Tag Archives: Dennis Morgan

Music Monday: January 20, 2025

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

Blog 2025

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Happy 80th birthday to Sir Roderick David Stewart. Born on January 10, 1945 in London, the man more informally known as Rod Stewart has been one of the most solid, most consistent and most fabulous voices in all of music & a staple of the classic rock genre. He continues to bring his love of soul, Motown and R&B to every note he gives us. And I have loved nearly every minute of it and yes, that includes “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy”. It was 1978, after all.

His is one of the earliest voices I can recall hearing in my childhood. His distinctive raspy sound never disappoints me and always takes me on a virtual trip over across the last six decades he has been a part of. Influenced by the voices of Little Richard, Sam Cooke & Otis Redding, Stewart brought that inspiration to his early days on his first official single of “Good Morning, School Girl” in 1964. That was followed by his days as a member of The Jeff Beck Group (1967-1969) and The Faces (1969-1975) which not only gave Stewart an incredible foundation in his career but also forged lifelong friendships with Beck (who inducted Stewart into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1994) and Ron Wood.

Stewart embraced the video era of the 1980’s which eventually made way to one of the best acoustic concerts with 1993’s Unplugged…And Seated where he was joined by Wood. Stewart has embraced so many different musical genres including the pivot to his Great American Songbook series starting in 2002 and his collaboration with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2019. And yet I still cannot wait to see what he does next. Happy birthday, Rod Stewart.

Rod Stewart 1971
Rod and Ron 1970
Ron and Rod unplugged
Rod Stewart Philharmonic

Top: Rod Stewart circa 1971. Second: Ron Wood (L) with Stewart circa 1970. Third: Wood (L) joins Stewart (R) for his MTV “Unplugged” performance filmed in February 1993. Bottom: Stewart in the studio with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2019. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

The Faces: “Stay With Me” (1971, written by Rod Stewart and Ron Wood).

Rod Stewart: “Maggie May” (1971, written by Martin Quittenton and Rod Stewart).

Rod Stewart: “My Heart Can’t Tell You No” (1988, written Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan).

Rod Stewart: “Downtown Train” (1989, written by Tom Waits).

Rod Stewart: “Maggie May” (with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) (2019, written by Martin Quittenton and Rod Stewart).

Until next time, happy listening!!!

Let’s Take A Moment Day 301

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Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

Shakespeare music

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

Time for another rock & roll birthday. Rod Stewart was born on January 10, 1945 in London, England making this birthday his 76th. His long and varied career started in the 1960’s as a member of a few bands including The Jeff Beck Group & The Faces before he completely focused exclusively on his solo career in the 1970’s. His first hit single “Maggie May” (see Day 242), a #1 hit for five weeks in the US in 1971, established his career and he never looked back. His music embraces soul, rock, dance, pop, Christmas and the big band genres.

I absolutely LOVE today’s song, I love the video for it, too & I love this time in Stewart’s career. This track is from his 1988 album, Out Of Order. which also featured “Forever Young”, “Lost In You” & Stewart’s cover of “Try A Little Tenderness”, a hit for Otis Redding in 1966. Stewart was well past the disco tunes, heavily immersed in his love for all things soul & doing great covers like his duet with Ronald Isley on “This Old Heart Of Mine” in 1989 followed by the Tom Waits beauty, “Downtown Train” later the same year. Rod Stewart is another voice that has followed me my whole life through a number of fantastic songs including today’s.

“I don’t want you to come ’round here no more
I beg you for mercy
You don’t know how strong my weakness is
Or how much it hurts me“.

Rod circa 2017

Rod Stewart circa 2017. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Rod Stewart: “My Heart Can’t Tell You No” (1988, written by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.