I'm afraid that this project defines "quixotic". Stewart is cool, up to a point, and then he is inexcusable. It is best to pretend that his career ended about the time of "Smiler" and move on. None of want to think about what came next, but what came before was pretty terrific. I tried the newer "Twisting the Night Away" for example, and it is dreadful. If that's how it goes with Sam Cooke, there really is no hope-- at one time Sam Cooke covers were a little Rod Stewart sub specialty, and he can't even do that now. It's not his voice-- he'll always be able to sing like Rod Stewart-- it's his taste, which is appalling. Sad, really. I try to tell my kids that once the Faces were like the Stones, only with a better singer, and they don't believe me.
jefito
· 1 year ago
Just thinking about the way Rod Stewart has wasted his talent makes me angry.
MatthewBolin
· 1 year ago
Just thinking about what TheMod is going to have to say about outsidecounsel's post makes me want to flee for the hills.
I think it's time to hold my breath and look at some "deep tracks" for next week.
DwDunphy
· 1 year ago
Pshaw. Fear not The Mod. Fear Robbie Robertson; you made Rod kick him in the balls!
The Mod
· 1 year ago
Same old crap. I realize Rod had an amazing vocal talent in the early 70s. But I dont care how bad the material got off and on, his voice still remained great up till 2000'ish. His voice is ok these days , but definitely not what it even was 8 years ago. I know some of that is age, wear and his throat surgery. But you know he isn't 25 anymore.
Rod was always ADD in his approach to most things, but he was only given that chance to go off and do other styles, because his voice is that good. I think that itself should be remembered...And for those still harboring anger towards his going away from rock, you really need to get over it man...That was close to 40 yrs ago. Can't change it now.
jefito
· 1 year ago
"Going away from rock" is the least of Stewart's crimes.
The Mod
· 1 year ago
Funny because that's thee thing critics and fans hated him for. The moment he went a little disco was the moment people got angry. Not to mention it is obvious people like his faces and few solo records. ...So sit would be evident that the first bad turn was "Do ya think Im sexy?"
DwDunphy
· 1 year ago
It seems to be a recurring theme in big time vocalists from the 70s onward. The last Elton John album I bought was Made In England and that just barely made it across the finish line with me. From there on, he's been strictly AC and I just could not be bothered.
Rod's the same way. He favors the path of least resistance which may keep checks coming, but at what cost? Neil Diamond is a skeevy perv, but he made an attempt with his recent album. Johnny Cash goes out as the Comeback King, not only bringing things back to his basic talents but leaving behind some of his best stuff right at the end.
I just don't see Rod's American Songbook fondling achieving the same impact.
Johnny Bacardi
· 1 year ago
For what it's worth, Elton's last three- Songs from the West Coast, Peachtree Road, and Captain and the Kid have been listenable attempts to recapture his "classic years" sound. They're not always successful, but compared to the dreck from the late 80's on, they're not bad.
MatthewBolin
· 1 year ago
I think Songs from the West Coast is a great album. The other two are spotty, esp. Peachtree.
jefito
· 1 year ago
He lost me after "Sleeping With the Past." I remember seeing the artwork for "The One" for the first time, and wishing I could un-see it.
The Mod
· 1 year ago
I don't know one artist of his peers has consistently made classic album after classic album. Maybe some of them haven't jumped the shark as badly, but none imo have made classics for 40 years. I think that should be noted. The only one I'd give that to is maybe Bob Dylan...But I really only like his 60s/70s stuff. Mick Jagger's solo career went in the direction of Rods pop/rock type stuff...And while I like some of it, most of it is far from stellar in comparison to 60s/70s Stones stuff. Elton John hasn't made a good album in a long time. The thing of it is, is that I really think any artist classic material comes from the first 10 to 15 years of their career. They may have some hits here and there after that, but those hits never provoke the same nostalgia as the hits from the eras they started in.
The only way you like all the albums or think one artist is stellar all the way through is if you are a hardcore fan or just have some sort of respect for them. If you only were a casual fan or stopped liking them of course you are gonna think their jumping the shark was the worst thing ever.
Johnny B
· 1 year ago
...his career ended about the time of "Smiler"...
Atlantic Crossing, Night on the Town, worthy successors. I insist!
Rod's cover of this song was ruined by the ubitiquous Big 80's production sound that he was just unwilling to move away from. It's a decent enough song, but it sounds like it was sung through a synthesizer.
The Mod
· 1 year ago
Remember Rod turned to Rock when he realized he couldn't make a good living or reach the stardom he wanted doing soul and folk music.
Just never seemed like a rock n roller...I know in the early 60s he didn't want to do beatles stuff...
The Mod
· 1 year ago
Even if he continued doing rock, his voice changed in the 80s and especially the 90s...He would have abandoned it at some point.
Malchus
· 1 year ago
I like this song just fine. And I really enjoy what Rod did on "When We Were Lads", but I agree with Jeff, the guy seems to waste his talent. Maybe if he was just releasing singles and didn't try to do entire albums, we'd appreciate his later output a little more.
Chris
· 1 year ago
Are you going to do "Downtown Train"? That really was good and - in the UK at least - you had the bonus of the full length "Killing of Georgie" on the B-side
michael
· 1 year ago
glad you uncovered this gem...i always loved the song, and the video as well. lots of cool imagery.
The Mod
· 1 year ago
I've never really been a big fan of this song. It was always kinda blah for me. I do think he sounds good on it, and the video is interesting...But it just doesn't work for me the way some of the other tracks off Vagabond heart do.
I do remember reading that the "Bottle of rain" part is from an indian tradition , which is cool.
Kar
· 1 year ago
Rod's cover was so well, pop, that it left a bad, fluffy taste. Sort of like the soapy, scummy froth left in the tub.
Stewart's was just plastic, from the artsy-fartsy keyboard to the video that was art-directed within an inch of life. The clinker for me was that faux gospel backing tracks. Had this [insert facsimile of spirituality here] effect that pretty much negated any texture or nuances in Stewart's performance.
True, Robertson doesn't have a great voice. Gravelly yes, but not great. For me the weariness and gravitas in the grumble fit the lyrics more than Stewart's light-heared swing. He wisely pared down the sound to that heartbeat drum rather than going heavy on piano.
Robertson's version sounded closer to a heart-felt croak, not Rod's go-a-courting ballad.
Strangely it was other voices that lifted that album for me. Richard Danko's lilting tremorous backing vocals added that raw touch of soul that you would expect Stewart to deliver. The Neville brothers added their usual funk and fire. That and the Bodeans leaving their mark.
All Comments
The link is bad.
S
I think it's time to hold my breath and look at some "deep tracks" for next week.
Rod was always ADD in his approach to most things, but he was only given that chance to go off and do other styles, because his voice is that good.
I think that itself should be remembered...And for those still harboring anger towards his going away from rock, you really need to get over it man...That was close to 40 yrs ago. Can't change it now.
Rod's the same way. He favors the path of least resistance which may keep checks coming, but at what cost? Neil Diamond is a skeevy perv, but he made an attempt with his recent album. Johnny Cash goes out as the Comeback King, not only bringing things back to his basic talents but leaving behind some of his best stuff right at the end.
I just don't see Rod's American Songbook fondling achieving the same impact.
The only one I'd give that to is maybe Bob Dylan...But I really only like his 60s/70s stuff. Mick Jagger's solo career went in the direction of Rods pop/rock type stuff...And while I like some of it, most of it is far from stellar in comparison to 60s/70s Stones stuff. Elton John hasn't made a good album in a long time.
The thing of it is, is that I really think any artist classic material comes from the first 10 to 15 years of their career. They may have some hits here and there after that, but those hits never provoke the same nostalgia as the hits from the eras they started in.
The only way you like all the albums or think one artist is stellar all the way through is if you are a hardcore fan or just have some sort of respect for them. If you only were a casual fan or stopped liking them of course you are gonna think their jumping the shark was the worst thing ever.
Atlantic Crossing, Night on the Town, worthy successors. I insist!
Rod's cover of this song was ruined by the ubitiquous Big 80's production sound that he was just unwilling to move away from. It's a decent enough song, but it sounds like it was sung through a synthesizer.
Just never seemed like a rock n roller...I know in the early 60s he didn't want to do beatles stuff...
I do remember reading that the "Bottle of rain" part is from an indian tradition , which is cool.
Stewart's was just plastic, from the artsy-fartsy keyboard to the video that was art-directed within an inch of life. The clinker for me was that faux gospel backing tracks. Had this [insert facsimile of spirituality here] effect that pretty much negated any texture or nuances in Stewart's performance.
True, Robertson doesn't have a great voice. Gravelly yes, but not great. For me the weariness and gravitas in the grumble fit the lyrics more than Stewart's light-heared swing. He wisely pared down the sound to that heartbeat drum rather than going heavy on piano.
Robertson's version sounded closer to a heart-felt croak, not Rod's go-a-courting ballad.
Strangely it was other voices that lifted that album for me. Richard Danko's lilting tremorous backing vocals added that raw touch of soul that you would expect Stewart to deliver. The Neville brothers added their usual funk and fire. That and the Bodeans leaving their mark.
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_dis...