I’m referring, of course, to the song “Maggie May” as sung by Rod Stewart.
Has there ever been such a sublime match between voice and song? I know Rod’s coasting these days, sleepwalking through standards albums, but damn, he could sing back in the day.
Just heard this on the radio and had to share.
mmm
Actually, I think Melissa Ethridge’s version is as good as Stewart’s.
It took me years to appreciate Rod Stewart. I can remember hating “Maggie May” when it would come on the radio or on our K-Tel Greatest Hits record. Foolish, foolish girl. Since then I’ve seen him in concert a couple of times and really enjoy both his old stuff and even some of his covers. Holy cats does that man have some awesome hair and a yummy football player’s bod. Yes sir, I *do *want it and think it’s sexy.
Love The Faces era stuff.
Mandolin Wind and Reason to Believe from the same album are just as good. To be honest, he was still doing good stuff until at least the mid 90s - Muddy, Sam, and Otis from A Spanner In The Works is a stunning song, as good as anything he’s done.
After that he went to covering modern pop songs, then standards, neither of which interest me, so I can’t really talk about his recent albums.
Everytime I hear this song on some secretary’s easy listening radio station, I’m overcome with the desire to have a Hall’s. Or Fisherman’s Friend. Your call.
…but did he really have to wake Maggie up just to tell her it was late September and he really should be back at school? I mean, it was late September last night at dinner when they were talking, why couldn’t he have told her then?
Sorry, I couldn’t help it.
Because he was drunk and it didn’t seem all that important the night before… plus he had to score, right.
He saw the morning sun when it was in her face and it really showed her age. Then he freaked.
That may be true, but it don’t worry him none, on account of in his eyes she’s everything.
mmm
But even tho he keeps her amused, he’s beginning to feel a bit used.
In fact the whole album is damned good; the palpable excitement he and the band show playing * I’m Losing You* still makes my neck hair stand on end. I remember reading a re-review of Every Picture Tells a Story a few years ago, which advocated that Mr Stewart be locked in a basement and forced to listen to it repeatedly until he remembered how to make a real rock’n’roll record.
I think Linda Ronstadt’s “When Will I Be Loved” would give Rod a run for his money.
I don’t think it’s close to his best work. His vocals with Jeff Beck are better, and his best vocal overall is the obscure “In A Broken Dream” as guest vocalist for Python Lee Jackson
I haven’t heard I’m Losing You in so long! I love that song, but I still prefer Do Ya Think I’m Sexy - takes me right back to my dating and disco days - good times! What are those other two songs, can’t remember the names - Rhythm of My Heart? and the Sam Cook one…
like those, too!
John Peel on Mandolin for the win.
Don’t know the first, but the other is ‘Twistin’ the Night Away’.
Mandolin Win?
Anyway, I dig all of Rod’s early stuff. Maggie May is one of those ‘personal memory’ songs for me.
Back in the day I worked midnights in a grocery store, where we would kick out the jams over the PA system. ‘I Know I’m Losing You’ seemed to come on frequently, at least once a night. When it did, someone would run to the volume knob and turn it down when Rod came to a particular point in the song. Then, every one of us in the store would pause what we were doing and fill in that ten seconds of vocals: “Mmm-mmm-mmm…”
Good times
mmm
I think his previous album, “Gasoline Alley,” is even better. And I the early '70’s, the Faces were my favorite band, period.
I was very surprised to find the love for Rod here, I thought he was one of those that EVERYONE but me despised. I have been a fan forever. Seen him in concert twice. LOVE his voice.
Very refreshing to me to be able to admit it- I LOVE ROD STEWART!!!
whew I feel better.