Rod Stewart's Foot Loose & Fancy Free

Rod Stewart's Foot Loose Free, the ninth studio album by Rod Stewart, was released in November 1977, and features a mix of Rock music, Pop music, and Soul music styles, with Rod Stewart's distinctive vocals and songwriting. The album was produced by Tom Dowd, who had previously worked with Eric Clapton, The Allman Brothers Band, and Aretha Franklin. The album includes the hit singles You're in My Heart and Hot Legs, which were both written by Rod Stewart and feature his signature blend of Rock music and Soul music. The album also features a cover of the Motown classic Try a Little Tenderness, which was originally recorded by Otis Redding.

Background

The album was recorded during a period of great change and creativity for Rod Stewart, who had recently left The Faces and was establishing himself as a solo artist. The album features a range of musical styles, from the Rock music of The Rolling Stones and The Who, to the Soul music of James Brown and Marvin Gaye. The album also features a number of guest musicians, including Steve Cropper, Donald Dunn, and Al Jackson Jr., who were all members of the legendary Stax Records house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s. The album was also influenced by Rod Stewart's love of American music, particularly the Blues music of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, and the Country music of Hank Williams and Johnny Cash.

Recording

The album was recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida, with Tom Dowd producing and Rod Stewart co-producing. The album features a range of instruments, including Guitar played by Rod Stewart, Steve Cropper, and Billy Peek, and Drums played by Carmine Appice and Al Jackson Jr.. The album also features Bass guitar played by Donald Dunn and Phil Chen, and Keyboards played by John Barlow Jarvis and Billy Preston. The album was engineered by Tom Dowd and Steve Gursky, and mixed by Tom Dowd and Rod Stewart. The album was also mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk in New York City.

Track listing

The album features the following tracks: 1. Hot Legs 2. You're in My Heart 3. Oh! No Not My Baby 4. Born Loose 5. You Keep Me Hangin' On 6. (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right 7. You Got a Nerve 8. I Was Only Joking 9. Try a Little Tenderness 10. You're Insane. The album features a range of musical styles, from the Rock music of The Kinks and The Animals, to the Soul music of Sam Cooke and Ray Charles. The album also features a number of cover versions, including You Keep Me Hangin' On, which was originally recorded by The Supremes, and Try a Little Tenderness, which was originally recorded by Otis Redding.

Release and reception

The album was released in November 1977, and was a major commercial success, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart and number two on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album was also certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has been certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The album received positive reviews from critics, with many praising Rod Stewart's vocals and songwriting, as well as the album's mix of Rock music, Pop music, and Soul music styles. The album has been cited as an influence by a number of artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Elton John.

Personnel

The album features a range of musicians, including Rod Stewart on vocals and Guitar, Steve Cropper on Guitar, Donald Dunn on Bass guitar, and Al Jackson Jr. on Drums. The album also features Carmine Appice on Drums, Phil Chen on Bass guitar, and John Barlow Jarvis on Keyboards. The album was produced by Tom Dowd and co-produced by Rod Stewart, and was engineered by Tom Dowd and Steve Gursky. The album was mixed by Tom Dowd and Rod Stewart, and was mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk in New York City. The album features a number of guest musicians, including Billy Peek on Guitar, Billy Preston on Keyboards, and The Memphis Horns on Horns. The album also features The Waters on Backing vocals, who were a group of Soul music singers that included Maxine Waters, Julia Waters, and Oren Waters.