The Best of Rod Stewart (1976 album)
Encyclopedia
The Best of Rod Stewart is a compilation album
released by Rod Stewart
in 1976 (see 1976 in music
). It was released by Mercury Records
to complete Rod’s contract before switching labels to Warner Bros.
and moving to The United States. It includes tracks from all his Mercury albums and some non-album singles from the same time period.
. All other tracks are from previously released Rod Stewart solo albums. The original compilation reached #18 in the UK, but only #19 on the US charts.
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
released by Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
in 1976 (see 1976 in music
1976 in music
-January–February:*January 5 – Former Beatles road manager Mal Evans is shot dead by Los Angeles police after refusing to drop what police only later determine is an air rifle....
). It was released by Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
to complete Rod’s contract before switching labels to Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
and moving to The United States. It includes tracks from all his Mercury albums and some non-album singles from the same time period.
Album information
The Best of Rod Stewart was originally released as a double-album. It was re-released on Compact Disc in 1998 which includes all 18 tracks on a single disc. Among them are “Oh! No Not My Baby” and “Jodie” which were released on a single credited to Rod Stewart and FacesFaces (band)
Faces are an English rock band formed in 1969 by members of the Small Faces after Steve Marriott left that group to form Humble Pie...
. All other tracks are from previously released Rod Stewart solo albums. The original compilation reached #18 in the UK, but only #19 on the US charts.
Track listing
- “Maggie MayMaggie May"Maggie May" is a song written by singer Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton and recorded by Stewart in 1971 for his album Every Picture Tells a Story....
” (previously released on Every Picture Tells a StoryEvery Picture Tells a StoryEvery Picture Tells a Story is the third album by Rod Stewart, released in the middle of 1971. It went to number one on both the UK and U.S. charts and finished third in the Pazz & Jop critics' poll for best album of 1971...
) – 5:14 - “Cut Across Shorty” (previously released on Gasoline AlleyGasoline Alley (album)Gasoline Alley was the second solo album by Rod Stewart. It was released in 1970. It is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die...
) – 6:30 - “An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down” (previously released on An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You DownAn Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You DownAn Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down was the debut album by Rod Stewart, released on February 1970 on Vertigo Records...
) – 3:04 - “(I Know) I'm Losing You(I Know) I'm Losing You" I'm Losing You" is a 1966 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label and produced by Norman Whitfield.- History :...
” (previously released on Every Picture Tells a Story) – 5:21 - “Handbags and GladragsHandbags and Gladrags"Handbags and Gladrags" is the name of a song written in 1967 by Mike d'Abo, who was then the lead singer of Manfred Mann. D'Abo describes the song as "saying to a teenage girl that the way to happiness is not through being trendy. There are deeper values."The original demo tape of the original...
” (previously released on An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down) – 4:24 - “It's All Over NowIt's All Over Now"It's All Over Now" was written by Bobby Womack and Shirley Womack. It was first released by The Valentinos featuring Bobby Womack. The Valentinos version entered the Billboard Hot 100 on June 27, 1964, where it stayed on the chart for two weeks, peaking at No. 94...
” (previously released on Gasoline Alley) – 3:35 - “Street Fighting ManStreet Fighting Man"Street Fighting Man" is a song by English rock and roll band The Rolling Stones featured on their 1968 album Beggars Banquet. Called the band's "most political song", Rolling Stone ranked the song #295 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.-Inspiration:Originally titled and recorded...
” (previously released on An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down) – 5:05 - “Gasoline Alley” (previously released on Gasoline Alley) – 4:02
- “Every Picture Tells a StoryEvery Picture Tells a Story (song)"Every Picture Tells a Story" is a song written by Rod Stewart and Ron Wood and initially released as the title track of Stewart's 1971 album Every Picture Tells a Story. It has since been released on numerous Stewart compilation and live albums, including The Best of Rod Stewart, Storyteller –...
” (previously released on Every Picture Tells a Story) – 5:57 - “What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)"What's Made Milwaukee Famous " is the title of a song written by Glenn Sutton. The song's title is a reference to Schlitz beer's slogan.In 1968, Jerry Lee Lewis released his version as a single...
” (previously released as the UK B-side of “AngelAngel (Jimi Hendrix song)"Angel" is the name of a song written and recorded by Jimi Hendrix, first released in February 1971 on the posthumous LP The Cry of Love. In April it was released as a single, which failed to chart...
”) – 2:51 - “Oh! No Not My Baby” (previously released as a non-album single) – 3:38
- “Jodie” (previously released as the B-side of “Oh! No Not My Baby”, by Rod Stewart and FacesFaces (band)Faces are an English rock band formed in 1969 by members of the Small Faces after Steve Marriott left that group to form Humble Pie...
) – 3:09 - “You Wear It WellYou Wear It Well"You Wear It Well" is a song written by Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton, performed by Stewart. It utilizes an arrangement markedly similar to that of "Maggie May", one of Stewart's hits from the previous year....
” (previously released on Never a Dull Moment) – 4:22 - “Let Me Be Your Car” (previously released on SmilerSmiler (album)Smiler is Rod Stewart's fifth album, and final album for Mercury Records, released in 1974 . It became the first album by Rod Stewart as a solo artist to become critically panned. Although it reached number 1 in the UK album chart, it stalled at number 13 in the US...
) – 4:57 - “Pinball WizardPinball Wizard"Pinball Wizard" is a song written by Pete Townshend and performed by the English rock band The Who, and featured on their 1969 rock opera album Tommy. The original recording was released as a single in 1969 and reached No. 4 in the UK charts and No. 19 on the U.S...
” (previously released on Sing It Again RodSing It Again RodSing It Again Rod is Rod Stewart’s first compilation album, released in 1973. The album is notable for its Peter Corriston -designed die-cut album sleeve .-Track listing:...
) – 3:10 - “Sailor” (previously released on Smiler) – 3:34
- “Angel” (previously released on Never a Dull Moment) – 4:03
- “Mine for MeMine for Me"Mine for Me" is the name of a song written by Paul and Linda McCartney. It was recorded by Rod Stewart as a track for his 1974 album Smiler. When released as a single that year, the track became a minor hit in the United States, reaching #91 on the Billboard Hot 100....
” (previously released on Smiler) – 4:00
Personnel
- Produced by Rod Stewart, Ron WoodRon WoodRonald David "Ronnie" Wood is an English rock guitarist and bassist best known as a former member of The Jeff Beck Group, Faces, and current member of The Rolling Stones. He also plays lap and pedal steel guitar....
, and Lou ReiznerLou ReiznerLou Reizner was a record producer, A&R executive and head of Mercury Records European operations. As a producer, he is perhaps best known for Rod Stewart's first two solo albums, for the orchestral version of The Who's rock opera Tommy, and Rick Wakeman's Journey to the Centre of the Earth... - Mastering by Suha Gur
- Artwork by Joe Kotleba
- Photography by Aaron Sixx
- Illustrations by John Youssi
- See original releases for more personnel