Alfie (Original Soundtrack) - Mick Jagger & Dave Stewart

Advantages: Some good tracks
Disadvantages: See text re comments on packaging, and also for likelihood of its being superseded

.... ‘Flowers’, first released in May 1967 in America and only available as an import in Britain for years, was the last of these transatlantic curiosities. The first three tracks (there are 12 in all), having been singles, are the most familiar. ‘Ruby Tuesday’ remains one of their finest ballads ever, Mick Jagger sounding uncharacteristically subdued, singing to a backing of mainly piano, quavering flutes and drums giving an extra thrust to the chorus. Melanie did an abysmal version in 1970, and Rod Stewart’s 1995 effort was so-so. The original is still far and away the greatest. ‘Have You Seen Your Mother Baby, Standing In The Shadow’, its predecessor, is rather a sonic oddity. According to one story, it was released before the group had completed it, as the record company were in a hurry to put it out... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic rock/country/folk album. Stewart's unique voice.
Disadvantages: Not a thing!

...actually think Stewart’s cover version is better. The rhythm is a bit slower than the original, and again Rod’s unique voice carryies the song in a way that even old rubber lips himself (Mick Jagger) couldn’t manage. “’cos I used to love you But it’s all over now” ~ ~ “Only A Hobo” is yet another cover version, this time of a song by the man himself, Bob Dylan. Once again, Rod makes a good fist of things, and makes the very most of the brilliant lyrics. “A blanket of newspaper covered his head The step was his pillow The street was his bed One look at his face Showed the hard road he’d come And a fistful of money Showed the coins that he’d bummed He was only a hobo, but one more is gone Leavin’ nobody to sing his sad song Leavin’ nobody to carry it on Only a hobo, but one more is gone only a Hobo.” ~ ~ Another cover... Read review

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Advantages: Ron Wood
Disadvantages: Hot Legs

...It's hard for non-babyboomers to believe that Rod Stewart was a cutting-edge R&B troubadour in his time. He was though, and it wasn't until the early eighties that he really became a conversational embarrassment. What happened to the poor sod? LA basically, and too long a separation from Ronnie Wood. Jagger has Keith to keep him on the 'Bent & Wide', Rod has Ron. Both have Ron actually but that's another story. So it was, that after a particularly liquid lunch in Oporto, I found myself in a multi-media store. I saw this CD. I thought 5 euros (3 quid) can't be bad, added to which I saw Ron Wood on the cover. I did, of course, wonder why in the hell I'd bought it on the Sunday morning, but it turned out to be not such a bad buy. I've done much worse after a liquid lunch! This is a discount pressing of one of those unplugged MTV... Read review

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