Maggie May...A Long Way from Lime Street...

"This song is about the woman who deflowered Stewart when he was 16. In the January, 2007 issue of Q magazine, Stewart said: "Maggie May was more or less a true story, about the first woman I had sex with, at the Beaulieu Jazz Festival. It nearly got left off because the label said it didn't have a melody. I said, 'Well, we've run out of time now, these are all the tracks we've recorded. They said, Alright, then, bring it on.

"The name "Maggie May" does not occur in the song, Rod borrowed the title from a Liverpool Folk song about a Lime street prostitute". Note the link to Liverpool, mes bloggy beauties! Amazing, non?!

"Stewart's record company didn't think this was a hit, so they released it as the B-side of "Reason To Believe." Disc jockeys liked this better, so they played it as the single instead.

"This became a huge hit in England and America. Stewart had a following in England as a member of The Faces, but was mostly unknown in the US.

"Stewart was the lead singer of The Faces when this was released. He put out solo albums while he was with the band because of contract obligations. When this became a hit, Faces shows were billed as "The Faces with Rod Stewart." He became the focus of the group.

"Stewart moved to America a few years after this came out. He was doing very well there, but also wanted to avoid the huge taxes England charged high-income entertainers. This was around the same time The Rolling Stones left England for tax reasons. Their album Exile On Main Street is a reference to their "tax exile" status.



David from Texas said, "A truly great song. Taxes were harsh in England at the time. The Beatles "Taxman" says it all, "should five percent appear too small, be thankful I don't take it all." Just imagine only keeping a nickle from every dollar you make". Liverpool again, ker-ching!

"In 2003, Ray Jackson (of Lindisfarne, keep up, you lot!), who played mandolin on this, sued Stewart for royalties. Jackson claimed he was paid a small sum for the session and never made any more when the song became a hit". Of course, Rod is a great man, and yet he's also very well known in the industry for being tight with his money, as many a Scot is renowned to be...

"In October 1971 Stewart became the first artist in history to hold all four #1 positions in the British and American singles and albums charts. While "Maggie May" topped the singles tally in both territories, Every Picture Tells A Story achieved the same feat on the album charts".

Linkie

Did you know that Rod started out his career as a grave-digger? And, if you ever get the chance, please have a listen to him singing the guide vocal on the band, Python Lee Jackson's In A Broken Dream... Shows what Rod might have done with his great voice and his career, had he not discovered an easier path in leopard-skin spandex pants, rooster-stylee haircuts, serial leggy blondes and pop...



La Wiki told me this, "In reference to his many relationships, Rod Stewart was once quoted as saying, "Instead of getting married again, I'm going to find a woman I don't like and just give her a house.""

My hand is up, Mr Stewart - I'll even take Kimberley in hand for you!