Customer Reviews

The Definitive Rod Stewart (2 CD)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Gotta say it, 'cause no one has said it so far, the previously unreleased track "Two Shades of Blue", makes this set worth buying if for just that one track. Gently swaying but percussive and with one of the most inventive and memorable orchestral backings ever, this song is just gorgeous. Rod wrote the lyrics, which cut write to the heart. Who says sad songs can't hurt so good? Just beautiful. Unbelievable that this was a leftover track from the 1998 sessions for the album "When We Were the New Boys".

I got the DVD + 2 CD version. I love all the songs and the remastering is gorgeous which makes the old songs come to life. The DVD has videos on it that were left off the "Storyteller" video set. And the videos on this set are more rare. Some I'd never seen before. Some of the videos are not very creative but it's still good to see them. One of my favorites is "If We Fall In Love Tonight" with Rod the studio photographer lovingly taking photos of many friends, families with babies and lovers. What really makes it for me as this is one my most favorite Rod songs. There are many faves, but "If We Fall In Love Tonight" has many unique textures - from the piano fills which sound like gentle rain, to the rhythmic scratching to the uniquely placed background vocals placed just ahead of the lead singer and which contrast nicely with Rod's vocal. The track is one of Jam and Lewis' finest productions ever.

After a hard week I come home some Friday nights, turn out the lights and blast the tunes "If We Fall In Love Tonight" and "This" (from Rod's "A Spanner In The Works"). All the while I sing my heart out. Sure beats the bar. "Two Shades of Blue" is bound to be added to my set list.

Another hits collection but still missing songs. Will there ever be a complete Rod Stewart collection. Missing are: Crazy About Her, Having A Party, Your Song, Don't Come Around Here, Lost In You, People Get Ready (w/Jeff Beck), Broken Arrow, That's What Friends Are For and So Far Away (the Carole King tribute). A fan can have a better collection with Rod's Greatest Hits CDs Vol. 1 and 2.

It is so hard to believe that it has been 40 years since Rod Stewart first broke out of the scene, and became one of the most beloved Rock and Pop vocalists of all time. While he has had his shares of heartbreak and loss, he has still maintained a hard core following that is sure to please anyone who still thinks he is sexy. While the past several years have brought him fame as a crooner, because of his Great American Songbook series, there are those who still want him to deliver more of the great pop songs. Now to celebrate his 40th Anniversary as a great legendary icon, there is a new collection that reflects Rod Stewart at nothing but the top of his game.

The Definitive Rod Stewart is a double album anthology that delivers well at his biggest songs from the 70's, 80's and 90's. The collection showcases a lot of his greats from those eras, while doing a strong job at those who've never owned a Rod Stewart record, or those teeny-boppers who seem to be interested in the wannabe acts like Britney Spears or anyone from High School Musical. The collection has been remastered well, and does a welcomed and decent job of reintroducing Rod's classic voice. The album includes nothing but his nearly all of Rod's biggest staples including the heartfelt Forever Young, the intimate 70's anthems from Do Ya' Think I'm Sexy, Tonight's The Night, and Hot Legs, all the way to his 80's guilty pleasures like Some Guys Have All The Luck and Downtown Train. While the collection highlights a lot, there are a few dissapointements though. The album does overlook some of Rod's great songs like Lost In You and his driven covers of Robbie Robertson's Broken Arrow and his delightful 1995 rendition of Carole King's So Far Away, to just name a few. Also, the album does overlook a lot of Rod's 90's era of records that does dissapoint some die hard fans knowing that records like A Spanner In The Works and When We Were The New Boys weren't showcased at all.

All in all, while The Definitive Rod Stewart does have a few songs that were overshadowed, it still does the job well, and displays nearly a almost absolutely flawless reflection of what has made Rod Stewart timeless after all these years. While newer fans might also be upset that songs from his Great American Songbook series were also not delivered, it still welcomes them into the simplicity of Rod's dynamic voice heart and soul. If you haven't yet owned a Rod Stewart album, than this would be an excellent place to start.

Album Cover: B

Songs: B 1/2+

Price: B+

Remastering: B+

Overall: B 1/2+

While Rod Stewart was never really one of my favorite artists I certainly cannot deny that he has been among the most popular and prolific recording artists of the past 40 years. Ever since the release of his debut LP "Every Picture Tells A Story" and the double sided smash single "Maggie Mae/Reason To Believe" back in 1970, the music of Rod Stewart has been fixture on lierally thousands of American radio stations. Even today, whether you gravitate to classic rock, enjoy oldies but goodies or prefer adult contemporary you are likely to hear a Rod Stewart tune on your radio in the not too distant future. Over the years the folks at Mercury and Warner Brothers have issued any number of "Greatest Hits' packages. But never has there been one as comprehensive as "The Definitive Rod Stewart". This extraordinary 2 disc set features 31 of Rod Stewart's biggest and best hit singles from his days at Mercury records in the early 1970's right on through the mid 1990's at Warner Brothers. If you have been in the market for a Rod Stewart collection then believe me this is definitely the one you want!
"The Definitive Collection" kicks off with a handful of Rod's earliest Mercury hits. I have always been of the opinion that this stuff has stood the test of time and remains among his best work. Despite the fact that "Maggie Mae" was played to death throughout the 1970's and beyond this one continues to be one of Stewart's most popular recordings. It may surprise some of you to discover that it was the actually the flip side "Reason To Believe" that was originally released as the single. To this day "Reason To Believe" remains one of my very favorite Rod Stewart recordings. Towards the end of Disc 2 you also get to sample the marvelous "unplugged" version of this tune that Rod recorded with Ronnie Wood in the early 1990's. It was a hit all over again! In 1975, Rod Stewart signed a new long term recording deal with Warner Brothers records. Over the next two decades Rod Stewart would record dozens of hit records for his new label. You will find more than 20 of these popular singles on "The Definitive Collection". Among my personal favorites in this group are 1984's "Some Guy's Have All The Luck", "Forever Young", "I Was Only Joking" and one of Rod's earliest WB singles "The Killing of Georgie (Part 1 & 2)". I was also quite pleased to see that the hard-to-find Faces recording of "Stay With Me" featuring Rod on lead was also included here. And I would be remiss if I failed to make mention of Rod's terrific collaboration with The Temptations on "The Motown Song".
Included in this special edition of "The Definitive Collection" is a DVD featuring 14 of Rod's music videos. This added bonus does nothing for me as I am not into music videos at all. I opted for the audio only edition but many of you may appreciate this added perk. Since there are more than a dozen of Rod's charted singles missing from this compilation each one of us may quibble with why Rhino chose to omit 1 or 2 of our personal favorites. For example, I was disappointed that Rod's fine cover of the Sam Cooke classic "Twistin' The Night Away" from 1975 was not included here. But for most folks I think that "The Definitive Collection" has to be the finest Rod Stewart collection released to date. A really great value! Recommended.

It has been 40 years since Rod Stewart finally made his way into the hearts or music fans all over the world. Yet, with all his highs and lows, his music has never lost its edge. But, there have been some moments where people weren't interested in his voice because of the next big fad. Still, that hasn't stopped Rod from making great music, and having a delightful sense of humor. Yet, with his 40 years, he hasn't really had a definitive hits collection that showcases just about everything from his delightful voice. Now, to celebrate all those years Rod Stewart had proclaimed if you think he is sexy, a new anthology showcasing Rod's highs and lows is released. but does it actually do enough to appal to fans young and old?

The 2008 Definitive Rod Stewart is a double album reflection of Rod's biggest rock staples throughout his eras with Mercury and Warner Brothers in the 70's, 80's and 90's. The double album includes a lot of Rod's hard core staples that have withstood the test of time, and are still enjoyable to listen to after all these years. The songs have all been remastered well, and includes his biggest staples including Do Ya' Think I'm Sexy, the definitive and youthful Forever Young, to his best moments of the 80's and 90's like Some Guys Have All the Luck, and Reason To believe which brought fans to their knees from his 1993 performance on MTV Unplugged. While the double album fares well, what really surprises me is the DVD too, which includes off-shoots and lesser-known tracks that could've had the light of day on the album like the overlooked Ooh La La and If We Fall In Love Tonight. Not only that is a disadvatage, but I was also hoping that on the DVD there was also videos of his hits Forever Young and the colorfully animated The Motown Song. Not only that. but the album does overlook a few staples Rod had recorded as well as it were his own including Broken Arrow and Lost In You.

Nevertheless, The Definitive Rod Stewart is a very well made collection, that reintroduces his classic rock gems, to a whole new generation. While fans of Rod's later 90's era albums like A Spanner In The Works and When We Were The New Boys, and those who've enjoyed his Great American Songbook series are also left in the dust, because those songs could've been showcased too, it still does the simple job at going back to basics, and reintroducing those delightful songs Rod Stewart has done so well after all these years. If you haven't owned any of Rod Stewart's albums, than this would be a welcomed starter for your music collection that should make you feel forever young.

Album Cover: B

Songs: B 1/2-

DVD: C+

Price: B-

Remastering: B+

Overall: B-

This is a solid Rod Stewart collection but not "definitive." After all, it's missing some of Rod's best songs (not to mention biggest hits) including "Broken Arrow" "All for Love," "Having a Party," "(I know) I'm losing you," and many others. Part of the problem is that Rod has had a lot of hits, but still if you're going to say "definitive" you should have ALL the big hits, not just most of them.

Rod Stewart's new 2-CD compilation entitled The Definitive Rod Stewart lives up to its title and then some as it cobbles many of his Mercury Records and Warner Bros Records classics.
Singer/songwriter Rod Stewart (or as Rod the Mod as many call him) has been one of the most popular and prolific recording artists in a career that's spanned now for almost 45 years. Ever since his voice debuted on former Yardbird Jeff Beck's album Truth in 1968, he's tackled every genre in rock and pop (hard rock, folk, disco, ballads, pop standards). Nothing from his first two solo albums The Rod Stewart Album and Gasoline Alley are featured here, they were stepping stones towards his third solo album from 1971 Every Picture Tells A Story which launched him as a great singer/songwriter in his own right.
Every Picture Tells a Story's well represented here with "Maggie May", "Mandolin Wind" and the title cut ("Reason to Believe" is on disc two in its 1993 Unplugged version with Ron Wood). Some lament that his cover of "I Know I'm Losing You" is not here gives one a reason to own Every Picture Tells a Story. Then we have "Stay With Me" which was a track he did with the band he was in at the time called The Faces (which featured future Rolling Stones guitarist and Rod's close friend Ron Wood, former Small Faces and future Who drummer Kenney Jones) still a rock radio staple today. Next is "You Wear it Well" from 1972's Never a Dull Moment. After The Faces imploded and his solo effort Smiler didn't do as well as previous solo efforts, Rod signed to Warner Bros. Records (his label with The Faces) in 1975 and released Atlantic Crossing which is represented here by the hit "Sailing". Two other tracks "This Old Heart of Mine" and "I Don't Want to Talk About It" are featured in their 1989 re-recorded versions from the Storyteller box set (the former with Ronald Isley). 1976's A Night on the Town (which reached #2) is represented by the #1 hit ballad "Tonight's the Night", his superb cover of Cat Stevens' "The First Cut Is the Deepest" (later desecrated by Sheryl Crow IMHO) and Rod's ode to a good friend who was killed in a hate crime called "The Killing of Georgie" (proved Rod was a great songwriter). 1977's Footloose and Fancy Free (his best Warner Bros Records album) is represented by the smash hits "You're In My Heart" (a great ballad) and "Hot Legs" (one of his best rockers) plus the epic closer "I Was Only Joking". 1978's chart-topper Blondes Have More Fun is represented by the #1 rock-disco hit "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy". 1980's Foolish Behaviour is represented by "Passion" (a great rocker). Disc one closes with the monster hit "Young Turks" from 1981's Top 20 Platinum selling Tonight I'm Yours (his best 1980s effort).
Disc two begins with the title cut to Tonight I'm Yours. 1983's flop Body Wishes is represented by "Baby Jane" (the big hit from the album). 1984's Gold selling Camouflague is represented by the big hits "Infatuation" and "Some Guys Have All the Luck". His cover of "All Right Now" was left off but c'est la vie. His 1986 self-titled flop (though a great album) is represented by the hit "Love Touch" which appeared in the Robert Redford/Debra Winger film Legal Eagles. 1988's comeback Out of Order is represented by the classic "Forever Young" and "My Heart Can't Tell You No". The other two smashes on this album ("Lost in You" and "Crazy About Her") aren't here but c'est la vie. 1989's box set Storyteller is represented by the definitive version of Tom Waits' "Downtown Train" and the aforementioned re-makes of tracks from his 1975 album Atlantic Crossing. 1991's Vagabond Heart is represented by the monster smashes "Rhythm Of My Heart" and "The Motown Song" (with The Temptations). Sadly, "Broken Arrow" is absent due to time constraints. Another Tom Waits cover "Tom Traubert's Blues" appears and is a great number. 1993's Unplugged...And Seated is represented by his version of Van Morrison's "Have I Told You Lately" and the aforementioned "Reason to Believe". Nothing from 1995's A Spanner in the Works is featured nor is 1998's When We Were the New Boys but you get an outtake from the latter which is a Rod original called "Two Shades of Blue".
If one wants to buy a Rod Stewart best of to start their intro to Rod Stewart, this is the best bet.
Recommended!

This is an amazing album, esp. for those of you familiar only with his last three albums ... this is quit a histoory of his efforts & the two CDs neatly cover much of his music that we grew up with. Excellent collection.

Received CD in perfect condition well within the time allowed for shipping. It was a last minute order for my husbands stocking and he was very happy with the songs on it.

For a best-of Rod Stewart album to even have a chance of offering every song most people would expect, it needs more than the two C.D.s that comprise 2008's THE DEFINITIVE ROD STEWART. Stewart's success started in the singles-driven 1960s, blossomed in the album rock radio '70s and '80s, and continued with his foray into American standards in the '90s and '00s. However, if I could have only one Rod Stewart album, THE DEFINITIVE ROD STEWART seems as satisfactory as any.

Sure, it surprises me that "Ain't Love a Bitch" did not make it to THE DEFINITIVE ROD STEWART, as it was a regular on the rock radio stations I tuned in during the 1980s. But better to miss that than "Hot Legs," "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?," "Love Touch," and "Baby Jane," to name four Stewart smashes this collection includes. Stewart aficionados can correct me if I'm wrong, but THE DEFINITIVE ROD STEWART offers the complete version of every song - in other words, no 45 R.P.M. edits or censored words, something you can't say about more than a few greatest hits albums.

What this two-C.D. set really misses is musician credits. Who plays those rock-steady drums on "You Wear It Well," the bass that carries "Love Touch," and that deft acoustic guitar on "You're In My Heart?" THE DEFINITIVE ROD STEWART does not say.

And if they won't tell us who plays on all those great songs, don't expect photo captions. Every picture tells a story, but a photo caption tells it better.

Rod Stewart's contributions to music can't be defined in two C.D.S, but I can't fault this fine collection THE DEFINITIVE ROD STEWART for trying.