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The 16 Greatest Rod Stewart Songs of All Time

by YPB Team

With a raspy voice that spans five decades, Rod Stewart has delivered countless classics from folk-rock confessionals to disco anthems. We're ranking his most legendary recordings.

  1. Forever Young — ranked #11
    Forever Young
    A deeply personal 1988 anthem of parental hope and resilience that became one of Stewart's most moving later-career recordings.
    1000pts
  2. Maggie May — ranked #22
    Maggie May
    Rod Stewart's 1971 breakthrough anthem built around a jangly mandolin and a bittersweet tale of an older woman, hitting No. 1 simultaneously in the US and UK.
    832pts
  3. You're in My Heart — ranked #33
    You're in My Heart
    A sparkling 1977 ode to love and football delivered with infectious charm, showcasing Stewart's unique ability to blend romance and laddish humor.
    779pts
  4. Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? — ranked #44
    Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?
    A disco-era funk banger from 1978 that hit No. 1 worldwide and became synonymous with glitzy late-70s excess.
    720pts
  5. The First Cut Is The Deepest — ranked #55
    The First Cut Is The Deepest
    Stewart's 1977 soulful cover of Cat Stevens' song became an emotional showcase for his raspy voice and remains one of the era's most recognizable ballads.
    576pts
  6. Some Guys Have All the Luck — ranked #66
    Some Guys Have All the Luck
    An irresistible 1984 pop-soul groove that became one of Stewart's signature recordings and a feel-good radio staple throughout the decade.
    576pts
  7. Stay With Me — ranked #77
    Stay With Me
    The Faces' raucous 1971 band anthem credited to Rod Stewart and Ron Wood, a ragged, guitar-driven classic that remains a cornerstone of his live shows.
    575pts
  8. Have I Told You Lately — ranked #88
    Have I Told You Lately
    A heartfelt 1993 ballad originally written by Van Morrison that Rod Stewart transformed into a timeless romantic standard with his world-weary vocal delivery.
    499pts
  9. Reason to Believe — ranked #99
    Reason to Believe
    Tim Hardin's folk song transformed by Stewart into the B-side that became bigger than the A-side, a raw and rugged showcase of his early genius.
    499pts
  10. Downtown Train — ranked #1010
    Downtown Train
    Rod Stewart's 1989 cover of Tom Waits' melancholic tale of city longing that reached the Top 5 and introduced a new generation to his blue-collar balladry.
    499pts
  11. You Wear It Well — ranked #1111
    You Wear It Well
    A warm, nostalgic folk-rock classic from 1972 that showcased Stewart's storytelling gift and became one of his most beloved deep cuts.
    499pts
  12. Handbags and Gladrags — ranked #1212
    Handbags and Gladrags
    One of Stewart's earliest and most haunting recordings from 1969, a reflective ballad about youth and pretension originally written by Mike d'Abo.
    499pts
  13. Tonight's the Night — ranked #1313
    Tonight's the Night
    Stewart's 1976 seductive slow-burner that spent eight consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, one of his biggest commercial triumphs.
    411pts
  14. Sailing — ranked #1414
    Sailing
    A sweeping 1975 emotional ballad that reached No. 1 in the UK on two separate occasions and became one of Stewart's most enduring signatures.
    310pts
  15. Hot Legs — ranked #1515
    Hot Legs
    A gritty, riff-driven 1977 rock anthem celebrating unabashed attraction that became a live staple and one of his most crowd-pleasing numbers.
    310pts
  16. I Was Only Joking — ranked #1616
    I Was Only Joking
    A confessional 1977 rock ballad in which Stewart admits to a lifetime of bluffing, combining self-deprecating humor with genuine emotional vulnerability.
    310pts

#Music839#80s148#Rock211#70s104#Classics488#British118#Legends376#All Time328

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