Songs I Can't Stand #6 - "Maggie May"
@teamfreak16 (43650)
Denver, Colorado
February 17, 2017 3:13pm CST
When @JohnRoberts did his Songs I Loathe countdown, he skewered one song that I knew that if I ever stole his idea, we'd match. Well, here we are: #6 on my Songs I Can't Stand series is "Maggie May" by Rod Stewart.
Raspy voiced Rod Stewart (now Sir Rod Stewart) started in the music business in 1961, and has fronted classic bands such as The Jeff Beck Group and Faces. As a solo artist, he has moved effortlessly between genres, including disco, 80's pop, and 30's and 40's pop standards.
Stewart has sold over 100 records worldwide, is a Grammy, UK Music, and Juno Award winner, is in both the Rock and Roll (as both a solo artist and with Faces) and UK Music Halls of Fame, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
A song about his first sexual encounter, "Maggie May" is a single from Stewart's 1971 album Every Picture Tells a Story. Released as dual single with "Reason to Believe," "Maggie May" pulled off the rare feat of being #1 in the US and UK at the same time (even rarer, the album was also #1 in both countries simultaneously with the single.) All told, "Maggie May" was an international smash, reaching Top 5 in seven different countries.
And I hate the damn thing. When we moved to Colorado Springs in 1980, you couldn't turn on the radio, no matter the station format, without hearing it. This was a nine year old hit being played as if it were a current #1 hit. There was no escaping it. It still grates on my nerves 36 years later.
I have no idea who the hell ever let Rod Stewart near a microphone in the first place, let alone for this insipid song, but a pox on you, sir.
(Info verified by Wikipedia)
TRMUSICPROMOTIONS. WMG. http://www.goneclicking.com/?rid=7178 "Maggie May" is a song written by singer Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton and recorded by Stew...
12 people like this
11 responses
@teamfreak16 (43650)
• Denver, Colorado
17 Feb 17
I'll listen to "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" over this anytime! 
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
17 Feb 17
@teamfreak16 Oh@well Scott.I did like Maggie May. I hear you there.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
18 Feb 17
I never liked this one at all either, though I did like some of those ballad albums. I was in a classy gallery several years ago in Cortona, Italy. When we walked in they were playing one of those ballads even there.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43650)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Feb 17
I haven't heard any of those yet. I have heard that they are good.
@asfarasiknow (3340)
• Bournemouth, England
18 Feb 17
When I was 13 in 1973 and just getting interested in pop music I saw a TV film of him performing this on a Top of the Pops a couple of years earlier. At the time I thought it was great. Three years later I even bought it when it was reissued. But that was 40 years ago and it's been played on TV and radio so much since then that I can think I can live without it...
But Mandolin Wind, another of his songs from about the same era, I think is beautiful.
The original Maggie May was a traditional folk song about a, er, professional lady who worked near the docks in Liverpool.
1 person likes this
@asfarasiknow (3340)
• Bournemouth, England
18 Feb 17
@teamfreak16 When it was number one he did a strange Top of the Pops appearance which featured a very popular British DJ, the late John Peel, pretending to accompany the song on a mandolin. At one point the members of the Faces abandoned miming their instruments to kick a football around the stage with him.
Reason To Believe seldom seems to get played here.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43650)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Feb 17
@asfarasiknow - John Peel was a legend. I've owned quite a few Peel Sessions over the years.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43650)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Feb 17
He has done some truly classic stuff over the years, including this one. In fact, this is really the first one in this series that more than a couple people disagreed with me, which I expected. I'm going to get absolutely hammered when I get to #1.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122269)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
18 Feb 17
In my opinion "Maggie May" is an average song due to the ending.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122269)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
18 Feb 17
@teamfreak16 I know what you mean.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43650)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Feb 17
Other than the guitar at the beginning, it's just awful.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43650)
• Denver, Colorado
17 Feb 17
It's the first on this countdown that not everyone agrees. But I expected that. Wait until I get to #1.I'm going to get hammered!
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Feb 17
@teamfreak16 There are plenty of Rod Stewart fans out there and the song was a #1.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (53005)
• Mojave, California
18 Feb 17
I do not mind it, has a nice story and I like bad singers. lol II can see how it would grate your nerves hearing it over and over. Definitely not like Rancid where you can, but that is my biased opinion. 
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43650)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Feb 17
Growing up in Nevada, all we got at night was KFI out of Los Angeles. In all the years I listened, I didn't hear this anywhere near as much as I did when we moved here.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86812)
• United States
17 Feb 17
Not the best song on the 45. Having said that....well, stay tuned.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43650)
• Denver, Colorado
17 Feb 17
Ooh, are we finally going to match!
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
18 Feb 17
LMAO! I head it today on the oldies station, I turned it. He is okay but I can pass.
The song that irks my ..... is Yeah! the hip hop/rap song they play it over and over every summer and its old too. I hate it and I will turn it in a second.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43650)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Feb 17
Not familiar with that one. Modern hip hop is not my thing. I do like the old school stuff.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43650)
• Denver, Colorado
17 Feb 17
This seems to be the one that finally, not everyone agrees with me.
