A while back, Andrew at Jimmy Page's Sweater Vest wrote an incredible post that explains why Rod Stewart is someone to be respected. For some reason, I didn't link to it, but the post is timeless, so I'll do so now. Here's some of it, but you should read the whole thing (there's even some stuff about the Advanced Theory, but you can skip over that):"Despite enjoying many of Stewart's radio hits, I never credited him with having anything to lose, as it were. He's always seemed content to be an amiable buffoon, a cartoon lothario who'd recently settled into a lucrative senescence croaking out second-rate versions of Cole Porter songs. I wished him well but wasn't interested.
Moreover, Rod's pink-satin-blouse period is still fresh in many people's minds, and someone in the comments section of this blog recently noted he was quite upset at Stewart for 'mauling' (his word) a Tom Waits song. I sympathize with these objections."
Having established this, he goes on to deal with a number of issues, including the genius of Every Picture Tells a Story, how best to buy Rod Stewart music, and how Stewart can help you overcome your qualms about embracing blues-rock. It's a must-read for fans of Advancement.
1 comment:
Poor boy's dad buys him a guitar, for no apparent reason. This shy boy plays and sings while listening to Sam Cooke. The poor, shy boy from London finds his voice; others find his voice as well, and within what, a decade? ... he's a rock god, worshipped by critics and everyone beneath them. Hell, what wouldn't a young man give for that dream? You are right, his Mercury records were his genius, but guess what? He likes money and fame. He gives the general listening audience what they want, and loses critical respect along the way. But he still rocks; he's an icon, and I'm sure he enjoys the jabs he gets along the way (as only a Brit could, I s'pose). Rod aint cryin' he's laughing all the way to the bank. Hell, I buy every one of his albums as soon as it hits the shelves; have since 1976 and first heard "Tonight's the Night" ... let me know if you want to know how many times that song got me laid. Anyway, as Rod sang on "Only a Boy": ...the critics, the cynics, where are they now? Rock on Rod, my friend.
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