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Rod Stewart Smiler, Mercury SRM 1-1017

Rod Stewart Smiler, Mercury SRM 1-1017 image
Parent Issue
Day
25
Month
October
Year
1974
OCR Text

When Rod Stewart puts out a "solo" album, he always gives special attention to the LP as a whole, not as a collection of individual songs. He knows you slap an album on the turntable and listen to it as a unit, so he pays strict attention to the "feel" of the whole record.

And "Smiler" is an album of many textures. From the plaid cover, to the beautiful silk and lace shirt on Rod, to the music itself. The music shifts from rock and roll to slow ballads; from 50's to 60's to '70's songs; from horn sections to mandolin accompaniment; from Ian McLagen on piano to Elton John on piano.

When you're basically a vocalist, the most important element in turning out a great LP is choosing great songs that are also suited to your style and voice. Rod Stewart is a master at bringing together material by the best songwriters, giving each his own individual interpretation. Unlike Mick Jagger, Rod knows that if you're a real performer, it's better to do the great songs of other writers than mediocre material of your own. And Rod sure can pick 'em. Here we find the works of Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, Elton John, Carole King, Bob Dylan, and Paul McCartney. Whew!

The Sam Cooke medley, "Bring It On Home/You Send Me", is a beautiful combination of two songs that were meant to be a medley. This cut, along with ''(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Man" and "Mine for Me"(McCartney), treats us to the most sensitive, emotional singing Rod has ever done. His voice has never sounded better.

Also, fear not! There are three Rod Stewart originals here, too. The sweet "Farewell", reminiscent of "Mandolin Wind", "Sailor", a rocker about a young guy who flees his wedding when he sees the family he's marrying into, and "Dixie Toot," a great tongue-in-cheek lament with the refrain "It's been so long since I had a good time." The Memphis Horns provide the reason for the title with a cooking Dixieland back-up.

The overall tone of this album is one of real mirth and humor, from the title, "Smiler", to Rod's liner notes ("I was supposed to include the lyrics, but I forgot") to Rod's laughter interspersed in every tune. He's enjoying himself and you can't resist when you listen. When he and Elton John sing "Let Me Be Your Car", you'll be giggling and tapping your foot all the while. On "Dixie Toot", he sings,

I'm gonna smash some glass, act like trash if I want to
Gonna wear a skirt, be a flirt if I want to
Cause it's been so long since I had a good time.

A man who can write that lyric has had plenty of good times, and "Smiler" is one of them that he wants to share with all of us.

-Bruce Weinberg