Personnel includes: Rod Stewart (vocals, acoustic guitar); Martin Quittenton (acoustic guitar); Ron Wood (guitar, pedal steel guitar, bass); Sam Mitchell (slide guitar); Dick Powell (violin); Pete Sears (piano); Ian McClagan (organ); Danny Thompson, Andy Pyle (bass); Mick Waller (drums); Madeline Bell, Mateus Rose, John Baldry (background vocals).
The aesthetic Rod Stewart had been honing over his first three solo albums--an aesthetic that combined folk, hard rock, and R&B swagger--was perfected on EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY. The album's combination of strong, original songs and plum cover versions reveal the artist's range and versatility as he simultaneously paid tribute to mentors and declared his own craft. Members of Stewart's regular group, the Faces, provide intuitive support, making nearly every track shine with passion and edge.
Stewart's take-no-prisoners interpretation of the Temptations' "(I Know I'm) Losing You" brought new dimensions to a Tamla/Motown classic. "Maggie May," one of the great pop anthems, is the obvious standout, but the remaining selections, such as "Mandolin Wind" and Tim Hardin's beautiful "Reason To Believe," have a similar sense of purpose. Through it all, of course, is Stewart's soulful, beautifully textured singing, which reaches its pinnacle on these performances, ensuring the artist's standing as one of rock's all-time greatest vocalists. If you buy only one Rod Stewart album, EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY should be it.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (12/11/03, p.136) - Ranked #172 in Rolling Stone's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time"
Rolling Stone (7/8/71, p.42) - "...he's got soul to spare...He's eloquent, literate, and moving: a superb writer...no better backing band in the biz at the moment..."
Rolling Stone (9/30/71, p.42) - "...the best thing he has...done on record..."
Goldmine (7/90) - "...stunning in every way, its release on high quality Ultradisc makes perfect sense..."
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