Gasoline Alley - ROD STEWART****

Gasoline Alley/Its All Over Now/My Way Of Giving/Country Comfort/Cut Across Shorty/Lady Day/Jo's Lament/I Don't Want To Discuss This

Gasoline Alley was the quick follow up from rock vocalist Rod Stewart before he became a mega star. The dynamism and inventiveness of his early 1970s releases backed up by The Faces, makes a stark contrast with the blandness of his later output. (US:27 UK:62)

"An even stronger set than Rod Stewart's debut album, with The Faces allowing themselves to be a bit more of a distinctive presence this time. Rocking out a bit more, Stewart and the gang are not afraid to wear their Stones influence on their sleeves, but at the same time offer their own distinctive take on a blues-rock sound."

"Gasoline Alley is one of Rod Stewart's finest albums, a part of his plaid-wearing 'Rod The Mod' phase, during which he took on many roles- sensitive singersongwriter, aggressive rocker, subtle interpreter - and made them all an equally important part of who he was. Most of the songs are covers, but he makes them his own. This is an LP you must own if you love good, folksy rock & roll."

"More of the same from Rod with a nice blend of covers and originals and The Faces a bit more in evidence to help out with the backing. The title track is a mandolin fuelled joy, Its Only A Hobo is one of the best Dylan covers and Rod fairly nails Its All Over Now (even if its a little too long). There are one or two weaker tracks but it is certainly as good as the debut."

"Rod really put together a string of fine albums in the early seventies. As for Gasoline Alley, the pieces really fit on the album, and Rod by himself, is only one piece. He found himself at the centre of some great production, arrangements, songwriters, and musicians, co-operating perfectly to result in some superb albums that are unfortunately, but truly, mis-credited to a solo artist. Metaphorically, this is the practice shot before hitting the bull's eye on the next album."

"Back in the early seventies, when Rod Stewart had not yet abandoned his own artistic path in order to become a spiky-haired, glitzy pop singer in pink outfits, he wrote some of the best folk rock songs, turned out some of the best cover tunes, and worked with one of the best backing bands ever. How could a man who could make a record as good as this one become what he is today? This is such a fine recording. His unusual mix of acoustic and electric, mandolins and violins never loses its ability to evoke joy and pleasure."