Smiler (album)

Smiler is the fifth studio album by English rock singer-songwriter Rod Stewart. It was released on 4 October 1974 by Mercury Records. It was his first album to be critically panned. It reached number 1 in the UK album chart, and number 13 in the US. The album was largely considered to be an unadventurous retread of what he had done before, including covers of Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke and Bob Dylan songs, as well as a duet with Elton John of John's song "Let Me Be Your Car". Stewart's one attempt at adventurousness was a cover of Carole King's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" where 'Woman' is switched to 'Man'. This track was selected for special derision by critics. The release of the album itself was held up for five months due to legal problems between Mercury Records and Warner Bros. Records.

Smiler
Studio album by
Rod Stewart
Released4 October 1974
RecordedMorgan Studios, London and The Wick, Richmond November 1973-May 1974
GenreRock and roll, folk rock, blue-eyed soul
Length42:24
LabelMercury
ProducerRod Stewart
Rod Stewart chronology
Sing It Again Rod
(1973)		 Smiler
(1974)		 Atlantic Crossing
(1975)
Singles from Smiler
  1. "Farewell" / "Bring It On Home to Me"/"You Send Me"
    Released: 1974
  2. "Mine for Me"
    Released: 1974

Musicians appearing on the album included members of Stewart's band Faces, as well as frequent collaborators Martin Quittenton (guitars), Pete Sears (bass & keyboards), and Mickey Waller (drums).

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideB–[2]
Rolling Stone(mixed)[3]
Džuboks(mixed)[4]

Track listing
  1. "Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller" (Chuck Berry) – 3:43
  2. "Lochinvar" (Pete Sears) – 0:25
  3. "Farewell" (Rod Stewart, Martin Quittenton) – 4:34
  4. "Sailor" – (Stewart, Ronnie Wood) 3:35
  5. "Bring It On Home to Me/You Send Me" (Sam Cooke) – 3:57
  6. "Let Me Be Your Car" (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) – 4:56
  7. "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler) – 3:54
  8. "Dixie Toot" – (Stewart, Ronnie Wood) 3:27
  9. "Hard Road" (Harry Vanda, George Young) – 4:27
  10. "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" Instrumental (Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe) – 1:32
  11. "Girl from the North Country" (Bob Dylan) – 3:52
  12. "Mine for Me" (Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney) – 4:02

A 1991 CD compilation called 'back 2 back – 2 for 1' combined Smiler with Gasoline Alley. However, tracks 2, 9 and 10, were left out on this release.

Personnel

References
  1. AllMusic review
  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. Rolling Stone review
  4. Konjović, S. "Rod Stewart – Smiler". Džuboks (in Serbian). Gornji Milanovac: Dečje novine (6 (second series)): 24.
  5. https://www.allmusic.com/album/smiler-mw0000195904/credits
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