An Album/Song A Week: Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells A Story

Rod Stewart was the greatest Rock singer in the World for one year, 1971.  Every Picture Tells A Story, released in May 1971 was no fluke.  Stewart had been moving towards his greatest moment for a couple of years.  His first solo album came out in late 1969, and he followed that with the great Gasoline Alley a year later.  Then there was his work with the Faces.  Their first album in 1970, and second in early 1971.  If that wasn't enough, a 3rd Faces album came out late in 1971.  In other words, Rod Stewart was busy.  But even better, all of these albums are very good.  

It all comes together on Every Picture Tells A Story.  Everything that made Stewart unique was on display.  There are three Stewart originals, all excellent, and 5 covers.  The songs feel fresh.  Acoustic guitars, mandolins all coming up against the heroic drumming of Micky Waller.  Rod's Faces bandmates appear and Ron Wood is a featured player.  "Maggie May's" mandolin break remains one of music's iconic moments.  Stewart's vocals are at a peak here.  Spurred on by the best set of songs he ever put together.  

The reward were huge.  In the U.S., the album spent 4 weeks at #1.  "Maggie May" also topped the Hot 100.  

Rock historians will tell you that Stewart never made another album as essential as this one.  That's true.  But even for most musicians, it would have been the high point of anyone's career.  In fact the 1972 follow-up, Never A Dull Moment, is almost as good.  And he would release quality albums and top-notch singles for years after.  The idea that after Every Picture Tells A Story, that Rod Stewart sold his Rock and Roll soul and went Hollywood is just foolish.  1971 was Rod's year no doubt.  But he's given us so much more in the decades after.  But Every Picture Tells A Story was just too epochal for most critics.