Rod Stewart – Ballads (VG+/VG+) – LP, AU 1978

Ballads is an LP by Rod Stewart from 1978 released on the Mercury label.

About this album

Ballads is a strong reminder of Rod Stewart’s gift for interpretation, drawing together some of his most affecting early recordings from the period that made him a major solo voice. Built around folk-rock, R&B and soul material, the compilation highlights the raspy phrasing and emotional directness that set him apart on songs such as Reason to Believe, Handbags and Gladrags and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man. Rather than functioning as a simple hit parade, it presents Stewart as a singer who could make borrowed material feel lived-in, intimate and convincing. For listeners exploring his catalogue, it offers a concise overview of the qualities that turned him into one of rock’s most recognisable vocalists.