The period 1969-1974 is for some the era when Rock peaked. An incredibly fertile period, featuring genres such as glam, singer/songwriter, Californian country rock, Southern rock, jam band, hard rock and progressive, it saw many artists come out from under the long shadow of the Beatles and the 60s and, inspired by the Fab Four, reach their primes. Artists like Elton John, Led Zep, Cat Stevens, The Grateful Dead, James Taylor, David Bowie, and not least the Rolling Stones hit amazing strides and levels of artistry, ambition, and creativity. This was the time when artists were still forced by the very nature of the biz to be prolific--albums were due preferably twice a year. The pressure was intense but for the best of the best, it spurred them to new heights.

Rod Stewart was no exception. Starting out in the mid-60s in various soul/rnb/blues outfits, Rod The Mod was a "face" about the scene, just under the star radar but already known as much for his raspy vocals as his stylish clothes and hair. When he hooked up in 1967 with guitar wizard Jeff Beck, he couldn't have known that the two hard-rocking bluesy albums they made together with Ron Wood on bass and Mick Waller on drums would be considered important milestones in the history of hard rock.

But Rod was more than just a blues, soul, or hard rock singer, more than just a sidekick to a gifted guitarist. He was also an artist with a capital A and it would be the 5 albums he made for Mercury between 1969-1974 that would reveal his true talents. This set brings together for the first time all the solo material he made for Mercury, including the 5 solo albums and various B-sides and other rare tracks. The result is a goldmine of amazing music showcasing a diverse talent who could not only interpret and arrange other's music ingeniously, but could also write timeless original music as well. Folk, blues, rnb/soul, Celtic, pub rock, harder rock- it's all here. Never has Rod's voice sounded so special, so rich, so in control. The seamlessness of the originals and non-originals in this set is a credit to the man who some say would never reach these peaks of creativity again, having eventually succumbed as many artists have to the temptations and distractions of fame, image, money, lovers, and parties, and the natural process of aging that effects us all.

The first two excellent albums (The Rod Stewart Album and Gasoline Alley) show an artist already sure of the sound and arrangements he wants. The next two shot Rod into the realm of superstardom- Every Picture Tells A Story and Never A Dull Moment remain sensational records in all ways. Smiler offers good music but seems to suffer from various excesses and incertainties- an artist moving perhaps too fast, burning the candle at both ends, tiring of the dual life of solo and leader of the Faces, and running dry on inspiring new material. Trying to find a new direction. It struggles to satisfy, offering generic rockers, covers, and uncomfortable strings. But it still isn't a bad album! The B-sides and rarities are on a whole excellent and add to the set.

Rod would soon move to America, change band members, change record companies, become a Hollywood jetsetter, and mutate into a cash cow hit machine/concert attraction/sex symbol to the point of parody. Sure he would have some good songs after 1974- many of his hits remain guilty pleasures- but it was the Mercury period that marked Rod as an Artist Par Excellence, on level with the best in the album rock biz of the time.

Get this box, it is truly a collection to be cherished. And for an important compliment, showcasing his other persona of the period- the boozy lad- get the best of Faces too!

Awesome to finally see all of these albums compiled into one box set plus some bonus tracks. I recommend going for the complete Early Rod experience and buying the following:

- This box set

- Faces - five guys walk into a bar...box set

- Faces - A Nod is as good as a wink...

- Jeff Beck - Truth & Beck Ola

- Ron Wood - I've got my own album to do

Can't go wrong

If you wanted to make a case that Rod Stewart was one of the greatest rockers of all time then you would have to present.

"Reason to Believe: Complete Mercury Recordings": AS "Exhibit A"

This is a must for everyone love him or not! Every track is wonderfully remastered and sounds like it was recorded yesterday. Of course there are the Stewart Classics like "Maggie May", "Every Picture Tells a Story", "You Wear It Well", "Handbags & Gladrags", "Reason to Believe" and "Mandolin Wind" to name a few. But when you listen to this collection in it's entirety you will find rare hidden gem Stewart originals such as "An old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down", "Gasoline Alley", "Lady Day"(a great one!), "Lost Paraguayos", "Italian Girls" and "Missed You" (previously unreleased in the US). Along with three terrific Dylan covers "Tomorrow Is A Long Time", "Girl From The North Country" and my favorite cover of them all "Mama You Been On My Mind". Other notable songs include

These along with many other enjoyable tunes on this collection prove that Rod Stewart is among the elite recording artists of our time.

A must!!!!!!!!!

Rod Stewart's early career rode a phenomenal burst of inspiration. He wrote some fantastic songs, created with his sidemen a unique acoustic/electric folk-rock blend, created an affecting persona through his voice and lyrics of a young man trying to make sense of some wild experiences and heartbreaks, and did some of the most creative "covers" of classic songs, including several definitive versions of lesser-known Dylan tunes.

My personal top ten from this collection:

10. "Cut Across Shorty." An Eddie Cochran tune, this driving arrangement is the prototype for the classic "Every Picture Tells a Story."

9. "Bring it on Home To Me/You Send Me." From the admittedly weaker third disc, this lovingly performed Sam Cooke medley is a sing-along highlight from his final Mercury album.

8. "Dirty Old Town." Almost cinematic, this gem reeks of the scene he describes.

7. "Gasoline Alley." The title track from his moody second album, it's almost the flip side of "Dirty Old Town," affectionate for the memories of a funky old place. Great slide guitar playing.

6. "Lost Paraguayos." A sordid scene rendered with lusty good humor; the ringing guitar a perfect soundtrack for chaos.

5. "Tomorrow is a Long Time." The second-best Dylan cover in the set, this is a perfect performance.

4. "Maggie May." Surely the most familiar of all Rod's early songs, this huge hit made his career. And deservedly so. This is a song of great integrity, and people will be singing along with it forever.

3. "Mama You've Been on My Mind." The best of his Dylan covers; perfectly portrays this unreliable narrator's turmoil as he comes to recognize that maybe his ramblin' days are about to end for the best reason of all.

2. "True Blue." Actually a Faces song that he shifted to a solo album, this is his best rendition of the young man in search of adventure, even better than "Every Picture..." Rocks with authority.

1. "You Wear it Well" Possibly the most romantic song this side of Van Morrison. Heartbreaking and true, and sung beautifully.

Some folks get mad at Rod that he didn't continue in this vein. I certainly was mad for years... but now with time you see that inspiration like this is a gift from a divine source, and it exists only to be appreciated, like a great sunset.

By far the best collection of Rod's early years (1969 - 1974),this collection contains all five Faces-era solo albums(The Rod Stewart Album,Gasoline Alley,Every Picture Tells A Story,Never A Dull Moment,and Smiler),as well as single-only A and B sides.Includes classics such as Maggie May,You Wear It Well,Gasoline Alley,Twistin' The Night Away,Every Picture Tells A Story,True Blue,Angel,Reason To Believe,Handbags And Gladrags,(I Know)I'm Losing You,It's All Over Now,Lost Paraguayos,Mandolin Wind,and Sweet Little Rock'N Roller. Also features his version of Pinball Wizard (recorded for The Who's film adaptation of Tommy, for which Rod was first offered the part of the Pinball Wizard. When Elton John was eventually cast in the part,the rest was history. Rod's version would appear later on a two-record best-of set). Five studio out-takes complete this three-disc package,and the price is pretty reasonable for all that you get!!! Great booklet with photos,notes/info.,etc......if you love the music of The Faces and Rod's early years,this is an excellent solo set you can't pass by - NEVER A DULL MOMENT!!!!!