Some albums were more fun to make than listen to. In 1977, superstardom afforded Rod Stewart a California jet-set lifestyle with cars, stars, and bars at his command. Stewart then was better throwing a party than making an album.

"Foot Loose and Fancy Free" is sloppy and undisciplined even by Stewart's late-70s standards. The rockers (except for the stomping "Hot Legs") are forced and flat, most notably the interminable "Born Loose." The ballads find Stewart losing his sense of empathy and style. He tosses off the second "Set me free, why don't you babe?" in "You Keep Me Hangin' On," losing the passion in what ends up a low-cal version of the Vanilla Fudge original. In "You've Got A Nerve," Stewart chides a pleading ex-girlfriend, singing, "Please, please, go away," as if someone hit the lights while he slept off a hangover.

Again, exceptions exist. Stewart and friends enjoy the jaunty "You're In My Heart" (kind of Rod's answer to "My Favorite Things"). The otherwise touching "I Was Only Joking" seems flat after spending the rest of the LP (a skimpy eight songs) dissing party girls and setting dirty jokes to music. In "Joking", Rod admits, "I wasted all that precious time, and blamed it on the wine." Take that as warning not to waste yours on "Foot Loose and Fancy Free," a half-hearted Stewart effort betraying a first-class backup band and any fans with reason to believe.

My cousin and I drove around in her yellow Opal, in 1977, listening to this 8-track over and over. It may only have 8 songs, but they're 8 GREAT songs. It brings back a lot of memories and is a must for any Rod Stewart fan.

Every song featured is a winner. I have the tape as well as the vinyl album. This is a Classic Recording. It means so much to me because it was my son's introduction to Rock N' Roll (see Jeff Draper review above). It hooked him on this style of music, and I personally love the arrangements and the music put together by a top notch band and recording engineer. A good investment for anyone.

I grew up listening to this album almost everyday. I used to play it over and over again, especially the drums in "Born Loose". Nothing beats the hard driving guitar riffs, Rod's true rock and roll voice, and Carmen Appice pounding on the skins. It's a true must for any die hard Rod Stewart fan or a true rock and roll fanatic.

This is a great CD!!! I had the album when it first came out. Hots Legs is a classic. Buy this CD. If there are any other Rod Stewart fans out there feel free to drop me a line.