Never a Dull Moment
Studio album by Rod Stewart
Released 1972
Recorded 1972
Genre Rock
Length 32:55
Label Mercury
Producer Rod Stewart
Never a Dull Moment is a 1972 album by rock musician Rod Stewart. It became a UK number-one album (for two weeks) and reached number two on the US Album chart the same year. The track, "You Wear It Well", co-written by Stewart and classical guitarist Martin Quittenton, was a smash hit (another UK No. 1; in US No. 13), as well as "Twistin' the Night Away", a song originally recorded (and written) by Sam Cooke.
Professional ratings:
Allmusic 5 of 5 stars
Robert Christgau A-
Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine of allmusic:
Essentially a harder-rocking reprise of Every Picture Tells a Story, Never a Dull Moment never quite reaches the heights of its predecessor, but it's a wonderful, multi-faceted record in its own right. Opening with the touching, autobiographical rocker "True Blue," which finds Rod Stewart trying to come to grips with his newfound stardom but concluding that he'd "rather be back home," the record is the last of Stewart's series of epic fusions of hard rock and folk. It's possible to hear Stewart go for superstardom with the hard-rocking kick and fat electric guitars of the album, but the songs still cut to the core. "You Wear It Well" is a "Maggie May" rewrite on the surface, but it develops into a touching song about being emotionally inarticulate. Similarly, "Lost Paraguayos" is funny, driving folk-rock, and it's hard not to be swept away when the Stonesy hard rocker "Italian Girls" soars into a mandolin-driven coda. The covers -- whether a soulful reading of Jimi Hendrix's "Angel," an empathetic version of Dylan's "Mama, You Been on My Mind," or a stunning interpretation of Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind" -- are equally effective, making Never a Dull Moment a masterful record. He never got quite this good ever again.
Review by Robert Christgau:
He's so in love with the run of life that it would be a contradiction for Stewart to attempt any grand aesthetic advances, so why wonder whether his art is improving until it gets boring? This doesn't peak as high as Every Picture. But "You Wear It Well" starts ringing in your head like "Maggie May" after a couple of plays. The three originals on the first side check in not long after. And Stewart's augury of the incipient early '60s revival. "Twistin' the Night Away," is the perfect nostalgia combo--the unimaginable twist with the irreproachable Sam Cooke.
LP track listing
Side One
1. "True Blue" (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood) Ð 3:32
2. "Lost Paraguayos" (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood) Ð 3:57
3. "Mama You Been on My Mind" (Bob Dylan) Ð 4:29
4. "Italian Girls" (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood) Ð 4:54
Side Two
5. "Angel" (Jimi Hendrix) Ð 4:04
6. "Interludings" (A. Wood) Ð 0:40
7. "You Wear It Well" (Rod Stewart, Martin Quittenton) Ð 4:22
8. "I'd Rather Go Blind" (Billy Foster, Ellington Jordon) Ð3:53
9. "Twisting the Night Away" (Sam Cooke) Ð 3:13
Personnel
* Rod Stewart - lead vocals
* Ronnie Wood - guitar, acoustic guitar, bass
* Ronnie Lane - bass
* Micky Waller - drums
* Kenny Jones - drums
* Ian "Mac" McLagan - organ
* Neemoi "Speedy" Aquaye - congas
* Pete Sears - piano, bass
* Brian - chest piano
* Spike Heatley - upright bass
* Dick "Tricky Dicky" Powell - violin
* Martin Quittenton - acoustic guitar
* Gordon Huntley - steel guitar
* Lindsay Raymond Jackson - mandolin