually BE the Stones, pre-dating Wood joining that band a few years later. You can really hear on this track what he would bring to them on guitar. And despite the acoustic base of the song, Mickey Waller almost destroys his drums on it...they are VERY heavy.
If you listen to what Georgia Satellites did years later covering this (below), you can hear that treating it as a straight hard rocker just doesn't work. Which is why Stewart and Wood's arrangement of the song is pretty genius.
Even though it was a hit, and even though it's the opening track on the album, I think it's also misunderstood and under appreciated. It's actually the best of the three originals on the album (over "Maggie May" and "Mandolin Wind"), and it could be Rod's best moment.
I've heard / read as lot of people saying that this is their favourite Rod track and I don't mind the "off structure" to the track, it just doesn't resonate with me the way that it does with others. It's not something that I can put my finger on or, as you have seen, articulate particularly well. It's a feeling that i get from the track but I guess that, at the end of the day, most musical appreciation is about feelings
Appreciate you responding on this thread and I get the feeling (no pun intended) that we might well get into a few other discussions about tracks over the next month. looking forward to it
NB - Not a fan of the Georgia Satellites take. Your right, it's just doesn't work particularly well.
Rod goes soulful and ballady and I love it. Love Pete Sears piano playing on this track often described as slow-burning Blues. You also have to acknowledge Ronnies excellent guitar playing.
I’m not entirely sure why this is referred to as a medley. With the gap between the two songs, I’d say that they are just that. Anyway, that aside, both the classic Rock N Roll / blues number and the gospel / Christian hymn standard are performed wonderfully well.
Rod’s vocals on both tracks, or the two side of the same track, whichever way you want to call it are great
I’m not entirely sure why this is referred to as a medley. With the gap between the two songs, I’d say that they are just that. Anyway, that aside, both the classic Rock N Roll / blues number and the gospel / Christian hymn standard are performed wonderfully well.
Rod’s vocals on both tracks, or the two side of the same track, whichever way you want to call it are great
It's not a medley at all. It's more of a hidden track. "Amazing Grace" isn't listed on most versions of the album. Back when Rod made good song choices. Those were the days.
"Seems Like A Long Time" is really the weakest track on the album. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
I’m not entirely sure why this is referred to as a medley. With the gap between the two songs, I’d say that they are just that. Anyway, that aside, both the classic Rock N Roll / blues number and the gospel / Christian hymn standard are performed wonderfully well.
Rod’s vocals on both tracks, or the two side of the same track, whichever way you want to call it are great
It's not a medley at all. It's more of a hidden track. "Amazing Grace" isn't listed on most versions of the album. Back when Rod made good song choices. Those were the days.
"Seems Like A Long Time" is really the weakest track on the album.
You know what, I had never noticed that before but you're right, amazing grace is not listen on my original vinyl copy of the album. It is listed on a CD version that I have which also has bonus tracks. I guess I just assumed at these years so hidden track is more accurate although I have often seen it described as a medley
Don’t agree about seems like a long time. I really like that track.
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Romanelli
