Album Review - Rod Stewart: Storyteller

Friday, February 17, 2012 1:51 PM

Rod Stewart
Storyteller
The Complete Anthology: 1964-1990

Warner

For a Rod Stewart fan that only has the Great American Songbooks or anything after 1990 and you want more Rod, this has everything you’ll need. Four CDs of Rod’s finest from his early tunes in 1964 up to 1989’s Downtown Train. The hits you’ll know from the radio, the album tracks you’ll remember from those summer holidays growing up with your friends (if that’s when you listened – and if you’re old enough to remember!) My era is more the mid-70s onwards. He was quite a character in the 60s, with songs like I’ve Been Drinking and Street Fighting Man. There must’ve been some interesting times growing up in London! I really enjoyed discovering these early tracks, his version of Can I Get A Witness sounds like something straight off a rock ‘n roll TV show, as does his version of Sam Cooke’s Shake, who turned out to be quite a major influence. Disc three starts with 1975’s Sailing, and is packed full of memorable songs like Tonight’s The Night and You’re in My Heart, he was on a roll back then.

Not content with just music, this four CD package also comes with a 68 page booklet of photos, interviews and song breakdowns, where Rod explains the stories behind the songs. For instance, you can read why he won’t sing Love Touch live, and why Young Turks is one of his favourites to perform in concert.

It’ll take you a long time to get through the contents of this, but it’s worth it!


Track listing

Disc One

1. “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl” (previously released as a single) – 2:06
2. “Can I Get a Witness?” – 3:34
3. “Shake” ((previously released as a single) – 2:48
4. “So Much to Say” (previously released as B-side to “Little Miss Understood”) – 3:13
5. “Little Miss Understood” (previously released as a single) – 3:37
6. “I’ve Been Drinking” (previously released as B-side to “Love Is Blue” by The Jeff Beck Group) – 3:17
7. “I Ain't Superstitious” (previously released on Truth by The Jeff Beck Group) – 4:53
8. “Shapes Of Things” (previously released on Truth by The Jeff Beck Group) – 3:18
9. “In A Broken Dream” (previously released as a single by Python Lee Jackson) – 3:39
10. “Street Fighting Man” (previously released on An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down) – 5:05
11. “Handbags and Gladrags” (previously released on An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down) – 4:23
12. “Gasoline Alley” (previously released on Gasoline Alley) – 4:02
13. “Cut Across Shorty” (previously released on Gasoline Alley) – 6:31
14. “Country Comforts” (previously released on Gasoline Alley) – 4:43
15. “It's All Over Now” (previously released on Gasoline Alley) – 6:22
16. “Sweet Lady Mary” (previously released on Long Player by Faces) – 5:48
17. “Had Me a Real Good Time” (previously released on Long Player by Faces) – 5:54

Disc Two

1. “Maggie May” (previously released on Every Picture Tells a Story) – 5:45
2. “Mandolin Wind” (previously released on Every Picture Tells a Story) – 5:30
3. “(I Know) I'm Losing You” (previously released on Every Picture Tells a Story) – 5:22
4. “Reason to Believe” (previously released on Every Picture Tells a Story) – 4:07
5. “Every Picture Tells a Story” (previously released on Every Picture Tells a Story) – 5:58
6. “Stay With Me” (previously released on A Nod Is as Good as a Wink...To a Blind Horse by Faces) – 4:37
7. “True Blue” (previously released on Never a Dull Moment) – 3:33
8. “Angel” (previously released on Never a Dull Moment) – 4:04
9. “You Wear It Well” (previously released on Never a Dull Moment) – 5:02
10. “I’d Rather Go Blind” (previously released on Never a Dull Moment) – 3:53
11. “Twistin' the Night Away” (previously released on Never a Dull Moment) – 3:14
12. “What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)” (previously released as UK B-side to "Angel") – 2:52
13. “Oh! No Not My Baby” (previously released as a Rod Stewart and Faces single) – 3:38
14. “Pinball Wizard” (previously released on Sing It Again Rod) – 3:40
15. “Sweet Little Rock 'N Roller” (previously released on Smiler) – 3:46
16. “Let Me Be Your Car” (previously released on Smiler) – 4:58
17. “You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything” (previously released as a single by Faces) – 4:23

Disc Three

1. “Sailing” (previously released on Atlantic Crossing) – 4:38
2. “I Don't Want to Talk About It (1975)” (previously released on Atlantic Crossing) – 4:49
3. “Stone Cold Sober” (previously released on Atlantic Crossing) – 4:12
4. “To Love Somebody” with Booker T. & the M.G.'s (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb) – 4:30
5. “Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” (previously released on A Night on the Town) – 3:54
6. “The First Cut Is the Deepest” (previously released on A Night on the Town) – 4:26
7. “The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)” (previously released on A Night on the Town) – 6:31
8. “Get Back” (previously released as a single) – 4:24
9. “Hot Legs” (previously released on Foot Loose & Fancy Free) – 5:11
10. “I Was Only Joking” (previously released on Foot Loose & Fancy Free) – 6:02
11. “You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)” (previously released on Foot Loose & Fancy Free) – 4:28
12. “Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?” (previously released on Blondes Have More Fun) – 5:28
13. “Passion” (previously released on Foolish Behaviour) – 5:30
14. “Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight” (previously released on Foolish Behaviour) – 5:01
15. “Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)” (previously released on Tonight I'm Yours) – 4:10

Disc Four

1. “Young Turks” (previously released on Tonight I'm Yours) – 5:01
2. “Baby Jane” (previously released on Body Wishes) – 4:43
3. “What Am I Gonna Do (I’m so in Love with you)” (previously released on Body Wishes) – 4:17
4. “People Get Ready” with Jeff Beck (previously released as a single) – 4:52
5. “Some Guys Have All the Luck” (previously released on Camouflage) – 4:32
6. “Infatuation” (previously released on Camouflage) – 5:12
7. “Love Touch” (previously released on Every Beat of My Heart) – 4:03
8. “Every Beat of My Heart” (previously released on Every Beat of My Heart) – 5:18
9. “Lost In You” (previously released on Out of Order) – 4:57
10. “My Heart Can't Tell You No” (previously released on Out of Order) – 5:11
11. “Dynamite” (previously released on Out of Order) – 4:15
12. “Crazy About Her” (previously released on Out of Order) – 4:54
13. “Forever Young” (previously released on Out of Order) – 4:03
14. “I Don't Want to Talk About It (1989)” (previously unreleased version) – 4:52
15. “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)” with Ronald Isley (previously unreleased version) – 4:12
16. “Downtown Train” – 4:39