Rod Stewart: 1975-1978 (180g Vinyl) (5LP)

It's extraordinary for me to look back on this era of my career. I think fans will enjoy experiencing these songs on vinyl. I know I did. - Rod

Sir Rod Stewart was on his way to becoming one of the most successful recording artists in history in 1974 when he moved to America and signed with Warner Bros. Records (now Warner Records). Over his next 27 years with the label, Stewart released some of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed records of his extraordinary career.

We're going back to the start of that legendary run with a new boxed set that features Stewart's first four Warner albums on vinyl, plus a bonus LP of rare and unreleased studio outtakes from those albums: Atlantic Crossing (1975), A Night on the Town (1976), Footloose & Fancy Free (1977), and Blondes Have More Fun (1978).

After being out of print for decades, the studio albums look and sound better than ever as they return to vinyl, complete with replica sleeves and newly remastered sound. The albums and the bonus LP are all organized in an iridescent box with Stewart foil-stamped on the cover, his blonde shag haircut glistening in gold, and his leopard-print suit shimmering in silver.

After brilliant stints with the Jeff Beck Group and the Faces and several outstanding solo albums, Stewart moved to Los Angeles in 1974. STEWART 1975-1978 reflects the burst of creativity that followed, starting in 1975 with his label debut, Atlantic Crossing. The album was produced by the legendary Tom Dowd, who produced Stewart's next three albums.

That four-album run during the 1970s was one of Stewart's most successful. After Atlantic Crossing was certified gold, A Night On the Town went double-platinum, and Foot Loose & Fancy Free went triple-platinum, as did its follow-up Blondes Have More Fun, which became Stewart's first #1 album. That era introduced many of the singer's best-known tracks: ""Sailing,"" ""I Don't Want to Talk About It,"" ""I Was Only Joking,"" ""The First Cut Is the Deepest,"" ""You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim),"" ""Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"" and ""Hot Legs.""

The bonus LP, titled Encores 1975-1978, is a collection of 10 outtakes selected from the recording sessions for all four albums. The first side highlights five songs from the recent deluxe editions released for Atlantic Crossing and A Night on the Town. Songs include an alternate version of the B-side ""Rosie"" and a cover of the Bee Gees' ""To Love Somebody"" recorded with the influential Stax Records house band, Booker T. & The MG's. The flip side features five previously unreleased session outtakes from Foot Loose & Fancy Free and Blondes Have More Fun. Highlights include a cover of the Motown classic, ""You Really Got A Hold On Me,"" and the unreleased tracks ""Silver Tongue"" and ""Don't Hang Up."

Track Listing

Atlantic Crossing (1975) 

A1 Three Time Loser
A2 Alright For An Hour
A3 All In The Name Of Rock’ N’ Roll
A4 Drift Away
A5 Stone Cold Sober
B1 I Don’t Want To Talk About It
B2 It’s Not The Spotlight
B3 This Old Heart Of Mine
B4 Still Love You
B5 Sailing

A Night On The Town (1976) 

C1 Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright)
C2 The First Cut Is The Deepest
C3 Fool For You
C4 The Killing Of Georgie (Part I And II)
D1 The Balltrap
D2 Pretty Flamingo
D3 Big Bayou
D4 The Wild Side Of Life
D5 Trade Winds

Foot Loose & Fancy Free (1977) 

E1 Hot Legs
E2 You’re Insane
E3 You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim)
E4 Born Loose
F1 You Keep Me Hangin’ On
F2 (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want To Be Right
F3 You Got A Nerve
F4 I Was Only Joking

Blondes Have More Fun (1978) 

G1 Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?
G2 Dirty Weekend
G3 Ain’t Love A Bitch
G4 The Best Days Of My Life
G5 Is That The Thanks I Get?
H1 Attractive Female Wanted
H2 Blondes (Have More Fun)
H3 Last Summer
H4 Standin’ In The Shadows Of Love
H5 Scarred and Scared

Encores (1975-1978) 

I1 Holy Cow
I2 To Love Somebody
I3 Return To Sender
I4 Rosie (Early Version)
I5 Get Back (Alternate Version)
J1 You Really Got A Hold On Me
J2 Honey, Let Me Be Your Man
J3 Lost Love
J4 Silver Tongue
J5 Don’t Hang Up