Gasoline Alley (album)

Gasoline Alley
Studio album by
Rod Stewart
Released12 June 1970
RecordedFebruary–April 1970
StudioMorgan Studios, London
Length42:30
LabelMercury, Vertigo
ProducerRod Stewart, Lou Reizner
Rod Stewart chronology
An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down
(1969) 		Gasoline Alley
(1970) 		Every Picture Tells a Story
(1971)

Gasoline Alley is the second solo studio album by the British singer-songwriter Rod Stewart. It was released on 12 June 1970 by Vertigo Records. It is a collection of covers combined with Stewart's own compositions. Like many of Stewart's solo albums from the period, it featured significant musical contributions from the other members of his band Faces.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
Christgau's Record GuideA−
Rolling Stone(favourable)
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Village VoiceB+

The album was well received, with Langdon Winner of Rolling Stone feeling that Stewart had "a rare sensitivity for the delicate moments in a person's existence", and that this, Stewart's second solo album, was the work "of a supremely fine artist".

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Gasoline Alley"Stewart, Ronnie Wood4:02
2."It's All Over Now"Bobby Womack, Shirley Jean Womack6:22
3."Only a Hobo"Bob Dylan4:13
4."My Way of Giving"Ronnie Lane, Steve Marriott3:55
5."Country Comfort"Elton John, Bernie Taupin4:42
6."Cut Across Shorty"Wayne P. Walker, Marijohn Wilkin6:28
7."Lady Day"Stewart3:57
8."Jo's Lament"Stewart3:24
9."You're My Girl (I Don't Want to Discuss It)"Dick Cooper, Beth Beatty, Ernie Shelby4:27
CD bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."It's All Over Now (single version)"Bobby Womack, Shirley Jean Womack3:35

Personnel

  • Rod Stewart – lead vocals, acoustic guitar on "Jo's Lament"
  • Ronnie Wood – guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar
  • Martin Quittenton – acoustic guitar
  • Stanley Matthews – mandolin
  • Ronnie Lane – bass on "My Way Of Giving" and "You're My Girl", backing vocals on "My Way Of Giving"
  • Pete Sears – piano on "Country Comfort", bass on "Cut Across Shorty".
  • Ian McLagan – piano, Hammond organ (the UK credit list notes: "Mac not available due to bus strike", while the US release credits him)
  • Mick Waller – drums
  • Kenney Jones – drums on "My Way Of Giving" and "You're My Girl"
  • William Gaff – whistle
  • Dennis O'Flynn, Dick Powell – violin
  • Jack Reynolds – backing vocals on "Country Comfort"

Production

  • Producers – Rod Stewart and Lou Reizner
  • Mastering – Gilbert Kong at Masterdisk (New York, NY)
  • Album Design and Photography – Marcus Keef at Colbeck Mews, Kensington

Notable covers by other artists

  • Elkie Brooks later achieved a hit with a version of the title track in 1983.
Chart (1983) Peak Position Ref.
UK Top 100 Airplay 12
UK Singles Charts 52
Irish Singles Charts 15

Charts

Chart (1970-71) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 24
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 32
UK Albums (OCC) 62
US Billboard 200 27

References

  1. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Gasoline Alley - Rod Stewart | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 13 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ a b c Winner, Langdon (3 September 1970). "Gasoline Alley | Album Reviews | Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  4. ^ "Rod Stewart: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  5. ^ Christgau, Robert (30 July 1970). "Consumer Guide (12)". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  6. ^ "Rod Stewart – Gasoline Alley (1970, Gatefold, Vinyl)". Discogs. June 1970.
  7. ^ "Musical Maps".
  8. ^ "Record Business" (PDF). Airplay Charts. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Elkie Brooks Chart History: Top 75". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Elkie Brooks Chart". Ireland Archive Charts. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  11. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 295. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5199". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  13. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  14. ^ "Rod Stewart Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2025.