Customer Reviews

Every Picture Tells a Story

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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.

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.

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.

If Rod Stewart had carried on in this vein, he would have been bigger than Elvis now and with his credibility intact, like Tom Waits and the Rolling Stones. These songs are real gems, from the hard rocking Maggie May, the stirring Reason To Believe and That's Alright to the more folky numbers like Tomorrow Is A Long Time, Seems Like A Long Time and the deliciously sad but uplifting Mandolin Wind. The music is moving and authentic, the lyrics are poetic and evocative and the melodies are beautiful. Maggie May/Reason To Believe was a double-sided single and one of the biggest hits of 1971 on both sides of the Atlantic. A perfect blend of superb material and passionate delivery make Every Picture Tells A Story a classic rock album and one of the very best albums of the 1970s.

Forget the modern Rod Stewart stuff. This is Rod at his professional singing best. That raspy golden voice - him at the time not quite sure whether he should be going solo or sticking with the Faces - is absolutely magic on this classic soul/rock album. Oh.....if only I could find an song (album) or two with him singing with Maggie Bell; oh what a duo that would have been to rival (Marvin & Tami?). Is that the Maggie (Bell) who Rod means when he sings about Maggie on EPTS? Yep, I can understand that. Anyway....if you want to listen to some more good Rod stuff - more into the Rock & Roll mode - then give the Face's album "A nods as good as a wink" a go.....say no more young lad.

Rod Stewart made quite a splash in the rock world with his first two solo albums. By the time this third set arrived he was poised to make it big in on the charts. And he did that on both fronts with this album and then some. As everyone knows,because of his public persona from the late 70's on Rod Stewart became something of an easy punchline in terms of once respected stars having sold out to the n'th degree. All the same,it's obvious this album is a product of the time before any of that started to happen. Produced in much the same manner and with the same basic personel as Gasoline Alley any rough edges in the arrangements there were cleaned up for this album that basically presented Rod in the same types of settings as he'd been before and,also matched to more carefully crafted originals. The title song opens the affair with a strident five minute plus folk/soul rocker that set's the stage for the proceedings. Once again Rod's talents as an interpretive vocalist are exercised here on wonderfully polished yet also tough grooving versions of "Seem's Like A Long Time" and Dylan's "Tomorrow Is Such A Long Time". A mix of instrumentation ranging from folksy acoustic guitars,bubbling and funky basslines as well as the use of mandolins all combine for a strong rhythm section that wraps itself like a blanket around Rod's voice. That effect also makes itself noticible when the tempo goes up on versions of "That's All Right",coupled with the closing chorus of "Amazing Grace" and,of course "Maggie May",the tune that put Rod Stewart on the map as a hitmaker. Interesting that would wind up happening on an album not exactly intent on producing hit singles necessarily. "Mandolin Wind" is another excellent song on this album,a folksier turn of style again only unlike before the grittiness present in his previous forrays into this style is replaced with a more polished sheen. On a cover of Norman Whitfields Temptations classic "(I Know) I'm Losing You" Rod not only works the tune to death but turns up the funk even further with some pointed funk/rock touches and closes the album with a breezy countrified rock rendition of Tim Hardin's "Reason To Believe". Despite his later reputation everything people usually say about this album is absolutely true and then some. It represents Rod Stewart's early career promise and ambition very well and even if there are mild hints lyrically of the free spirited decedence to come it's presented in the most appealing possible of ways.

I was not familiar with this album. I like very much other recordings by Rod Stewart: "Atlantic Crossing", "A night in the town" and "Tonight I'm yours". Nevertheless, I don't like so much later recordings. I bought "every picture tells a story" because it was recomended in the guide "1001 albums you must hear before you die", and I am not dissapointed. This album has the strength of the recordings made by good musics when they are starting and they want to show they have something new to tell. It is his third album, and I have enjoyed of every song. "Maggie May" was the single, but the others songs are also very nice. The Mobile Fidelity edition sounds also very well. Recomended.

The title track is of Ron Wood and Stewart. "every picture tells a story" verse is repeated 23 times towards the end of the song. A nice one. ' That's All Right' is a great RnR song. This one was sung also by the GRATEFUL DEAD. 'Maggie May, one of Stewart's hits (by Stewart/Quittenton) is just before the Stewart penned 'Mandolin Wind'. Tim Hardin's 'Reason To Believe' ends the album. The album is well organized and ranks among Stewart's early classic rock albums. Might be a good place to start listening to some classic rock. Stewart not only as the singer, but as a song-writer shows one of his best.

The Best Without A doubt

This Album Has all my favorite Rod Stewart songs,
Maggie May, Mandolin Wind, Reason to Believe and so on.
The Gold Master Recording is a Plus!!