The 500 - #172 - Every Picture Tells A Story - Rod Stewart

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

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Album: #172
Album Title: Every Picture Tells A Story
Artist: Rod Stewart

Genre: Folk Rock, Roots Rock

Recorded: Morgan Studios, London

Released: May, 1971

My age at release: 5
How familiar was I with it before this week: Several songs

Is it on the 2020 list? Yes, at #177, dropping 5 spots
Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Maggie May

It was an elementary school "frenemy" named Gordie Sherwood who introduced me to Rod Stewart in 1975. The portmanteau. frenemy, derived from "friend" and "enemy" describes the on-again-off-again relationships typical of many adolescents. As a 30-year veteran of middle school, I have helped many emotionally charged students navigate these complex and often toxic relationships.

Gordie and I eventually went our separate ways, but in the autumn of 1975 we were in a "friend" phase when, while at his house, he played the song Maggie May from Stewart's third studio album, Every Picture Tells A Story. From the first listen, Stewart's emotional ballad about a relationship between an older woman and a college-aged boy resonated with 10-year-old me. The beautiful arrangement of a 12-string acoustic guitar, paired brilliantly with a mandolin and a Hammond Organ was certainly a hook. Yet, it was the opening lyrics that really hit. Despite being too young to truly understand the singer's ambivalence about a May-September romance, I was left melancholic by Stewart’s raspy words.

Opening lyrics to Maggie May.

Fast-forward 42 years later and I am sitting beside my mother in the stands of the Budweiser Garden in London, Ontario, watching the recently knighted Sir Rod perform Maggie May, along with 22 other hits from his illustrious career.

The septuagenarian puts on a heck of show. Surrounded by a dozen exceptional musicians and backing singers, it was more of a glitzy Vegas revue than a concert. The curtain lifted at exactly 7 p.m. and every moment of the 90-minute performance was perfectly choreographed, with an impressive light show and multi-media presentation running in the background. Stewart's band often takes centre stage to perform a few songs while the Scottish rocker nips away for a quick break and costume change.

Stewart's stage show in 2018.

The show was my mom's treat and I enjoyed it so much, I reciprocated in July, 2022, when Rod the Mod returned to the same venue in London. This time, his band was even better. His backing chorus comprised five young multi-instrumentalist women who sang, played and danced. With their talent, beauty and sexy costumes, they stole the spotlight from Stewart. It was all planned, of course – to portray the top-line entertainer’s modesty while showcasing a bevy of much younger talent.

Stewart on stage with his 2022 band, including the 5 multi-talented beauties.

On the day of the show, my pal Jeff Lewis decided to pick up a single ticket for the event. As luck had it, he scored a single, floor seat about 13 rows from centre stage. He and I quickly crafted a plan to surprise my super-fan mom. Jeff handed her his ticket and joined me in inferior seats. Given my mom's reduced mobility, we even made arrangements with arena security to have her wheelchaired to and from her preferred seat.

Stewart opens the 2022 concert with an homage to
Robert Palmer's Addicted To Love.

Post show, still chuffed at having given Mom pride of place, we anxiously awaited her return, expecting to hear a rave review. However, it was not to be. The opening act, Cheap Trick, was far too loud and rocking for her tastes. Then, during most of Rod’s performance, her view was blocked by fans standing up in front of her. Unable to be on her feet for extended periods, she struggled to enjoy the show. It turned out she would have been happier with me in our original seats, which afforded easy sightlines. I felt terrible but, always the trooper, Mom continued to appreciate Jeff’s generosity to position her closer to her favourite rock performer.

Maggie May remains one of my favourite songs of all time and I love the fact I shared two Rod Stewart shows with Mom.

Gordie Sherwood and I had drifted apart by Grade 7, neither enemy nor friend. But, I will always appreciate his cluing me in about the spiky-haired Brit with that trademark raspy voice.