Smiler is the fifth solo album by English rock singer-songwriter Rod Stewart. It was released September 27, 1974[2] by Mercury Records. It reached number 1 in the UK album chart, and number 13 in the US. The album included covers of Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke and Bob Dylan songs, as well as a duet with Elton John of John's song "Let Me Be Your Car". Stewart also covered Carole King's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" where 'Woman' is switched to 'Man'. The release of the album was held up for five months due to legal problems between Mercury Records and Warner Bros. Records.[1]
| Smiler | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 27 September 1974 | |||
| Recorded | Morgan Studios, London and The Wick, Richmond November 1973-May 1974 | |||
| Genre | Rock music, British folk rock | |||
| Length | 42:24 | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Producer | Rod Stewart | |||
| Rod Stewart chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Smiler | ||||
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Musicians appearing on the album included members of Stewart's band Faces, as well as frequent collaborators Martin Quittenton (guitars), Pete Sears (bass & keyboards), and Mickey Waller (drums).
Reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B−[4] |
| Rolling Stone | (mixed)[5] |
| Džuboks | (mixed)[6] |
Track listing edit
- "Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller" (Chuck Berry) – 3:43
- "Lochinvar" (Pete Sears) – 0:25
- "Farewell" (Rod Stewart, Martin Quittenton) – 4:34
- "Sailor" – (Stewart, Ronnie Wood) 3:35
- "Bring It On Home to Me/You Send Me" (Sam Cooke) – 3:57
- "Let Me Be Your Car" (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) – 4:56
- "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler) – 3:54
- "Dixie Toot" – (Stewart, Ronnie Wood) 3:27
- "Hard Road" (Harry Vanda, George Young) – 4:27
- "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" Instrumental (Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe) – 1:32
- "Girl from the North Country" (Bob Dylan) – 3:52
- "Mine for Me" (Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney) – 4:02
A 1991 CD compilation called 'back 2 back – 2 for 1' combined Smiler with Gasoline Alley. However, tracks 2, 9 and 10, were left out on this release.
Personnel edit
- Rod Stewart – vocals[7]
- Ronnie Wood – acoustic & electric guitar, bass guitar
- Martin Quittenton – acoustic guitar
- Spike Heatley, Willie Weeks – bass guitar
- Elton John – piano and vocals on "Let Me Be Your Car"
- Pete Sears – piano, harpsichord, celeste
- Ian McLagan – Hammond organ
- Ray Jackson – mandolin
- Ric Grech, Dick Powell – violin
- The Memphis Horns - horns
- Paul McCartney – backing vocals on "Mine for Me"
- Irene Chanter – backing vocals
- Ray Cooper – percussion
- Tropic Isles Steel Band – drums
- Micky Waller, Andy Newmark, Kenney Jones – drums
- Chris Barber's Jazz Band
- Mike Bobak – engineering
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
References edit
- ^ Mulligan, Brian, ed. (21 September 1974). "Stewart LP Gets Push" (PDF). Music Week. London, England, U.K.: Billboard Publications, Inc.: 1. ISSN 0265-1548. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
Phonogram has lined up a major promotion campaign for the release of Rod Stewart's long-delayed album, Smiler, and new single on September 27
- ^ Mulligan, Brian, ed. (21 September 1974). "Stewart LP Gets Push" (PDF). Music Week. London, England, U.K.: Billboard Publications, Inc.: 1. ISSN 0265-1548. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
Phonogram has lined up a major promotion campaign for the release of Rod Stewart's long-delayed album, Smiler, and new single on September 27
- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 13 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Rolling Stone review
- ^ Konjović, S. "Rod Stewart – Smiler". Džuboks (in Serbian) (6 (second series)). Gornji Milanovac: Dečje novine: 24.
- ^ "Smiler - Rod Stewart | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.