ROD STEWART SESSIONS 1971-1998 4CD BOX SET
July 10, 2009 by Your Way To Music
Filed under Reissues
Producers Andy Zax and Cheryl Pawelski prowled through a warehouse of Stewart’s tapes to unearth all the dusty gems four discs could hold. Spanning more than 25 years, the collection’s 63 songs, outtakes, and ephemera provide extraordinary insight into the studio work of one of rock’s legendary figures and paint a picture of what might have been. Many of these performances are more stripped-down and intimate than their released counterparts, so the set becomes an illustration and a showcase of Rod’s creative process. Few major artists have allowed such a revealing look behind the scenes.
More than a third of THE ROD STEWART SESSIONS 1971-1998 chronicles the torrent of indelible recordings Stewart unleashed during the ’70s. Fittingly, the set opens with a decidedly rough take of “Maggie May,” the #1 hit from Stewart’s third solo album–Every Picture Tells A Story–that broke him as a solo artist in 1971. Sessions offers alternate versions of well-known hits from that era such as “Sailing,” “Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright),” “You Wear It Well,” and an acoustic version of “You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim).” Alongside those are rarities like the unfinished “Think I’ll Pack My Bags” (which later appeared on Ron Wood’s solo debut rewritten as “Mystifies Me”), an early version of “So Tired” that finds the band working out the arrangement in the studio, and an acoustic version of the B-side “Rosie.” Of special note is the rumored-to-exist but never heard—until now—sequel to “The Killing of Georgie”; “Innocent (The Killing of Georgie Part III)” completes the epic narrative begun on 1976′s A Night On The Town album with a ferociously rocking performance taken from the sessions for the following year’s Foot Loose & Fancy Free. Stewart ended the decade with a hits package that was to include his cover of British pub-rocker Frankie Miller’s “When I’m Away >From You” that has remained unreleased until now.
Sessions touches on six albums Stewart released during the ’80s, including Foolish Behaviour (1980), which was originally intended to be a double album, but was eventually scaled back to a single disc. Along with an early version of the album track “Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight” the collection also features four unreleased tracks presumably destined for the second disc “Time Of My Life,” “TV Mama,” “Stupid,” and Buddy Holly’s “Maybe Baby.” While the multitracks for Tonight I’m Yours (1981) have gone missing, the producers managed to recover an unreleased song called “Thunderbird” from the session’s only surviving mixdown tape. The collection closes out the decade with several tracks from Out Of Order (1988), including a tender reading of “Forever Young” that features Stewart accompanied only by a piano and the improvised in the studio and then abandoned “I Go To Jail For You.”
The final Sessions disc is dedicated to Stewart’s resurgence as an artistic and commercial force in the ’90s. It begins with six songs recorded in the summer of 1992 that were shelved in favor of
Unplugged…And Seated, including a cover of Bob Dylan and The Band’s “This Wheel’s On Fire,” and an all-star remake of the 1969 Python Lee Jackson song (originally also sung by Rod) “In A Broken Dream,” which features Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour and Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones. Also included is Stewart’s cover of Bobby Womack’s “Looking For A Love,” which was surprisingly left off A Spanner In The Works (1995) and a version of Oasis’ “Rockin’ Chair” that he recorded for When We Were The New Boys (1998).
Although never intended to be shared with the world, the directness and immediacy of the music on THE ROD STEWART SESSIONS 1971-1998 documents an exceptional artist at work over a long period of time, says Zax, the set’s co producer. “Admirers of particular eras of Rod’s career may be surprised to discover, upon listening to this box, that there is far less difference between the Rod of 1971 and the Rod of 1998–and all the years between them–than they had previously believed.”
Tracklisting:
Maggie May (Early Version)
Seems Like A Long Time (Alternate Version)
Italian Girls (Early Version)
You Wear It Well (Early Version)
Lost Paraguayos (Alternate Version)
I’d Rather Go Blind (Alternate Version)
Angel (Alternate Version)
Think I’ll Pack My Bags (Early Version of “Mystifies Me”)
Farewell (Early Version)
Girl From The North Country (Alternate Version)
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man (Alternate Version)
So Tired (Early Version)
This Old Heart Of Mine (Alternate Version)
To Love Somebody (Early Take)
Sailing (Alternate Version)
Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright) (Early Take)
The First Cut Is The Deepest (Alternate Version)
Rosie (Acoustic Version)
Innocent (The Killing Of Georgie Part III)
Hot Legs (Early Take)
You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim) (Acoustic Version)
I Was Only Joking (Early Take)
Scarred & Scared (Early Take)
When I’m Away From You
Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight (Early Version)
Time Of My Life
TV Mama
Maybe Baby
Stupid
Guess I’ll Always Love You (Alternate Version)
The Great Pretender (Acoustic Version)
Thunderbird
Dancing Alone (Alternate Version)
I Wish You Would
Sweet Surrender (Alternate Version)
Show Me
Ghetto Blaster (Early Version)
Satisfied (Alternate Version)
Hard Lesson To Learn (Alternate Version)
Heaven
In My Life (Piano Version)
Love Is A Four Letter Word
Forever Young (Piano Version)
My Heart Can’t Tell You No (Alternate Version)
I Go To Jail For You
A Good Lover Is Hard To Find
Let The Day Begin (Alternate Version)
The Groom’s Still Waiting At The Altar (Alternate Version)
Windy Town (Piano Version)
In A Broken Dream (1992)
This Wheel’s On Fire
I Wanna Stay Home
I’m A King Bee
Looking For A Love
Kiss Her For Me
The Long Journey Home
Now That You’re On Your Own
Dylan’s Day Off
On And On
Rockin’ Chair
Sugar Lips
The Changingman
May You Never
Source: Warner/Rhino
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ROD STEWART’S CLASSIC ‘ATLANTIC CROSSING’ AND ‘A NIGHT ON THE TOWN’ EXPANDED, REMASTERED FOR A LIMITED PERIOD
May 1, 2009 by Your Way To Music
Filed under Reissues
Warner Bros/Rhino are reissuing Rod Stewart’s classic ATLANTIC CROSSING And A NIGHT ON THE TOWN cds as limited-edition two-disc sets with remastered original album, plus unreleased versions of each album track and outtakes.
It is important to note that these Collector’s Editions are only available this summer.
LOS ANGELES — For Rod Stewart, 1975 was a year of profound personal and professional change. Because of Britain’s high tax rate, he moved from London to Los Angeles, where he signed with Warner Bros. Records, and left his longtime mates in the Faces to finally commit himself as a solo artist. His first two “American” albums–ATLANTIC CROSSING and A NIGHT ON THE TOWN–went gold and double platinum respectively, charting with signature hits like “I Don’t Want To Talk About It” and “Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright).” For a limited time, Warner Bros. will reissue both albums as two-disc Collector’s Editions that contain the original album remastered with abonus track and a second disc that contains unreleased takes of every album track, plus unreleased outtakes.
ATLANTIC CROSSING and A NIGHT ON THE TOWNwill be available June 30 at all retail outlets, including www.rhino.com. The two-disc versionis only available this summer and will be replaced by a single-disc collection with fewer bonus tracks. Along with Stewart’s new home came a new producer, Tom Dowd, a man whose gifted ears led him to run sessions for some of Stewart’s soul idols,including Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and Ray Charles. It was Dowd’s idea to record Stewart with many of soul music’s legendary musicians: guitaristSteve Cropper, bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn, and drummer Al Jackson Jr., known as the MGs (minus Booker T.); and the Swampers, the renowned studio band from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, who played on many of Aretha Franklin’s best. This fresh beginning marks the point where Stewart left behind his frequently rustic, folk-inflected sound and replaced it with the glossy stadium anthems that would become his new imprimatur. Stewart’s sixth album, ATLANTIC CROSSING became a hit in Britian and theU.S., where it was certified gold. It contains two of Stewart’s signature hits: “I Don’t Want To Talk About It” and “Sailing.” The latter became a #1hit in the U.K. and a popular soccer anthem, a gratifying twist for Stewart, a rabid fan of the sport. Along with an alternate version of the album, the bonus disc also contains an eclectic trio of outtakes: the BeeGees’ “To Love Somebody,” Lee Dorsey’s “Holy Cow,” and Elvis Presley’s “Return To Sender.” In 1976, Stewart returned with A NIGHT ON THE TOWN, a double-platinum success thanks to the #1 smash “Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright),”the definitive cover of Cat Stevens’ “The First Cut Is The Deepest,” and “The Killing Of Georgie” (Part I and II), a heartfelt tribute to Stewart’s friend, who was mugged and killed in NewYork. Stewart cut the majority of A NIGHT ON THE TOWN in Los Angeles withmusicians who are credited as “The Garage Band,” a tongue-in-cheek reference to the caliber of players assembled for the album: the MGs once again as well as guitarists Joe Walsh, Jesse Ed Davis, David Lindley, and Fred Tackett. The second disc features a preliminary treatment of Lennon/McCartney’s “Get Back” for the film All This And World War II, and two outtakes written by Stewart. The first, “Rosie,” was used as the B-side of “Killing Of Georgie.” The second, “Share,” features a gorgeous, understated guitar arrangement from an unidentified source that sounds suspiciously like Cropper. ATLANTIC CROSSING and A NIGHT ON THE TOWN are both so similar conceptually,structurally, and musically that they are virtually of a piece. Each is a mix of covers and originals, split between fast and slow sides, produced by Tom Dowd, and recorded in Muscle Shoals and Los Angeles. Together the music captures an important evolution in Stewart’s iconic career.
COLLECTOR’S EDITION: ATLANTIC CROSSING
Track Listing
Disc 1
FAST HALF
1. “Three Time Loser”
2. “Alright For An Hour”
3. “All In The Name Of Rock ‘N’ Roll”
4. “Drift Away”
5. “Stone Cold Sober”
SLOW HALF
6. “I Don’t Want To Talk About It”
7. “It’s Not The Spotlight”
8. “This Old Heart Of Mine”
9. “Still Love You”
10. “Sailing”
BONUS TRACK
11. “Skye Boat Song” The Atlantic Crossing Drum & Pipe Band
Disc 2
ALL PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
1. “To Love Somebody” (Studio Outtake) with The MG’s
2. “Holy Cow” (Studio Outtake) with The MG’s
3. “Return To Sender” (Studio Outtake) with The MG’sTHE ALTERNATE ATLANTIC CROSSING
4. “Three Time Loser” (Alternate Version)
5. “Alright For An Hour” (Alternate Version)
6. “All In The Name Of Rock ‘N’ Roll” (Alternate Version)7. “Drift Away” (Alternate Version)
8. “Too Much Noise” (Early Version of “Stone Cold Sober”)9. “I Don’t Want To Talk About It” (Alternate Version)10. “It’s Not The Spotlight” (Alternate Version)
11. “This Old Heart Of Mine” (Alternate Version with The MG’s)
12. “Still Love You” (Alternate Version)
13. “Sailing” (Alternate Version)
14. “Skye Boat Song” (Alternate Version) The Atlantic Crossing Drum &Pipe Band
HIDDEN TRACK 15. Radio Spot
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COLLECTOR’S EDITION: A NIGHT ON THE TOWN Disc 1
SLOW SIDE
1. “Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright)”
2. “The First Cut Is The Deepest”
3. “Fool For You”
4. “The Killing Of Georgie” (Part I And II)
FAST HALF
5. “The Balltrap”
6. “Pretty Flamingo”
7. “Big Bayou”
8. “The Wild Side Of Life”
9. “Trade Winds”BONUS TRACK
10. “Rosie” (Bonus Track)
Disc 2 ALL PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
1. “Share” (Studio Outtake)
THE ALTERNATE NIGHT ON THE TOWN
2. “Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright)” (Early Version)3. “The First Cut Is The Deepest” (Early Version)
4. “Fool For You” (Early Version)
5. “The Killing Of Georgie” (Part I And II) (Early Version)6. “The Balltrap” (Early Version)
7. “Pretty Flamingo” (Early Version)
8. “Big Bayou” (Early Version)
9. “The Wild Side Of Life” (Early Version)
10. “Trade Winds” (Early Version)
11. “Rosie” (Early Version)
12. “Get Back” (Alternate Version)
HIDDEN TRACKS
13. “The Killing Of Georgie” (Part II) Alternate Vocals
14. “Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright)” (Spoken Excerpt)
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source: Warner Brothers/Rhino
