Michel D. from WALNUT GROVE, MO Reviewed on 5/6/2012...
I've always been a big Rod Stewart fan and this set has a whole lot of his best songs in one set!
CD Reviews
Little Known Gem In Rod Stewart 's Repertoire
Antoinette Klein | Hoover, Alabama USA | 06/02/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After seeing Rod Stewart live in concert recently, I went in search of "It Takes Two" which had brought the house down at his show. Although I own many of his CD's, this cut was not on any of the ones I had. Although I bought it strictly for this Rod/Tina Turner duet, I found many more "lesser known" songs I thoroughly enjoy on this one. "Rebel Heart" is classic Rocking Rod for those of us who first fell in love with him in the 1970's. The soulful "When A Man's In Love" is also alone worth the cost of the CD. Equally enjoyable are the classic "Rhythm of My Heart" and his delightful homage to Motown with "The Motown Song." I've been playing this one over and over and pondering why it never achieved the success of his other albums.Originally released in 1991, it was his 18th album and is dedicated to his father who had recently passed away. It was his father that had the foresight to give him a guitar on this 14th birthday instead of the model railway equipment Rod requested. Rock music owes a deep debt of gratitude to Mr. Robert Joseph Stewart for such an inspirational gift."
The Finest Rod Stewart Album
Antoinette Klein | 09/03/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first reviewed this album in 1999, when I called it the best Rod Stewart Album. After 9 years I still believe it is, especially compared the recent "American Song Book" albums. I have a number of Rod's other albums, including Downtown Train and Sing it Again Rod. I have never been a huge fan but to me this is the finest CD he has ever done, reflecting his roots and giving a wonderful balance between ballad and rock. Unlike his other albums, I keep coming back to this one, and I find it has aged well. The Motown songs are not an attempt to be Motown rather than a way for him to express his admiration for the genre. They still retain a distinctively Rod Stewart quality. "Rhythm Of My Heart" is undoubtedly the strongest song, having a Celtic quality to it which is enhanced by the bagpipes, and "Moment of Glory" is the weakest. Yet to call any of it "filler" is a true disservice to the music, as is starting the review by talking about the singer's arrested emotional development. The yearning evident is "If Only" and "Have I Told You" lately is moving, and both songs show a reflective and mature understanding of mistakes and regrets in love. The great variety of musical expression on the different tracks does not detract from a unified thread of style and melodic theme which hold the CD together. If you have any interest in solid ballads and soulful rock all with a Celtic tinge, this is a must have."
Vagabond joy from Rod Stewart
Kurt Olav Helle | Lonevåg, Osteroy Norway | 01/17/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This one is Rod Stewart at his best. The voice, the music, and the lyrics. This is a compact and quality collection all over. From the first Track Rythm of my Heart to the last
Track 13. If only, is a rear joy to listen to this CD. Some tracks are not realy up there in rock and roll heaven, so it have some minor fault to put the "masterpiece mark" on it. Nevertheless. The great Tracks on this one realy shines, like the slow rock and roller called Broken Arrow (Track 3). The voice of Rod Stewart realy fit`s in on this one, and a realaxable "wall of sound" with the right instrumental "plink and plonk " sounds in the back ground. Track 4 It takes two The duet with Tina Turner kicks off and gives you a rock and roll song to clap your`e hands and stamp your`e feet to the groovy rythm and vocal. A real "heartstarter" this one. Anyway my favoruite on this one is Track 7 The Motown Song. It`s a homage to the Motown greatness from back then. From the beginning to the end this one has the right feel and groove all trough. It`s a very enthusiastic song, which realy shines on every note. In other words. It has the right temperature for
feeling happy with a smile on your face, after the listen. The rest is a fine mix with ballad and more uptempo songs, with track 10 Have I told you lately, as a stand out in the "ballad department". Track 12 Downtown Train, written by Tom Waits has hit potensial, and Stewart does it in his own way, and there`s nothing wrong with that, so long it has his creative input stamped all over. To sum-up this is Vagabond joy from Rod Stewart . One of his best CD, ever.