Rod Stewart
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Rod Stewart was the raucous, hoarse, smoky blues singer who turned heads in Long John Baldry's band and then in Jeff Beck's band before he joined the Faces. His first album, An Old Raincoat (Mercury, 1969), recorded while he was still with Beck and later re-issued as Album, was a portrait of the artist as a young man, reminiscent of his early vagabond folk years and of his blues years (An Old Raincoat Handbags And Gladrags). While that group struggled, Stewart took their ideas of soul-rock fusion and launched a solo career in a more commercial vein with Gasoline Alley (1970), a collection of ballads that borrowed from folk, country, blues and soul and, driven by Ron Wood's magic guitar, were delivered in a matter-of-factual albeit romantic tone: Gasoline Alley, Lady Day, Joe Lament, It's All Over Now and a handful of superb covers. Every Picture Tells A Story (1971) reached the top of the charts, leveraging the success of Maggie May, his ultimate country-rocker, and the moving Mandolin Wind. Never A Dull Moment (1972) confirmed that he was not just a singer of covers (You Wear It Well), but Smiler (1974) showed that he was getting tired of the genre's conventions. The Mercury Anthology (Mercury, 1992) is a two-disc anthology of the early solo albums.

Atlantic Crossing (Warner, 1975) marked the beginning of a new career. Relocated to Los Angeles, Stewart adopted increasingly "glam" postures and got promoted as a sex-symbol. A Night On The Town (1976) cashed in on his new image, thanks to the romantic ballad Tonight's The Night, a prototype for his new style, which peaked with You're In My Heart (1977), tratto da Foot Loose (1977). In the meantime the Faces had finally dissolved.

Da Ya Think I'm Sexy, the hit from Blondes Have More Fun (1978), sold Stewart's image to the discos, as did Passion, off Foolish Behavior (1980). Tonight I'm Yours (1981), with Young Turks, Body Wishes (1983), with the lush Baby Jane, Camouflage (1984), with the synth-pop of Infatuation and Robert Palmer's Some Guys Have All The Luck, Every Beat Of My Heart (1986), with the title-track. The audience got tired of this middle-aged balladeer and Stewart rapidly lost his touch. Rod Stewart (1986), Out Of Order (1988), with Forever Young, Vagabond Heart (1991), with Rhythm Of My Heart, Unplugged and Seated (1993), with Van Morrison's Have I Told You Lately That I Love You, A Spanner In The Works (1995) and If I Fall In Love Tonight (1996) presented a calmer, wiser rock star, one who is more nostalgic than sexy.

(Tradotto da/Translated by Gianluca Mantovan)

Rod Stewart era il cantante blues rauco e fumoso che faceva girar le teste nelle band di Long John Baldry prima e Jeff Beck poi prima di unirsi ai Faces. Il suo primo album, An Old Raincoat (Mercury, 1969), registrato mentre era con Beck e successivamente riedito con il nome Album, era il ritratto del giovane artista, e riportava ai primi anni errabondi folk e blues (An Old Raincoat Handbags And Gladrags). Con il gruppo in difficolta', Stewart fece sue le idee di fusion soul-rock e inizio' la carriera solista su toni piu' commerciali con Gasoline Alley (1970), una collezione di ballate con elementi folk, country, blues e soul guidate dalla magica chitarra di Ron Wood ed eseguite su toni prosaici ancorche' romantici: Gasoline Alley, Lady Day, Joe Lament, It's All Over Now e una manciata di superbe cover. Every Picture Tells A Story (1971) raggiunse la vetta delle charts, con il successo di Maggie May, country-rocker definitiva, e la commovente Mandolin Wind. Never A Dull Moment (1972) confermo' che non era solo buono per le cover (You Wear It Well), ma Smiler (1974) mostro' che si stava stancando delle convenzioni del genere. The Mercury Anthology (Mercury, 1992) e' un'antologia di due dischi tratta dai primi album solo. Atlantic Crossing (Warner, 1975) segno' l'inizio di una nuova carriera. Stabilitosi a Los Angeles, Stewart adotta sempre piu' posture "glam" e viene pubblicizzato come sex-symbol. A Night On The Town (1976) fa cassetta con questa nuova immagine, grazie alla romantica ballata Tonight's The Night, prototipo per il suo nuovo stile, culminato con You're In My Heart (1977), tratto da Foot Loose (1977). Nel frattempo i Faces si erano sciolti. Da Ya Think I'm Sexy, l'hit da Blondes Have More Fun (1978), vendette l'immagine di Stewart alle discoteche, cosi' come Passion, da Foolish Behavior (1980). Tonight I'm Yours (1981), con Young Turks, Body Wishes (1983), with la stucchevole Baby Jane, Camouflage (1984), con il synth-pop di Infatuation e la cover di Robert Palmer Some Guys Have All The Luck, Every Beat Of My Heart (1986), con la title-track. Il pubblico si stanco' di questo autore di ballate di mezz'eta' e Stewart perse rapidamente quota. Rod Stewart (1986), Out Of Order (1988), con Forever Young, Vagabond Heart (1991), con Rhythm Of My Heart, Unplugged and Seated (1993), con la cover di Van Morrison Have I Told You Lately That I Love You, A Spanner In The Works (1995) e If I Fall In Love Tonight (1996) presentarono una rock star piu' calma e saggia, piu' nostalgica che sexy.


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