This newly compiled 2-CD antholgy presents stellar tracks spanning 1971-2004 including a Faces favorite, decades of solo hits, unplugged gems, soundtrack selections and more. This 3-Disc Deluxe edition of 'The Definitive Rod Stewart' features a bonus DVD packed with 14 music videos.

2008-11-24 -- 4/5:: Definitive? Not Quite
This is a solid Rod Stewart collection but not "definitive." After all, it's missing some of Rod's best songs (not to mention biggest hits) including "Broken Arrow" "All for Love," "Having a Party," "(I know) I'm losing you," and many others. Part of the problem is that Rod has had a lot of hits, but still if you're going to say "definitive" you should have ALL the big hits, not just most of them.

2008-11-21 -- 4/5:: Probably the best Rod Stewart collection I have seen to date.
While Rod Stewart was never really one of my favorite artists I certainly cannot deny that he has been among the most popular and prolific recording artists of the past 40 years. Ever since the release of his debut LP "Every Picture Tells A Story" and the double sided smash single "Maggie Mae/Reason To Believe" back in 1970, the music of Rod Stewart has been fixture on lierally thousands of American radio stations. Even today, whether you gravitate to classic rock, enjoy oldies but goodies or prefer adult contemporary you are likely to hear a Rod Stewart tune on your radio in the not too distant future. Over the years the folks at Mercury and Warner Brothers have issued any number of "Greatest Hits' packages. But never has there been one as comprehensive as "The Definitive Rod Stewart". This extraordinary 2 disc set features 31 of Rod Stewart's biggest and best hit singles from his days at Mercury records in the early 1970's right on through the mid 1990's at Warner Brothers. If you have been in the market for a Rod Stewart collection then believe me this is definitely the one you want!
"The Definitive Collection" kicks off with a handful of Rod's earliest Mercury hits. I have always been of the opinion that this stuff has stood the test of time and remains among his best work. Despite the fact that "Maggie Mae" was played to death throughout the 1970's and beyond this one continues to be one of Stewart's most popular recordings. It may surprise some of you to discover that it was the actually the flip side "Reason To Believe" that was originally released as the single. To this day "Reason To Believe" remains one of my very favorite Rod Stewart recordings. Towards the end of Disc 2 you also get to sample the marvelous "unplugged" version of this tune that Rod recorded with Ronnie Wood in the early 1990's. It was a hit all over again! In 1975, Rod Stewart signed a new long term recording deal with Warner Brothers records. Over the next two decades Rod Stewart would record dozens of hit records for his new label. You will find more than 20 of these popular singles on "The Definitive Collection". Among my personal favorites in this group are 1984's "Some Guy's Have All The Luck", "Forever Young", "I Was Only Joking" and one of Rod's earliest WB singles "The Killing of Georgie (Part 1 & 2)". I was also quite pleased to see that the hard-to-find Faces recording of "Stay With Me" featuring Rod on lead was also included here. And I would be remiss if I failed to make mention of Rod's terrific collaboration with The Temptations on "The Motown Song".
Included in this special edition of "The Definitive Collection" is a DVD featuring 14 of Rod's music videos. This added bonus does nothing for me as I am not into music videos at all. I opted for the audio only edition but many of you may appreciate this added perk. Since there are more than a dozen of Rod's charted singles missing from this compilation each one of us may quibble with why Rhino chose to omit 1 or 2 of our personal favorites. For example, I was disappointed that Rod's fine cover of the Sam Cooke classic "Twistin' The Night Away" from 1975 was not included here. But for most folks I think that "The Definitive Collection" has to be the finest Rod Stewart collection released to date. A really great value! Recommended.

2008-11-20 -- 3/5:: Missing some
Another hits collection but still missing songs. Will there ever be a complete Rod Stewart collection. Missing are: Crazy About Her, Having A Party, Your Song, Don't Come Around Here, Lost In You, People Get Ready (w/Jeff Beck), Broken Arrow, That's What Friends Are For and So Far Away (the Carole King tribute). A fan can have a better collection with Rod's Greatest Hits CDs Vol. 1 and 2.

2008-11-18 -- 4/5:: Reintroducing Rod
It has been 40 years since Rod Stewart finally made his way into the hearts or music fans all over the world. Yet, with all his highs and lows, his music has never lost its edge. But, there have been some moments where people weren't interested in his voice because of the next big fad. Still, that hasn't stopped Rod from making great music, and having a delightful sense of humor. Yet, with his 40 years, he hasn't really had a definitive hits collection that showcases just about everything from his delightful voice. Now, to celebrate all those years Rod Stewart had proclaimed if you think he is sexy, a new anthology showcasing Rod's highs and lows is released. but does it actually do enough to appal to fans young and old?

The 2008 Definitive Rod Stewart is a double album reflection of Rod's biggest rock staples throughout his eras with Mercury and Warner Brothers in the 70's, 80's and 90's. The double album includes a lot of Rod's hard core staples that have withstood the test of time, and are still enjoyable to listen to after all these years. The songs have all been remastered well, and includes his biggest staples including Do Ya' Think I'm Sexy, the definitive and youthful Forever Young, to his best moments of the 80's and 90's like Some Guys Have All the Luck, and Reason To believe which brought fans to their knees from his 1993 performance on MTV Unplugged. While the double album fares well, what really surprises me is the DVD too, which includes off-shoots and lesser-known tracks that could've had the light of day on the album like the overlooked Ooh La La and If We Fall In Love Tonight. Not only that is a disadvatage, but I was also hoping that on the DVD there was also videos of his hits Forever Young and the colorfully animated The Motown Song. Not only that. but the album does overlook a few staples Rod had recorded as well as it were his own including Broken Arrow and Lost In You.

Nevertheless, The Definitive Rod Stewart is a very well made collection, that reintroduces his classic rock gems, to a whole new generation. While fans of Rod's later 90's era albums like A Spanner In The Works and When We Were The New Boys, and those who've enjoyed his Great American Songbook series are also left in the dust, because those songs could've been showcased too, it still does the simple job at going back to basics, and reintroducing those delightful songs Rod Stewart has done so well after all these years. If you haven't owned any of Rod Stewart's albums, than this would be a welcomed starter for your music collection that should make you feel forever young.

Album Cover: B

Songs: B 1/2-

DVD: C+

Price: B-

Remastering: B+

Overall: B-