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.

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.

1000pts

Forever Young

A deeply personal 1988 anthem of parental hope and resilience that became one of Stewart's most moving later-career recordings.

816pts

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.

736pts

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.

656pts

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.

643pts

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.

629pts

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.

583pts

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.

583pts

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.

583pts

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.

552pts

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.

552pts

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.

535pts

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.

535pts

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.

431pts

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.

407pts