The Story So Far: The Very Best of Rod Stewart
Greatest hits album by
Rod Stewart
Released12 November 2001
Recorded1969–2000
GenreRock
Length155:11
LabelFMR
Warner Bros.
ProducerRod Stewart, Patrick Leonard, Trevor Horn, Bernard Edwards, Michael Omartian, Tom Dowd, Andy Taylor
Rod Stewart chronology
Human
(2001) 		The Story So Far: The Very Best of Rod Stewart
(2001) 		It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook
(2002)
The Voice: The Very Best of Rod Stewart
Encore: The Very Best of Rod Stewart, Vol. 2
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
AllMusic[2]

The Story So Far: The Very Best of Rod Stewart is Rod Stewart's career-retrospective compilation album released in 2001. The album summarises his solo work beginning with material from his 1971 breakthrough album Every Picture Tells a Story until his 2001 album Human. For contractual reasons, only two songs from his Mercury Records tenure ("Maggie May" and "You Wear It Well") were included (a third song from the Mercury era, "Reason to Believe", was included in a live acoustic version from the Warner Bros. album Unplugged...and Seated). The rest of the material is from different albums released under Warner Bros. Records.

The compilation was particularly notable for dividing the songs between rock and pop tunes on the first disc (A Night Out) and love songs on the second disc (A Night In). Also, even though most of the songs included on the album enjoyed big success (29 out of the 34 songs originally reached the Top 10 in the United Kingdom and/or the United States), many hit singles were missed-out, including US Top 10 hits as "Passion", "Infatuation", "Handbags and Gladrags" and "My Heart Can't Tell You No".

In the United States the album was released separately as The Voice: The Very Best of Rod Stewart and Encore: The Very Best of Rod Stewart Vol. 2, though there are some differences in the content. Warner Bros. Records released The Story So Far on 12 November 2001 (see 2001 in British music) and the next day The Voice was released. On 26 August 2003 (see 2003 in music) Encore was released.

Track listing

The Story So Far

Disc one: A Night Out
No.TitleWriter(s)From albumLength
1."Maggie May" (includes the interlude "Link Music - Henry's Time" from the original album appearance)Rod StewartEvery Picture Tells a Story5:46
2."Baby Jane"Stewart, Jay DavisBody Wishes4:43
3."Some Guys Have All the Luck"Jeff FortgangCamouflage4:33
4."Young Turks"Stewart, Carmine Appice, Duane Hitchings, Kevin SavigarTonight I'm Yours5:04
5."Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"Stewart, Appice, HitchingsBlondes Have More Fun5:31
6."What Am I Gonna Do (I'm So in Love With You)"Stewart, Davis, Tony BrockBody Wishes4:19
7."Hot Legs"StewartFoot Loose & Fancy Free5:15
8."You Wear It Well" (includes the instrumental "Interludings" from the original album appearance)Stewart, Martin QuittentonNever a Dull Moment5:01
9."Rhythm of My Heart"Marc Jordan, John CapekVagabond Heart4:13
10."Downtown Train"Tom WaitsStoryteller4:39
11."The Motown Song" (single mix)Larry John McNallyVagabond Heart3:58
12."This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" (with Ronald Isley)Holland–Dozier–Holland, Sylvia MoyStoryteller4:11
13."Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)"Stewart, Jim Cregan, SavigarTonight I'm Yours4:12
14."Ooh La La" (originally a Faces song with lead vocals by Ronnie Wood from Ooh La La)Ronnie Lane, Ronnie WoodWhen We Were the New Boys4:15
15."I Can't Deny It"Gregg Alexander, Rick NowelsHuman3:44
16."It Takes Two" (with Tina Turner)William "Mickey" Stevenson, MoyVagabond Heart4:12
17."Stay with Me" (with the Faces)Stewart, WoodA Nod Is As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse4:37
Total length:78:22
Disc two: A Night In
No.TitleWriter(s)From albumLength
1."Sailing"Gavin SutherlandAtlantic Crossing4:38
2."I Don't Want to Talk About It"Danny WhittenAtlantic Crossing4:49
3."Have I Told You Lately"Van MorrisonVagabond Heart3:59
4."The First Cut Is the Deepest"Cat StevensA Night on the Town4:31
5."You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)"StewartFoot Loose & Fancy Free4:30
6."All for Love" (with Bryan Adams and Sting)Bryan Adams, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Michael KamenThe Three Musketeers soundtrack4:42
7."Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)"StewartA Night on the Town3:56
8."Every Beat of My Heart"Stewart, SavigarEvery Beat of My Heart5:21
9."Tom Traubert's Blues (Waltzing Matilda)"WaitsLead Vocalist6:12
10."Don't Come Around Here" (with Helicopter Girl)Jackie Joyce, Paul Berry, Mark Taylor, Kenny ThomasHuman3:50
11."The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)"StewartA Night on the Town6:29
12."Love Touch"Holly Knight, Mike ChapmanEvery Beat of My Heart4:03
13."I Was Only Joking"Stewart, Gary GraingerFoot Loose & Fancy Free6:07
14."Ruby Tuesday"Mick Jagger, Keith RichardsLead Vocalist4:05
15."In a Broken Dream" (with Python Lee Jackson)David Keith Bentleysingle, collected on Storyteller3:40
16."Reason to Believe" (live acoustic version of the song from Every Picture Tells a Story featuring Ronnie Wood)Tim HardinUnplugged...and Seated3:53
17."In My Life"John Lennon, Paul McCartneyEvery Beat of My Heart1:58
Total length:76:50

US version

Disc one: The Voice
No.TitleWriter(s)From albumLength
1."Rhythm of My Heart"Marc Jordan, John CapekVagabond Heart4:14
2."Maggie May"Rod Stewart, Martin QuittentonEvery Picture Tells a Story5:46
3."Have I Told You Lately" (Live)Van MorrisonUnplugged...and Seated4:04
4."This Old Heart of Mine" (with Ronald Isley)Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland, Sylvia MoyStoryteller4:11
5."Young Turks"Stewart, Carmine Appice, Kevin Savigar, Duane HitchingsTonight I'm Yours5:04
6."Downtown Train"Tom WaitsStoryteller4:40
7."You Wear It Well"Stewart, QuittentonNever a Dull Moment5:00
8."Reason to Believe" (Live with Ronnie Wood)Tim HardinUnplugged...and Seated3:52
9."Some Guys Have All the Luck"Jeff FortgangCamouflage4:34
10."Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)"StewartA Night on the Town3:56
11."Hot Legs"StewartFoot Loose & Fancy Free5:15
12."Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"Stewart, AppiceBlondes Have More Fun5:30
13."My Heart Can't Tell You No"Simon Climie, Dennis MorganOut of Order5:16
14."You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)"StewartFoot Loose & Fancy Free4:30
15."Ooh La La"Ronnie Wood, Ronnie LaneWhen We Were the New Boys4:16
16."Forever Young"Stewart, Jim Cregan, SavigarOut of Order4:05
Total length:74:13
Disc two: Encore
No.TitleWriter(s)From albumLength
1."Your Song"Elton John, Bernie TaupinTwo Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin4:47
2."Having a Party" (Live with Ronnie Wood)Sam CookeUnplugged...and Seated4:15
3."Don't Come Around Here" (with Helicopter Girl a/k/a Jackie Joyce)Paul Berry, Jackie Joyce, Mark Taylor, Kenny ThomasHuman3:50
4."So Far Away"Carole KingTapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King4:24
5."The Motown Song" (with The Temptations)Larry McNallyVagabond Heart4:16
6."Broken Arrow"Robbie RobertsonVagabond Heart4:23
7."Crazy About Her"Stewart, Cregan, HitchingsOut of Order4:29
8."Lost in You"Stewart, Andy TaylorOut of Order4:26
9."Love Touch"Gene Black, Mike Chapman, Holly KnightEvery Beat of My Heart4:03
10."People Get Ready" (Live)Curtis MayfieldUnplugged...and Seated4:46
11."Infatuation"Stewart, Hitchings, Rowland RobinsonCamouflage4:05
12."Baby Jane"Stewart, Jay DavisBody Wishes4:45
13."Tonight I'm Yours"Stewart, Cregan, SavigarTonight I'm Yours4:13
14."That's What Friends Are For"Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer SagerNight Shift (Soundtrack)3:54
15."Passion"Stewart, Phil Chen, Cregan, Gary Grainger, SavigarFoolish Behaviour5:30
16."I Don't Want to Talk About It"Danny WhittenAtlantic Crossing4:14
17."I Was Only Joking"Stewart, GraingerFoot Loose & Fancy Free4:49
18."The First Cut Is the Deepest"Cat StevensA Night on the Town3:21
Total length:78:30

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[21] Platinum 40,000^
Australia (ARIA)[22] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Belgium (BEA)[23] Platinum 50,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[24] Gold 50,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[25] 3× Platinum 300,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[26] Platinum 50,000^
Germany (BVMI)[27] Platinum 300,000^
Ireland (IRMA)[28] 7× Platinum 105,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[29] Gold 40,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[30] 4× Platinum 60,000^
Portugal (AFP)[31] Gold 20,000^
Sweden (GLF)[32] Gold 40,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] 4× Platinum 1,200,000^
United States (RIAA)[34] Platinum 1,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[35] 2× Platinum 2,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r559686
  2. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r568730
  3. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Rod Stewart – The Story So Far - The Very Best Of Rod Stewart". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Rod Stewart – The Story So Far - The Very Best Of Rod Stewart" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Ultratop.be – Rod Stewart – The Story So Far - The Very Best Of Rod Stewart" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Rod Stewart – The Story So Far - The Very Best Of Rod Stewart". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Rod Stewart – The Story So Far - The Very Best Of Rod Stewart" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Rod Stewart – The Story So Far - The Very Best Of Rod Stewart" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Rod Stewart – The Story So Far - The Very Best Of Rod Stewart". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Charts.nz – Rod Stewart – The Story So Far - The Very Best Of Rod Stewart". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Rod Stewart – The Story So Far - The Very Best Of Rod Stewart". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Rod Stewart – The Story So Far - The Very Best Of Rod Stewart". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Rod Stewart – The Story So Far - The Very Best Of Rod Stewart". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Rod Stewart Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  17. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2001". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  18. ^ "UK Year-End Charts 2002" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2002". Billboard. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  20. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 2008". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Gold & Platinum Certifications". CAPIF (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  22. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2008 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  23. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2007". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  24. ^ "Brazilian album certifications – Rod Stewart – The Very Best Of" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  25. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Rod Stewart – The Story So Far: The Very Best of Rod Stewart". Music Canada. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  26. ^ "Danish album certifications – Rod Stewart – The Story So Far". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  27. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Rod Stewart; 'The Story So Far')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  28. ^ "The Irish Charts - 2005 Certification Awards - Multi Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  29. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Rod Stewart – The Story So Far" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 20 September 2019. Enter The Story So Far in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2005 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  30. ^ "Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". Radioscope. 17 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  31. ^ "Portuguese album certifications" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Archived from the original on 20 November 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  32. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2001" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  33. ^ "British album certifications – Rod Stewart – The Story So Far". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 February 2014. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type The Story So Far in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  34. ^ "American album certifications – Rod Stewart – The Very Best of Rod Stewart". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  35. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2006". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
Categories