This week in 1971, Rod Stewart topped the charts with the release of his acclaimed song “Maggie May.” Initially a B-side to the single “Reason to Believe,” the song went No. 1 in the U.S., U.K., and Australia. Every Picture Tells A Story, the album containing the hit, went No. 1 upon its initial release as well. Maggie May was ranked #130 in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. A performance of Maggie May, filmed in England, was featured on Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert in 1974.
Rod Stewart was highly regarded in his early career for combining folk, blues, country, and rock influences into his own unique musical style. With a career spanning over 50 years, he has become one of the best selling artists of all time. He has sold over 100 million records, achieved six No. 1 albums, and sixteen Top 10 singles. He has been ranked #17 on Billboard magazine’s Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Stewart was also given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 2006 and to this day continues to produce soul driven music and tour around the world.
