April 21, 2025

1971 - May: Rod Stewart ”Every Picture Tells a Story”

34 minutes

Every Picture Tells a Story is a great name for Rod Stewart's third solo studio album. The songs consist of solid storytelling, using mixture of original and cover tracks to paint a mosaic of life, love, and loss. This album would mark the transition of Stewart from a solid rock vocalist to an A-list performer. Every Picture Tells a Story hit the top of the album charts in both the US and the UK, and its blend of rock, blues, and folk music would have a staying power over the decades. Supposedly the album was compiled on a shoestring budget, and consists of a number of songs paired with extended jams.

Stewart compiled this album during his tenure as front man for the Faces, and all five members of that group appear on the album. Because of contractual obligations at the time, the personnel listing on each track is a bit vague, but it is possible that all five members were on the recording of "(I Know) I'm Losing You."

The first single released from the album was "Reason to Believe," which was a cover of Tim Hardin's 1966 song. But the B-side of that album would be the one that would cause Rod Stewart to become a breakthrough success. That song, written by Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton, was "Maggie May." The album would top the charts, and would be a noticeable success on the year-end charts of the Billboard 200 albums in 1971 (#35) and 1972 (#65), while taking the number 2 spot for the UK album charts in 1971. Not bad for a soccer player who wasn't able to go pro!

Rob brings us the bluesy album for this week's podcast.

(I Know) I'm Losing You

This Motown hit originally recorded by The Temptations in 1966 is a lament of a relationship going bad. Stewart's cover went to number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. Motown rock group Rare Earth had a cover of this song a year earlier in 1970. Rod Stewart has several members of the Faces playing on this track.

That's Alright/Amazing Grace

Another outstanding cover, this one is of the debut single from Elvis Presley in 1954. However, the original goes back to blues singer Arthur Crudup in 1946. But even that long time period is dwarfed by the pairing of the traditional hymn "Amazing Grace" which dates back to 1772. This deep cut shows some of the diversity of the album.

Every Picture Tells a Story

The lead-off and title track to the album was an original co-written by Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. The lyrics are told from the perspective of a musician on tour who finds adventure with women in multiple cities before returning home to think back on his travels. The lyrics are more free-form in this song, not following a consistent pattern of rhymes.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Main theme from the television comedy "Green Acres"

This sit-com featuring city dwellers who move to the country went off the air this month in 1971.

STAFF PICKS:

Don't Pull Your Love by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds

Bruce starts out the staff picks with a song often attributed to Elvis Presley. After performing with the T-Bones and having an instrumental hit with the song "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)" based on a popular jingle from an Alka-Seltzer TV commercial, this group went to number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Don't Pull Your Love."

It's Too Late by Carole King

Lynch brings us a song with music by Carole King and lyrics penned by songwriter Toni Stern. This breakup song is considered to be a feminist song by many, given that the woman is breaking up with the man. Stern completed the lyrics in a single day after her breakup with fellow singer songwriter James Taylor. This track would top the Billboard Hot 100, and would win the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1972.

Charity Ball by Fanny

Wayne's staff pick is the single release and title track from Fanny's second studio album. Fanny was one of the first all-female rock bands playing their own instruments, and the first to record an entire album. They got their start in Sacramento after sisters June and Jean Millington (guitar and bass) moved there from the Philippines. The group was completed with Nickey Barclay on keyboards and Alice de Buhr on drums.

If Not for You by Olivia Newton John

Rob features a cover originally penned by Bob Dylan. Olivia Newton John would make this her first international release and her breakthrough song. Her cover closely follows George Harrison's cover, including prominent use of the slide guitar. Olivia Newton John took this track to number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and to number 7 on the UK singles chart.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Milky Way by Weather Report

This Avant-garde jazz instrumental takes us out of this week's podcast.

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!

**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

...more

View all episodes

By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings