Stewart's music career began in 1962 when he took up busking with a harmonica. In 1963, he joined The Dimensions as a harmonica player and vocalist. In 1964, Stewart joined Long John Baldry and the All Stars before moving to the Jeff Beck Group in 1967. Joining Faces in 1969, he also maintained a solo career releasing his debut album that year. Stewart's early albums were a fusion of rock, folk music, soul music, and R&B. His third album, 1971's Every Picture Tells a Story, was his breakthrough, topping the charts in the UK, US, Canada and Australia, as did its ballad "Maggie May". His 1972 follow-up album, Never a Dull Moment, also reached number one in the UK and Australia, while going top three in the US and Canada. Its single, "You Wear It Well", topped the chart in the UK and was a moderate hit elsewhere.
After Stewart had a handful more UK top ten hits, the Faces broke up in 1975. Stewart's next few hit singles were ballads with "Sailing", off the 1975 UK and Australian number-one album, Atlantic Crossing, becoming a hit in the UK and the Netherlands (number one), Germany (number four) and other countries, but barely charting in North America. A Night on the Town (1976), his fifth straight chart-topper in the UK, began a three-album run of going number one or top three in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia with each release. That album's "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" spent almost two months at number one in the US and Canada, and made the top five in other countries. Foot Loose & Fancy Free (1977) contained the hit "You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)" as well as the rocker "Hot Legs". Blondes Have More Fun (1978) and its disco-tinged "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" both went to number one in Canada, Australia and the US, with "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" also hitting number one in the UK and the top ten in other countries. Stewart's albums regularly hit the upper rungs of the charts in the Netherlands throughout the 70s and in Sweden from 1975 onward.
After a disco and new wave period in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Stewart's music turned to a soft rock/middle-of-the-road style, with most of his albums reaching the top ten in the UK, Germany and Sweden, but faring less well in the US. The single "Rhythm of My Heart" was a top five hit in the UK, US and other countries, with its source album, 1991's Vagabond Heart, becoming, at number ten in the US and number two in the UK, his highest-charting album in a decade. In 1993, he collaborated with Bryan Adams and Sting on the power ballad "All for Love", which went to number one in many countries. In the early 2000s, he released a series of successful albums interpreting the Great American Songbook.
In 2008, Billboard magazine ranked him the 17th most successful artist on the "Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists". A Grammy and Brit Award recipient, he was voted at No. 33 in Q Magazine's list of the Top 100 Greatest Singers of all time. As a solo artist, Stewart was inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and he was inducted a second time into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 as a member of Faces.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Stewart
Studio albums
An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down (1969)
Gasoline Alley (1970)
Every Picture Tells a Story (1971)
Never a Dull Moment (1972)
Smiler (1974)
Atlantic Crossing (1975)
A Night on the Town (1976)
Foot Loose & Fancy Free (1977)
Blondes Have More Fun (1978)
Foolish Behaviour (1980)
Tonight I'm Yours (1981)
Body Wishes (1983)
Camouflage (1984)
Every Beat of My Heart (1986)
Out of Order (1988)
Vagabond Heart (1991)
A Spanner in the Works (1995)
When We Were the New Boys (1998)
Human (2001)
It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook (2002)
As Time Goes By: The Great American Songbook, Volume II (2003)
Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III (2004)
Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook, Volume IV (2005)
Still the Same... Great Rock Classics of Our Time (2006)
Soulbook (2009)
Once in a Blue Moon: The Lost Album (2010)
Fly Me to the Moon... The Great American Songbook Volume V (2010)
Merry Christmas, Baby (2012)
Time (2013)
Another Country (2015)
Blood Red Roses (2018)
The Tears of Hercules (2021)
Italian Girls
Rod Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was dreaming of a mobile that couldn't be mine
Not without lyin'
Was I feeling kind a silly
When I stepped in soakin' beer down the cola machine
Oh, stayin' seventeen
Well she claimed she was a killer
And she owned a floodlit villa
Oh, take me way down yonder, woo
She was tall, thin and tarty
And she drove a Maserati
Faster than sound
I was heaven bound
Although I must have looked a creep
In my army surplus Jeep
Was I being too bold
Before the night could get old
No, no, no, no, no
She proved me so wrong
Oh the Italian girls sometimes hold their religious habits
In front of your eyes, just to get you tied
Ah, but not my little Bella 'cause I did not have to tell her
That I'd be gone, with the morning sun
She made me so tired, woo
She took me way, way, away down yonder
Then I was gone with the morning sun on my back, woo
Gotta get on back there soon as I can
Take me there
And I miss the girl so bad
Oh yeah, wait a minute
She broke my heart
She broke my heart
She broke my heart, woo
Gotta get on back there soon as I can
I miss the girl, I miss the girl, I miss the girl so bad
I was a lot better off
"Italian Girls" is a song by Rod Stewart that describes his time at the Turin Motor Show, where he found himself daydreaming of owning a luxurious car. However, his attention is quickly diverted when he meets a tall and beautiful Italian girl who drives a Maserati. Despite feeling out of place in his army surplus Jeep, Stewart tries to impress her but is quickly shot down. The girl, however, proves him wrong by taking him on a wild ride through the Italian countryside.
The lyrics are full of vivid imagery and showcase Stewart's ability to transport the listener to a different time and place. He paints a picture of the Italian girls holding their religious habits in front of their eyes to get him tied, but his little Bella didn't have to resort to such tactics because she knew he'd be gone with the morning sun. The song is a classic example of the rock and roll genre that Stewart was known for in the late 70s and early 80s, with catchy guitar riffs and an upbeat tempo.
Line by Line Meaning
At the Turin Motor Show
The singer is reminiscing about a time when he was at a motor show in Turin.
I was dreaming of a mobile that couldn't be mine
The singer was imagining having a car that he couldn't afford.
Not without lyin'
The singer felt that he would have to lie to get the car he wanted.
Was I feeling kind a silly
The singer was unsure if his desire for the car made him look foolish.
When I stepped in soakin' beer down the cola machine
The singer got distracted by the cola machine and accidentally spilled his beer on it.
Oh, stayin' seventeen
The singer reflects on his youth and how he felt when he was 17.
Well she claimed she was a killer
The singer met a woman who claimed to be dangerous.
And she owned a floodlit villa
The woman also owned an impressive house with lots of lighting.
A little aways from the main highway
The house was situated some distance from the main road.
Oh, take me way down yonder, woo
The singer wants to visit this woman and her home in a distant location.
She was tall, thin and tarty
The woman the singer met was tall and wore clothing that some might consider revealing or seductive.
And she drove a Maserati
The woman had an expensive car.
Faster than sound
The woman drove her car very quickly.
I was heaven bound
The singer felt excited and exhilarated by the woman's company.
Although I must have looked a creep
The singer thinks that he might have looked suspicious or odd to others while interacting with this woman.
In my army surplus Jeep
The singer was driving an older Jeep model that he had bought from a military surplus store.
Was I being too bold
The singer wondered if he was being too pushy or daring while interacting with the woman.
Before the night could get old
The singer wanted to enjoy spending time with the woman for as long as possible.
No, no, no, no, no
The singer emphasizes that he wasn't deterred by anything at this point.
She proved me so wrong
Something happened that surprised the singer and made him question his previous thoughts or assumptions.
Oh the Italian girls sometimes hold their religious habits
The singer observed that some Italian women wear religious garments and display these to express their faith.
In front of your eyes, just to get you tied
Some women might use their religious habits as a tactic to attract men and get them to commit to a relationship.
Ah, but not my little Bella 'cause I did not have to tell her
The woman the singer met was not like this; she didn't need to use tricks to make him want her.
That I'd be gone, with the morning sun
The singer knew that he would have to leave eventually, as he couldn't stay with the woman forever.
She made me so tired, woo
The singer was exhausted by spending time with this woman in a good way.
She took me way, way, away down yonder
The woman took the singer to a remote location far from his usual surroundings.
Then I was gone with the morning sun on my back, woo
The next morning, the singer left and went back to his usual life feeling energized by the experience he had.
Gotta get on back there soon as I can
The singer wants to see the woman again as soon as possible.
Take me there
The singer desires to be taken back to the place where he met this woman again.
And I miss the girl so bad
The singer wishes he could be with this woman again.
Oh yeah, wait a minute
The singer pauses and takes a moment to think about his feelings.
She broke my heart
The singer experienced heartbreak because he couldn't be with this woman all the time.
Gotta get on back there soon as I can
The singer is more motivated than ever to return and be with this woman once again.
I miss the girl, I miss the girl, I miss the girl so bad
The singer repeats that he really wants to be with this woman again, emphasizing the intensity of his feelings.
I was a lot better off
The singer reflects on how this woman has changed his life for the better.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Rod Stewart, Ronald David Wood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jiml9062
Seriously plucks at the heartstrings, remembering the 70's, now that I am 70, I would forsake everything and go back in a heartbeat to the times I was happiest. Life in this generation is just S Hit. Anyone want a ticket for the bus?
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@raymondanthony8651
This album is nothing short of musical magical genius. Listen to the intrical chords weaving together making a mosaic of amazing depth of sound. Each song building up along with amazing lyrics. This one of the best albums anywhere anytime.
@Frip36
Yep songs are all dirty swampy and sloppy tight. Rod is the best voice. Forget Van Morrison.
@VanirTraditionalist
Ronnie Wood has never received the level of recognition he deserves for his stellar work with Rod and Faces.
@lyndamcardle4123
I advise listeners to concentrate on the killer classical acoustic guitar lead riffs from the late Martin Quittenton - who is also the co-composer of "Maggie May", "You Wear It Well" and "Farewell" along with "Henry" (instrumental) - which opens side two of EPTAS...and a shout out too for Ray Jackson (mandolin) and the late Dick Powell on (jazz violin)...
@trafalgar624
Hard to believe it's fifty years since this album was released, I remember buying it as a young lad, I still play it today. Classic Rod!
@randallkoch6215
Same here.
@dodgedandle8311
This song is the epitome of a young mans joy . Pure Rock,n,Roll joy and one of my all time favourite songs and the Album Never a Dull Moment is Rod and Ronnie Woods Masterpiece and all and Sundry at their Sunshine ☀️ BEST .. Lovely Memories ❤️❤️👍🏻🌞⭐️ . I Miss the Girl so Bad 😫❤️👍🏻🌞
@kimlathem9235
Makes this Italian girl remember YOUTH. Glad I made it out alive!!
@josephargentiero5964
A perfect album.
@scotttbeee2912
“Then I was gone with the morning sun on my back”. Such a killer line.