Rod Stewart - The Tears of Hercules

by Nick Dent-Robinson

published: 8 / 12 / 2021

Label: Rhino
Format: CD

Strong return to form on impressive latest album from Rod Stewart

Review

Rod Stewart spent a decade singing cover versions with surprising commercial success. He broadened his fan base and demand for television and live appearances by Rod soared. But, from 2013, he started writing his own material again and his album 'Time' topped the charts that year. “The Tears of Hercules” is Rod's third album since then. He claims it as “my best album in many a year” - and a lot of music critics agree with him! The record includes throwbacks to Rod's early solo work on the folky 'One More Time' with Rod playing a travelling hobo who'd rather sing with a “good old country band” than settle down. 'Kookooaramabama' is an electronic number celebrating sexual activity in the golden years..... “Try it in the kitchen when the kids are out.” And 'One More Time' has a similar theme.... “The sex was immense by a good old country mile.. There are a couple of covers, too. Rod, now 76, puts a Celtic slant including bagpipes on Johnny Cash's 'These Are My People' and he clearly enjoys himself with soul standard 'Some Kind Of Wonderful' which would make a brilliant live stadium number. Touchingly, there are two tribute numbers. 'Born To Boogie' uses the riff from T. Rex's 'Telegram Sam' to salute Rod's late friend Marc Bolan - “He wore a black bowler hat and a jacket made of cherry red satin” - and 'Touchline' is affectionately dedicated to Rod's late father Robert, an Edinburgh-born Scot from whom Rod inherited his lifelong love of football. 'The Tears Of Hercules' is a strong return for Rod Stewart and should win him an even bigger following.

Track Listing:-

1 One More Time
2 Gabriella
3 All My Days
4 Some Kind Of Wonderful
5 Born To Boogie (A Tribute To Marc Bolan)
6 Kookooaramabama
7 I Can't Imagine
8 The Tears Of Hercules
9 Hold On
10 Precious Memories
11 These Are My People
12 Touchline