Search - Rod Stewart :: Still the Same...Great Rock Classics Of Our Time

New versions of great songs that didn't need to be covered

SirGeorgeMartini | Chihuahua Legs, Wyoming | 10/17/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"A Brief History:

In the 60s, I liked Rod the Mod's single Good Morning Little Schoolgirl. He was great when he fronted The Jeff Beck Group and also with Python Lee Jackson as a session singer. Shucks, Maggie May is still one of my favorite songs. In the 70s, he entered the next phase of his career with those pseudo disco sex anthems like Do You Think I'm Sexy and Hotlegs which still make me want to hurl chunks of undigested bile. In the 80's, he teamed up with Jeff Beck again for People Get Ready and I was hoping they would record an entire album together, but things didn't work out. Amazingly, he's had unbelievable success with two CDs of standards. "Still The Same" uses the same formula, except these rock classics sound like lounge music to me. What's even worse is that on the CD cover he looks like Tammy Faye Bakker (RIP) on a bad hair day."

Well-chosen covers for a master interpreter

Dr. Emil "Tom" Shuffhausen | Central Gulf Coast | 10/14/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It may well be that Rod Stewart is becoming the Frank Sinatra of his generation, and who could've guessed it way back when he was a skinny young punk with the Faces? The fact is, Rod has always been a superb interpreter of lyrics, melodies, and moods, and with this collection, he takes on some of rock's greatest classics and...well, if he doesn't make them his own, he certainly at least does them proud.



Truthfully, I can remember thinking back in the day when some of these songs were released, "Hey, Rod Stewart could do a great job with this tune." I mean, when I first heard Bonnie Tyler singing, "It's A Heartache," I thought it WAS Rod. Well, he finally gets his chance here to cover these classics, and--as Michael McDonald did with his Motown CDs--he brings a lot of love and energy to the material.



I won't say that Rod's versions exceed the originals, but it's a joy to hear him put his soulful stamp on "I'll Stand By You," "Have You Ever Seen the Rain," and "Everything I Own." The title track is a superb choice for Rod. I love Bob Seger's original, but I was surprised how appropriate it is for Rod to sing as well--it's almost autobiographical at times, and the song packs a lot of emotion and pathos.



"Father & Son" is a very moving song, and as a George Harrison fan, I appreciated the Stewart-ized "If Not for You." Rod's stirring cover of "Everything I Own" is not an obvious choice, but the more I listen to it, the more I think it just may...MAY...mind you...top the original.



In my opinion, there are really no weak moments here. Some reviewers have criticized the arranging, the instrumentation, or the production, but it seems the producer, maestro Clive Davis, was really deliberately (and wisely) aiming to put Rod's voice up front and center, where it belongs. And, it must be said, that the musicianship throughout is topnotch and well done by a very stellar supporting cast.



Overall, it's a great collection of tunes, rendered by a rock legend and master interpreter. While these versions may not, in general, always top the originals, they do make for excellent listening, and also serve to preserve some classic tunes for a whole new generation. (And, believe me, this is not just "music for old people." A lot of teens are getting turned onto vintage rock and soul because they are sick of the tuneless sameness of today's hip hop or prefab girly schlock or thrash metal.)



Good job, Rod, and happy listening everyone!"

Rod, Say It Isn't So.....

Richard C. Ferris | Rochester, NY | 10/10/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I can only assume, after suffering through this CD,that it must be Rod's attempt at a comedy album. He simply can't be serious. First,whoever was in charge of song selection should be"drawn and quartered". These are rock classics but simply not worthy of Rod's interpretations. Yes, they were commercial successes in their day but most of them have not aged well.

There are a few exceptions,e.g. the tunes penned by Bob Seager,Bob Dylan,etc, but Rod's delivery of this material must be driving the composers"up the wall". The band,if there actually was one, sounds as if they're working with the same arrangement(with minor modifications) for each tune. Finally, Rod's singing is completely uninspired. I don't think he left home for this one,just"phoned it in".

It's truly sad to see a legendary performer fall to this depth.I don't understand it,he's made a zillion dollars on the endless American songbook Cds. You'd think he'd be up for some artistic challenges.What makes it even more a tragedy is when you compare this CD to what his contemporaries such as Dylan, The Who,etc, are doing these days.What could be possibly next? Rod singing Mitch Miller's greatest hits? One can only hope that the rumours of a one time Faces abbreviated tour and possible CD will come true.I'm convinced that project will recharge Rod's creative battery. Until then,I suggest the only use for this CD is to be played endlessly at GITMO to gain needed confessions from potential terrorist detainees. Although, on second thought, the use of this CD may violate the Geneva conventions!!"