2009 Reissue Album Review
4-stars
By Anthony Kuzminski
When people talk smack about Rod Stewart, it’s not because they hate him, but the opposite; deep down they truly love him. The truth is most people actually like Rod Stewart which is why they feel invested in his career choices. Ever since leaving The Faces most feel Stewart has been on a downward spiral and with every new tour and release, they let him know exactly how they feel. On the other hand, I was introduced to Rod during the 1980’s and I’ll admit to having a soft spot for his material from this period. Is it as potent as Every Picture Tells a Story? No, but that doesn’t mean some good songs weren’t written and recorded. One look at his Storyteller box set and you get the full scope of his career which is impressive (a side note, Rhino Records Faces box set Five Guys Walk Into A Bar… is one of the greatest box sets ever culled). While it’s unlikely he will ever return to the days of bluesy riffs and whiskey drenched vocals, he has had some periods that are a little less embarrassing than his “Love Touch” era. Beginning in 1988 with this Out of Order record, Stewart appeared more confident in his craft and began a bit of a comeback. Out of Order housed four top-forty singles and even had a few other heady album tracks. A cover of the Tom Waits song “Downtown Train” gave Stewart his biggest hit in a decade and the 1991 release of Vagabond Heart in 1991 helped further fuel his comeback. However, his most successful release (and most heralded) came as he took a look to the past with an old friend.Unplugged…and Seated is a refreshing release from Rod Stewart and may possibly be his best since the 1970’s. It’s a no frills affair showcasing Rod’s absolute voice, something that occasionally is lost amidst chaotic productions and songs that aren’t up to the talent of his voice. Unplugged shows were all the rage from 1990-1995 and Stewart’s is as refreshing as any of them. For possibly the only time since he left the Faces, he let the music do the talking. What better way to revisit the past than to invite his old Faces band mate Ron Wood? Wood sits in and adds to the air of revitalization as Stewart and his accomplished band whisk through the past with ease and vibration proving even the naysayers that Stewart still had much vitality left inside of him.
One of the reasons everyone will pay attention to a new Rod Stewart release is because of his voice. It’s an instrument that he wields with great prowess and showcases his ability to become many different characters. How else can you explain the generation coming before Stewart heralding him for his Great American Songbook records? The rock n’ roll era views these as a sell-out (mostly because of his association with Clive Davis) but in reality, if you’re going to do a series of covers, is there better material to draw from? However, by looking back to his own past, Stewart created his most essential album of his latter part career with Unplugged…and Seated. The album’s two most well known tracks, a Van Morrison cover of “Have I Told You Lately” and “Reason To Believe” may have been overplayed by FM programmers in 1994, alas, taken within the context of this performance, both are revelatory. In the reissue is a DVD of the performance allowing us to witness the tear Stewart shed during “Have I Told You Lately”. In a world where publicists carefully create an image to appeal youthful and cool, it was refreshing to not just see Stewart allow himself to be vulnerable, but to let his tender voice crack with sentiment. This is what makes this record so damn special. Instead of playing it safe, Stewart went back to the beginning and found his authentic voice. This isn’t a pop star looking for fame and glory, but a young turk exposing his soul.
“Hot Legs” and “Tonight’s The Night” sound enchanted in a reserved atmosphere while “Gasoline Alley” (one of the reissues bonus tracks) is cocked full of high octane riffs taking you back to Stewart’s youth. There are only two tracks that don’t quite work; “Forever Young” (a bonus track) and “Having A Party”. Try as they might, “Forever Young” never lifts off here and despite my reverence for the song, it makes me wonder if it is really that good of a song or if it was the syrupy arrangement I feel for. “Party” has a rather limp arrangement and delivery that teeters on karaoke. However, the rest of the tracks are fully formed and realized with impassioned vocals by Stewart and some great back up support by Ronnie Wood. At this time in his membership with the Rolling Stones, Wood was definitely second fiddle to Keith Richards and this was my first peak at his showmanship and how important he is to his musical brother Stewart. Their lack of musical projects over the last three decades is one of the music world’s great losses. Both are at their best when with each other. If you doubt me on this, one listen to “Every Picture Tells a Story” or “Stay With Me” will have you thinking otherwise.
If you do not have Unplugged…and Seated in your collection already, this is essential for any Rod Stewart and Ron Wood fan. It includes some excellent liner notes by Bud Scoppa in the new version. If you previously own it, the DVD is a nice addition and the inclusion of “Gasoline Alley” almost warrants you opening your wallet a second time just to hear Wood and Stewart share the same stage and microphone for one of a handful of times in the last thirty-three years.
Anthony Kuzminski is a Chicago based writer and Special Features Editor for the antiMusic Network and his daily writings can be read at The Screen Door and can be contacted at thescreendoor AT gmail DOT com.
