Showing posts with label Every Picture Tells a Story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Every Picture Tells a Story. Show all posts

Friday, May 1, 1992

Jimmy Guterman: The Best Rock ‘n’ Roll Records of All Time

Jimmy Guterman:

The Best Rock ‘n’ Roll Records of All Time

In this book, critic Jimmy Guterman, who has written for Rolling Stone and other magazines, ranks what he considers the best rock albums of all time. He only allows one album per artist, a practice I consider absurd. Since when should the influence of acts like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, or Bob Dylan be restricted to one work to represent their vast impact on the rock genre? It becomes even sillier when he doesn’t even follow his own rule. His listings for Marvin Gaye, the Drifters, and Charlie Rich are really two albums each.

Still, Guterman does break with the equally ludicrous rule applied by some listmakers to not include live albums or compilations. This allows for the inclusion of artists like James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Chuck Berry who don’t usually have studio albums on best-of lists. He may have gone too far, however, considering roughly one third of the albums on this list are not traditional studio releases.

Finally, Guterman does include many familiar names, but falls into the trap of a rock critic pushing his favorites that the general public know nothing about. I get that this is a personal list, but by keying in so specifically on the rock genre, the implication is that these are vital albums to understanding the history of the genre. How much familiarity does the average person have with acts like the Morells or Arthur Alexander?

Check out other best-of album lists by individuals/critics here.

1. Rod Stewart Every Picture Tells a Story (1971)
2. The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street (1972)
3. Van Morrison Astral Weeks (1968)
4. James Brown Star Time (box set: 1956-84, released 1991)
5. Otis Redding The Dictionary of Soul (1966)
6. Jerry Lee Lewis Live at the Star Club, Hamburg (live, recorded 1964)
7. Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967)
8. Chuck Berry The Chess Box (recorded 1955-73, released 1988)
9. Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987)
10. The Clash London Calling (1979)

11. Bob Dylan Ten of Swords (bootleg box set: 1961-66, released 1985)
12. Elvis Presley The Complete Burbank Sessions, Vol. 1 (live bootleg recorded 1968, released 1978)
13. The Beatles Please Please Me (1963)
14. Bruce Springsteen Nebraska (1982)
15. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Radio One (recorded live 1967, released 1988)
16. Lonnie Mack The Wham! of That Memphis Man (1963)
17. Dusty Springfield Dusty in Memphis (1969)
18. Various Artists 1000 Volts of Stax: Rare and Unissued Tracks from the Golden Era of Soul (compilation: 1967-73, released 1991)
19. Carl Perkins The Classic Carl Perkins (box set: 1954-65, released 1990)
20. Creedence Clearwater Revival Willy and the Poor Boys (1969)

21. Little Richard The Specialty Sessions (box set: 1955-64, released 1989)
22. Derek and the Dominos Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)
23. Ray Charles Live (live recordings: 1958-59, released 1973)
24. Bo Diddley Beach Party (live recordings: 1963, released 1964)
25. Various Artists Greatest Rap Hits, Vol. 2 (compilation: 1981)
26. Neil Young Tonight’s the Night (recorded 1973, released 1975)
27. Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (1971) / Let’s Get It On (1973)
28. Elvis Costello King of America (1986)
29. Smokey Robinson Where There’s Smoke… (1979)
30. Jason & the Scorchers Fervor (1984)

31. Robert Cray Strong Persuader (1986)
32. The Moonglows Look! It’s the Moonglows (1956)
33. Pretenders Pretenders (1979)
34. Jackie Wilson The Jackie Wilson Story (compilation, released 1983)
35. Roy Orbison For the Lonely (compilation: 1956-65, released 1989)
36. Ted Hawkins On the Boardwalk (1986)
37. Stevie Wonder Innervisions (1973)
38. Patsy Cline Stop, Look and Listen (compilation, 1986)
39. Burning Spear Garvey’s Ghost (1976)
40. Ry Cooder Paradise and Lunch (1974)

41. Sam & Dave The Best of (compilation: 1965-69, released 1987)
42. Parliament The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein (1976)
43. The Contours Do You Love Me (1962)
44. Richard & Linda Thompson Shoot Out the Lights (1982)
45. Hank Williams Jr. Hank Williams Jr. and Friends (1975)
46. Bob Marley & the Wailers Catch a Fire (1973)
47. Rank and File Sundown (1982)
48. Various Artists The Nonesuch Explorer: Music from Distant Corners of the World (compilation, 1971)
49. Gary “U.S.” Bonds On the Line (1982)
50. Wilbert Harrison Let’s Work Together (1969)

51. The Firesign Theater Everything You Know Is Wrong (1974)
52. Sly & the Family Stone There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971)
53. Michael Jackson Off the Wall (1979)
54. The Drifters Let the Boogie Woogie Roll (compilation: 1953-58, released 1988) / All-Time Greatest Hits and More (compilation: 1959-65, released 1988)
55. Huey “Piano” Smith Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival (1980)
56. Iron City Houserockers Have a Good Time But Get Out Alive (1980)
57. Johnny Horton The World of Johnny Horton (compilation, released 1966)
58. Merle Haggard A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World (Or, My Salute to Bob Wills) (1970)
59. Everly Brothers Roots (1968)
60. Graham Parker Heat Treatment (1976)

61. LaVern Baker Real Gone Gal (1984)
62. The Temptations Anthology (compilation: 1964-72, released 1973)
63. Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, & Elvis Presley The Complete Million Dollar Session (recorded 1956, released 1987)
64. Etta James Tell Mama (1968)
65. James Carr You Got My Mind Messed Up (1966)
66. Al Green Call Me (1973)
67. Buddy Holly The Complete Buddy Holly (box set, released 1979)
68. The Four Tops Second Album (1965)
69. Johnny Cash The Sun Years (compilation: 1954-58, released 1985)
70. Rockpile Seconds of Pleasure (1980)

71. Mott the Hoople Mott (1973)
72. Steve Forbert Alive on Arrival (1978)
73. John Lennon Plastic Ono Band (1970)
74. The Persuasions Chirpin’ (1977)
75. Junior Walker & the All-Stars Compact Command Performances (compilation, released 1986)
76. Fela Anikulapo Kuti and the Africa ‘70 Roforofo Flight (1975)
77. Arthur Alexander The Greatest (compilation, released 1989)
78. B.B. King Live at the Regal (live, recorded 1964, released 1965)
79. The Morells Shake and Push (1983)
80. Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs The Best of (compilation, released 1967)

81. Charlie Rich Original Hits and Midnight Demos (compilation, released 1985) / Don’t Put No Headstone on My Grave (1986)
82. Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes Hearts of Stone (1978)
83. Dwight Yoakam Just Lookin’ for a Hit (1989)
84. John Cougar Mellencamp Scarecrow (1985)
85. Bunny Wailer Hook, Line, and Sinker (1982)
86. Various Artists Sun City (1986)
87. Womack & Womack Love Wars (1983)
88. X See How Great We Are (1987)
89. The Kinks Greatest Hits (compilation, released 1989)
90. The Mekons Rock ‘N’ Roll (1989)

91. The Blasters Hard Line (1985)
92. Ritchie Valens Ritchie Valens (1959)
93. Lone Justice Lone Justice (1985)
94. Ennio Morricone Once Upon a Time in the West (soundtrack, 1972)
95. The Who Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy (compilation: 1964-70, released 1971)
96. The English Beat Special Beat Service (1982)
97. Paul Kelly Post (1985)
98. Tina Turner Private Dancer (1984)
99. The Kingsmen The Best Of (compilation, released 1991)
100. The Georgia Satellites In the Land of Salvation and Sin (1989)

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First posted 12/13/2021.

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Saturday, October 2, 1971

Rod Stewart hit #1 with “Maggie May”

Maggie May

Rod Stewart

Writer(s): Rod Stewart/Martin Quittenton (see lyrics here)

First Charted: July 17, 1971

Peak: 15 US, 13 CB, 11 HR, 1 CL, 15 UK, 11 CN, 14 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.)

Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, -- UK, 1.0 world (includes US + UK)

Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 3.0 radio, 30.3 video, 220.02 streaming

Awards:

Click on award for more details.

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About the Song:

If released today, the story behind “Maggie May” would make for celebrity tabloid headlines declaring that the young Rod Stewart had been sexually abused by an older woman. TC Stewart confirms that the song’s storyline of a teenage boy seduced and then cast away by an older woman is a true tale, more or less, about losing his virginity. WK

The song, however, has not become iconic because of salaciousness, but sincerity and great storytelling. Based on an an old Liverpudlian folk tune, TC it works like a novella with “colorful characters, surprising situations, and unforgettable moments.” AMG It blends “epic simplicity, self-deprecating humor and emotional truth” AMG in the protagonist’s reflection over “the ambivalence and contradictory emotions” WK he feels.

Musically, the song offers Stewart’s “usual fine, raspy singing” TB and “relentless drum-bashing” RS500 from Mickey Waller, which critic Greil Marcus amusingly proclaimed deserving of a Nobel Prize for physics. MA The unquestionably prize-winning song nearly became an also-ran. It barely made it on the Every Picture Tells a Story album and then was relegated to the B-side of “Reason to Believe.” If DJ’s hadn’t flipped it over, Stewart jokes, he would have returned to his job as a gravedigger. RS500

That hardly seems likely. While Stewart had already released two solo albums to little notice, he’d still become a name of note fronting the Jeff Beck group and had moved on to the influential Faces. His name was likely to go down in the annals of rock history regardless; however, “Maggie” gave him the definitive song to lift him to superstar status.

Resources:

  • AMG All Music Guide
  • TC Toby Creswell. (2005). 1001 Songs: The Great Songs of All Time. Thunder’s Mouth Press: New York, NY. Page 856.
  • MA Dave Marsh (1989). The Heart of Rock and Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. New York, NY; New American Library. Page 182.
  • RS500 Rolling Stone (2004). “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”
  • TB Thunder Bay Press (2006). Singles: Six Decades of Hot Hits & Classic Cuts. Outline Press Ltd.: San Diego, CA. Page 129.
  • WK Wikipedia

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First posted 8/14/2011; last updated 11/13/2022.

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Friday, May 28, 1971

Rod Stewart Every Picture Tells a Story released

Every Picture Tells a Story

Rod Stewart

Released: May 28, 1971

Charted: June 19, 1971

Peak: 14 US, 16 UK, 19 CN, 15 AU, 14 DF

Sales (in millions): 2.5 US, 0.1 UK, 6.0 world (includes US and UK)

Genre: classic rock

Tracks:

Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to charts.

  1. Every Picture Tells a Story (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood) [6:01] (7 CL)
  2. Seems Like a Long Time (Theodore Anderson) [4:02]
  3. That’s All Right/Amazing Grace (Arthur Crudup/traditional, arranged by Stewart) [6:02]
  4. Tomorrow Is a Long Time (Bob Dylan) [3:43]
  5. Henry (Martin Quittenton) [0:32]
  6. Maggie May (Stewart, Quittenton) [5:15] (7/17/71, 1 US, 1 CL, 1 UK, sales: 0.5 million)
  7. Mandolin Wind (Stewart) [5:33] (8 CL)
  8. I Know I’m Losing You [with The Faces] (Norman Whitfield, Eddie Holland, Cornelius Grant) [5:23] (11/20/71, 24 US, 6 CL)
  9. Reason to Believe (Tim Hardin) [4:05] (7/17/71, 19 US, 2 AC, 6 CL, 19 UK)

Total Running Time: 40:31

The Players:

  • Rod Stewart (vocals, acoustic guitar)
  • Ronnie Wood (guitar, bass)
  • Martin Quittenton, Sam Mitchell (guitar)
  • Ronnie Lane, Andy Pyle (bass)
  • Ian McLagan, Pete Sears (keyboards, piano)
  • Ray Jackson (mandolin)
  • Danny Thompson (upright bass)
  • Dick Powell (violin)
  • Micky Waller, Kenney Jones (drums)
  • Long John Baldry, Maggie Bell, Madeline Bell (backing vocals)

Rating:

4.653 out of 5.00 (average of 18 ratings)

Quotable:

“Few rock albums are quite this powerful or this rich” – Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Album:

Music critic Jimmy Guterman ranked this the best album of all time, calling it “Stewart’s bid for rock-and-roll-immortality.” JG “Without greatly altering his approach, Rod Stewart perfected his blend of hard rock, folk, and blues on his masterpiece, Every Picture Tells a Story.” AMG It was “a loose, warm, compassionate album, rocking hard with mostly acoustic instruments.” 500

Rod Stewart had only abandoned his job of grave digging three years earlier, but he’d already recorded two albums with the Jeff Beck group, two solo LPs, and was the frontman for the Faces. The core for this album consisted of drummer Mickey Waller, “a devotee of Buddy Rich,” CM guitarist Martin Quittenton, pianist Pete Sears, and bassist Ronnie Wood, “who had become Stewart’s best mate.” CM

They recored the album quickly – in less than two weeks. The album sounds “rough and ready, almost sloppy. A couple of tunes seem like afterthoughts…But the reality is that there’s a fierce ambition at work here that makes the complex look effortless and disguises the extraordinary leaps this album takes.” CM

“Every song on the album, whether it’s a cover or original, is a gem, combining to form a romantic, earthy portrait of a young man joyously celebrating his young life.” AMG This is “a man in love with the world and his ability to describe that world.” JG Stewart’s “voice is unique and distinct. It lends itself perfectly to these songs.” BS

The album kicks off with the “loosely autobiographical” CM acoustic title track. While “devilishly witty” AMG and marked by “self-deprecating humour,” CM the song “is a mildly sexist and casually racist song about a man travelling around the world sharing his experiences with different women.” BS It opens with twelve-string guitar played by Ronnie Wood and “goes into hyper-drive with Mick Waller’s primitive drumming.” AMG Long John Baldry is featured on backing vocals. The song was used in the movie Almost Famous.

That title cut and Maggie May are “among the most durable pop-music offerings of the century.” JG Both are “shattering acoustic hard-rock numbers about young men…gaining experience in ways they never expected.” JG “Maggie May,” “the ornate, ringing ode about a seduction from an older woman – is the centerpiece.” AMG It was “the track that would change Stewart’s life and set the course for a massive career.” BS It was originally the B-side for Reason to Believe, but radio DJs flipped the song and played “Maggie May” instead.

However, “the unbearably poignant Mandolin Wind, has the same appeal.” AMG It is a “moving ballad of a country couple toughing out a long winter on the farm.” 500 Writer Nick Hornby called it “as tender and generous-spirited as anything by any of those bedsit people, and a good deal less sloppy.” CM

Stewart brings in his old band the Faces to “blister on the Temptations cover I Know I’m Losing You.” AMG “Stewart knows not to mimic the Motown original. He accepts…that personal expression far outlasts attempts to copy, that copying is in itself not merely fruitless but intolerable.” JG It is “perhaps the Faces’ finest moment.” CM

When it came to covers, Stewart said, “I look for a song that’s probably been forgotten, that no one’s done for a long time. Something that can fit my voices so I can sing it right, and something with a particular strong melody.” CM That included “definitive readings” AMG such as “a rollicking That’s All Right,” AMG the Arthur Crudup tune which, in Elvis Presley’s hands, launched his career at Sun Records. Stewart’s version features “breathtaking guitar work from Sam Marshall.” CM

There’s also “Bob Dylan’s aching Tomorrow Is a Long Time,”JG in which Stewart “found new melodies…that not even Dylan realized were there.” CM Tim Hardin’s “brilliant ‘Reason to Believe’” CM becomes “an organ-driven call for moxie in the face of resignation” JG They “are equally terrific, bringing new dimension to the songs.” AMG Stewart also covers Seems Like a Long Time, originally done by Brewer & Shipley (best known for “One Toke Over the Line”), and even “tackles Amazing Grace and makes it his own.” CM

This is “a great rootsy rock record” BS which bears similarities to the work of the Rolling Stones in the mid-1970s, thanks to the influence of guitarist Ronnie Wood, who would be with the Stones by that point. BS “It’s a beautiful album, one that has the timeless qualities of the best folk, yet one that rocks harder than most pop music – few rock albums are quite this powerful or this rich.” AMG

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First posted 2/18/2010; last updated 10/1/2023.

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