Every Picture Tells a Story

Rod Stewart | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B000001F7E
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,996 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Every Picture Tells a Story

2. Seems Like a Long Time

3. That's All Right

4. Tomorrow Is a Long Time

5. Maggie May

6. Mandolin Wind

7. (I Know) I'm Losing You

8. Reason to Believe

Editorial Reviews

Audio CD

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Rod Stewart Album; Still a Timeless Classic, January 7, 2006

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Every Picture Tells a Story (Audio CD)

This 1971 album is far and away the best Rod Stewart album and one of the Top 10 albums of that decade. This was only his third album and it went to the top of the album charts both in the U.S. and the U.K., whereas "Gasoline Alley," released the previous year had only made it to #27 on the Billboard chart (it would not be until 1979 that Stewart would have another album reach #1, with "Blondes Have More Fun"). In the early part of his career Stewart managed to find interesting ways of mixing folk, rock, blues and country, both in his single career and as the front man for the Faces, who released both their second ("Long Player") and third albums ("A Nod Is as Good as a Wink...To a Blind Horse Faces") that year as well ("Stay With Me" was the big hit off of the later). So for Rod Stewart 1971 was a very good year.

The big single off of this album, of course, is "Maggie May," hit #1 for several weeks (this was the first song we played for our daughter Maggie, the day after she was born). This is one of the great songs about being seduced by an older woman. Two other singles charted, the rockin' cover of "(I Know) I'm Losing You" originally done by the Temptations, which made it to #24, and Stewart's poignant cover of Tim Hardin's "Reason to Believe," which ends the album on a quiet note and made it to #62. Then there is the exquisite "Mandolin Wind" (played by some guy Rod forgot the name of) and the frenetic energy of the title track, which lulls you into a false sense of security by beginning with an acoustic guitar part before the drums start drivin' this one hard and fast. Surprisingly, most of the songs on this one are covers, the exceptions between "Mandolin Wind" and the title track, the latter co-written by Stewart with lead guitarist Ron Wood.

Stewart exhibits a lot of range on this album and for me the only that could possible qualify as a misfire would be the cover of Bob Dylan's "Tomorrow Is Such a Long Time," which is a bit ironic because you would think that would work. "Seems Like a Long Time" is pretty good, as is the rollickin' "That's All Right" by "Big Boy" Crudup. I even love the sheet music on the "back cover" ("It's Full of Good Things and Loads of Suggestions"). As far as I am concerned if your choice is between this and a Rod Stewart "Greatest Hits" CD, get this one because it is all downhill for Stewart from this point on.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shining moment, December 16, 2005

By 

J. Hanson (Apple Valley, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Every Picture Tells a Story (Audio CD)

Many people think Rod Stewart sucks, and frankly, based on much of his work, I cannot fault them for thinking so. If you like rock and roll and can spare 15 bucks, buy this CD and you'll learn that Rod had at least one shining moment. Along with Exile On Main Street by the Stones, this is the best rock album of the 1970's.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't it?, December 29, 2004

By 

Johnny Heering "trivia buff" (Bethel, CT United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Every Picture Tells a Story (Audio CD)

Most critics say that this is Rod Stewart's best album, and I'm inclined to agree with them. It starts with the great "Every Picture Tells a Story", ends with the superb "Reason to Believe" and has a bunch of fine songs in between them. What more need be said? Highly recommended.