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Smiler is the fifth studio album by English rock singer-songwriter Rod Stewart. It was released on 4 October 1974 by Mercury Records. It was his first album to be critically panned.^{[citation needed]} It reached number 1 in the UK album chart, and number 13 in the US. The album was largely considered to be an unadventurous retread of what he had done before,^{[citation needed]} including 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's one attempt at adventurousness ^{[according to whom?]} was a cover of Carole King's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" where 'Woman' is switched to 'Man'. This track was selected for special derision by critics. The release of the album itself was held up for five months due to legal problems between Mercury Records and Warner Bros. Records.

Smiler
Studio album by Rod Stewart
Released	4 October 1974
Recorded	Morgan Studios, London and The Wick, Richmond November 1973-May 1974
Genre	Rock and roll, folk rock, blue-eyed soul
Length	42:24
Label	Mercury
Producer	Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart chronology
Sing It Again Rod (1973) Smiler (1974) Atlantic Crossing (1975)
Singles from Smiler
"Farewell" Released: September 1974 (UK) "Mine for Me" Released: November 1974 (US)

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	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	B−[2]
Rolling Stone	(mixed)[3]
Džuboks	(mixed)[4]

Track listing

1. "Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller" (Chuck Berry) – 3:43
2. "Lochinvar" (Pete Sears) – 0:25
3. "Farewell" (Rod Stewart, Martin Quittenton) – 4:34
4. "Sailor" – (Stewart, Ronnie Wood) 3:35
5. "Bring It On Home to Me/You Send Me" (Sam Cooke) – 3:57
6. "Let Me Be Your Car" (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) – 4:56
7. "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler) – 3:54
8. "Dixie Toot" – (Stewart, Ronnie Wood) 3:27
9. "Hard Road" (Harry Vanda, George Young) – 4:27
10. "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" Instrumental (Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe) – 1:32
11. "Girl from the North Country" (Bob Dylan) – 3:52
12. "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[5]
• 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
• 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

References

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