Every Picture Tells a Story

Last updated

Every Picture Tells a Story
EveryPictureTellsaStory.jpg
Studio album by
Rod Stewart
Released28 May 1971
RecordedNovember 1970−January 1971
Studio Morgan Studios, London
Genre
Length40:31
Label Mercury
Producer Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart chronology
Gasoline Alley
(1970)		Every Picture Tells a Story
(1971)		 Never a Dull Moment
(1972)
Singles from Every Picture Tells a Story
  1. "Reason to Believe" / "Maggie May"
    Released: July 1971 (US)
  2. "(I Know) I'm Losing You"
    Released: October 1971 [3]
  3. "Every Picture Tells a Story"
    Released: 1972

Every Picture Tells a Story is the third studio album by British singer-songwriter Rod Stewart, released on 28 May 1971, by Mercury Records. It incorporates hard rock, folk, and blues styles. [4] It went to number one on both the UK and US charts and finished third in the Jazz & Pop critics' poll for best album of 1971. [5] It has been an enduring critical success, including a number 172 ranking on Rolling Stone 's 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. [6]

Contents

History

This album is a mixture of rock, country, blues, soul, and folk, and includes Stewart's breakthrough hit, "Maggie May", as well as "Reason to Believe", a song from Tim Hardin's debut album of 1966. "Reason to Believe", with Pete Sears on piano, was released as the first single from the album with "Maggie May" as the B-side; however, "Maggie May" became more popular and was a No. 1 hit in both the UK and US.

The album includes a version of Arthur Crudup's "That's All Right (Mama)" (the first single for Elvis Presley) and a cover of the Bob Dylan song "Tomorrow Is a Long Time", which was first released on 1971's Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II ).

All five members of the Faces (with whom Stewart at that time was lead vocalist) appear on the album, with guitarist/bassist Ronnie Wood and keyboardist Ian McLagan on Hammond B3 organ being employed most. Due to contractual restrictions, the personnel listings were somewhat vague, and it was unclear that the full Faces line-up recorded the version of the Motown hit "(I Know) I'm Losing You". [7] Other contributors included Ray Jackson on mandolin (though Stewart allegedly forgot his name and merely mentioned "the mandolin player in Lindisfarne" on the sleeve) and Micky Waller on drums. Maggie Bell performed backing vocals (mentioned on the sleeve as "vocal abrasives") on the title track, and Madeline Bell sang backup on the next track, "Seems Like A Long Time". Pete Sears played all the piano on the album except for one track, "I'm Losing You", which had Ian McLagan on piano, along with the Faces as a band.[ citation needed ]

The album reached the number-one position in both the UK (for six weeks) and the US (four weeks) at the same time that "Maggie May" was topping the singles charts in both territories.[ citation needed ]

The Temptations cover, "I Know I'm Losing You" reached the top 40 at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [4]
Christgau's Record Guide A+ [8]
Pitchfork 9.4/10 [9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [10]

In his original Rolling Stone review, John Mendelsohn wrote: "Boring as half of it may be, there's enough that is unqualifiedly magnificent on the other half." [11] However, Village Voice critic Robert Christgau gave the album a glowing review, writing: "Rod the Wordslinger is a lot more literate than the typical English bloozeman, Rod the Singer can make words flesh, and though Rod the Bandleader's music is literally electric it's the mandolin and pedal steel that come through sharpest." [8]

A retrospective review by Pitchfork 's Tal Rosenberg called it "a rollicking and surprisingly grounded document of early '70s folk-rock". [9]

Legacy

The album has been an enduring critical success, including a number 172 ranking on Rolling Stone 's 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, [6] maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list, [12] dropping slightly in a 2020 revised list to number 177. [13] In 1992, the album was awarded the number-one spot in Jimmy Guterman's book The Best Rock 'N' Roll Records of All Time: A Fan's Guide to the Stuff You Love.[ citation needed ] It was ranked 99th in a 2005 survey held by British television's Channel 4 to determine the 100 greatest albums of all time.[ citation needed ]

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote: "Without greatly altering his approach, Rod Stewart perfected his blend of hard rock, folk, and blues on his masterpiece, Every Picture Tells a Story." [4]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Every Picture Tells a Story" Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood 6:01
2."Seems Like a Long Time"Theodore Anderson4:02
3."That's All Right / Amazing Grace" Arthur Crudup / traditional; arranged by Stewart6:02
4."Tomorrow Is a Long Time" Bob Dylan 3:43
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Henry" Martin Quittenton 0:32
2."Maggie May"Stewart, Quittenton5:15
3."Mandolin Wind"Stewart5:33
4."(I Know) I'm Losing You" Norman Whitfield, Eddie Holland, Cornelius Grant 5:23
5."(Find a) Reason to Believe" Tim Hardin 4:05
Total length:40:31

Notes

Personnel

On the album's liner notes, the names of two alcoholic beverages (Martell Cognac and Mateus Rosé) are interspersed amongst the personnel credits.

Technical

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Every Picture Tells a Story
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ) [29] 2× Gold15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [30]
1998 release 		Gold100,000‡
United States (RIAA) [31] Platinum2,500,000 [32]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod Stewart</span> British singer-songwriter (born 1945)

Sir Roderick David Stewart is a British rock and pop singer and songwriter. Known for his distinctive raspy singing voice, Stewart is among the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 120 million records worldwide. His music career began in 1962 when he took up busking with a harmonica. In 1963, he joined the Dimensions as a harmonica player and vocalist. In 1964, Stewart joined Long John Baldry and the All Stars before moving to the Jeff Beck Group in 1967. Joining Faces in 1969, he also launched a solo career, releasing his debut album, An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down, that year. Stewart's early albums were a fusion of rock, folk music, soul music, and R&B. His third album, 1971's Every Picture Tells a Story, was his breakthrough, topping the charts in the UK, US, Canada and Australia, as did its ballad "Maggie May". His 1972 follow-up album, Never a Dull Moment, also reached number one in the UK and Australia, while going top three in the US and Canada. Its single, "You Wear It Well", topped the chart in the UK and was a moderate hit elsewhere.

<i>Exile on Main St.</i> 1972 studio album by the Rolling Stones

Exile on Main St. is the tenth studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 12 May 1972, by Rolling Stones Records. The 10th released in the UK and 12th in the US, it is viewed as a culmination of a string of the band's most critically successful albums, following Beggars Banquet (1968), Let It Bleed (1969) and Sticky Fingers (1971). Exile on Main St. is known for its murky, inconsistent sound due to more disjointed musicianship and production, along with a party-like atmosphere heard in several tracks.

<i>Atlantic Crossing</i> 1975 studio album by Rod Stewart

Atlantic Crossing is the sixth solo album by Rod Stewart. Released on 15 August 1975, and recorded in five American studios including Muscle Shoals, Alabama, between April and June 1975, it was produced by Tom Dowd, and peaked at number one in the UK, and number nine on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. During 1975 Stewart moved to Los Angeles, switched record labels to Warner Brothers, and ended his association with Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan and the stable of musicians who had been his core collaborators on his albums for Mercury Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maggie May</span> 1971 single by Rod Stewart

"Maggie May" is a song cowritten by singer Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton, performed by Stewart for his album Every Picture Tells a Story, released in 1971. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it number 130 in The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2017, the Mercury Records single was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

<i>Long Player</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Faces

Long Player is the second album by the British rock group Faces, released in February 1971. Among the highlights are a live cover version of Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed", the ballads "Richmond" and "Sweet Lady Mary", the party tune "Had Me a Real Good Time", and uptempo saloon bar rocker "Bad 'n' Ruin". Two tracks, "Maybe I'm Amazed" and "I Feel So Good", were recorded live at the Fillmore East, New York City, on 10 November 1970.

"(I Know) I'm Losing You" is a 1966 hit single recorded by the Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label, written by Cornelius Grant, Eddie Holland and Norman Whitfield, and produced by Norman Whitfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruby Tuesday (song)</span> Song by the Rolling Stones

"Ruby Tuesday" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released in January 1967. The song became the band's fourth number-one hit in the United States and reached number three in the United Kingdom as a double A-side with "Let's Spend the Night Together". The song was included in the American version of Between the Buttons.

<i>It Aint Easy</i> (Long John Baldry album) 1971 studio album by Long John Baldry

It Ain't Easy is a 1971 album by Long John Baldry. It marked his return to the edgier blues sound that he performed in the mid-60s. It was Baldry's fifth solo album.

<i>Never a Dull Moment</i> (Rod Stewart album) 1972 studio album by Rod Stewart

Never a Dull Moment is the fourth solo album by rock musician Rod Stewart. It was released on 21 July 1972; that year it became a UK number-one album and reached number two on the US Album chart. The track "You Wear It Well", co-written by Stewart and classical guitarist Martin Quittenton, was a smash hit, as well as "Twisting the Night Away", a song originally recorded by Sam Cooke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maybe I'm Amazed</span> 1970 song by Paul McCartney

"Maybe I'm Amazed" is a song written by the English musician Paul McCartney that was first released on his 1970 debut solo album McCartney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stone the Crows</span> Scottish rock band

Stone the Crows were a Scottish blues rock band formed in Glasgow in late 1969. They are remembered for the onstage electrocution of guitarist and founding member Les Harvey.

<i>Sing It Again Rod</i> 1973 compilation album by Rod Stewart

Sing It Again Rod is the first compilation album by Rod Stewart released in 1973. The album is notable for its Peter Corriston-designed die-cut album sleeve.

<i>Greatest Hits, Vol. 1</i> (Rod Stewart album) 1979 compilation album by Rod Stewart

Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 is Rod Stewart's 1979 Warner Bros. Records best-of compilation.

<i>Out of Order</i> (Rod Stewart album) 1988 studio album by Rod Stewart

Out of Order is the fifteenth studio album by Rod Stewart, released in May 1988. It features the hit singles "Lost in You", "Forever Young", "My Heart Can't Tell You No", and "Crazy About Her". The album was produced by Stewart and members of The Power Station: guitarist Andy Taylor, and bassist Bernard Edwards. Chic drummer Tony Thompson also plays on the record.

<i>The Best of Rod Stewart</i> (1976 album) 1976 greatest hits album by Rod Stewart

The Best of Rod Stewart is a compilation album of songs by Rod Stewart released on Mercury Records in 1976 to complete Stewart’s contract before switching labels to Warner Bros. and moving to The United States. It includes tracks from all his Mercury albums and some non-album singles from the same time period.

<i>Unplugged...and Seated</i> 1993 live album by Rod Stewart

Unplugged...and Seated is a live album released by British musician Rod Stewart on 24 May 1993 by Warner Bros. Records. It is Stewart's second live album and his first appearance on MTV Unplugged. The unplugged versions of "Have I Told You Lately" by Van Morrison, "Reason to Believe", "Having a Party", and "People Get Ready" were released as singles, with "Have I Told You Lately" and "Having a Party" reaching success as singles. A special collector's edition was released in March 2009 on Rhino Records. This two-disc package included the DVD of the performance with 13 songs while the CD contained 17 tracks including two songs not on the original 1993 release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ooh La La (Faces song)</span> 1973 song by Faces

"Ooh La La" is a 1973 song by the band Faces, written by Ronnie Lane and Ronnie Wood. It is the title song of the band's last studio album, Ooh La La.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Every Picture Tells a Story (song)</span> 1972 single by Rod Stewart

"Every Picture Tells a Story" is a song written by Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood and initially released as the title track of Stewart's 1971 album Every Picture Tells a Story. It has since become one of Stewart's signature songs and released on numerous Stewart compilation and live albums, including The Best of Rod Stewart, Storyteller – The Complete Anthology: 1964–1990 and Unplugged...and Seated. It was released as a single in Spain, Portugal and Japan, backed with "Reason to Believe". It has also been covered by the Georgia Satellites on their 1986 album Georgia Satellites and by Robin McAuley on Forever Mod: A Tribute to Rod Stewart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandolin Wind</span> 1977 single by Rod Stewart

"Mandolin Wind" is a song written by Rod Stewart. It was first released on Stewart's 1971 album Every Picture Tells a Story and later as the B-side of a single from that album, his version of "(I Know) I'm Losing You." Mercury Records issued the song as a 7-inch single in mid-1977. It has also appeared on numerous Rod Stewart compilation and live albums, including Sing It Again Rod, Storyteller – The Complete Anthology: 1964–1990 and Unplugged...and Seated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blondes (Have More Fun)</span> 1979 single by Rod Stewart

"Blondes (Have More Fun)" is a song written by Rod Stewart and Jim Cregan that was originally released as the title track of Stewart's 1978 album Blondes Have More Fun. In some countries it was released as the third single off the album, following "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" and "Ain't Love a Bitch". It only reached the Top 70 in the UK, topping out at #63 but reached #23 in Ireland. The song was covered by Vince Neil on the Japanese version of his album Exposed.

References

  1. ↑ "Rod Stewart: Every Picture Tells a Story Album Review". Pitchfork. 10 December 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2024. Today we revisit the album that made Rod Stewart a star, a rollicking and surprisingly grounded document of early '70s folk-rock.Today we revisit the album that made Rod Stewart a star, a rollicking and surprisingly grounded document of early '70s folk-rock.
  2. ↑ Strong, Martin C. (2006). The Essential Rock Discography. Canongate. p. 1046. ISBN   1841958271. ...the album was a masterclass in roots rock...
  3. ↑ "Rod Stewart singles".
  4. 1 2 3 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Every Picture Tells a Story at AllMusic. Retrieved 29 November 2005.
  5. ↑ "The 1971 Jazz & Pop Critics Poll". The Village Voice . 10 February 1972. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  6. 1 2 Levy, Joe; Steven Van Zandt (2006) [2005]. "172 | Every Picture Tells a Story – Rod Stewart". Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (3rd ed.). London: Turnaround. ISBN   1-932958-61-4. OCLC   70672814. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  7. ↑ Liner notes, Faces' The Definitive Rock Collection, Rhino Records, 2007
  8. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved 13 March 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  9. 1 2 Rosenberg, Tal (10 December 2023). "Rod Stewart: Every Picture Tells a Story Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  10. ↑ "Rod Stewart: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  11. ↑ Mendelsohn, John (8 July 1971). "Every Picture Tells A Story". Rolling Stone . No. 86. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  12. ↑ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time". Rolling Stone . 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  13. ↑ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  15. ↑ "Top Albums/CDs – Volume 16, No. 12". RPM . 6 November 1971. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  16. ↑ "dutchcharts.nl Rod Stewart – Every Picture Tell a Story" (ASP). Hung Medien (in Dutch). MegaCharts . Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  17. ↑ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
  18. ↑ "norwegiancharts.com Rod Stewart – Every Picture Tell a Story" (ASP). Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  19. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  20. ↑ "Swedish Charts 1969–1972/Kvällstoppen – Listresultaten vecka för vecka > Augusti 1971 > 10 Augusti" (PDF) (in Swedish). hitsallertijden.nl. Retrieved 3 May 2012.Note: Kvällstoppen combined sales for albums and singles in the one chart; Every Picture Tells a Story ranked at the number-thirteen on the list on 10 August 1971.
  21. ↑ "Rod Stewart > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart . Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  22. ↑ "Allmusic: Every Picture Tell a Story : Charts & Awards : Billboard Albums". allmusic.com. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  23. ↑ "Album Search: Rod Stewart – Every Picture Tell a Story" (ASP) (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 1 May 2013.[ dead link ]
  24. ↑ "Dutch charts jaaroverzichten 1971" (in Dutch). Archived from the original (ASP) on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  25. ↑ "The Official UK Charts Company : Album Chart History". Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2007.
  26. ↑ "Billboard.BIZ Top Pop Albums of 1971". Billboard. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  27. ↑ "Dutch charts jaaroverzichten 1972" (ASP) (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  28. ↑ "Billboard.BIZ Top Pop Albums of 1972". Billboard. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  29. ↑ "Rod's Got The Face in New Zealand" (PDF). Cash Box. 30 March 1974. p. 53. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  30. ↑ "British album certifications – Rod Stewart – Every Picture Tells a Story". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  31. ↑ "American album certifications – Rod Stewart – Every Picture Tells a Story". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  32. ↑ "Eddy to Buddy Bopper to Rod Hit to Hit". Billboard. 27 May 1972. p. M-5. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.