Rod Stewart may have famously sung about being “Forever Young” in his 1988 hit of the same name, but the legendary raspy-voiced British singer celebrated his 80th birthday on January 10, 2025. Stewart has had a long and incredibly successful career that stretches back to the 1960s.
Stewart first enjoyed wide recognition as the lead singer of the Jeff Beck Group on the band’s first two acclaimed albums—Truth (1968) and Beck-Ola (1969). Rod then joined Faces in 1969, while almost simultaneously launching his solo career.
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Stewart enjoyed chart success both with the Faces and solo, but scored his first No. 1 hit in the U.S. and U.K. with his 1971 solo classic “Maggie May.” After the Faces broke up in 1975, Rod continued on as a solo star, and remains one of the rock and pop world’s most enduring artists a half century later.
Stewart has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice—as a solo artist in 1994 and with the Faces in 2012. In 2016, he became Sir Rod in his U.K. homeland when he was knighted in recognition of his services to music and charity.
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Besides being a great singer, Stewart also is an accomplished songwriter, who wrote or co-wrote most of his major hits. That being said, he also knows how to pick ’em, having routinely released successful interpretations of tunes composed by others.
In honor of Stewart’s milestone birthday, here are four great Rod Stewart hits that were written by fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Famers:
“The First Cut Is the Deepest” (1976) – written by Cat Stevens
“The First Cut Is the Deepest” is a classic breakup tune written by Cat Stevens and first recorded by the female American singer P.P Arnold in 1967. Arnold scored a No. 18 hit in the U.K. with the song that same year. Stevens’ own version appeared on his second studio album, New Masters, which also was released in 1967.
Stewart covered “The First Cut Is the Deepest” on his seventh solo album, A Night on the Town, which came out in 1976. Rod’s version of the song became a No. 1 hit in the U.K., and also reached No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Downtown Train” (1989) – written by Tom Waits
“Downtown Train” was a standout tune from Tom Waits’ acclaimed 1985 album Rain Dogs. Waits’ released the gritty roots-rock gem as a single, although it failed to chart.
Stewart covered “Downtown Train” and released it as a single in 1989, and it became a big hit. Rod’s gave a more accessible, pop-rock sheen to the tune, which reached No. 3 on the Hot 100 and No. 10 in the U.K.
Stewart’s cover was included on the respective 1989 U.S. and U.K. compilations Storyteller and The Best of Rod Stewart.
“Broken Arrow” – written by Robbie Robertson (1991)
Robbie Robertson, The Band’s lead guitarist and principal songwriter, released his self-titled debut solo album in 1987. The album includes the brooding love ballad “Broken Arrow,” a song into which Robertson incorporated elements of Native American mysticism (the Canadian musician’s mother was of indigenous descent).
Stewart recorded a cover of “Broken Arrow” for his 1991 album Vagabond Heart, turning the tune into a soaring pop-rock anthem. Rod’s rock version of the tune peaked at No. 20 on the Hot 100.
“Have I Told You Lately” (Live, 1993) – written by Van Morrison
Van Morrison’s “Have I Told You Lately” almost instantly became a pop standard after the lauded Northern Irish singer/songwriter released it on his 1989 album, Avalon Sunset. The romantic ballad also made an impact the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, ascending to No. 12.
Stewart delivered an equally emotive rendition of the song during a 1993 appearance on the MTV Unplugged performance series. Stewart was accompanied by a collective of musicians that included his former Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood.
The audio of the show was released in May 1993 as a live album titled Unplugged…and Seated. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, while Stewart’s “Have I Told You Lately” reached No. 5 on the Hot 100 and the U.K. singles chart.
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