Rod Stewart - Atlantic Crossing and A Night On The Town re-issues

For Rod Stewart, 1975 was a year of profound personal and professional change. Because of Britain’s high tax rate, he moved from London to Los Angeles, where he signed with Warner Bros. Records, and left his longtime mates in the Faces to finally commit himself as a solo artist.

His first two “American” albums - ATLANTIC CROSSING and A NIGHT ON THE TOWN - went gold and double platinum respectively, charting with signature hits like “I Don’t Want To Talk About It” and “Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright).”

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Along with Rod Stewart’s new home came a new producer, Tom Dowd, a man whose gifted ears led him to run sessions for some of Stewart’s soul idols, including Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and Ray Charles. It was Dowd’s idea to record Stewart with many of soul music’s legendary musicians: guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn, and drummer Al Jackson Jr., known as the MGs (minus Booker T.); and the Swampers, the renowned studio band from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, who played on many of Aretha Franklin’s best. This fresh beginning marks the point where Stewart left behind his frequently rustic, folk-inflected sound and replaced it with the glossy stadium anthems that would become his new imprimatur.

Stewart’s sixth album, ATLANTIC CROSSING became a hit in Britian and the U.S., where it was certified gold. It contains two of Stewart’s signature hits: “I Don’t Want To Talk About It” and “Sailing.” The latter became a #1 hit in the U.K. and a popular soccer anthem, a gratifying twist for Stewart, a rabid fan of the sport. Along with an alternate version of the album, the bonus disc also contains an eclectic trio of outtakes: the Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody,” Lee Dorsey’s “Holy Cow,” and Elvis Presley’s “Return To Sender.”

In 1976, Stewart returned with A NIGHT ON THE TOWN, a double-platinum success thanks to the #1 smash “Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright),” the definitive cover of Cat Stevens’ “The First Cut Is The Deepest,” and “The Killing Of Georgie” (Part I and II), a heartfelt tribute to Stewart’s friend, who was mugged and killed in New York. Stewart cut the majority of A NIGHT ON THE TOWN in Los Angeles with musicians who are credited as “The Garage Band,” a tongue-in-cheek reference to the caliber of players assembled for the album: the MGs once again as well as guitarists Joe Walsh, Jesse Ed Davis, David Lindley, and Fred Tackett.

The second disc features a preliminary treatment of Lennon/McCartney’s “Get Back” for the film All This And World War II, and two outtakes written by Stewart. The first, “Rosie,” was used as the B-side of “Killing Of Georgie.” The second, “Share,” features a gorgeous, understated guitar arrangement from an unidentified source that sounds suspiciously like Cropper.

ATLANTIC CROSSING and A NIGHT ON THE TOWN are both so similar conceptually, structurally, and musically that they are virtually of a piece. Each is a mix of covers and originals, split between fast and slow sides, produced by Tom Dowd, and recorded in Muscle Shoals and Los Angeles. Together the music captures an important evolution in Stewart’s iconic career.

Set for release June 29, 2009 - Rhino

COLLECTOR’S EDITION: ATLANTIC CROSSING

Track Listing

DISC 1

FAST HALF

1. “Three Time Loser”
2. “Alright For An Hour”
3. “All In The Name Of Rock ’N’ Roll”
4. “Drift Away”
5. “Stone Cold Sober”

SLOW HALF

6. “I Don’t Want To Talk About It”
7. “It’s Not The Spotlight”
8. “This Old Heart Of Mine”
9. “Still Love You”
10. “Sailing”

BONUS TRACK

11. “Skye Boat Song” – The Atlantic Crossing Drum & Pipe Band

DISC 2 – ALL PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. “To Love Somebody” (Studio Outtake) – with The MG’s
2. “Holy Cow” (Studio Outtake) – with The MG’s
3. “Return To Sender” (Studio Outtake) – with The MG’s

THE ALTERNATE ATLANTIC CROSSING

4. “Three Time Loser” (Alternate Version)
5. “Alright For An Hour” (Alternate Version)
6. “All In The Name Of Rock ’N’ Roll” (Alternate Version)
7. “Drift Away” (Alternate Version)
8. “Too Much Noise” (Early Version of “Stone Cold Sober”)
9. “I Don’t Want To Talk About It” (Alternate Version)
10. “It’s Not The Spotlight” (Alternate Version)
11. “This Old Heart Of Mine” (Alternate Version with The MG’s)
12. “Still Love You” (Alternate Version)
13. “Sailing” (Alternate Version)
14. “Skye Boat Song” (Alternate Version) – The Atlantic Crossing Drum & Pipe Band

COLLECTOR’S EDITION: A NIGHT ON THE TOWN

Track Listing

DISC 1

SLOW SIDE

1. “Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright)”
2. “The First Cut Is The Deepest”
3. “Fool For You”
4. “The Killing Of Georgie” (Part I And II)

FAST HALF

5. “The Balltrap”
6. “Pretty Flamingo”
7. “Big Bayou”
8. “The Wild Side Of Life”
9. “Trade Winds”

BONUS TRACK

10. “Rosie” (Bonus Track)

DISC 2 – ALL PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. “Share” (Studio Outtake)

THE ALTERNATE NIGHT ON THE TOWN

2. “Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright)” (Early Version)
3. “The First Cut Is The Deepest” (Early Version)
4. “Fool For You” (Early Version)
5. “The Killing Of Georgie” (Part I And II) (Early Version)
6. “The Balltrap” (Early Version)
7. “Pretty Flamingo” (Early Version)
8. “Big Bayou” (Early Version)
9. “The Wild Side Of Life” (Early Version)
10. “Trade Winds” (Early Version)
11. “Rosie” (Early Version)
12. “Get Back” (Alternate Version)

(Information subject to change.)

Rod Stewart Official Website