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You don't change a winning team, and Roderick David Stewart, known to the world as Rod Stewart, knows that well, having been a footballer who came close to going professional.
On the heels of the stunning hat-trick of albums released between 1970 and 1972 with the titles "Gasoline Alley", "Every Picture Tells A Story" and "Never A Dull Moment", in a strictly chronological order, he experienced success and glory like never before. They say you should strike while the iron is hot. But things don't always go as we'd like: the battle between Warner Bros. (which holds the rights to the vocalist with the "Faces") and Mercury (which boasts the rights to Stewart as a solo artist) to secure an exclusive contract with the singer delayed the release of "Smiler", which would only see the light of day in '74. As usual, a large group of musicians, mostly already with Stewart on previous LPs, accompanied the British-born but Scottish-blooded singer: above all, the inseparable Ron Wood, who would soon join the ranks of the Rolling Stones. The album closely ties into the elements that permeated his previous albums, especially "Never A Dull Moment": folk, rock, blues, soul and even country merge into an inseparable whole. Even if...
Even if this time, good ol' Rod doesn't replicate previous successes: the musicians are the same, his voice is unchanged and the covers are potentially devastating, but something is missing. First and foremost, the originals. Rod has never been a prolific nor brilliant songwriter, and in this case, he fully confirms it: only three out of the twelve tracks are penned by him, two of which are little more than throwaways. Most notably absent is the atmosphere that saturates his previous works, the passion, the desire to throw his heart over the obstacle by embellishing the songs with blood, sweat, love, and anger.
What emerges is a decent Long Playing, but clearly below expectations.
It starts with the frenetic rock'n'roll of the Chuck Berry-like "Sweet Little Rock'n'Roller", the first of four rock tracks on the album, followed by "Lochinvar", a brief piano interlude written and played by Pete Sears, which leads into the ballad "Farewell", composed by Rod (as is the next title), which harks back (without repeating them) to the glory of "Maggie May". The rock of "Sailor" and "Hard Road" is quite unremarkable; thus, a bit of spark is provided by a special guest such as Elton John, who plays the piano and duets with Rod on his "Let Me Be Your Car".
Stewart has always had a notable soul feeling in his singing, and after the stunning "Twisting The Night Away", the finale of "Never A Dull Moment", comes the good medley "Bring It On Home To Me/You Send Me", both penned by Sam Cooke, and the sweet "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man", a rendition of the famous "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" written by Carole King and brought to fame by Aretha Franklin's explosive interpretation. Near the end of the album, some of the most beautiful songs of the LP emerge, starting with the sweet "Dixie Toot" and continuing with two inspired versions of the classic "Girl From The North Country", yet another tribute to Bob Dylan, one of Rod's major inspirations, and "Mine For Me" written by the McCartney couple.
Despite its commercial success (the album even topped the UK charts), "Smiler" was the first LP by Rod Stewart to be derided by critics of the time, and the first misstep by the rocker who, in 1974, had a 10-year career behind him: it would remain his last album to feature that (no longer) unique blend of genres that had determined his success until that point.
The following work, "Atlantic Crossing", would open a new pop era for Rod, less inspired but equally hugely successful.
You don't change a winning team, but if you don't step onto the field with the right motivations, you risk making a bad impression.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Sweet Little Rock 'n Roller (03:45)
(Chuck Berry)
Nineteen years old and as sweet as she could be
All dressed up like a downtown Christmas tree
Dancin' and hummin' a rock 'n' roll melody
She's the daughter of a well respected man
who taught her how to jerk and understand
then she became a rock 'n' roll music fan
Sweet little rock 'n' roller, sweet little rock 'n' roller
Her daddy doesn't have to scold her
Her partner can't hardly hold her
Because she never gets any older
Sweet little rock 'n' roller
Shoulda seen her eyes when the band began to play
and the famous singer sang and bowed away
When the stars were gone she screamed and yelled hurray
Ten thousand eyes were watchin' them leave the floor
Five thousand tongues are screaming out "More" and "More"
About fifteen hundred waiting outside the door
Sweet little rock 'n' roller, sweet little rock 'n' roller
Her daddy doesn't have to scold her
Her partner can't hardly hold her
Because she never gets any older
Sweet little rock 'n' roller
03 Farewell (04:35)
Fare thee well my brother
please don't stand in my way
I'm going down to that dirty town
no matter what you say
You fooled me and you ruled me
and you played in every part
I gotta go, it's no use me stayin' home
Goodbye my sister
please don't let me see you cry
Gonna be a star some day
no matter what they say
And when you hear the crowds
all callin' and shouting out my name
until then, my little friend, I'll be unsatisfied
So long sweet Melinda
don't forget that you're my girl
Gonna dress you fine
and if you give me time
make you proud like I said I would
And if the Champs Elysee's no fallacy
If I find the world looks like it should
Candy cars, movie stars, street bars
then I could stay a while
Well I love you
Shall I write or phone from Paris or Rome
and I'll miss you all
even tho' you're tryin' to hold me back
Farewell all my family
don't you know I mean you so well
Please appreciate I must make a break
just to see what I can do
The stage is set so understand
I can't hide in the wings no more
I've got to go now it's no use me staying home
All I can say is I love you
Shall I write or phone from Paris or Rome
And I think I'm always gonna miss you
And I love you always
I think I'm always gonna miss ya
even tho' you're tryin' to hold me back
And I love you and I miss you
If you don't get no mail you know I'm in jail
But I love you and I miss you
04 Sailor (03:38)
(R. Stewart / R. Wood)
You ain't gonna get me honey no way
Tearing down the highway in the pouring rain
escaping from my wedding day
I heard the bells ringing in the local church
the ceremony's nearly under way
Telegrams came and the cheap champagne
was driving everybody out of their brains
But I convinced my best friends I lost my nerve
and I pleaded I was being framed
"Sailor show me which way to go"
I screamed out loud
"Sailor show me which way to go"
Such a deadly silence
due to my defiance
the wedding ground to a halt
Said I changed my mind
ain't no use in your trying
so her brother punched me in the throat
her mother got hysterical
the bitch was cynical
father's in the corner drunk
Picking myself off the floor
I ran to the door
damned if I was skippin' on my way
"Sailor show me which way to go"
You should have heard the noise
Said "Sailor show me which way to go"
So keep clean girlie
find a man that's truly
gonna love you from dusk till dawn
Keep your front door key
don't give him up for me
'cause tomorrow I may be gone
You see, your wouldbe keepers
( ) all night creepin'
nobody gonna change in there
Who thinks a marriage life should be like a dog's life
so let's renew it when the year runs out
Sailor show me which way to go
Sailor show me which way to go
She had a belly full of lust but she had no bust
08 Dixie Toot (03:26)
Sitting on my back door wondering which way to go
The sun's shining on my back and it hurts (child)
The FM station plays another bad 45
And it's been so long since I had a good time
It's been so long since I had a good time
Never wrecked my head on a bandstand
in the trombone or clarinet line
When I come in heat on Bourbon Street for Mardi Gras
When those for a cryin' just stay behind in the bar
'Cause it's been so long since I had a good time
Yeah it's been so long since I had a good time
I'm gonna lose control of my powers
I might even lose my trousers
Smash some glass, act like trash if I want
Wear a skirt be a flirt if I want
'Cause it's been so long since I had a good time
This prodigal man from Dixieland needs a good time
right now, show me a good time right now
You better take it while you can
You gotta get it while you can
And when the Man Upstairs he calls me
He'll say "It's your turn son to come"
Don't play the blues down in old Toulouse for me
Let sleighbells ring and children sing in the street
And tell all of my friends that I had a good time
Open up the sky won't you ride me high
Let's have a good time
And if I'm late at heaven's gate blame a good time
And when the angels sing I will join in
Let's have a good time really
I took my luck, I didn't give a fuck, I had a good time
Tell all my friends only all my best to have a good time
Goodbye
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