Rod Stewart - Smiler

His fifth solo album, originally released in 1974. 12 tracks. Album Description

Smiler Makes Me Smile

I have no idea of the date, but I was privileged to watch Rod Stewart in action back when I was able to go to concerts like Bad Company, Alice Cooper, Arlo Guthrie and even The Kingston Trio. Smiler is the only Stewart album I have and I love it. Trouble is, I had copied the album onto a cassette tape and don't have who wrote the songs so I had no idea Sir Paul had written and duets on Mine for Me. The first title, Sweet Little Rock and Roller, has always reminded me of Bad Company's Sweet Little Sister as it is a plain rock-and-roll number that is a good first track. Fast tempo and fun to sing. After the pretty instrumental lead-in comes Farewell and my favorite on the album. The singer is saying a reluctant farewell to different members, with a message for each and is already missing them before he leaves them. Interesting ending with "If you don't get no mail, you'll know I'm in jail." Sailor has a faster tempo, though not as fast as Sweet Little Rock and Roller. It is a nice counter to the slower Farewell and has plenty of guitar work. Bring It On Home to Me is a nice romance number I have by The Animals. Let Me Be Your Car has a rockin' tempo but I have trouble understanding a lot of the lyrics. Still, it is fun to listen to. Perhaps You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Man would sound better sung by a woman, but either sex I would think enjoys being with someone who complements their personality, and a warm, intimate love song is needed among the rocker numbers. Dixie Hoot is another number on how being with someone makes him feel like he "had a good time," and nothing wrong with that. Hard Road was okay to listen to, but ended up filling up the space, along with the disappointing instrumental I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," between it and Girl From the North Country, a favorite Dylan song of mine from his Freewheelin' album and Rod does a super job on it. Mine For Me is a nice, gentle close to an album full of fast-paced rock numbers, so it helps you unwind. I will look forward to buying it on a CD when I can swing the price so I will no longer have to worry about the tape getting caught in my cassette tape player. Only the 5th Stewart album he released, perhaps it will prod those buying it into buying more Stewart recordings.
August 31, 2008

Bought it for one track

And that is "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Man". Used to listen to it over and over on vinyl as a kid. Guess best advice is to find that song on-line. October 30, 2007

Smiler for $6.98?

Are you kidding? The cover of Dylan's "Girl from the North Country" is worth $6.98! September 17, 2006

Solid rock album

So many bad reviews have been written about this album, that I had to buy it and find out the truth. I must say that most of the reviews are wrong. This is a very solid early 1970's rock cd. If you like the Faces and the Mercury era Rod albums, you'll have to have this to complete the collection. It isn't as great as Gasoline Alley, but pretty close. This is a fun, loud, last fling record for the Stewart/Wood/ partnership. That is why it is valuable. Rod never sounded this way after leaving Ron Wood and the rest of the Faces....Kenny Jones and Ian McClagen. Great version of Sweet little rock and roller. February 23, 2004

ROCKIN RODNEY

This is the way Rod should sound! It kicks of with a blistering Sweet little rock'n roller. Farewell a classic song but a small hit when this album first was realeased in 1974. Every nano second on this CD is worth the price. It Rocks and it swings and the ballads are filled with soul. Ron Wood on bass and guitar, original songs by Paul McCartney (Mine for me) and Elton John who also guests on his effort- A thundering Let me be your car. this album should please anyone whose into Rod-Faces-Stones-Elton.........GREAT
BUY BUY BUY October 1, 2002

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