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)
Tracks Of My Tears
Rod Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I tell a joke or two
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty
Deep inside I'm blue
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer it's easy to trace
I need you
Need you, need you,
Since you left me if you see me with another girl
Seeming like I'm having fun
Although she may be cute, she's just a substitute
'Cause you're the permanent one
So take a good look at my face
You' see my smile looks out of place
If you look a little bit closer it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
I need you...
Need you, need you,
Outside I'm masquerading
Inside my hope is fading
I'm just a clown since you put me down
My smile is my make up
I wear since my break-up with you
Baby, take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
Baby, baby baby baby take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
Look a little bit closer it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
In "Tracks of My Tears", Rod Stewart speaks to the facade he puts on to hide his internal anguish around others. As the life of the party, everyone perceives him to be happy-go-lucky, although he is deeply troubled within himself. He sings about the tracks of tears he leaves behind, hidden beneath his façade of laughter and cheerfulness. The lyrics also speak to the feelings and emotions one goes through after a break-up. Stewart confesses, “I’m just a clown since you put me down,” implying that he feels like a fool for putting on a show and attempting to move on from his past relationship so quickly. Although he is trying to have fun with other women, he knows they are nothing more than substitutes for the true love he lost, echoing the pain of a broken heart.
Line by Line Meaning
People say I'm the life of the party
People think I'm really fun and outgoing
'Cause I tell a joke or two
Because I'm always cracking jokes
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty
Even though I seem really happy
Deep inside I'm blue
I'm actually really sad
So take a good look at my face
If you look at me closely
You'll see my smile looks out of place
You'll notice that my smile doesn't match how I really feel
If you look closer it's easy to trace
If you pay closer attention
The tracks of my tears
You'll see the signs that I've been crying
Since you left me if you see me with another girl
If you see me with someone else since you left me
Seeming like I'm having fun
Appearing like I'm enjoying myself
Although she may be cute, she's just a substitute
But the truth is, she's just a replacement
'Cause you're the permanent one
Because you're the one I really want
Outside I'm masquerading
On the outside, I'm pretending
Inside my hope is fading
But inside, I'm losing hope
I'm just a clown since you put me down
I'm just pretending to be happy since you broke up with me
My smile is my make up
I use my smile as a cover up
I wear since my break-up with you
Ever since we broke up
Baby, baby baby baby take a good look at my face
Please look at me closely
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARVIN TARPLIN, SMOKEY ROBINSON, WARREN MOORE, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MJJT'S Vlog
Great voice 👏👏👏
Krista Meza
I must have listened to 20 different versions of this song today.... and Rod made me cry.🖤💜🖤🦇
Dorothy Kuveke
A song all of us know oh , too well 💔💔 The tracks of My tears! Once again Rod you did a great job in singing it 💔💯💔
Dorothy Kuveke
As Rod sings with Smokey in back round💯 both truly make that pain that over takes you 💋come to life💔💋💔
Mizbehavin
What an awesome version! Smoke and honey!
Maysa Bonfim
Essa canção toca no fundo da minha alma, é maravilhoso saber que ainda existem pessoas sensíveis para interpretar essas pérolas musicais. Musica é uma ciência celestial. Só poderia ter sido criada por Deus mesmoo!!!!
Marleen Wlnters
Rod is the greatest ever, no doubt about it.
N Wong
Rod , you really rock !
Alice Fleming
Rod Stewart is One of My favorite singers.
funsoona
great song..great singer!