Rod Stewart - Rod Stewart / Every Beat of My Heart (Expanded Edition) (1986/2009)

With classical pianist Kevin Savigar established as his songwriting partner, Rod Stewart marched into the mid-'80s in finer shape than he'd been in for a few years. Every Beat of My Heart was his 15th solo album and, after the disappointments of the preceding Body Wishes and Camouflage, the wistful romance of the title track alone suggested that he was back on track. Unfortunately, it was not to be. One could compile a genuinely excellent collection from across Stewart's entire '80s output. But Every Beat of My Heart, like the LPs on either side of it, found him floundering directionless in a sea of, on the one hand, syrupy schmaltz; and, on the other, clichéd rockers, with just the occasional flash of style sneaking in, to remind us why we even cared any longer. "Love Touch'," which joined "Every Beat" in the singles chart (courtesy of its starring role in the movie Legal Eagles) was certainly one of the weakest numbers he had ever touched, while the likes of "Here to Eternity" and "Another Heartache" might have been tolerable if Stewart hadn't already recorded them a dozen times already. But his version of the Beatles' "In My Life" is beautiful, as heartfelt as he ever sounded and, again the title track is equally remarkable. It's just that two songs out of ten really isn't a good return on the price of an album.