Rod Stewart - Just a little Misunderstood: The Sixties Sessions (1993)

Culled from a series of recording sessions from the 1960s, particularly August 1964, and released after some legal squabbles, Rod Stewart's early influences of Southern blues and early Motown is quite evident on these 15 tracks. Drawing heavily from the likes of Jimmy Reed, the mod certainly appears in fine form, despite the occasional unpolished delivery and being rough around the edges. As well, the recordings also include a "supergroup" performance dubbed P.P. Arnold, consisting of Stewart, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Nicky Hopkins. And there is also Steampacket, which included Long John Baldry. Highlights include the Sunday gospel "Can I Get a Witness" and "Ain't That Loving You Baby." "The Day Will Come" is perhaps the weakest track in the lot, a song definitely not complementary of his style. The majority of the sessions though stick to the formula which has been the bread and butter of the singer's soul-tinged blues boogie exemplified on "So Much to Say."