HAPPY BIRTHDAY: 51 YEARS OF SMILER

One of Sir Rod Stewart's best albums is celebrating its 51st birthday these days. Storyteller congratulates: Happy Birthday SMILER!
Smiler is the fifth studio album in Rod Stewart's long career and possibly one of his best. It was released on 4 October 1974, a few days after the record label Mercury Records set the mood for the release date with the release of the first single, Farewell. Smiler features a total of twelve songs. In addition to Farewell, the track Mine For Me, written by Paul and Linda McCartney, was also released as a single (November 1974).
Smiler reached number one in the United Kingdom and number 13 in the US charts. In the UK, the album entered the charts two weeks after its release and managed to stay at number one for two weeks and in the top ten for another six weeks. Even today, the album remains one of the most popular fan albums of all time. And that's no coincidence, because Smiler was also very well received by the media. In December 1974, Rolling Stone wrote in its first review:
"Smiler contains what one would now expect: several energetic new examples of the Stewart/Wood worldview, a few boozy interpretations of classic R&B standards, a sentimental soundalike of Rod's smash hit Maggie May, at least two boring instrumental interludes lasting less than a minute on average, plus at least one good old Dylan song and maybe one or two ballads. This must be Rod's idea of a well-rounded pop album... Yet the material that stands out on this largely forgettable new album is the abandoned, old-fashioned, hammering and tinny English rock & roll that Stewart and his mates cut their teeth on."
Fans were also enthusiastic about Rod's album, and that enthusiasm has continued to this day. Also, and perhaps precisely because Smiler was Stewart's last truly gritty album before he plunged into the sailing era with Atlantic Crossing ten months later.
‘One of his first, still dirty albums at the time. You can still feel that he loved his music,’ wrote one fan. "One of the best Stewart LPs of all time, in my opinion. Great songs, ballads, and rockers, he's top notch,‘ added Frank from Germany. And Chris from England recommends: ’After listening to it a few times, Smiler makes you smile. Listen to it a few times and then it clicks – for me, Smiler is even better than his two previous albums."
A few days ago, Sir Rod also reflected on this milestone in his career. ‘Can you believe it’s been 51 years since Smiler hit the shelves? From Chuck Berry to Sam Cooke, Bob Dylan, and even a duet with Elton on Let Me Be Your Car... we had a blast making this one'. 

Tracklist

"Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller" (Chuck Berry)
"Lochinvar" (Pete Sears)
"Farewell" (Rod Stewart, Martin Quittenton)
"Sailor" – (Stewart, Ronnie Wood)
"Bring It On Home to Me/You Send Me" (Sam Cooke)
"Let Me Be Your Car" (Elton John, Bernie Taupin)
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler)
"Dixie Toot" – (Stewart, Ronnie Wood)
"Hard Road" (Harry Vanda, George Young)
"I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" Instrumental (Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe)
"Girl from the North Country" (Bob Dylan)
"Mine for Me" (Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney)