A Spanner in the Works

Rod Stewart's seventeenth studio album, A Spanner in the Works, came out in 1995, four years after the previous album, the hugely successful Vagabond Heart. A Spanner in the Works sort of sneaked by, I believe. It didn't quite generate the attention of some of Stewart's other albums, and that's a shame. To me, this is one of his best, and certainly one of my favorites.

Songs like Leave Virginia Alone, written by Tom Petty, Windy Town, and the upbeat Lady Luck are classic Stewart numbers. Then there's the beautiful Bob Dylan tune Sweetheart Like You, done up with classic Rod Stewart charm as well.

There are more great songs here too. All of them should be considered Stewart classics.

Check out this verse from Windy Town and imagine Rod's whiskey-soaked voice getting hold of the:

And on the bus there's a friend of mine.
We go way back to the scene of the crime.

Sit up front and share a cigarette,
And try to remember what we tried to forget.

And then there's this lyric from Lady Luck:

Lady Luck, ain't you the fickle kind.
Why are some folks lucky while the rest are tryin'?
You keep on playin', it's still a mystery.
You're laced with a touch of inconsistancy.

Then there's the sexy, infectious Delicious, featuring the guitar work of Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) and Rod's sleazier side. Here's a verse:

I've had new caviar, the boardwalk, and pink champagne.
I've seen the Mona Lisa, drank the wine of France and Spain.
I've smelled the rose of Finland, the tulips of Amsterdam.
I've heard the cool of Coltrane, the bells of Notre Dame.
But you know what honey?
You fill me up with desire.
You set my soul on fire, baby.
Let's take it down to the wire.
You're delicious.
I love your snake-white hips and your cherry-red lips.
Yes, yes, you're delicious.

And it's no secret listening to Rod Stewart when I was younger was a huge part of my musical upbringing. He was always a musical inspiration to me. On A Spanner in the Works, Rod pays tribute to some of his inspirations in the autobiographical song Muddy, Sam, and Otis (Muddy Waters, Sam Cooke, and Otis Redding, of course). Love these lyrics:

Stayed up all night
Playin' every 45
Tryin' to sound like you.
Strummed my guitar in bed
Till my fingers bled
Tryin' to play like you.

Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis,
Thank you Muddy
For the sounds you made.
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis,
Thank you, Muddy
For the times we shared.
And they carry on . . .

Thank you, Rod. Not only for A Spanner in the Works, but for all the great albums before and after.

Carry On.