Reason to Believe: The Complete Mercury Studio Recordings [Box set] [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Back in 1969, Rod Stewart's résumé included a stint as Jeff Beck's singer. He'd also just joined the Faces, who dropped the "Small" from their name when Stewart and Ron Wood signed on as members. But his husky, graveled rasp shone best that year as he took on covers of the Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man" and Ewan McColl's "Dirty Old Town" on his solo debut. As this three-CD set thoroughly demonstrates, Stewart was like Joe Cocker in that he crossed boundaries effortlessly, integrating a boozy, acoustic-backed sway with an R&B churn and creating a new rock sound that captured the fancy of fans on both sides of the Atlantic. He peaked with Every Picture Tells a Story's title track; the folkie, soulful "Maggie May"; and the jaw-dropping "(I Know) I'm Losing You." With those 1971 hits, he arrived full-blown as a sequin-ready superstar. His Mercury period ended in 1974 with Smiler, and this set trails off with that album and five tracks previously unreleased in the U.S. --Andrew Bartlett

Reason to Believe: The Complete Mercury Studio Recordings, Music, Rod Stewart, Album Rock, Folk-Rock, Hard Rock, Pop, Pop/Rock, Rock, Rock & Roll, Rock/Pop, Singer/Songwriter

Average customer rating:

The 'Classic' Rod The Mod

Great music, careless remastering

Fantastic Set

Rod Stewart's best

Beware of clicks and pops

Reason to Believe: The Complete Mercury Studio Recordings
Rod Stewart
Manufacturer: Island / Mercury
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Five Guys Walk into a Bar...

First Step

A Nod is As Good As a Wink to a Blind Horse

The Best Of Faces: Good Boys When They're Asleep

Ooh La La

ASIN: B0000793V8
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Tracks:

Street Fighting Man
Man Of Constant Sorrow
Blind Prayer
Handbags And Gladrags
An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down
I Wouldn't Ever Change A Thing
Cindy's Lament
Dirty Old Town
Gasoline Alley
It's All Over Now
Only A Hobo
My Way Of Giving
Country Comforts
Cut Across Shorty
Lady Day
Jo's Lament
You're My Girl (I Don't Want To Discuss It)
It's All Over Now (Single Version)

Tracks:

Every Picture Tells A Story
Seems Like A Long Time
That's All Right/Amazing Grace
Tomorrow Is A Long Time
Maggie May
Mandolin Wind
(I Know) I'm Losing You
(Find A) Reason To Believe
True Blue
Lost Paraguayos
Mama You Been On My Mind
Italian Girls
Angel
Interludings
You Wear It Well
I'd Rather Go Blind
Twistin' The Night Away
What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me)

Tracks:

Pinball Wizard
Oh! No Not My Baby
Jodie
Sweet Little Rock 'n Roller
Lochinvar
Farewell
Sailor
Bring It On Home To Me/You Send Me
Let Me Be Your Car
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man
Dixie Toot
Hard Road
I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face (Instrumental)
Girl From The North Country
Mine For Me
Missed You (Previously unreleased in the US)
You Put Something Better Inside Me (Previously unreleased in the US)
Crying Laughing Loving Lying (Previously unreleased in the US)
Every Time We Say Goodbye (Previously unreleased in the US)
So Tired (Previously unreleased in the US)

Amazon.com

Back in 1969, Rod Stewart's résumé included a stint as Jeff Beck's singer. He'd also just joined the Faces, who dropped the "Small" from their name when Stewart and Ron Wood signed on as members. But his husky, graveled rasp shone best that year as he took on covers of the Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man" and Ewan McColl's "Dirty Old Town" on his solo debut. As this three-CD set thoroughly demonstrates, Stewart was like Joe Cocker in that he crossed boundaries effortlessly, integrating a boozy, acoustic-backed sway with an R&B churn and creating a new rock sound that captured the fancy of fans on both sides of the Atlantic. He peaked with Every Picture Tells a Story's title track; the folkie, soulful "Maggie May"; and the jaw-dropping "(I Know) I'm Losing You." With those 1971 hits, he arrived full-blown as a sequin-ready superstar. His Mercury period ended in 1974 with Smiler, and this set trails off with that album and five tracks previously unreleased in the U.S. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

The 'Classic' Rod The Mod.......2007-07-13

Before he even dreamed of recording the ill-fated 'Blondes Have More Fun', Rod Stewart was churning out classic after classic. This boxed set captures him at his artistic peak at Mercury Records. It includes tracks like his rendition of the Stones' 'Street Fighting Man', 'You Wear It Well', 'Reason To Believe', and, of course, the unforgettable 'Maggie May'. This boxed set also includes the malignant 'Smiler', but it doesn't mean that the album doesn't rock! Personally, this would be a great buy for me since it also includes unreleased takes and tracks. This boxed set is essential for any rock library or Rod the Mod enthusiast.

Great music, careless remastering.......2007-02-12

As nice as it is to have all of Rod's Mercury material in one place, I have to agree with the Serbian reviewer below regarding the occasional but noticeable digital "pops" that mar what would otherwise be an excellent remastering job. What's the point of a remastering project if the end product contains obvious, irritating flaws like this? Looks like I'll be ripping the bonus tracks and selling this set off, hanging onto my individual remasters.

Fantastic Set.......2006-11-28

Mercury packages and repackages songs from Rod's first five albums all the time, usually with little regard for the selections--and they normally come out when he is releasing a new CD (on another label). This set however, is different. This one makes sense, is well packaged and even contains bonus tracks. And at $28 (or so), it's actually a bargain. If you are looking back and want to know about early solo Rod Stewart, this is all you need--it contains his first five solo CDs plus a few singles. Great Stuff. Rod's career went up and down and up and down after this but this is consistently great music. Even the much harassed at the time SMILER sounds good today. Highly recommended.

Rod Stewart's best.......2005-11-20

In my opinion these are Rod Stewart's very best songs. This is solid late 60's/early 70's style rock, pervaded by easily discernable blues influences. An excellent mix of musicians and songs to synergize with Stewart's admirably raspy vocals. Later material seems designed more to showcase Stewart's voice, wheras the powerful vocals in these songs are an element of something much bigger. If you are more a fan of the disco influenced "Do ya think I'm sexy," and later works, then you will probably disagree with me on this. I like a few of the later Rod Stewart songs too, but the oldies contained in this box-set are my absolute favorites.

Beware of clicks and pops.......2005-09-07

Many many moons ago I have bought this CD believing that I'll enjoy listening to it completely. But every time I play it, I get an urge to write a proper review about it. Finally, I had to do it and here it is. In spite of the fantastic idea about releasing the complete Mercury studio works on 3 CDs in a deluxe package, there is a matter of a technically incorrect CDs. Along with a great music come a lots of clicks and pops, which (at least where I come from) makes a CD technically incorrect. I don't know how is it possible that no one who was checking that remastering heard that. Well.. assuming that there is someone who's checking that. And then they wonder why people burn CDs...