I originally bought this in LP form way back in the mid-1970's (before Rod turned all Disco on us!) In my opinion, it's an outstanding collection of some of his best work, from huge hits like "Maggie May", "Reason to Believe", and "You Wear it Well", to lesser-known but still-beautiful songs like "Mandolin Wind" and "Gasoline Alley". This is Rod Stewart at his best!

First off, what is with this album's cover? Seriously though...

Anyway, maybe releasing a compilation after releasing a mere four albums was a bad move. I don't know. But you know what? I don't really care--this is still a great collection. I especially like the titular Casablanca reference.

Okay, so here we go...

Reason to Believe--8.5/10. A fine song, but the ending is a bit on the repetitive side.

You Wear It Well--9.5/10. One of the best post-breakup songs ever written. I especially appreciate how he isn't begging the girl to come back. But the fiddle does grind one's nerves.

Mandolin Wind--10/10. I'm no country fan (there's a steel guitar, which I consider a headache) and I still give this a 10. You've gotta here this, it's one of the best romantic songs ever written.

Country Comforts--6.5/10. Just kind of there, not all that good but not all that bad at least!

Maggie Mae--11/10. What can I say about this that hasn't been said before? It's brilliant. It's classic. It's one of the first rock songs I ever liked. Rod's ballad about loving an older woman never gets old.

Handbags and Gladrags 10/10.--Whoa, Rod could play some fine ballads too! Sure it's a cover, but it's one of the best of all-time. Musically, it's got a little of everything (Brass, flute, strings), but he really keeps it from slipping into bombast. And the lyrics are incredible.

Street Fighting Men--10/10. It's an acoustic rocker (you have to hear it to believe it). Though I perfer the original, this is still a fine song.

Twistin' the Night Away--8/10. Good fun. Play it at a party, and you'll get good reaction.

Los Paraguoyos--9/10. This is the kind of song that probably wouldn't show up on most other Rod collections. Too bad, it's another good, fun song with a sense of humor.

(I Know) I'm Losing You--10/10. Ronnie Wood riffs at his best, the drum solo is mindblowing, and then there's Rod's delivery...he just turns the Temptations classic inside-out and backwards, and the result is genius.

Pinball Wizard--5/10. Okay, everyone and their cousin's pet aardvark has covered this song. But why the orchestra? Why, Rod, why????

Gasoline Alley--10/10. Another great ballad here. Oh, and someone tell Bernie Taupin that ripping off other people's songs is a dumb idea. (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is definetly this song's clone.)

Buy this now!

Say what you want about The Great American Songbook albums. Rod Stewart has enough money and legacy to do what he wants. But there was once a time when he was known as Rod the Mod. And this 1973 collection perfectly captures it. The album design originally came in the shape of a shot glass with a reflection of Rod's smiling face inside the glass.

There are 4 songs from his 1971 masterpiece Every Picture Tells A Story, the introspective breakup "Maggie Mae," the soulful cover of Rare Earth's "(I Know) I'm Losing You," the hoping against hope "Reason To Believe" (how can you not love Ian McLagan's keyboard work here?)and the winsome and laid-back "Mandolin Wind." Included from his 1969 solo debut The Rod Stewart Album (known in the UK as An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down) are the Stones' "Street Fighting Man" (Rod was known for covering other people's songs even then and added his own special flavor) and the lovely and gently wry "Handbags And Gladrags" one of the great exhortations to grow up, backed by an oboe and strings. From Gasoline Alley is the title track and his charming take on Elton John's "Country Comfort." The one and only "rarity" included here is his heavily orchestrated version of "Pinball Wizard" with an orchestra and choir, which sounds almost out of place with the other songs. Finally, from Rod's 1972 Never A Dull Moment, you get Rod's swinging take on Otis Redding's "Twistin' The Night Away," one of the finest breakup songs without a touch of resentment "You Wear It Well" (Rod exhorts his ex to still be friends though he still loves her) and "Los Paraguoyos" a fun tounge in cheek number which Ron co-wrote with former Face Ronnie Wood.

If you want to know how Rod became such a legend, this collection is a good place to start. Cheers!