Every Picture Tells A Story by Rod Stewart

Album: Every Picture Tells A Story (1971)

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Songfacts®:

This song recounts a series of misadventures endured by Stewart's globetrotting protagonist, culminating with his torrid romance with a "slit-eyed lady." (Political correctness has never exactly been Rod Stewart's calling card).

In the May 1995 issue of Mojo, Stewart said of the song: "I can remember the build up. You know what the song's about - your early teenage life when you're leaving home and you're exploring the world for yourself. Ronnie (Wood) and I rehearsed round my house at Muswell Hill and recorded it the next day. That whole album was done in 10 days, two weeks, about as long as it takes to get a drum sound right nowadays."
The song's title doesn't appear in the lyrics until the end... where it is repeated 24 times! ("Every picture tells a story, don't it?") >>
Suggestion credit:
Joshua - Twin Cities, MN, for above 2
Ron Wood, who played guitar and bass on this song, was Stewart's bandmade in Faces, extant from 1969-1975 concurrent with Stewart's solo career. Stewart got a lot of help from Wood on his early solo efforts, and also got contributions from his Faces mates Ronnie Lane and Ian McLagan.
"Every Picture Tells A Story" is the title track to Stewart's third album, his breakthrough thanks to the hit "Maggie May." Rod was still evolving as a songwriter so he included some covers on the album, including the Temptations classic "(I Know) I'm Losing You" and Bob Dylan's "Tomorrow Is A Long Time." The three songs on the album that he wrote or co-wrote, though, proved worthy: "Every Picture Tells A Story," "Maggie May," and "Mandolin Wind."
The female vocalist is Maggie Bell, a Scottish firebrand who was in a group called Stone The Crows. Also on backup vocals is Long John Baldry, who gave Stewart a big break when he brought him into his band in 1964.

Comments: 14

-=blackbeard=- from CaliforniaATTN: Coffeegod from Brandon, Ms - The guitar is tuned in Drop D (DADGBe) tuning instead of standard tuning (EADGBe).
Limomansuds from Farmington Hills, MiLove the female assist in the the harmony "she claimed that it just ain't natural". Great touch
Eric Kieffer from Coastal AlabamaThis is a Classic for anyone looking for foot stomping Soulfull Rock. Rod and Ronnie hit so many emotions of a mans life from Father wishing Son well with, “... See the World - ... But remember one thing don’t loose your head to a woman that would spend your bread...”. This song speaks and smiles at life from travel, free spirit, Women & approach mystique, French Police, Quotable Poets/Authors from school days to, “... make the best out of a bad joke and Laugh It Off...Ha!” I could play this and just sing, smile and you know that the volume must be loud to appreciate the Sensation!
Tony from San Diego, CaNever heard that early Rod intro on "Look..." Thnx u guys, very cool
Johnnys Cousin Steve from Villas, NjAwesome song...wasn't till I got the CD that I heard Rod's vocal slip on the line mentioned earlier..."Loo.............look how wrong you can be" Love that they left it in. I hate over polished music. Just hit record and let 'er rip!
Kelly from Durango, CoHey! I noticed that too about the pink floyd album! great song
Roberta from Carleton, MiPersonally, I don't think political correctness should be any singing artist's calling card. I feel that they say things in a song, the way they want them to be said. There's a reason.
Pat from Albuquerque, NmTex--it's "I couldn't quote you no Dickens, Shelley, or Keats." Dickens was best known as a novelist (A Christmas Carol is the best known in the US anyway, but there were many more). Shelley and Keats are poets. All lived in the 19th century. The point is that Rod's not all that literate, but he's told some good tales about his (then) young life in this song.
Tex from Farmingdirt, NyDuring the verse "I couldn't quote you no Dickins' Shelly' or Keyes',...Look how wrong you can be?" You hear the guitar do a quick arpeggio repeating over and over... how this relates... Leonard Cohen who grew to become a 50's poet and 60's artist playing music (guitar) was famous for quick arpeggio ....the 50's were the time Dickins' Shelly' and Keyes were in the public eye. I see this little verse is an omash to cohen who stewart and many other admired.
Coffeegod from Brandon, MsThe guitar that is played during the introduction and throughout most of the song has an out of tune string that is driving me nuts when I listen to it on headphones. Could be worse, I could forced to listen to office elevator music.
Stephen from Boston, MaListen for Rod coming in too early on the break where he sings "Look how wrong you can be".
Geanco from Kansas City, MoIn the movie--"Almost Famous", the scene where Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) is talking to the young Cameron Crowe an image goes across the car windshield. That image is a 'mirror image' of the album cover for "Dark Side of The Moon". Awfully sneaky Mr. Crowe.
Rob from Grand Rapids, MiGreat song. Part of an excellent "Almost Famous" soundtrack.
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScIave never been a Rod Stuart fan, but I kind of like this one actually.

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