by Rod Stewart: A Music Legend With Forgotten Chart-Topping Albums
Rod Stewart is undoubtedly one of the most successful music artists of all time. With a career spanning over 50 years, Stewart has released over 30 studio albums and sold over 250 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He’s had countless hit singles that have become ingrained in popular culture, like “Maggie May,” “You Wear It Well,” “Forever Young,” and “Sailing.” Stewart is also a two-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, having been inducted for his solo career as well as his time with The Faces.
Beyond his massive commercial success and iconic hits, Stewart is also renowned for his raspy voice and charismatic stage presence. He’s known for high-energy live performances that showcase his passionate singing and guitar playing skills. Stewart has the rare ability to connect with audiences of all ages through his everyman persona and catalog of timeless rock anthems. Even at 76 years old, he continues to tour extensively, showing no signs of slowing down.
With such a prolific career spanning over half a century, it’s easy for even some of Stewart’s most successful albums to slip through the cracks or be forgotten by casual fans who only know his biggest singles. However, a deeper dive into his discography reveals two albums in particular that dominated the charts upon release but rarely get brought up today – 1978’s Atlantic Crossing and 1984’s Vagabond Heart. Both albums spent multiple weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US but are often overlooked in favor of Stewart’s more recognizable material. Let’s take a closer look at these two forgotten chart-topping albums.
Atlantic Crossing (1978)
In 1978, Stewart made a bold artistic leap with Atlantic Crossing. Coming off the massive success of his blue-eyed soul album A Night on the Town in 1975 and the live album Live in America in 1977, Stewart took a stylistic turn with Atlantic Crossing by embracing the disco sound that was dominating pop music at the time.
The album was entirely produced by British musician Chas Chandler and recorded in Bahamas, giving it a laidback, island vibe. Stewart brought in session musicians from the Bahamas to give the album an authentic Caribbean flavor. Tracks like “I Was Only Joking” and “You’re Insane” incorporated conga drums, steel drums, and calypso rhythms into Stewart’s signature rock sound.
Atlantic Crossing marked a major sonic departure for Stewart that divided critics and fans at the time. Many felt he had sold out by chasing trends, while others applauded his willingness to experiment. Regardless of the reaction, the album was an unqualified commercial success.
The lead single “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” became one of Stewart’s biggest and most recognizable hits ever. With its playful lyrics and infectious disco groove, the song dominated radio airwaves upon release. “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US and stayed there for two weeks. It also topped the charts in over 20 other countries. The massive success of the single propelled Atlantic Crossing to the top of the charts as well.
Atlantic Crossing spent six consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the US, becoming Stewart’s first #1 album in America. It also topped the charts in countries around the world like the UK, Canada, Australia, and others. The album has gone on to sell over 10 million copies globally.
While “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” remains Stewart’s most well-known song from the album, Atlantic Crossing featured other strong tracks that showed off his versatility. Songs like the reggae-tinged “The First Cut is the Deepest” and the calypso-flavored title track demonstrated Stewart’s ability to seamlessly blend his raspy rock vocals with international styles and rhythms.
Atlantic Crossing proved that Stewart was willing to take creative risks by embracing the sounds of the moment. It also cemented his status as a true superstar by delivering one of his biggest commercial triumphs. While some fans prefer Stewart’s earlier rock-oriented work, Atlantic Crossing undeniably contains some of his most joyous and danceable material. The album’s success helped take Stewart’s stardom to new heights globally and paved the way for future experiments in fusing rock with various genres.
Vagabond Heart (1984)
After a string of albums in the early 80s that dabbled in new wave and pop rock, Stewart returned to his roots with the raw, gritty Vagabond Heart in 1984. Produced by Tom Dowd and Trevor Craine, Vagabond Heart featured Stewart’s first collaborations with songwriter Jim Cregan and found the singer-songwriter reinvigorated creatively.
The album hit #1 on the Billboard 200 and contained two massive hit singles – “Some Guys Have All the Luck” and the anthemic “Young Turks.” The title track and “Infatuation” also received significant radio play, highlighting the album’s depth. Vagabond Heart demonstrated that Stewart hadn’t lost his ability to craft arena-ready rockers nearly 20 years into his career.
The album opened with the spirited rocker “Strangers Again,” setting the tone for what was to follow – gritty, heart-on-sleeve songs driven by Stewart’s signature raspy vocals and Cregan’s dynamic guitar work. “Young Turks” in particular stood out, with its catchy chorus and lyrics celebrating youthful rebellion and freedom. The song’s music video, featuring Stewart partying on a yacht with a group of young models, received heavy MTV rotation and further boosted the album’s popularity.
While uptempo rockers anchored the album, Vagabond Heart also showcased Stewart’s soulful side. Standout tracks like the bluesy “Infatuation” and the longing ballad “Love Touch” allowed his weathered vocals to shine over sparse instrumentation. The album closer “People Get Ready” was a stirring cover of the 1965 hit by The Impressions that served as a reminder of Stewart’s R&B roots.
Vagabond Heart became one of Stewart’s best-selling albums, moving over 5 million copies globally. Its success was partly due to Stewart’s renewed energy and focus after battling personal issues and creative fatigue in the late 70s/early 80s. The raw, gritty album found the singer-songwriter reinvigorated and proved he still had plenty to offer rock fans nearly two decades into his career.
While “Young Turks” and “Some Guys Have All the Luck” remain staples of Stewart’s live shows today, the full Vagabond Heart album is rarely brought up when discussing his discography. Its diverse blend of anthemic rock, blues, and soul seems to have been overlooked in favor of Stewart’s glitzier pop material from the 70s and 80s. But for diehard fans, Vagabond Heart stands as one of Stewart’s strongest albums, a reminder of why he’s considered a rock legend.
Legacy and Influence
Over the course of his expansive career, Stewart has proven himself a musical chameleon, seamlessly blending rock, pop, soul, reggae, and other genres into his signature raspy style. While albums like Atlantic Crossing and Vagabond Heart took creative risks that divided listeners at the time, they demonstrated Stewart’s ability and willingness to evolve with changing trends.
Both albums spent multiple weeks atop the Billboard charts and achieved massive commercial success globally. Their chart dominance is a testament to Stewart’s unparalleled popularity in the late 70s and mid-80s. Yet Atlantic Crossing and Vagabond Heart are rarely brought up today when discussing Stewart’s most acclaimed work.
As the years pass, Stewart’s sprawling catalog contains deep cuts worth rediscovering. Albums like Atlantic Crossing and Vagabond Heart deserve recognition for showcasing Stewart’s versatility and talent for crossing genres before it was commonplace. They also contain songs that still hold up as danceable, anthemic rock gems.
Over his decades-long career, Stewart has influenced countless artists across rock, pop, soul and beyond. His ability to continually reinvent his sound while maintaining a signature raspy style is a model for musical evolution. Even in his late 70s, Stewart remains a consummate showman, packing arenas worldwide on sold-out tours.
While singles like “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and “Young Turks” will always be Stewart classics, revisiting albums like Atlantic Crossing and Vagabond Heart offers new appreciation for the scope of Stewart’s artistry. They serve as reminders that this rock legend’s catalog goes deeper than just his greatest hits. For Stewart, commercial highs were often followed by creative leaps that expanded the boundaries of classic rock. His legacy as a shapeshifting superstar continues to inspire new generations of musicians.
