Released in 1971, Rod Stewart’s Every Picture Tells a Story was a melting pot of folk, rock, blues, and even a little country swagger, and shot straight to number one in both the U.S. and the U.K., riding the wave of the now-iconic “Maggie May.” But beneath the radio hits and raspy vocals, there are secrets woven into its grooves. Here are five facts you probably didn’t know about Every Picture Tells a Story—until now.
1. The Drums Were Recorded With… No Cymbals?!
Drummer Micky Waller had a reputation for being a free spirit in the studio, and that led to one of the album’s quirkiest behind-the-scenes moments. When recording “Maggie May,” Waller showed up expecting a drum kit to be provided, as was often the case. However, the kit was missing one key ingredient—cymbals! Rather than delay the session, the band forged ahead, and the cymbals were overdubbed days later. The result? A surprisingly raw, stripped-down drum sound that gave the song its signature feel.
2. Rod Stewart Almost Didn’t Sing “Maggie May”
It’s hard to imagine Every Picture Tells a Story without “Maggie May”—but believe it or not, Stewart wasn’t convinced it should even be on the album. He considered it an odd little song, more of a throwaway B-side than a chart-topping single. In fact, it was originally released as the flip side to “Reason to Believe,” and radio DJs had to push for it to get airplay. Once they did, it took off like wildfire, becoming Stewart’s defining anthem and one of the greatest songs of the 1970s. And there’s no chorus.
3. Who Was That Mandolin Guy?
One of the most unforgettable parts of “Maggie May” and “Mandolin Wind” is the bright, lyrical mandolin playing that gives the songs their folk-infused charm. So, who was that guy? It was Ray Jackson of the British folk-rock band Lindisfarne. His delicate yet expressive playing perfectly complemented Stewart’s raspy vocals, adding a distinctive texture to the album. Though not a household name, Jackson’s contribution to Every Picture Tells a Story remains one of its most defining musical moments.
4. The Faces Are All Over the Album, But Their Names Are Not
Rod Stewart was still the lead singer of The Faces when he recorded Every Picture Tells a Story, and every member of the band contributed to the album. However, due to contractual issues, their names were conspicuously absent from the credits. Ronnie Wood played bass and guitar, Ian McLagan laid down the Hammond organ, and the entire band recorded the blistering cover of “(I Know) I’m Losing You.” But if you didn’t already know that, the album sleeve wouldn’t tell you—one of the many blurred lines between Stewart’s solo work and The Faces’ legacy.
5. The Title Track Was Almost a Disaster
The song “Every Picture Tells a Story” is a full-throttle rock-and-roll journey that barrels through verses with reckless abandon. But behind the scenes, it was chaos. The rhythm was loose—so loose, in fact, that even Stewart later admitted it was a bit of a mess. Critic Tim Ewbank described it as “shoddily thrown together,” while Rolling Stone’s John Mendelsohn praised its energy but called out its unpolished feel. Despite its rough edges, or maybe because of them, the track became a cornerstone of the album, proving that rock music doesn’t always have to be perfect—it just has to be alive.
The Story Still Resonates
More than 50 years later, Every Picture Tells a Story is still as vibrant and rebellious as it was in 1971. It’s the album that made Rod Stewart a superstar, cementing his place in rock history with a mix of barroom swagger and heartfelt storytelling. From cymbal-free drumming to forgotten session musicians, the album’s behind-the-scenes tales only add to its legend. And if you didn’t know these facts before, well—every picture tells a story, don’t it?
