Smiler (album)

Smiler
Smiler
Studio album by Rod Stewart
Released	27 September 1974
Recorded	November 1973-May 1974
Studio	Morgan Studios, London and The Wick, Richmond
Genre	Rock; British folk rock;
Length	42:24
Label	Mercury
Producer	Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart chronology
Singles from Smiler
	"Farewell"; Released: 27 September 1974 (UK); "Mine for Me"; Released: November 1974 (US);

Smiler is the fifth solo album by English rock singer-songwriter Rod Stewart. It was released on 27 September 1974^[2] by Mercury Records. It reached number 1 in the UK album chart, and number 13 in the US. The album included covers of Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke and Bob Dylan songs, as well as a duet with Elton John of John's song "Let Me Be Your Car". Stewart also covered Carole King's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" where 'Woman' is switched to 'Man'. The release of the album was held up for five months due to legal problems between Mercury Records and Warner Bros. Records.[1]

Musicians appearing on the album included members of Stewart's band Faces, as well as frequent collaborators Martin Quittenton (guitars), Pete Sears (bass & keyboards), and Mickey Waller (drums).

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[3]
Christgau's Record Guide	B−^[4]
Rolling Stone	(mixed)^[5]
Džuboks	(mixed)^[6]

Track listing

"Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller" (Chuck Berry) – 3:43
"Lochinvar" (Pete Sears) – 0:25
"Farewell" (Rod Stewart, Martin Quittenton) – 4:34
"Sailor" – (Stewart, Ronnie Wood) 3:35
"Bring It On Home to Me/You Send Me" (Sam Cooke) – 3:57
"Let Me Be Your Car" (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) – 4:56
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler) – 3:54
"Dixie Toot" – (Stewart, Ronnie Wood) 3:27
"Hard Road" (Harry Vanda, George Young) – 4:27
"I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" Instrumental (Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe) – 1:32
"Girl from the North Country" (Bob Dylan) – 3:52
"Mine for Me" (Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney) – 4:02

A 1991 CD compilation called 'back 2 back – 2 for 1' combined Smiler with Gasoline Alley. However, tracks 2, 9 and 10, were left out on this release.

Personnel

Rod Stewart – vocals^[7]
Ronnie Wood – acoustic & electric guitar, bass guitar
Martin Quittenton – acoustic guitar
Spike Heatley, Willie Weeks – bass guitar
Elton John – piano and vocals on "Let Me Be Your Car"
Pete Sears – piano, harpsichord, celeste
Ian McLagan – Hammond organ
Ray Jackson – mandolin
Ric Grech, Dick Powell – violin
The Memphis Horns – horns
Paul McCartney – backing vocals on "Mine for Me"
Irene Chanter – backing vocals
Doreen Chanter – backing vocals
Ray Cooper – percussion
Tropic Isles Steel Band – drums
Micky Waller, Andy Newmark, Kenney Jones – drums
Chris Barber's Jazz Band
Mike Bobak – engineering
Bob Ludwig – mastering

Charts

Chart (1974-75)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)^[8]	8
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[9]	11
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)^[10]	28
Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[11]	65
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[12]	29
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[13]	19
UK Albums (OCC)^[14]	1
US Billboard 200^[15]	13

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[16]	Gold	100,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Mulligan, Brian, ed. (21 September 1974). "Stewart LP Gets Push" (PDF). Music Week. London, England, U.K.: Billboard Publications, Inc.: 1. ISSN 0265-1548. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2023. Phonogram has lined up a major promotion campaign for the release of Rod Stewart's long-delayed album, Smiler, and new single on September 27
^ Mulligan, Brian, ed. (21 September 1974). "Stewart LP Gets Push" (PDF). Music Week. London, England, U.K.: Billboard Publications, Inc.: 1. ISSN 0265-1548. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2023. Phonogram has lined up a major promotion campaign for the release of Rod Stewart's long-delayed album, Smiler, and new single on September 27
^ AllMusic review
^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 13 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
^ Rolling Stone review
^ Konjović, S. "Rod Stewart – Smiler". Džuboks (in Serbian) (6 (second series)). Gornji Milanovac: Dečje novine: 24.
^ "Smiler - Rod Stewart | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 295. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 3896a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
^ "Charts.nz – Rod Stewart – Smiler". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Rod Stewart – Smiler". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
^ "Rod Stewart Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
^ "British album certifications – Rod Stewart – Smiler". British Phonographic Industry.

[1] Mulligan, Brian, ed. (21 September 1974). "Stewart LP Gets Push" (PDF). Music Week. London, England, U.K.: Billboard Publications, Inc.: 1. ISSN 0265-1548. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2023. Phonogram has lined up a major promotion campaign for the release of Rod Stewart's long-delayed album, Smiler, and new single on September 27

[2] Mulligan, Brian, ed. (21 September 1974). "Stewart LP Gets Push" (PDF). Music Week. London, England, U.K.: Billboard Publications, Inc.: 1. ISSN 0265-1548. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2023. Phonogram has lined up a major promotion campaign for the release of Rod Stewart's long-delayed album, Smiler, and new single on September 27

[3] AllMusic review

[CG-4] Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 13 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.

[5] Rolling Stone review

[dzuboks-6] Konjović, S. "Rod Stewart – Smiler". Džuboks (in Serbian) (6 (second series)). Gornji Milanovac: Dečje novine: 24.

[7] "Smiler - Rod Stewart | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.

[aus-8] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 295. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[group=-9] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 3896a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 15, 2025.

[FINI-10] Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.

[JPN-11] Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.

[ac_New_Zealand_Rod_Stewart-12] "Charts.nz – Rod Stewart – Smiler". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 15, 2025.

[ac_Norway_Rod_Stewart-13] "Norwegiancharts.com – Rod Stewart – Smiler". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 15, 2025.

[ac_UK2_-14] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 15, 2025.

[ac_Billboard200_Rod_Stewart-15] "Rod Stewart Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2025.

[United_KingdomRod_StewartSmileralbumCertRef-16] "British album certifications – Rod Stewart – Smiler". British Phonographic Industry.

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