The MJ Show #39 (Rod Stewart - One Night Only)
One of my favourite singers of all time has always been Rod Stewart.
I think he has one of the most distinctive voices I've ever heard and it's absolute magic when he sings. Women love him and men would love to be him! :)
I think what I love most is that he connects straight to my heart. It's soul music...and ironically enough his latest album, an album I've gone on and on about for quite a while now on twitter, is called Soulbook.
While I was browsing through for some random stuff on youtube, I chanced upon this brilliant documentary/concert of Rod Stewart.
It was called "One Night Only" and it was broadcast on 5th Dec 2009 on ITV1 in the UK.
The documentary takes you into the life of Rod Stewart and tells you a little more about the man and his music and the concert footage...well that's what it's all about isn't it? :)
Brilliant songs, from his new album and a few big hits from the past as well are what you can see in this documentary/concert.
I won't tell you much about the songs...just a few facts...but you can completely ignore me and just listen to the man. I'm giving you just 8 songs tonight. Don't miss a single clip! Okay? Promise? :)
Okay...here we go!
Rod Stewart recorded it as a track for the album "Never A Dull Moment" and released it as a single on 12 August 1972. The song became popular internationally and placed high on many countries' national charts, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart and number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1st Song - Rod Stewart - You Wear It Well #TheMJshow
"It's The Same Old Song" is a 1965 hit single recorded by The Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, the song is today one of The Tops' signature songs, and was notably created—from initial concept to commercial release—in 24 hours.
"(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" was a classic R&B hit for Jackie Wilson way back in 1967!
Both songs have been covered by many people and Rod covered both of these in his last album "Soulbook".
2nd Song - Rod Stewart - It's The Same Old Song - (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher #TheMJshow
"Handbags and Gladrags" is the name of a song written in 1967 by Mike d'Abo, who was then the lead singer of Manfred Mann. d'Abo describes the song as "saying to a teenage girl that the way to happiness is not being trendy. There are deeper values"
In 1969, Rod Stewart recorded a version for the 1970 album An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down. This version of the song was arranged by Mike d'Abo himself, who also played piano on the recording.
In 2001, Stereophonics released a version of the song on a single, due to its popularity it was added to their album Just Enough Education to Perform as track 7.
Here you see a brilliant performance of the song featuring both Rod Stewart and the Stereophonics!
3rd Song - Rod Stewart & Stereophonics - Handbags & Gladrags #TheMJshow
"Love Train" is a song by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff that was a hit record for The O'Jays. Released in 1973, it reached number one on both the R&B Singles and the Billboard Hot 100 charts and was certified gold by the RIAA. It was The O'Jays' first and only number-one record on the U.S. pop chart. The song's lyrics of unity mention a number of countries, including England, Russia, China, Egypt and Israel, as well as the continent of Africa.
Rod covered this song on Soulbook as well and check out what he does with it!
4th Song - Rod Stewart - Love Train #TheMJshow
"I Don't Want to Talk About It" is the name of a song written by Danny Whitten. Whitten's band, Crazy Horse released it as a track on their 1971 eponymous album.
In 1975, Rod Stewart recorded the song at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, for his album Atlantic Crossing. This became successful when it was released as a single. In the United States, it became a top fifty hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979. In the United Kingdom, it topped the UK Singles Chart as a double A-side with "The First Cut Is the Deepest" in 1977.
5th Song - Rod Stewart - I Don't Want To Talk About It #TheMJshow
"Rainy Night in Georgia" is a song written by Tony Joe White in 1962 and popularized by R&B vocalist Brook Benton in 1970.
Rod did this incredible song in Soulbook as well. Just one of the many reasons to pick up that album!
6th Song - Rod Stewart - Rainy Night In Georgia #TheMJshow
Coming up is possibly my favourite jazz standard of all time. If there's one song I wish to sing live before I die, it is this one!
"The Way You Look Tonight" is a song featured in the film Swing Time, originally performed by Fred Astaire. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1936. The song was written by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Dorothy Fields.
This is a song that has been covered by many many artists and Rod Stewart joined that list when he did this song for his superhit album "It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook"
Stunning album that one by the way. I highly recommend it to you all.
He released 3 more albums of jazz standards after this one and each of them was a massive hit. Pick em all up!
7th Song - Rod Stewart - The Way You Look Tonight #TheMJshow
And finally, here comes the last song of his set that night. Coming up is his MASSIVE hit "Maggie May"!
"Maggie May" is a song written by singer Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton and recorded by Stewart in 1971 for his album Every Picture Tells a Story.
"Maggie May" expresses the ambivalence and contradictory emotions of a young man involved in a relationship with an older woman, and was written from Stewart's own experience.
In October 1971, the song went to number one in the UK and simultaneously topped the charts in the United States. Every Picture Tells a Story achieved the same status at the same time, a feat achieved by only a handful of performers, most notably The Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel. The song was Stewart's first substantial hit as a solo performer and launched his solo career. It remains one of his best-known songs.
What a way to end this show! :)
8th Song - Rod Stewart - Maggie May #TheMJshow
Right then, I hope I've just whetted your appetite for Rod Stewart's music. Go pick up some of his albums. You won't regret it.
Hoy!! Here's the part I know you all LOVE.
Here's a chance to win Rod's new album "Soulbook" courtesy Sony Music India once again.
(The Kings Of Leon cds were also thanks to those guys :) Give them a mental round of applause please for supporting the show!)
3 simple questions again and this time I'll base them on the songs from the album.
1. Who does Rod sing "My Cherie Amour" with in this album?
2. "Tracks Of My Tears" was originally a hit for which Motown great?
3. The stunning song "Let It Be Me" is a duet that Rod sings with which fabulous female singer?
(Pssst. Two ways of getting these answers. Look em up on Amazon and Wikipedia or...listen to the whole album! ;) )
Right then. Protocol is same as last time.
Write "The MJ Show - Rod Stewart Contest" in your subject, write out your answers and send them to musicmanmihir@gmail.com
Okay?
Right then! Get going!!
That's all I got for you tonight. I've got a BIG show coming up over the weekend! With a contest to go with is as well.
Right then, it's time for me to say...take care...and good night! :)
This is your Musicman Mihir...signing off!
